rec.autos.simulators

How about shaping the cars like the ACTAUL car...in other words a Taurus is
shaped like a Taurus, a Monte like a Monte, etc.  Instead of having one body
style and just pasting different headlights on em.  This goes alot towards
realism for a simulation.
Aaron

Hi,
    I think N3 should have possibility red flags (I know it doesn't
happen all that often in NASCAR, probably on average 1-2 times a year,
but it would add to the realism), I think it will happen with the new
3d engine being made for GPL, which will probably be used for N3 as
well. (with the chance of flipping/rolling the car, and hopefully a
more advanced damage model along with it).  The list of new features
could go on for miles however!

John

All cars qualify, then take the top qualifiers and PROVISONALS for
champsionship mode.  Option for player to be excluded from race if no
provisionals available.  Cars trying to make the field would be set by
the player somewhere.  Such as 45 for 1 race, possibly 50 for a big
event.  This way you could race a BGN schedule and stuff Mark Martin
in there, and some other WC guys, but only at certain events.

Ability to go for a horsepower motor or something more fuel efficient.
Maybe a lean or rich mixture for the motor - pistons can burn if too
lean, but they don't suck up as much fuel... that kind of option would
be nice.

Carset Management

Go back to the ICR2 style of placing the carsets in individual sub
directories so that they are easier to keep track of.

So many nice carsets out there designed by talented people, but no
clean way to keep them organized. (it is possible to get too many cars
in that one subdirectory.  :-)

On Tue, 13 Jan 1998 16:04:13 -0500, Robert Knauber

So far I like most of the ideas mentioned.  Double file restarts would be
great!  One thing I would really love to see --even since the first day N1 came
out--  Chamionship mode for multiplayer mode.  I know most of you run on TEN
and the like.  A friend and I have been racing local via modem since the early
days keeping track manually is a real pain in the pan.  To be able to dial him
up and then choose chamionship mode for our race series would be awesome!
Just my 2 cents worth...

R. Faust
aka Xducer

Let me second that!  An animated wheel and arms that move when you steer
will KILL the realism.  If I wanted a Nintendo game, I'd buy a Nintendo.
(same applies for a moving shifter)

Let's hope we see some things fixed with the AI that seem to be carrying
over from one Papyrus sim to the other.

1)  Figure out a way to select the correct car that passes the
start/finish line first.  This should also help fix the problems we are
seeing with the AI acting confused and dazed after crossing the S/F
under yellow or coming out of the pits under a yellow conditions.

2)  Make the AI more competitive when they are behind the human driver.
For some reason it seems that once an AI car is passed (no matter how
hard it was to catch and pass), it says to itself, "Gosh-golly-gee, that
human guy sure is good, I think I'll just keep dropping back and not
race him anymore".

3)  Give the AI some smarts so they don't get bogged down by slower
cars.  They should be driving "ahead" and know to get out of that groove
if the car they are approaching is too slow.  Also along this thought,
don't let the AI slow down for cars down on the apron as they enter or
exit the pits.  

4)  Fix the problems with the AI and tracks that have front and rear
pits.

5)  Devise another approach to the way the AI react to accidents.  It's
so weird and unrealistic to see them slow at impossible rates and then
just sit there and flop around like a poor fish out of water.

6)  Let the AI get closer to each other and the human driver before they
"freak out" and let off the gas or change grooves.  Maybe this could be
a player option.  This way those who need to have more room to run can
set the "clearance distance" higher, while those that want good fender
rubbing racing can set it real tight.  Possibly tie this to the
agression number for driver skills.

7)  Make the AI change more during the race.  Maybe a car will start out
with a bad setup and the driver and crew can get it sorted out and will
actually be very competitive towards the end of the race (and visa
versa).

8)  Changing track conditions during the race.  Let's have a reason for
having the crew change the wedge or tire pressure (or insert or remove
the spring ***s you are going to introduce <G>) other than the fact
that one messed up with their setup.  [see I don't only think AI]

<shameless plug>
Now don't get me wrong there are some really great things Papyrus AI can
do in their current incarnation.  As a matter of fact there is alot in
the "AI engine" that is not evident until they are given better
instructions.  So for those that haven't checked it out yet, head to the
CCG N2 AI Project site and grab some of the enhanced AI available for
NASCAR2.  http://www.racesimcentral.net/
</shameless plug>

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The reason N1 or N2 did not have this was that the AI was just not smart
enough to get lined back up.  N3's AI is supposed to be a total rewrite so I
would think this would be in the plans.

Brian

Of course, there will be those who just don't like the arms in there and
feel sure it will be a option to have turned off.

Brian

Ok, I'll wait until I see it, I haven't seen GPL yet...

I just think that it would be really strange to look past my hands/wheel and
see another set of hands/wheel on the screen.

Chris

I must admit, even though N2 is the best game around, there a few things I'd
like to see on N3.

For example:
-Have your set up "go away" as the race goes along like the real deal.
-When you blow a tire, the fender gets torn off by the loose ***.
-Pit stalls chosen according to points, qualifying, etc.
-Be able to change the rear end gear to save fuel.
-Have the AI car's setups "go away" as the race goes on.
-Watch your crew work on the car while in the pits instead of the tires
mysteriously being changed by your invisible crew members :)
-Have to pull behind the wall to alter setup, etc during practice, and to
fix damage during races.
-Have the cars flip if the wreck is bad enough.
-Damage to the sides of the cars.

All of these are in addition to what everyone else has said.  There are some
really good ideas out there, and I hope Papyrus sees them, and uses them.

How about roof flaps popping up on a spin (sound also).
And a serious change in handling when you loose a tire.

How about?

A pit crew member cleaning the windshield?
2 day qualifying?
Rain outs for qualifying and/or practice?
Provisionals?
Flashbulbs clicking in the stands during night races, especially during the
start?

Tony Felice
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