rec.autos.simulators

It seems I have been reading many reviews of the CART sim by MICROSOFT
and all seems to say the same thing -------- it is terrible.  I,
myself downloaded the demo and spent countless hours of frustrating
time trying to get the damned thing to recognize the joystick, then go
straight, then to operate properly ------- I finally just eraced the
thing from the Hard drive and was done with it.

A few weeks later I got a call fro Microsoft and the asked me what I
thought of it and if I was going to buy the full simulation,  I was
kind on the phone and dimlomatic, THEY DID take the time to inquire,
but it seems to me they were checking to see if they even had a market
anymore.

I am NOT impressed by the way Microsoft has released this simulation.
I think they are a tremendous company, and own so much of their
software in the business and Windows 95, and other departments, I
cannot complain here---- they are second to none-------- but in the
simulation department, I think they fell victim to the operation of
the AMERICAN WAY ------ GREED.

I really didn;t matter whether or not the simulation worked, just
throw it out there and we will sell it and get the money back,  then
we can release patches to correct the BIG problems, they will have to
live with the small ones .......... and the list goes on and on.

Microsoft is not he only company in this mold, it seems ALL the
companies are getting to be this way, and I for one am getting sick of
it.

I can guarantee you this ---------- if I WORKED for Microsoft and went
to work each day and put in such a shoddy work performance equal to
this simulation, I can guarantee you I would be called on the carpet
and my job would be in jeopardy.  I think this is the thing we should
consider here.

Ultimately WE,THE CONSUMER is the "employer" and we can refuse to hire
such shoddy work performance by not buying it until it is right.  I
feel sorry for the people who HAVE purchased the product, but now
there seems to be enough postings here that ANYONE with common sense
can understand what they are getting into BEFORE the purchase.  

I assure you of this ----------- if the purchase of the sim dropped
off dramatically ------------ they would be working like gangbusters
to correct the problems immediately ---------------but that is the
point ---------------

WHY WASN'T THIS DONE TO BEGIN WITH SO WE COULD HAVE A GOOD PRODUCT
RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX?

WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO ENDURE THE COUNTLESS UPDATES AND BUG PATCHES IN
THE FIRST PLACE?

I have been in management and supervisory positions for many years
--------and this type of thing is what can can an employee fired
---------- YET THE COMPANY FEELS IT IS ABOVE THAT ---------- NOT IN MY
BOOK IT ISN'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By realeasing a product the way they did, the piper is starting to be
payed now.  With more and more people checking newsgroups/peers before
buying games, a game like CPR is only shooting itself in the foot by what
they have done.  First impressions mean alot and from what I heard and saw
of the demo, CPR made a very bad one.  I really wanted to buy it and was
e***d by screen shots but have refused to buy it from the bad things I
have heard.  Maybe a review on down the road after stuff is fixed will get
me to buy but I feel this is just one that I would have to pass by.

On that note, we do have a say.  If enough of us refuse to buy a crappy
product, someone in corporate will get the <big picture>  A company like
Microsoft can survive bad sales of a shitty simulation and maybe the next
time, they will do a better job to start with.  I hope so.  It sure looked
good at first.

Brian

much ranting stripped out

Chris

I share some of your frustrations with the *** industry. There are
VERY FEW games that are released to a level of quality that would make
it in the real world. I've worked in the financial on-line systems
arena for 25 years and it wouldn't fly there.  HOWEVER, THIS IS THE
WRONG PLACE TO RANT ABOUT IT!!

The people viewing and responding on this newsgroup are trying to
rectify problems and make the sims work. They are trying to help us.
The game has been released. Don't buy it and talk to the suits. The
rest of us want to see something that has potential make it.The suits
set the ship dates and don't take the heat. I would write to big Bill
and company. Complain to the marketing people and senior management--
not the project people who are busting their butts.

Jeff

More importantly, since the Microsoft CART reps. have diligently addressed
our queries and concerns here on r.a.s., will Microsoft itself support those
of us loyal customers who have already bought version 1.0?

By that I mean if all the great new patches and track editors and so forth
(which is more than CART:PR's competitors have ever provided) add up to a
mammoth and inconvenient download, will Microsoft provide new (or exchange)
CD's with the updated version?  If they are willing to do that for the loyal
early customers (in exchange for our valuable feedback to improve the game),
then we should do nothing but congratulate them.  They have demonstrated
more willingness to listen and improve their product than any other sim.
maker so far.

Support the loyalists as much as the later buyers and I will be happy.
Happy to have a better improved product and happy that finally there is a
company making a driving sim. that understands what we want.  I wonder if
Sierra/Papyrus, EA, Ubisoft, Eidos, and the rest of the laggards are paying
any attention?  If the patched CART:PR is as improved as we anticipate,
combined with the track editor and other goodies, the other sims. will be
long forgotten while people still enjoy the "Quake" of driving games.

By the way, stop bleating about Microsoft and capitalism.  They are less
capitalistic and myopically American than 95% of the large U.S. corporations
in existence.

   Your entire post hits the nail on the head flush!

EVERYTHING worked just fine and we had great fun (that's the main
point, right?) playing it.

--
Don't hate me, hate my dog

l8er
ronny

--
          |\      _,,,---,,_        I want to die like my Grandfather,
   ZZZzz /,`.-'`'    -.  ;-;;,_              in his sleep.
        |,4-  ) )-,_. ,\ (  `'-'     Not like the people in his car,
       '---''(_/--'  `-'\_)            screaming their heads off!

This has to be the biggest joke I have ever seen.This NG drives away every
companys support to every sim made.If anybody has read this NG over the last 2
years will agree that if the any company is 1 day late in releasing a game the
***ing and flaming starts!
 So MS realeases a game on time not up to everybodys standards and you people
(as expected) just FLAME the hell out of it.
 But the kicker is,THEY (Dean) ask for our help(imput NOT ***ING) to make the
game into what we want. Damn we want paintkit, they give it.We want a track
editor,they are working on it.
We demand patches,they listen to us and start on one asap and "don't start
***in yet"how many patches for Indycar Racing I think FOUR,We all had to pay
for #5 it was called INDY CAR RACING 2,# 6 is called CART RACING another $30
for Rendition and a book.Maybe after spending another $100 we will get a track
editor. SAME can be said for NASCAR RACING and GP1.
Ah to hell with it you certain few people are not worth the time!!
Steve      

Trev

<< much ***ing snipped >>

Kind of ***y today?  Since I don't see any suggestions posted to
this ng from you concerning improvements to CPR, it must be perfect
for you.  That is great.  For others, CPR does not measure up.  They
can either whine, complain, discuss issues or as I prefer to do, not
bother with CPR for a year or so.  Its simply not worth the time.
Dave.