rec.autos.simulators

by **Marko Peri** » Thu, 23 Sep 1999 04:00:00

Hi,

I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D
representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I
noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship
2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already
have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see
another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome
even it made no difference to the frame rate.

Bendito;

by **Neil Rain** » Thu, 23 Sep 1999 04:00:00

> Hi,

> I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D
> representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I
> noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship
> 2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already
> have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see
> another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome
> even it made no difference to the frame rate.

C'mon - even Revs, one of the earliest "sim" racing games, had an
on-screen representation of the steering wheel.

I guess the main use (apart from decoration) was so you could see how
much steering lock you had got to with the keyboard controls.

In Grand Prix Legends you can turn it off if you want to - that surely
is the best solution.

by **Michael Barlo** » Thu, 23 Sep 1999 04:00:00

> Hi,

> I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D
> representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I
> noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship
> 2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already
> have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see
> another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome
> even it made no difference to the frame rate.

> Bendito;

When N3 was first being talked about and the addition of a steering
wheel and arms, I was totally against it. But, after driving GPL with
the steering wheel and arms, I'd rather have them. They do add to the
immersion.
--
=========================================
Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing?
=========================================
Racing online with the help of......

Race Communications Association
http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html
Holodyne Engineering

Mystic Music

(have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

by **John Bodi** » Thu, 23 Sep 1999 04:00:00

AMEN! I really don't like the hokey "wheel and arms" in a driving sim --
there are much better uses for those precious CPU cycles. Like you, I have
a wheel, hands, and arms, and I don't want to see double. In a FPS game
where the hands/weapon are shown, it adds to the realism because, well, uh .
. . because I DON'T have a weapon right in front of me, just below my
monitor. It's a no-brainer, regardless of the genre: Simulate what I don't
have, don't show me what I can already see.

-- JB

>Hi,

> I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D
>representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I
>noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship
>2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already
>have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see
>another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome
>even it made no difference to the frame rate.

>Bendito;

by **Toni Lassil** » Thu, 23 Sep 1999 04:00:00

> I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D
> representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I
> noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship
> 2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already
> have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see
> another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome
> even it made no difference to the frame rate.

One and only reason: to simulate feedback through the wheel for people
without FF-wheels.

--
Toni Lassila

by **Rick Baumhaue** » Thu, 23 Sep 1999 04:00:00

Exactly - the wheel in GPL will "shudder" when you get to the limit of the
front tires' grip. Since I got my LWFF, I've turned off the wheel graphics,
and I'm actually a bit quicker (less distraction?). But without FF, the
wheel graphic actually provided invaluable information. Whether other sims
do the same thing, I can't say, but it was useful in GPL.

Rick

by **Steve Ferguso** » Thu, 23 Sep 1999 04:00:00

: Exactly - the wheel in GPL will "shudder" when you get to the limit of the
: front tires' grip. Since I got my LWFF, I've turned off the wheel graphics,
: and I'm actually a bit quicker (less distraction?). But without FF, the
: wheel graphic actually provided invaluable information. Whether other sims
: do the same thing, I can't say, but it was useful in GPL.

Is that really what it is? I though I had dirty pots in my joystick.

Stephen

by **Don Scurlo** » Thu, 23 Sep 1999 04:00:00

>: Exactly - the wheel in GPL will "shudder" when you get to the limit of
the
>: front tires' grip. Since I got my LWFF, I've turned off the wheel
graphics,
>: and I'm actually a bit quicker (less distraction?). But without FF, the
>: wheel graphic actually provided invaluable information. Whether other
sims
>: do the same thing, I can't say, but it was useful in GPL.

>Is that really what it is? I though I had dirty pots in my joystick.

>Stephen

Yes that's what it is. Opinions obviously vary, but for me I like having
the arms and wheel visable in GPL even though I use a wheel. And since we
have the option to turn it off in the menus it can be considered nothing
but a win win option, in GPL anyway.

--
Don Scurlock
Vancouver,B.C.

by **Marko Peri** » Fri, 24 Sep 1999 04:00:00

> > I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D
> > representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms.

> One and only reason: to simulate feedback through the wheel for people
> without FF-wheels.

Fair enough. Does it work? I guess the answer would depend on the
game!

Marko;

by **Mark** » Fri, 24 Sep 1999 04:00:00

YES! I'll agree with that 100%.

Mark

>AMEN! I really don't like the hokey "wheel and arms" in a driving sim --
>there are much better uses for those precious CPU cycles. Like you, I have
>a wheel, hands, and arms, and I don't want to see double. In a FPS game
>where the hands/weapon are shown, it adds to the realism because, well, uh
.
>. . because I DON'T have a weapon right in front of me, just below my
>monitor. It's a no-brainer, regardless of the genre: Simulate what I
don't
>have, don't show me what I can already see.

>-- JB

>>Hi,

>> I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D
>>representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I
>>noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship
>>2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already
>>have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see
>>another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome
>>even it made no difference to the frame rate.

>>Bendito;

by **Andrew MacPhers** » Fri, 24 Sep 1999 04:00:00

The main reason for a visible wheel (and pedals IMO) is to give you visual
feedback that your physical setup is working and calibrated properly at
all times.

Andrew McP

rec.autos.simulators

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!

But I already have a wheel!