rec.autos.simulators

by **Ed Mart** » Sat, 29 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Yup, I'm the same guy from way back then at Papyrus.

Monster Games is our lead developer on NASCAR Heat. Also involved is
Blue Fang Games which was founded by Adam Levesque & John Wheeler
(Producer & Lead Engineer respectively for N1 & N2).

Certainly, the knoweldge base from MGI's Viper Racing was the
foundation for the Heat physics engine. Heat is pretty much all brand
new, though. It was built from the ground up to be for NASCAR - which
is obviously a pretty unique form of racing.

There are 2 main modes in Heat - Normal Mode & Expert Mode. Expert
Mode is a full-out sim in all of it's 3D glory. Normal Mode is a
combination of Expert Mode physics with a lot of help turned on, as
well as adaptive AI which allows users of just about any skill level
to race. It adjusts to the player throughout the race to make sure
the racing experience is awesome. So, think of Expert Mode as the
driving simulation, where Normal Mode is the racing experience for the
rest of the folks out there.

This group is called rec.autos.simulators, not rec.autos.normal_mode,
so I imagne y'all are going to be most interested & adicted to! :-)

--ed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ed Martin
Executive Producer
Hasbro Interactive

by **Ed Mart** » Sat, 29 Apr 2000 04:00:00

> Ed, sorry I never got to meet you when I took the tour but
>you guys were busy at the time. But I know from talking with
>some of your former co-workers how commited you were to
>getting things done and I am looking forward to the end product
>from you new digs!
> I am very glad to hear of the work between Bobby and yourself!
>The biggest complaint I have heard from real drivers is the lack of
>communication between the sim company and themselves once they
>have their name on the product they are endorsing. In the beta testing
>groups I have been involved in it has always been a challenge to get
>the company to listen to us the beta testers on what should or shouldn't
>be in a game from numerous points of view. Sometimes the politics in
>dealing with management is more challenging than the sim itself! :-)
> One thing I have never seen before mentioned in all the "debating"
>that goes on here when they talk about how realistic the tracks in any
>game looks, is the difference between how a track looks live compared
>to an incar video shot! After shooting some in car action with a video
>camera riding shotgun and comparing it to what I saw with my eyes I was
>somewhat shocked at the difference because of the eyes depth perception
>ability I would assume.

I agree on the "in-car" vs the "on TV". Again, that's where Bobby
Labonte really contributed big time. He was able to provide us with
the in-car tapes from all of his races over the past 3 years. This is
stuff that the teams record, review & archive, but you never really
see much of it on TV. I'll tell you what, watching an entire race
from a camera mounted just next to Bobby's head gives you an
*entirely* different perpective on the race - not only the track, but
the racing action. Couple that video footage with the fact that we
relied on Bobby's thousands of miles & laps driven on all of these
tracks & what we ended up with is a new level of realism from the
perspective of the folks who know best, the Winston Cup drivers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ed Martin
Executive Producer
Hasbro Interactive

by **Don Hancock (** » Sat, 29 Apr 2000 04:00:00

Ed, I can tell ya, that from what I've heard so far I'm truly salivating for
this sim. Let's hope your execution is as accurate as your portrayal. I
expect to enjoy it a lot.
One thing: will your pit position depend on your qualifying position?
Will the debris be interactive (can you cut a tire on a fender)?
Will the flagman be animated (I really like that in N3)?
Will we be able to drive custom cars? Any chance at trucks?
Daytona? Brickyard?

Gunner

by **Pete** » Sun, 30 Apr 2000 04:00:00

The other thing the camera seems to do is give you a better
idea of elevation changes and undulations in the track surface
especially at a distance. It may not be as important on high
banked ovals but it certainly is on the road courses. The only
game that I have seen this effect in so far is F12000 and
regardless of what some in this NG thing of the game it is visually
impressive to see the elevation changes the way they have portrayed
them. I can't say whether these changes have been accurately modelled
but it would seem so.
Thanks for the input looking forward to the game!

Pete

> I agree on the "in-car" vs the "on TV". Again, that's where Bobby
> Labonte really contributed big time. He was able to provide us with
> the in-car tapes from all of his races over the past 3 years. This is
> stuff that the teams record, review & archive, but you never really
> see much of it on TV. I'll tell you what, watching an entire race
> from a camera mounted just next to Bobby's head gives you an
> *entirely* different perpective on the race - not only the track, but
> the racing action. Couple that video footage with the fact that we
> relied on Bobby's thousands of miles & laps driven on all of these
> tracks & what we ended up with is a new level of realism from the
> perspective of the folks who know best, the Winston Cup drivers.

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Ed Martin
> Executive Producer
> Hasbro Interactive

by **Ed Mart** » Tue, 02 May 2000 04:00:00

Answers below...

On Fri, 28 Apr 2000 08:50:37 -0700, "Don Hancock (\"Gunner\")"

>Ed, I can tell ya, that from what I've heard so far I'm truly salivating for
>this sim. Let's hope your execution is as accurate as your portrayal. I
>expect to enjoy it a lot.
>One thing: will your pit position depend on your qualifying position?

Well, we've got it in there right now, but there are some game balance
mechanics to deal with. Of course, we allow the user to set what they
want done in the pits when they come in. Well, the best time to do
that is once you get into the entrance to the pits. But, if you
didn't run qualify, or if you qualified bad, you'll be in the last pit
stall - or the first one that you hit when you get into the lane. The
unfortunate twist is that it will be the poorer/less experienced
players that will end up at the end of pit row & it's those folks that
are more likely to need to adjust pit stop settings once they enter
the lane.

No, it will be visual, but not interactive.

We're still in negotiation with the union. :-) Seriously, though,
yes, we'll have an animated flagman at the line in the tower as well
as the pits.

You'll absolutely be able to drive custom cars. A paint kit is built
into the game. As for trucks, not in this product - Winston Cup
vehicles & tracks only.

No comment (yet)...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ed Martin
Executive Producer
Hasbro Interactive

by **Eldre** » Tue, 02 May 2000 04:00:00

writes:

So does this mean that you won't be able to 'preset' your choices from the
track before you come in? Does the computer take over the car when you enter
pit road like in SCGT?

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc

Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

by **Ed Mart** » Tue, 02 May 2000 04:00:00

No, You'll certainly be able to set your choices out on the track.
The gameplay concern I spoke about was in reference to people who
might not be nimble enough to drive and hit some function keys. :-)
[I've hit my share of walls trying to set 2 tires instead of 4... then
I've got to tell them to knock out the new dents I just put in the
right side!]

As for the computer taking control, that's a user-adjustable option.
You can turn "auto-pit" on or off...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ed Martin
Executive Producer
Hasbro Interactive

by **Dave Pollatse** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

err... i worry autopit will have to be an "unsupported"/hidden feature even
if we get reamed for it in ras... but don't quote me on that!

> >So does this mean that you won't be able to 'preset' your choices from
the
> >track before you come in? Does the computer take over the car when you
enter
> >pit road like in SCGT?

> >Eldred
> >--
> >Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
> >Own Grand Prix Legends? Goto http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc

> >Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats
you
> >with experience...
> >Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

> No, You'll certainly be able to set your choices out on the track.
> The gameplay concern I spoke about was in reference to people who
> might not be nimble enough to drive and hit some function keys. :-)
> [I've hit my share of walls trying to set 2 tires instead of 4... then
> I've got to tell them to knock out the new dents I just put in the
> right side!]

> As for the computer taking control, that's a user-adjustable option.
> You can turn "auto-pit" on or off...

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Ed Martin
> Executive Producer
> Hasbro Interactive

by **Don Hancock (** » Sat, 06 May 2000 04:00:00

>Well, we've got it in there right now, but there are some game balance
>mechanics to deal with. Of course, we allow the user to set what they

personally I think it's VERY important from a gameplay point of view.
Would it maybe be possible to toggle pit options while in a "pause mode"
while on the track?

Unfortunate, but understandable....

THAT's a funny answer! Thanks.

Any chance for an addon for BGN or Trucks? personally I enjoy running
the trucks more than cars.

Hmmm...

A few more, please:

1) can we use a tophat to view left and right while driving? While I
agree that it will be difficult to execute at 200mph, I think there are
times when it's important.

2) Black Flags for "poor driving?" i.e. you hit the guy in front too
many times or spin him, you get a black flag. (togglable)

3) Visible cleanup crew?

4) Tow truck? Visible?

5) Winner's Circle?!

6) Money?

Gunner

(thank you SO much for caring enough to answer the questions of the
masses!!!!!!!!!)

by **Dave Henri** » Sun, 07 May 2000 04:00:00

How about online? Does the host hit the pause button and eveybody
selects their pit strategy? I'm waiting for the sim that includes an
online pit crew. I use Roger Wilco or some such voice util and call to
my Crew Chief. he then leasurely selects the tires, pressures, fuel,
wedge etc...and if the online pit crew is really done well, the other 7
guys connected to my team jump over the wall and change the tires, add
the fuel, bang the ***out of my freshly made dents...etc.
dave henrie

> >Well, we've got it in there right now, but there are some game balance
> >mechanics to deal with. Of course, we allow the user to set what they

> personally I think it's VERY important from a gameplay point of view.
> Would it maybe be possible to toggle pit options while in a "pause mode"
> while on the track?

> >>Will the debris be interactive (can you cut a tire on a fender)?

> >No, it will be visual, but not interactive.

> Unfortunate, but understandable....

> >>Will the flagman be animated (I really like that in N3)?

> >We're still in negotiation with the union. :-) Seriously, though,
> >yes, we'll have an animated flagman at the line in the tower as well
> >as the pits.

> THAT's a funny answer! Thanks.

> >Will we be able to drive custom cars? Any chance at trucks?

> >You'll absolutely be able to drive custom cars. A paint kit is built
> >into the game. As for trucks, not in this product - Winston Cup
> >vehicles & tracks only.

> Any chance for an addon for BGN or Trucks? personally I enjoy running
> the trucks more than cars.

> >>Daytona? Brickyard?

> >No comment (yet)...

> Hmmm...

> A few more, please:

> 1) can we use a tophat to view left and right while driving? While I
> agree that it will be difficult to execute at 200mph, I think there are
> times when it's important.

> 2) Black Flags for "poor driving?" i.e. you hit the guy in front too
> many times or spin him, you get a black flag. (togglable)

> 3) Visible cleanup crew?

> 4) Tow truck? Visible?

> 5) Winner's Circle?!

> 6) Money?

> Gunner

> (thank you SO much for caring enough to answer the questions of the
> masses!!!!!!!!!)

by **Ed Mart** » Tue, 09 May 2000 04:00:00

On Fri, 5 May 2000 15:03:19 -0700, "Don Hancock (\"Gunner\")"

> Hmmm...

> A few more, please:

> 1) can we use a tophat to view left and right while driving? While I
>agree that it will be difficult to execute at 200mph, I think there are
>times when it's important.

Yes, Heat has a full 3D***pit & you can use a hat to look left &
right - in fact, that how I have my joystick configured.

We will have black flags & they are toggleable.

No visible cleanup crew - the magical Winston Cup cleaners beam & in
clean up.

Still TBD.

We will have a motion-captured vicotry animation.

I'd love some! :-) Seriously, though, Heat 1 won't have a Viper-like
career mode.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ed Martin
Executive Producer
Hasbro Interactive

by **Ed Mart** » Tue, 09 May 2000 04:00:00

> How about online? Does the host hit the pause button and eveybody
>selects their pit strategy? I'm waiting for the sim that includes an
>online pit crew. I use Roger Wilco or some such voice util and call to
>my Crew Chief. he then leasurely selects the tires, pressures, fuel,
>wedge etc...and if the online pit crew is really done well, the other 7
>guys connected to my team jump over the wall and change the tires, add
>the fuel, bang the ***out of my freshly made dents...etc.
>dave henrie

Each player selects their pit strategy independently - we don't have a
global "pause".

We don't have built-in voice recognition either.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ed Martin
Executive Producer
Hasbro Interactive

by **Martyn Danb** » Tue, 09 May 2000 04:00:00

Ooops do I see Heat 1?

As in there will be 2, 3 , 4 etc?

Do you have license for more than 1 release?

Md

> On Fri, 5 May 2000 15:03:19 -0700, "Don Hancock (\"Gunner\")"

> > Hmmm...

> > A few more, please:

> > 1) can we use a tophat to view left and right while driving? While I
> >agree that it will be difficult to execute at 200mph, I think there are
> >times when it's important.

> Yes, Heat has a full 3D***pit & you can use a hat to look left &
> right - in fact, that how I have my joystick configured.

> > 2) Black Flags for "poor driving?" i.e. you hit the guy in front too
> >many times or spin him, you get a black flag. (togglable)

> We will have black flags & they are toggleable.

> > 3) Visible cleanup crew?

> No visible cleanup crew - the magical Winston Cup cleaners beam & in
> clean up.

> > 4) Tow truck? Visible?

> Still TBD.

> > 5) Winner's Circle?!

> We will have a motion-captured vicotry animation.

> > 6) Money?

> I'd love some! :-) Seriously, though, Heat 1 won't have a Viper-like
> career mode.

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Ed Martin
> Executive Producer
> Hasbro Interactive

rec.autos.simulators

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT

HEAT