rec.autos.simulators

I've been a hard-core flight sim guy for a while, and I was thinking it
might be fun to try a bit of online hard-core auto racing. GPL was
pointed pointed out to me as being one of the best (from a physics POV)
so I dl'd the demo (but I've yet to get it running). A few questions if
I might:

Is GPL available in the stores? I'm in Ottawa Canada, and I've yet to
come across it in the couple of places I thought I'd find it. I've not
done a completely exhaustive search yet but it got me wondering.

Recommended steering wheels? Perhaps some that aren't too expensive?

How would setting up a wheel work with the current flight controllers
(TM stick, throttle and rudder pedals) I've got? Do I have to unplug
everything and swap?

'Puter wise I've got an Intel Celeron 466MHz with 64MB PC-100 Ram, Abit
BE6, Diamond Viper v770 TnT2, 32MB AGP, Creative Soundblaster Live
value, Asus 50X CD ROM.  Any guesses as to why the demo won't run? When
doing the install of the demo it asked about the graphics options and I
selected 3dfx (which is how Warbirds 3D is done).  When I double click
on the app I get a brief appearance of the hourglass and then nothing
happens. :-(

Well if I can get this running are there any good central places for
add-ons and whatnot on the web?

Thanks for any and all help.

David -wabb- Bilenkey

It does support FF wheels with the latest update, but it's arguable as
to how much help this really is. A good wheel from Logitech or MS would
be in order and should not set you back too much.

There are some rudder pedals (C-H?) that can be switched into racecar
mode, but you will definitely be happier with a real wheel and pedals.
Also, be sure to get pedals that use separate axes for the throttle and
brake (this is where racecar pedals differ from flight pedals). The
game will work on a shared-axis unit, but you will lose some car
control capability. Also, some of the latest units use USB instead of
the game port; that might be a nice way to go.

Well, it looks like you don't have a 3DFx card! The game runs best if
you have a Voodoo card (Voodoo-1, 2, and 3 supported) so that it uses
the Glide API. There is a patch of some sort to be able to use OpenGL
on non-3DFx cards, but since I've always had the Voodoos I don't know
much about this angle.

Come back when you get it running. There are dozens of sites out there.
The main activity for people in this NG is racing on-line. Go to
gpl.gamestats.com/vroc and take a look at what's there. You'll also
find tons of ready-made car setups for downloading -- very important
for a good GPL experience.

Welcome to the club!

  Doug Gordon

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

/petern

On Thu, 13 Apr 2000 19:46:06 +0100, robswindells

the demo doesn't work because you don't have a #dfx card...it really is
that simple!
get the full version, as it is very cheap now, and to use it with your TNT2
get the openGL2 beta patch from www.theuspits.com...and you're away!!!!
as for a wheel, the Logitech  Formula force seems to be the wheel of
choice..i am now on my second.........
 Hope this helps..

Sudesh

WB and AH are both free to download and fly offline or head to head. Then if
you like you can get an account and fly in the arenas with upwards of 150
other pilots. If you do get an account mention my name (-wabb-)! :-)

Now back to your regularly scheduled NG. :-)

--
David Bilenkey

Flanker didn't sell many copies either. Must be ***:-)

Andrew McP

Jane's F-15
 Yes, it might be a nominate, but not equal. It's restricted 640x480,
graphic
engine has flaws. I couldn't remember how many times to witness
melting mountains in front of my mad-hen.

Falcon 4.0
 If it runs as it planed. it might be... Too many malfunctions (bugs).
 What a misery abandoned child.

WB and AH
 Nice references! but it can be said yea only online aspect.

Flanker 1.5
 Even if with Flanker 2.0, couldn't reach GPL. Poor graphics. Rickety
campaigns so you cannot enjoy realistic combat flight sim missions.
 However, It's AIs are the best in the genre, so you can enjoy only
Air to Air missions.

 My bid is not contemporary, but it is EF2000 in its era (1996-1997).
It had polished dynamic campaign and furious good AI, and first generation
nice online capability "in its era".

 GPL is getting in old timer, but it's fine graphics with high resolution,
damn enjoyable AI cars makes great "dynamic race"(you cannot expect what
happen next) surpasses average "dynamic campaign" in flight sims. Online
capability is no need to mention. Thanks VROC developers and great drivers
on it! =)

Y.Minami

If the physics engine detail is important, Fighter Squadron: Screamin'
Demons Over Europe still has to be beaten. The implementation of the
planes in the original release is less than good, but the new planes and
the modifications to the original ones make it a very realistic and
immersive flying experience. You can loose a part of the wing, or
landing gears, and see them flutter to the ground or bounce over the
runway, in exactly the way as it should (it's all calculated by
Newtonian physics). Multiplayer is also easy to setup through
Activisions matching servers, and is lots of fun, but the AI can give
you a tough time, too.

If you consider the immersiveness and historical accuracy, MiG Alley is
the one to beat. The flight models are superb and demanding (you spin
just as easily as in GPL), the AI tough, and overall it feels like
piloting one of these old jets and props, and it has a full dynamic
campaign. The graphics are perhaps not as crisp as I would like them,
but they do keep a good framerate with plenty of planes (say a few ten)
up in a fight. A patch was just released that fixes multiplayer, but I
have yet to test this.

The multiplayer seems to be best best implemented in Jane's F/A-18, and
so is the systems modelling. Flight model is also very good, the AI is
less demanding (but still not easy) close up than the previous two, yet
in a modern jet sim this doesn't matter as much.

It's just about what you are looking for, although it seems that Mig
Alley is the closest to the overall experience.

-Gregor

 Jim D.