rec.autos.simulators

I just bought a Thrustmaster FF GT wheel and wondered if anyone could
advise me on what settings they are using in Grand Prix 4 and GPL or
maybe provide a link.

The ff core.ini settings don't seem to have any effect in GPL, is this
correct and should I just use the profiler ?

Thanks, Tony    

        Firstly, go to GPL folder. Than "Folder Options", "View" tab. Remove
mark from "Hide extensions for known file types". What this will do? You
won't see a name "core.ini" anymore, but its real name "core.ini.sample".
Errase a ".sample" part, and you will see that this file isn't of "SAMPLE
type" anymore, but of "Configuration Setting" type.
        Next, leave "Joystick Driver" on its default "Direct Input"
settings. This is in GPL game, Options, Controls. The other one won't allow
FF, I think.
        Next, calibrate wheel in Window's "Game Controllers", as well as in
GPL, whenever you start GPL.

        Setting the wheel (I too have TM FF GT) :
        First, do yourself a favor, and buy Nascar 2003. This is a beautiful
sim. In that sim tires are much better modeled, so you can much better
understand what is happening with FF. Good place to set FF is Infineon
(Sears Point). Watch what is happening between turns 3 and 3a.
        So, what are the settings. Put your wheel in "linear".
        In core.ini don't enable "Low speed ratio override" ( It should be
"0").
        Let damping be 0.00000 as well.
        Allow FF ("1")
        And finaly, latency. This is the most important settings.
        Default is 85ms ("0,085000"). This was made for MSFF wheel, which is
known for high latency. My TM FF GT has 61ms. You have to adjust it at just
right "ms". One higher or one lower isn't good enough (at least in Nascar
2003).
        What is happening with too low. In GPL front wheels are firm, but
rear wheels are sliding all around. Can snip without worning. Not good for
beginner. Try at 45ms or lower, to better understand. You are getting
information too late, and things snip from you without worning.
        Too high. The car is wobbling (this is how I call it in english, but
I am not native english speaker, so I don't know if this describes it
rightly). In Nascar 2003 (which has much more elastic tire walls) you feel
like somebody put additional springs on your car, but this ones horizontaly,
one on left side and one on right side. In GPL you feel like car is
floating. Try at 75ms or higher to understand. This is better for beginner.
You get information in advance, so nothing can snip from you (if you don't
over-do). Only thing, it is not precise enough, and it is floating around.
        Just at the right setting you are gettng more FF feedback (at least
in Nascar 2003, which I play), and the right one. Things still can snip from
you, but when they are suppose to snip. And things can even (only slightly)
wobble, but when they are suppose to wobble. -- Mario

Thanks a lot, the latency settings helped a lot.

Also discovered I had the wheel set to non-linear which was like being
driven around (well, it's been a couple of years since I fired up GPL
and couldn't remember the right setting)

I have Nascar 2002, which I'm experimenting with. Is the FF much
better in 2003 ?

Have also been trying to set this wheel up in GP4 with split axis and
it won't recognise the third brake axis. According to Geoff Crammond,
this wheel should be correctly recognised.

Also have F1 2001 (you can see I'm a bit behind on my sims) The ff
here really stinks at high speed, it's quite difficult to keep the car
straight, any advice ?

Tony

On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 15:20:08 +0100, "Mario Petrinovich"

        I am in a similar position to yours. I haven't been driving sims for
more than year and a half. Just recently I started again. So I wasn't around
when there was transition from 2002 to 2003, so I cannot say. I remember one
of them introduced a new tire model, and this was big thing, but I don't
remember which of those two. Anyway, 2003 is really worth buying. I didn't
fiddle much with GPL FF settings, since it is hard to go to core.ini for
every change, but in 2003 I can clearly feel the right setting (61ms) and
everything else what is happening. I wasn't sure if this setting will work
for you as well, since TM probably updates electronics from time to time,
and different electronics could mean different latency.
        BTW, Papy every year introduces new sim. I think in February. But
this was when it had a licence for Nascar. Now, it lost the licence. I
wonder when there'll be next Papy's sim. I also wonder why they don't simply
introduce GPL with new tire model. It would be something, : ).

        I don't know much about F1 sims. I have respect only for Papyrus,
from previous (a few years back) experience. They say that F1 Challenge is
much better than anything else, regarding F1. Regarding GP4 problem, maybe
Geoff meant that wheel should be recognised, but not with three axis, : ).
You can change to two axis in properties of Windows' "Game Controller".
 -- Mario

Papy has left the PC model for good...EA is the only hope now.

We're doomed...

Just kidding - F1C is actually pretty good.<g>  Well, except for the effed up
lack of dedicated server options...

Eldred
--
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        Bad news. -- Mario