Thanks,
Bob
> Thanks,
> Bob
Does anyone have any explanation for this bizarre behaviour? No
internet connection on, certain 3D games don't work; dial-up
connection on, everything works perfectly. I am really at a loss
here.
As for Formula 1 CE, it may not be in the same league as some of the
"real" simulators like the Papy products, but neither is it a complete
waste of time. I have used it for a few hours already and I have had
a blast. Here are a few pluses:
1. The tracks. Every track used during the 1997 season, including
Estoril, is included and they are simply exquisite, much better than
what I have seen with IndycarII or Nascar99. They are very
realistically rendered right down to the bumps and the elevation
changes are something to behold. I can't tell you how exhilarating it
was to take some laps around Spa or Suzuka in this game. The sense of
speed was unlike anything I have seen in a sim game (note that I
haven't played GPL or the more advanced games out now). The tracks
are definitely worth the price of admission.
2. The sounds. The engine sounds may not be 100% accurate but they
aren't that bad and are actually quite tolerable. What is really
appealing, however, is the commentary by Murray Walker and Martin
Brundle. It was a real coup to get their voices in the game and they
really serve to enhance the experience. Murray's patented
hyperactivity comes through well while Martin adds his dry wit along
with a very informative description of every corner of every track
while you're out training.
3. Cockpit view. The view inside the***pit is a lot better than I
was expecting. I was especially impressed with how they modelled the
visor getting dirty. After one or two laps, it gets so difficult to
see you can barely stay on the track. Another neat feature Psygnosis
has included is that, while in the***pit view, you can change the
camera mounting from a fixed mount to free-floating. This gives you
the sense of the jostling the drivers undergo while taking bumps and
fast corners at high Gs. It is very difficult to concentrate on line
when your "head" (camera) is moving around ***ly.
There are a few minuses as well:
1. The AI is a joke. The computer cars are so aggressive that is all
but impossible to race them. They never yield and pull banzai moves
on you anywhere on the track.
2. The menu system is cumbersome. When you're used to the very
logically ordered Papy menus, the F1CE ones come off as haphazard and
ill-conceived.
3. Vehicle setup. Although you can change quite a few parameters on
the car, more than I expected really, it is still a far cry from what
you can get with other "real" simulators. The physics are not that
badly modelled and pose enough of a challenge that you can't get
really good times unless you put some practice in; however, the
gearbox is a joke. I was constantly bogging down if I took a second
or third gear corner in the proper gear and found that you could only
keep the revs in the proper range by going right down to 1st. That is
not good.
4. No replays. It is unacceptable to have a racing game without the
ability to save a replay.
All in all, not the greatest game I have played but not the worst
either. I am really impressed by how much performance I can get with
a 200mhz Pentium Pro and a Voodoo2 card. The game plays like a tv
program, with no jerking or hesitation. That is a big plus for
someone who has traditionally had to turn off lots of detail just to
get an acceptable frame rate. In this respect, F1CE is a terrific
simulation: I can make-believe I am in the***pit of a
high-performance race car, drive the world's greatest and most
spectacular tracks, and get the sense of the thrill and danger of
doing so. Moreover, you can't beat the price: I purchased F1CE along
with four other Psygnosis 3D titles for a total of $15 Canadian
dollars. Amazing.
Bob Leore
