rec.autos.simulators

Sounds:
Very familiar, and very GP2 but with some changes such as downshift noises
and the tire noise during a wet race is intense.

Damage:
Still very relaxed. Ive launched other cars into the air and took no damage
myself. Mashed front corners into walls and not even a camber adjustment let
alone the loss of a wheel. Basically the same as GP2.

Graphics:
Much improved over GP2. I have a P3-800 with a V3-3000 and runs smooth at
1024 res. 1280 it chunks a tad in some areas, but I could probably get away
with it. Some textures, track texture mainly, are a tad off. Really gray...
kinda makes you dizzy.

Setup Options:
Same as GP2, with one addition (at least I dont remember it in GP2) of the
differential.

Gameplay:
Same basic gameplay. Fast and furious. Im really impressed with the weather
effects that seem to change over time either on or off track. Havent been on
track long enough to tell for sure, but the weather report that the game
gives you before eash session shows the chance of rain 30 minutes down the
road, 1 hour, and so on. I really got the hint when I was full speed down
the front straight at Monza in the rain, and a few corners later the sun was
out and the track was dry.

This is what GP2 *should* have been, but Im not upset with GP3. It should be
a lot of fun still with some great additions over GP2. It is a lot like the
transition from N2 to N3 as it is easily seen that MUCH of the GP1/GP2 code
is still in GP3. I dont sense a complete "re-do" of the game engine or the
car physics.

If I had to pick a better game between GPL and GP2... GPL would be it. GP2
just has too many "relaxed" parts to it (physics, damage, etc).

One thing I would like to test is the multiplayer side of GP3. If this isnt
MUCH improved over GP2's poor MP code, then I will be pretty upset. It
offers TCP connections, but says for a LAN not online. I doubt they will
support Internet multi, but I would imagine a couple (4 or less) with good
connections should be able to get a good race going with the AI. Anyone want
to test the TCP game later tonight, toss me an email.

While I was doing some laps at Spa in the rain, the weather began to clear
about 30 mintues in. Once the clouds moved out (yup you watch them
disapate), the track began to dry and I was forced to pit for different
types of tires and adjustments to the setup. After many more laps, I began
to see the "groove" starting to dry out so I slapped some DRY tires on and
the lap times got even better (of course). The thing that amazed me about
the whole deal was that the track as a whole did not dry at once, only the
"groove". Then, not just the normal groove that you would imagine it to be,
but as I began to change my lines, those new grooves began to dry. That I am
impressed with.

Ive seen a lot of people bashing GP3... and yes I would have liked to see a
completely new product as well, but Im actually very e***d and happy to
see GP3 even in this form. Personally I still have GP2 on my system and play
it regularly, so having a graphicaly enhanced version og GP2 is great. Then
add on the weather, some sound improvements and SOME multiplayer support
(more on this below), makes it a worth while product. Revolutionary? No.

Multiplayer:
Another person and I tried to connect using TCP over the net... didnt work.
Basically, unless you want to play modem to modem, there is no way (yet) to
do any online play. The only hope is the LAN multiplayer is "capable" of a
full field of human opponents. Even the readme.txt states that a 22 person
game is possible, but it will require some big computers on a very good LAN
(something I happen to have *smile*). The only problem I have with that... I
cant seem to ever even get 4-5 people together for LAN races, let alone 22.

Setup:
Another great addition, at least for me, is the pop-up text that explains
the mechanics of each setup component. Though not a lot, it is helpful when
trying to figure out exactly what your adjustments are going to do on the
track.

For all you guys that are righteous enough not to download the warez
version... You will be happy when it hits the shelf. The more you see some
of the things added over GP2, the more you appreciate GP3. Of course, almost
all of these things are very well tucked away behind the GP2 look-alike
product.

Another good thing about GP3... it is already edit-able. I imagine that many
of the GP2 utilities will easily be able to work, or be made to work, for
GP3. So the relaxed damage wont be around long Im sure. And for the people
that say the spins are canned... na, they feel very realisitic to me... and
Ive done a lot of spinning in life and in sims... Im just that bad a driver
:-)

I hear a lot of you saying July 28th as the release... from what I
understand that is the release date for Europe and August 22-23 is the
release for US. So, all us US people are going to have to wait a bit more
eh?

a couple hours of it, I am able to keep the car under control fairly well...
even to the point of intentional 4-wheel drifting thru the turns. Throttle
control is a little easier to deal with then GPL, but the car is much harder
to catch once it breaks free and you dont get as much of the feel or warning
that the car is breaking lose.

I must say I will agree with most you have said about the Wearz
version of GP3, I have downloaded it too so I could see if it was
worth getting my pre-order of GP3 and while its fun to drive I think
there will be a quite a few things that will kill the game with most
people in here once they get the full retail version.

 No 3 way axis support for most wheels that use anything other than
Joy A X&Y, or Joy B X&Y there is no support for RZ axis or any other
axis I can see..

Support only for Buttons 1-4 on Joy A+B (buttons didnt support my
paddels on my MS wheel, I had to map SPACE & SHIFT).

Floating Cars in the mirrors and ahead of you at certain times, they
only float about 1-2 feet above the track but it doesnt look right.

Outdated Graphics compared to most new sims out in the last 3 years
GPL looks way better than this, the graphics are very pixilated at
1024x768 and it really shows up bad in the external onboard car views,
it does run smooth though once your out of the start traffic. Of
course the graphics may get enhanced by 3rd party developers.

There are others for me like the bad calibration of my USB wheel in
GP3 but it may not be like that for everyone.

Anyway based on the wearz version im canceling my pre-order untill i
see the post here from users of the full retail version.  And yes I
will delete the wearz version I have as im not intrested in playing it
like it is.

Hotdog

Andre