rec.autos.simulators

JEB

First let me say that some of the previous posts with all their "f---
you's" and the such are obviously done by complete idiots and to be
taken as the weight of a grain of salt.. if you are having trouble
downloading, be patient, get a new server, or learn how to operate
your computer. Papyurs is doing us a service.

Now I want to give my reaction to the demo.

First the good:

The graphics are much better, the cars are more clear and smooth, and
the new tracks are awesome. The announcer is a real plus for the game.
The menu's are excellent and the setup menu is great. It kinda of
reminds me of "Flight Unlimited". I really like the layout and it
looks like a real "polished" game. Good Job!

Now for the bad:

Why is the sound of the car still the same? After all this time,
having owned Nascar 1 since it first hit the shelf, don't you think us
customers want more realistic and better sampled engine and skid audio
that would really make the game better then the same old sounds?
That's one area of definite NEED of improvement.

Most importantly, which did rather disappoint me, is that the game
engine, the driving dynamics of the game, remains excatly the same as
Nascar 1. There is no ability to be in neutral and drop the clutch,
and why do I have to have a seperate key for going in reverse??? I
mean this is common sense talking to you here. The car still feels
like the earth's gravity has been multiplied by 10, and the track is
flat... you know real tracks have raised curbs, and the track does
come up higher then the grass, right?

And its amazing that I can be going 150 miles an hour, give the car a
120 psi panic brake stop, and will not lock up the tires... another
common sense thing which I will expect for Nascar 2 to deliver.

I hope you listen to this and other user comments. I look foward to
better simulations, and I realize this is a demo. Yet what I was most
afraid of with Nascar 2 does seem to be coming true. Basically, a
freshly dressed up Nascar 1, with no real simulation change. Take your
time with the game, we can wait much longer for a much better market
version of Nascar.. thanks and keep up the good work.

http://www.netcom.com/~motosprt/index.html

As to the view, I can say that we did alot of work trying to get this
right.  We think it's about as close as we can get it.  Although we are
still tweaking the FOV a bit. But, when you are driving Bristol and can't
see out of the turn, that's how it is in real NASCAR.  

In terms of wheels locking up and such, that requires a whole brand new
physics engine which we are working on but is not ready for NASCAR 2.  

Adam
Papyrus

Field of view does seem a little small.  Like maybe that was the only
way you could keep the frame rate under control.  

please go into more detail... dunno about anyone else, but you sure
confused me...

Unfortunately, a lot of the new features are not in the demo, like the
improvements to the champsionship season. What did make it to the demo is
enough for me to shell out the $$$ for a copy: The graphics are a
significant improvement, an even bigger step than going from ICR to ICR2.
The spotter/crew chief audio is incredible, I've run several races without
using the mirrors at all and have never hit anybody.

You didn't mention the improvements to Watkins Glen. You can take the last
turn in the esses flat out (inspite of the terrible setup they stick you
with) and the inner loop is more realistic, though the walls are still
there. The downhill from the loop into the carousel is there (which is flat
land in NCR1). According to Papyrus, aside from the graphics improvements
at all the tracks, several will have improved physical models (Dover,
Phoenix and Talladega have been mentioned, Watkins Glen was a surprise).

I'd be curious as to how many of the disappointed people are comparing
this, consciously or not, to GP2. I've had minimal exposure to GP2 (just a
few minutes test ride on a friend's computer).

Your final comment: "...we can wait much longer for a much better market
version of Nascar...". Maybe you can, but Papyrus probably can't. In order
for a company to stay in business, they need to generate cash flow. NASCAR
is 2 years old and they can't expect it to keep generating the kind of
revenue necessary to keep the doors open. Sierra isn't exactly flush with
cash, so they are probably feeling pressure to release something this
season. I don't know about Papyrus, but if I recall the statistic
correctly, most entertainment software companies generate 40% of their
revenue in the 4th quarter. It's pretty uncomfortable to be sitting on the
sidelines during the big selling season.

Dave (davids) Sparks
Late Night League
http://www.sequoia-dev.com/Hawaii/latenite.html

--->That's one thing I noticed too.  It's a lot harder to "see ahead"
for
--->me with tne NASCAR 2 versus NASCAR 1.  (I use a 14"...)
--->

Could it be that the view through the windshield is more true to life
in NASCAR 2 than in 1?  I've never sat in a Cup car, so I have no way
of knowing.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Politically Incorrect and proud of it!

Hi Adam

Man you guys did a great job on this one, I really like the perspective,
I think its easier to drive in traffic now.

Steve

Go #6 Mark Martin,#16 Ted Musgrave & #99 Jeff Burton - Jack Roush Racing!!
NASCAR Racing!!

http://camalott.com/~sean/nascar/nascar.htm <--NASCAR Racing Sim page

About the mirrors: Will track objects, track, etc
be plotted(maybe optional) in the mirrors in addition
to the cars?

Finally I noticed that the number of revs shown when in outside
view(F10) does not correspond to the revs reported on the
tac-o-meter when inside the car(the in-car revs are a thousand
revs higher). Which is wrong?

About the damage level: The option screen says simulation,
but damage is off. Is it because the damage menu-item doesn't
work...?

I must commend the artwork of the menu backgrounds(and the menus).
They are really good looking. They are kind of professionally
deconstructionistic, and hence post-post modern. A hit!

A lot of good things in the demo(and later network play)
like the spotter and the improved graphics.
But the next time you release a racing simulation I
you ought to have a much improved physics engine in place.
But until then Nascar 2 will rock my computer.

Thanks to you for releasing a demo.

--
--- Terje Wold Johansen

--- http://www.ifi.uio.no/~terjjo/
--- "I am your inferior superior." O.W.

Dave Smith

Randy

This is only a Demo but the Spoter is great. This adds alot of realism
to the game.