rec.autos.simulators

by **Chipmun** » Thu, 10 Dec 1998 04:00:00

Quick review of Nascar 1999 edition:

I just received, well that is not quite true, actually, 2 days ago I
received my long awaited release of N2 1999. It has taken the last 2 days
to install it on a brand new Dell PII 450mhz. Once again, Sierra has
proven there is no PC that can be built that it cannot test the limits of.
After finally getting the new Voodoo 2 video to work, the sound card to at
least make a pleasant noise, and a T2 Thrustmaster to be recognized as the
controller of choice, I waited with bated breath as my new 1999 version
loaded up for it's first test run. Anxious to see all the new and wonderful
changes that had been so heavily advertised, and that all us nascar
enthusiasts had been talking about for 12 long months, I'll have to say
"What does this version do that old N2 didn't do?" Of course the box states
it comes ready for the NROS, of course the inverse is not equally true.
The hi- resolution 3dfx capabilities I had heard so much about, look almost
as good as my old Rendition version. And the sound, let me tell ya, I had
purchased a new Dell with the new Turtle Beach Montego II sound card
expecting to be blasted out my window with the roaring engine similar to a
real Nascar racing machine, but when I finally could crane my neck in just
the right position, I could make out the same old audible sound I have
become accutomed to from N1 and N2. Well, not entirely, there is a new
spotter's voice, YOU JUST CAN'T HEAR HIM AS WELL!

So I sat back, adjusted my seat, and got ready for the amazingly
realistic actual gameplay chanes that must be forthcoming, i.e - random
pit stall locations in offline play, double file restarts, accurate and
straitened pit lanes, all those wonderful thingsa we have all anticipated
and heard so much about. NADA- not there, don't exist, no change, as in
same as the old one! Remarkable, this product has been in the making for
over 12 months, and all that is different is a couple added tracks, and of
course now trucks, as if that were new to any of us who have been buying
Sierra products since the concept of Nascar was first introduced. I
apologize for the sarcasm, but c'mon, surely there must be some
programmers out there with interest in nascar that would be willing to pitch
in with me and let's develop a real Nascar game. I am not a programmer by
trade, but I certainly could have acomplished more than a couple extra
tracks and some trucks downloaded form the web in 12 months! And the beauty
of this is, we don't have to rush! If it has taken this long to ad some
tracks and trucks, we just need to be ready to go to market by the year
4581!

Just thought the rest of ya would be interested in knowing that the game you
have waited all year for, is gonna be a total dissappointment.

Chip

by **Vic Lombard** » Thu, 10 Dec 1998 04:00:00

>Amen, I think it stinks too, Running a PII400, Abit Bh6, 128sdram,
Rendition, and
>Monster 3dII 12 meg, graphics are the worst yet, ICR2 Rendtion blows them
away
>big time, not to even talk about GPL that shows a steady 36fps even in
traffic
>with all the detail on. I am really glad to see E.A. get in the game maybe
now
>Papy will wake up and see they have some competition coming. The graphics
in
>their demo blow away Nr1999 and the speed is amazing even has real fence
and
>shadows. I know other thinks its a little arcade, but I don't think the
final
>product will be.

Hmmm, on my P200, Voodoo1 the game runs fine with slowdowns at short tracks.
The 3dfx is much better in 99 than with the N2 beta. I'll take the
simulation and being able to add and edit paint jobs, entry lists, car
setups, season schedules, etc. over EA's arcade game. Those EA games sure
LOOK nice.

by **BRYNICEG** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

Whoever said anything about random pit stalls or straightened pit roads in
Nascar 1999?
There are double file restarts, but nobody promised those other things.

by **Jim Bonewa** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

On Wed, 9 Dec 1998 18:44:56 -0500, "Chipmunk"

>Quick review of Nascar 1999 edition:

>I just received, well that is not quite true, actually, 2 days ago I
>received my long awaited release of N2 1999. It has taken the last 2 days
>to install it on a brand new Dell PII 450mhz. Once again, Sierra has
>proven there is no PC that can be built that it cannot test the limits of.
>After finally getting the new Voodoo 2 video to work, the sound card to at
>least make a pleasant noise, and a T2 Thrustmaster to be recognized as the
>controller of choice, I waited with bated breath as my new 1999 version
>loaded up for it's first test run. Anxious to see all the new and wonderful
>changes that had been so heavily advertised, and that all us nascar
>enthusiasts had been talking about for 12 long months, I'll have to say
>"What does this version do that old N2 didn't do?" Of course the box states
>it comes ready for the NROS, of course the inverse is not equally true.
>The hi- resolution 3dfx capabilities I had heard so much about, look almost
>as good as my old Rendition version. And the sound, let me tell ya, I had
>purchased a new Dell with the new Turtle Beach Montego II sound card
>expecting to be blasted out my window with the roaring engine similar to a
>real Nascar racing machine, but when I finally could crane my neck in just
>the right position, I could make out the same old audible sound I have
>become accutomed to from N1 and N2. Well, not entirely, there is a new
>spotter's voice, YOU JUST CAN'T HEAR HIM AS WELL!

> So I sat back, adjusted my seat, and got ready for the amazingly
>realistic actual gameplay chanes that must be forthcoming, i.e - random
>pit stall locations in offline play, double file restarts, accurate and
>straitened pit lanes, all those wonderful thingsa we have all anticipated
>and heard so much about. NADA- not there, don't exist, no change, as in
>same as the old one! Remarkable, this product has been in the making for
>over 12 months, and all that is different is a couple added tracks, and of
>course now trucks, as if that were new to any of us who have been buying
>Sierra products since the concept of Nascar was first introduced. I
>apologize for the sarcasm, but c'mon, surely there must be some
>programmers out there with interest in nascar that would be willing to pitch
>in with me and let's develop a real Nascar game. I am not a programmer by
>trade, but I certainly could have acomplished more than a couple extra
>tracks and some trucks downloaded form the web in 12 months! And the beauty
>of this is, we don't have to rush! If it has taken this long to ad some
>tracks and trucks, we just need to be ready to go to market by the year
>4581!

>Just thought the rest of ya would be interested in knowing that the game you
>have waited all year for, is gonna be a total dissappointment.

>Chip

I believe you have Nascar 1999 confused with the upcoming Nascar
2000, aka. N3. This is the version that has been discussed for the
past year in this newsgroup.

by **Morris Jones J** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

Amen, I think it stinks too, Running a PII400, Abit Bh6, 128sdram, Rendition, and
Monster 3dII 12 meg, graphics are the worst yet, ICR2 Rendtion blows them away
big time, not to even talk about GPL that shows a steady 36fps even in traffic
with all the detail on. I am really glad to see E.A. get in the game maybe now
Papy will wake up and see they have some competition coming. The graphics in
their demo blow away Nr1999 and the speed is amazing even has real fence and
shadows. I know other thinks its a little arcade, but I don't think the final
product will be.

> On Wed, 9 Dec 1998 18:44:56 -0500, "Chipmunk"

> >Quick review of Nascar 1999 edition:

> >I just received, well that is not quite true, actually, 2 days ago I
> >received my long awaited release of N2 1999. It has taken the last 2 days
> >to install it on a brand new Dell PII 450mhz. Once again, Sierra has
> >proven there is no PC that can be built that it cannot test the limits of.
> >After finally getting the new Voodoo 2 video to work, the sound card to at
> >least make a pleasant noise, and a T2 Thrustmaster to be recognized as the
> >controller of choice, I waited with bated breath as my new 1999 version
> >loaded up for it's first test run. Anxious to see all the new and wonderful
> >changes that had been so heavily advertised, and that all us nascar
> >enthusiasts had been talking about for 12 long months, I'll have to say
> >"What does this version do that old N2 didn't do?" Of course the box states
> >it comes ready for the NROS, of course the inverse is not equally true.
> >The hi- resolution 3dfx capabilities I had heard so much about, look almost
> >as good as my old Rendition version. And the sound, let me tell ya, I had
> >purchased a new Dell with the new Turtle Beach Montego II sound card
> >expecting to be blasted out my window with the roaring engine similar to a
> >real Nascar racing machine, but when I finally could crane my neck in just
> >the right position, I could make out the same old audible sound I have
> >become accutomed to from N1 and N2. Well, not entirely, there is a new
> >spotter's voice, YOU JUST CAN'T HEAR HIM AS WELL!

> > So I sat back, adjusted my seat, and got ready for the amazingly
> >realistic actual gameplay chanes that must be forthcoming, i.e - random
> >pit stall locations in offline play, double file restarts, accurate and
> >straitened pit lanes, all those wonderful thingsa we have all anticipated
> >and heard so much about. NADA- not there, don't exist, no change, as in
> >same as the old one! Remarkable, this product has been in the making for
> >over 12 months, and all that is different is a couple added tracks, and of
> >course now trucks, as if that were new to any of us who have been buying
> >Sierra products since the concept of Nascar was first introduced. I
> >apologize for the sarcasm, but c'mon, surely there must be some
> >programmers out there with interest in nascar that would be willing to pitch
> >in with me and let's develop a real Nascar game. I am not a programmer by
> >trade, but I certainly could have acomplished more than a couple extra
> >tracks and some trucks downloaded form the web in 12 months! And the beauty
> >of this is, we don't have to rush! If it has taken this long to ad some
> >tracks and trucks, we just need to be ready to go to market by the year
> >4581!

> >Just thought the rest of ya would be interested in knowing that the game you
> >have waited all year for, is gonna be a total dissappointment.

> >Chip

> I believe you have Nascar 1999 confused with the upcoming Nascar
> 2000, aka. N3. This is the version that has been discussed for the
> past year in this newsgroup.

by **Mtank** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

Sorry to hear of your dissappointment friend. I just got totally hooked by GPL
and downloaded the NR1999 demo to check out the Papy's other big racer. I
realise a demo might be a lot different than the shrink wrapped product. Also
I can't compare N1999 to N2 since I haven't run that.
I felt the graphics were acceptable considering this may be a pretty-fied 2
year old sim. Sound was ok, ho-hum. Papy got some complaints on GPL too.
Audio programming just hasn't caught up to the hardware yet and is gonna
require more work than in the past, we'll just have to wait.
What is great about N1999 is the racin'! I don't have much time for sight
seeing, I'm just trying to go around the outside of this black n purple pickem
up! My Logitech stick gives me precise control (Thanks Papy) and makes roundy
round duels a lot of fun.
If you are interested in this class of racing and don't already have N2 or
can't wait for N2000 you oughta try N1999. Ya get a big ol rebate too!
Hapy Motoring,
Mtanker

by **Mtank** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

You never hear this from us Canopus owners...we're too busy *** with a dead
reliable vid card. Download drivers? No thanks, I'll just use the ones
Canopus gave us.

by **Crash** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

Hey--come on!!

NR99 was farmed out to the Russians to make most of the tracks. This was not
exactly a Silicon Valley engineering project.

Crash

by **Don Hancoc** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

>On Thu, 10 Dec 1998 03:59:06 GMT,

>> I am really glad to see E.A. get in the game maybe now
>>Papy will wake up and see they have some competition coming.

>Competition?

While the products are obviously not on the same level, I DO believe
they will compete with each other. There are a LOT of racing fans out there
that don't have a clue how .5psi in the left front will effect their
traction or how to regulate tire wear - and don't WANT to. For them, EA's
may be a viable option they didn't have before. Others may be teetering on
the fence and lean one way or the other.
Personally I plan on getting the demo (got my C300A/450 going on line
this weekend!!!) and checking this out.

Don Hancock
"Gunner"
ICQ 24045680

by **Harr** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

> Double file restarts are there....lapped cars will line up to the
> inside just before the restart. No lapped cars no double file
> restart.

Excuse me for being totally stupid, but what are double file restarts?

--
Harri
"If I were any lazier,
Surfers Paradise I'd slip into a coma."
http://www.netsonic.fi/~harrijv/ - Garfield -

by **Ben Farnema** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

A double-file restart, if you've ever seen a Winston Cup race, happens at
the end of a caution period if there are cars which are not on the lead lap.
On the last lap of the caution period, the lapped traffic is moved up behind
the pacecar to form an inside line. I'm not sure why, but it makes for more
interesting racing, and it makes it easier for a lapped car to get back on
the lead lap, if he's fast enough on the restart...

>> Double file restarts are there....lapped cars will line up to the
>> inside just before the restart. No lapped cars no double file
>> restart.

>Excuse me for being totally stupid, but what are double file restarts?

>--
> Harri
> "If I were any lazier,
> Surfers Paradise I'd slip into a coma."
> http://www.netsonic.fi/~harrijv/ - Garfield -

by **L. Andre Min** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

> Excuse me for being totally stupid, but what are double file restarts?

We'll excuse you THIS ONCE... but don't let it happen again! :-)

Double file restarts mean that as a caution period is coming to an end,
the cars that are "lap(s)" down, will move up alongside the lead lap
cars. Thus, in side by side lines (lead lap cars in one file, and the
lappers in the other), the green flag again drops to resume the racing.
Caution periods were originally unique to American racing... but I think
it's spreading to infect other parts of the world now. i.e. The F1
"Safety Car".

Hope this helps...

Andre Ming

by **L. Andre Min** » Fri, 11 Dec 1998 04:00:00

> Quick review of Nascar 1999 edition:

You may have perhaps confused N1999 (updated N2 package) with N3/N2000
which is to be the totally new sim (IF it makes it to market).

As for N99... I like it. It's a keeper. Only real "downside" to me is
the way the cars/trucks bunch up during the start at selected tracks.
However, at other tracks in N99, Las Vegas for example, the start of a
car race is EXACTLY right... every body sort of revving up after the
pace car goes in until by the time the green flag falls... we're already
hauling. Excellent! And once underway, at most tracks the AI is MUCH
better than N2's... lot's more aggression. At the above mentioned LV
track, if you let yourself get pinned outside, they'll line up inside of
you and freight train you... just like it should be.

Nope, only real "problem" with N99 (to me) is the starts at some of the
tracks. I'll likely wipe N2 from my drive now, to clear up some disk
space. ICR2 may get cleaned also.

Sorry for you on being dissappointed.

Andre Ming

by **IFLY4DEL** » Sun, 13 Dec 1998 04:00:00

Well, looks like you got screwed by Dell and not Papy because my PII
450 from Gateway with Voodoo 2 already installed runs N2 1999 like a
dream. I get frame rates out of this world.

Everything works just fine. Controls. Sounds. Install program. You
name it, no trouble.

I have noticed that most people with Dell's are having trouble so I
think it's something with the Dell computer...but that is just my
observation.

My P-133 runs N2 1999 great as well. However, not as good as my PI450
obviously.

Cheers...

IFLY4DELTA on TEN

On Wed, 9 Dec 1998 18:44:56 -0500, "Chipmunk"

>Quick review of Nascar 1999 edition:

>I just received, well that is not quite true, actually, 2 days ago I
>received my long awaited release of N2 1999. It has taken the last 2 days
>to install it on a brand new Dell PII 450mhz. Once again, Sierra has
>proven there is no PC that can be built that it cannot test the limits of.
>After finally getting the new Voodoo 2 video to work, the sound card to at
>least make a pleasant noise, and a T2 Thrustmaster to be recognized as the
>controller of choice, I waited with bated breath as my new 1999 version
>loaded up for it's first test run. Anxious to see all the new and wonderful
>changes that had been so heavily advertised, and that all us nascar
>enthusiasts had been talking about for 12 long months, I'll have to say
>"What does this version do that old N2 didn't do?" Of course the box states
>it comes ready for the NROS, of course the inverse is not equally true.
>The hi- resolution 3dfx capabilities I had heard so much about, look almost
>as good as my old Rendition version. And the sound, let me tell ya, I had
>purchased a new Dell with the new Turtle Beach Montego II sound card
>expecting to be blasted out my window with the roaring engine similar to a
>real Nascar racing machine, but when I finally could crane my neck in just
>the right position, I could make out the same old audible sound I have
>become accutomed to from N1 and N2. Well, not entirely, there is a new
>spotter's voice, YOU JUST CAN'T HEAR HIM AS WELL!

> So I sat back, adjusted my seat, and got ready for the amazingly
>realistic actual gameplay chanes that must be forthcoming, i.e - random
>pit stall locations in offline play, double file restarts, accurate and
>straitened pit lanes, all those wonderful thingsa we have all anticipated
>and heard so much about. NADA- not there, don't exist, no change, as in
>same as the old one! Remarkable, this product has been in the making for
>over 12 months, and all that is different is a couple added tracks, and of
>course now trucks, as if that were new to any of us who have been buying
>Sierra products since the concept of Nascar was first introduced. I
>apologize for the sarcasm, but c'mon, surely there must be some
>programmers out there with interest in nascar that would be willing to pitch
>in with me and let's develop a real Nascar game. I am not a programmer by
>trade, but I certainly could have acomplished more than a couple extra
>tracks and some trucks downloaded form the web in 12 months! And the beauty
>of this is, we don't have to rush! If it has taken this long to ad some
>tracks and trucks, we just need to be ready to go to market by the year
>4581!

>Just thought the rest of ya would be interested in knowing that the game you
>have waited all year for, is gonna be a total dissappointment.

>Chip