rec.autos.simulators

I've downloaded the 17 Mb demo yesterday, I needed to see what that
sim had to offer.

Well, those of us who bought F1RS will certainly feel ripped-off if
they have to pay full price for what's IMHO the only version that
should have been released by Ubisoft.  In fact, the changes between
the two releases (assuming that the demo reflects the full game) are
vastly an answer from Ubisoft to our wishes.  Better handling, more
aggressive AI, no hickups in the first turn, faster menus, better
sound (still not perfect), better looking tires (can't believe they
were that ugly!) and so on.

If they'd come to us in the first place there wouldn't have been any
reason to create a second sim, I believe.  You don't like F1RS?  I
don't think you'll like MGPRS.  It's the same game (Oops! I mean
SIM!).  The feel is not more GP2-ish, for those who wish it were...

There are a few issues that haven't been resolved yet:

-Collisions are still unreal.  When you hit an AI car it feels like
hitting a cement wall.  Your car stops completely and the CC continues
it's way undisturbed.  GP2 has a definite advantage in this aspect.

- At the end of a race, you won't get any info on lap speeds as in GP2
(When you loose, you could still say to the winner "Yeah, but I got
the fastest lap!  You're still 4 tenths adrift!").  You only get the
same finish board that was there in F1RS, with the winner's time for
the race and gap to the winner for all other cars.

-It also looks like we won't be able to enjoy our parade lap...  I
personnaly don't understand why the computer takes control of your car
once you've passed the start/finish line.  Maybe Ubisoft felt like
we'd need some rest after a race...

- It's still hard to do power turns.  I'm not an expert in real F1,
but I'd guess it should be much easier than it is in MRGPS to do 180
turns with such an overpowered lightweight car.

I'm sure there are a lot more changes than I've seen, but they don't
really change the "feel" of the game (Oops!  Did it again!  Release
the dogs!).  They don't make the sim (Please stop the dogs!) perfect
either, but they at least make it much more enjoyable.

Those of you who were not sure if they'd buy F1RS because of the
obvious glitches will be rewarded for waiting, as you'll get a better
product for the same price.

As for the ones who bought F1RS, you really deserve a special upgrade
price.  Fight for it.

A. Renault

<Le Snippage>

Hmmm. I don't know about that, If I feel "ripped off" then my decision
to buy F1RS wasn't a good one. My mistake. If the sequel (MGP or
F1RS2) isn't that much better, then I 've the choise to buy it, or
not.

Each year most car models are upgraded. I've never heard someone
complaining about their one year old car not to be upgraded for a
special price.....

Remco

In F1RS, you can see the drivers' fastest lap times by
looking at the "F1Mag".  Unfortunately, I don't think
this feature is available in all modes - I know it's there
when you drive a race in "Grand Prix" mode (with practice,
qualifying, etc.), but I don't think you get it when you
just drive a race (what GP2 calls a "Quick Race").

Isn't that correct? (I've only had F1RS for two weeks).

Dave Ewing

I understand your point, but there's a big difference between software
and cars, I'm pretty sure you'll agree with me on that aspect.

When you buy a car, you EXPECT a new one to come out within a year or
less.  You know it wont be much different from yours, and you know
there'll be some improvements.  You make your choice to buy it or not
with that in mind.

It could work the same way with software, but usually it doesn't.  We
expect comanies to deliver something new and different each time.  But
things are changing.  Win 98 is a good example.  Not the way to go
IMHO.

I'm not saying it isn't good business, that's another debate wich
might take forever to discuss.  What I'm saying is we shouldn't lower
our standards, we should keep pressurng the software companies to
deliver us the best they have to offer.

A. Renault

Oh and I forgot...  Car salesmen usually let you take the whole car
out for a drive, not just part of it.  And again I must say that there
are regions where stores just won't refund opened software.

We should have been able to check out network play before buying F1RS.
We won't get that chance with MGPRS either.  AI has its limits, and
bad multiplayer can severely mangle an otherwise really good title.

A. Renault

And I agree 100% with the other guys post that says a rebate
to orignal F1RS owners is a must !!!!!!!
(even microscam offers rebates).

BTW, Do you like to get ripped off by software companys ?

Lorne

The graphics looks a lot like the ones found in F1RS, except I find the cars
look a little bit more real. The tires look also better... no more square
black blocks... The sound quality has improved (throttle sound is more
"fluid"; before it sounded like it was either completely on or completely
off), although I have the same anoying sound problem, in this demo, that I
have in my F1RS game.
When I start the game for the first time, all the sounds are there. However,
during the race, some sound will gradually disapear: tire squeal, shifting
and downshifting, being bumped, hitting the rumple strips...). After a
couple of races, the sound will disapear totally. The game still runs ok...
If I go out back to Win98, the I start the game again, the problem is fixed.
My system: PII 400
Sound Blaster PCI 128
128 meg of Ram
Diamond Stealth II G640
Monster 3D II

Any suggestions?

Philippe Sergerie

Once, while I was playing F1RS, the motor's sound got mixed up and
instead of it I was hearing "Nouveau record du tour!" over and over
again (I own the french version, of course!  "Nouveau record du tour!"
translates as "New lap record!").  I find it strange that they would
miss such an obvious bug.  But then again maybe we're then only two
people experiencing sound problems!

A. Renault

With one exception, I have never bought something what dissapointed
me. (That was Dungeon Keeper, my excuse is that I was recovering from
being very sick at the time). Do you homework, know what you buy.
Don't blame the industry that you buy ***titles.

The problem these days with software is, that everyone is expecting
patches for removing the bugs (reasonable), and that these patches
should contain extra features (not reasonable). I've seen the demo of
MGP, and there are a lot more features then the first version. I think
it is worth the price. Hee, all IMHO ofcourse.

Remco

Nothing can justify ripping people off.......

I do my homework and that is why I bought F1RS.....
But... I would have kept playing GP2 and not have put the time and money
into F1RS if I would have known that UBI would rush to market an improved
version before long.

Ya.... I am sure it is worth the price to people that didnt buy F1RS !!!!!!!

But for people like me that bought F1RS a short time ago (at full price)
it does nothing but***ME OFF.......
After F1RS was on the shelves for 3 or so months they should have put
a sticker on the box warning people that a improved version is going
to be out before long (They new all along that they were going to rush out
F1RS 2) .
Now.... I know that this may be asking a little much of them, but think of
the person
who bought F1RS a month ago (at full price) and then all of the sudden he
hears
that if he would have waited 3 weeks he could have had the improved
version....
Man........ thats sad !!!

Thats why they should offer a big rebate to owners of the first F1RS,
I feel this is the LEAST they can do.

Lorne

Correction: F1RS was available in Canada roughly at the same time as in
Europe. That is true of Quebec at least. I got my version earlier than a lot
of you guys. It's a french version... I you look on the box, the price is
indicated in French francs... So for me, F1RS is not a vey new title...

Philippe Sergerie

Just knowing, that there is an advanced version on the shelf pisses you
off.
Don't buy it and keep enjoying F1RS, or would you like to enjoy the new
features in MGPR?

What about this short time stuff? In Europe F1RS was released about a
year
ago, until you get MGPR in Canada it will be about a year, too. I
definitly
could not wait any longer for a new version...

F1RS is now on the shelf for half price. Oh, I'm pissed off, I paid the
full
price for it. Damn' you, UbiSoft! ;^)

I didn't get a rebate when I bought Quake2 after having bought Quake1.
So what?

l8er
ronny

--
How to get rid of censorship in German game releases
<http://www.racesimcentral.net/;

          |\      _,,,---,,_        I want to die like my Grandfather,
   ZZZzz /,`.-'`'    -.  ;-;;,_              in his sleep.
        |,4-  ) )-,_. ,\ (  `'-'     Not like the people in his car,
       '---''(_/--'  `-'\_)            screaming their heads off!

<Snip>

Ok, Our opinions vary, that's ok. It's no fun to buy something at full
price, realizing later that an upgraded version is due sone. Don't
worry, I believe that MGP will be released in Febr. 1999, so have fun
with F1RS until then.

Remco

Marc.