rec.autos.simulators

   The Tptcc and Porrs leagues are two of the groups using mods for NH.  DTM
and Cart Heat.  One thing several of us have found is that online you have
MUCH less grip than offline(with the same setups)  Our latest CART test at
Mosport turned up something...perhaps somebody may have a clue why.
  We ran several quick pickup races with no qualifying and, as expected, we
experienced very slick conditions(using *** settings)
But for the last race we ran a qualifying session, and the offline grip was
back.  With only one car on the track during qualifying, the grip level
seemed very close to offline.  Then when the group was back for the race
start, the slipperyness also resurfaced.
  Any clues what causes the difference?
dave henrie

While I have no idea why this happens I have seen this in other titles as
well. The Ratbag ones are some of the worst for it. As far as having grip in
qualifying goes I believe that would be caused by the fact that qualifying
is a offline action not really an online one. Therefore its just an
extension of what you have already seen, not something new.

MadDAWG

This may have something to do with how the online code uses predictive
positioning to place the cars for other players -- we tend to think of
OTHER people's cars jerking and such as things try to stay in sync,
but I wonder how much the code compensates YOUR position to keep
things close?  For example, I think Heat uses the AI ghostcar files
for predictive positioning, and if that's affecting YOUR car as well,
the grip levels may SEEM different, when it's really your lateral and
longitudinal POSITIONING (and not the GRIP) that's different during
online play.

Just a hairbrained theory, but it might have some merit.  Maybe we can
discuss this more in-depth with some of the Heat gurus once the BHMS
or Speedsims/Tiresmoke forums get back on-line.

-- JB

On Tue, 22 Jan 2002 06:59:02 -0500, "MadDAWG"