rec.autos.simulators

        1. Graphics. GP4's graphics have a 'cartoony' look about them
when compared to F1 2002's which look much more realistic. That said,
GP4 doesn't seem to suffer from the shimmering effect that F1 2002 does
and enables the farther distances to be seen more easily. I think GP4
has the higher/smoother frame rates, although I didn't actually measure
this and it was a close call. Speed wise F1 2002 really gives a good
impression of speed, whereas GP4 sometimes feels pedestrian in
comparison. Both games were ran at 1024x768. GP4 does boast more track
detail as well, although the tracks are based on the 2001 tracks and
some such as hockenhiem are now significantly different from what they
were.
        GP4's in car***pit is of the generic variety and I think looks
quite gross, although the mirrors are very good (Better than F1 2002).
F1 2002 has different***pits for each manufacturer.  Both have dynamic
weather, with GP4 winning out on having more realistic looking weather
effects.
        Score: GP4: 1   F1 2002: 1

        2. Handling: I don't know if it's the set-ups or what, but GP4's
cars drive on rails. It takes some serious abuse (usually in 1st gear)
to get these cars to misbehave. I'm sure this isn't right. I found it
far too easy to drive and I wonder if the physics has been dumbed down.
I found GP3 to be much more twitchy and generally harder to control.
        F1's handling can be quite twitchy, but it actually feels right
and you get a good impression of being able to 'read' the road with it.
GP4 just feels dead by comparison. I don't know if this is to do with
the track bumps that F1 2002 creates so well. (GP4's tracks are billiard
ball smooth.)
        Score: GP4: 1   F1 2002: 2

        3. Controller Use: GP4  has some seriously unintuitive
controller setup routines. To top this off I can't get it to load my
controller preferences by default. There is probably a way to do this
but the menu system is truly maze like in complexity.
        GP4's force feedback is a joke. I get severe judder on engine
start and every now and then severe judder whilst driving. This seems to
mostly occur under braking and is so bad it actually 'force-feeded' me
off the road on several occasions.  Strangely, the very thing you expect
to produce judders - the curbs - don't! Because of this I've disabled
it's FF effects.
        GP4 also has one other problem (on my system at least), if I
have both controllers plugged in (they are USB devices) the game will
get as far as loading the track data then crash to desktop with no
warning(!) I've tried swapping the 'default' controller in the windows
controller panel but this doesn't seem to make any difference. The
upshot to this, is that I've got to fiddle around at the back of my PC
to pull the joystick and plug in the wheel.
        F1 2002's controller setup is easy to get going and remembers
your previous settings. Force feedback is also well implemented and adds
tremendously to the feel of the road.
        Score: GP4: 1   F1 2002: 3

        4. Sound. I found GP4's sound to be rather weak when compared to
F1 2002. It even appears weak compared to it's predecessor GP3. I don't
know if it's more realistic, but it doesn't give the impression you've
got a big screaming engine behind you. Tire screeches also seem to be
absent(!) I don't know whether my settings need looking at, but with F1
2002 it sounds great 'as is' straight out of the box.
        Score: GP4: 1 F1 2002: 4

        5. Season data. Unfortunately for GP4 it's using 2001 data
instead of 2002 like F1 2002. Car data I can live with, but not having
the latest track layouts is a real bummer (there have been quite a few
circuit revisions), especially as I like to do races on various tracks
just before they get televised on Sunday.
        Score: GP4: 1 F1 2002: 5

        In conclusion I think F1 2002 is by far the better product, I'm
not saying Mr. Crammonds software is shit, I'm just saying that it isn't
as good and has lost the industry leading edge it once commanded. I'm
glad I have both and is interesting to compare them. Hopefully, there
will be a fix for the controller problems I'm having in GP4 and
hopefully with some car tweaking I might be able to get them to feel a
little more livelier. But for the moment F1 2002 reigns supreme.

--
Robert Pollard

They should rename GP4 to GP3 Service Pack 1 though.

I must admit, F1 2001 felt a bit that way when I first tried it, but after
some perseverence, I soon saw what all of the sim fans were raving about.
Once it get's you by the short and curlies, you look back and laugh at the
time when you thought Crammond sims were realistic...

it still very DIFFICULT TO SPIN ON TARMAC
EXCEPT ON 1ST GEAR.

turned off the steering
Also note the default
It felt "arcadey" and

completely agree with you on GP4
I had spend some time just to make sure ALL THE DRIVING
AIDS
ARE OFF,,,,,
GP4 is such a ***y bad layout that you want to pull
your hair out just to get  IN TO THE OPTIONS

 Yes, it drives like it is on rails at ACE settings
most realistic possible, ( shit there is no custom
setting )

COntroller setup is again "hair pulling affair"
I cant believe it is soooo difficult to program a
simple
thing like this !!!

Sound card MUST BE  EAX off for Creative LIVE cards
( good god , crammond ! it is such a simple thing )

Graphics
Framerate is better than F2 2002 ( don't ask why )
but FERRARI is now in orange !!!
there is a shine over the cars which you can't turn off
it is interferring with the colours
16bit is  ALL YOU GET !!

realistic. That said,
didn't actually measure
different from what they
variety and I think looks
(Better than F1 2002).
realistic looking weather
(usually in 1st gear)
actually feels right
driving. This seems to
very thing you expect
devices) the game will
controller in the windows
implemented and adds
weak when compared to
predecessor GP3. I don't
looking at, but with F1
with, but not having
saying that it isn't

Jochen

I think they should rename GP4 to GP1 Service Pack 3 !

Each to their own.  It felt a lot more like playing an arcade game than
driving something.  FFB isnt massively essential to the game.  Most of the
EA games are going more and more arcade based.  There is definately up with
the F12001 physics engine from when i tried it.   Certain things it does
arent even possible.

Am I missing something here?  I have a Soundblaster Live 5.1 and currently
EAX is on....  Will performance improve if I turn it off? (asks
hopefully...)

Seems like owners of Soundblaster Live gets better performance by turning
off hardware accelaration in GP4. My framerates almost doubled after
upgrading the soundcard drivers on my Soundblaster 64 PCI. Why these
differences I don't know, but it can make a huge difference if you configure
this right.

Eldred
--
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...

Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

I hope Papy/ISI never ever ever ever add a save function.  Being able
to save a long race is nothing more than cheating.

Jason

On Tue, 25 Jun 2002 01:43:05 +0100, "David Powell"

In race save is pretty vital for me.  Rarely do i get 2 uninterrupted hours
to do an entire race. Pause is one thing but it stops the quick 30 minute
race before doing some work/leaving the house/letting someone else use the
PC and so on.
If i have time i do the races in full in one sitting but the real world
interferes too much for me to do that often.