rec.autos.simulators

by **Joe Murp** » Sat, 17 Sep 1994 10:35:18

In Indycar some of the top speeds do not match reality, however I think
that you do need to look at last years times. For example at Road America
they were not getting to 200 at the end of the straits, more like 185-190
(during the race). My race setup has me at about 180-185 at the end of the
longest straits. However,the games is not perfect. I'm sure that you will
see these kind of problems fixed in the NASCAR sim.

I think the difference this year is that Goodyear has much softer tires in
preperation for the competition with Firestone next year (giving more grip
so the teams run less wing) and the natural evolution of the cars. It was
a big deal that Bebe Jacques was running 200 on the straits. BTW, I think
it was great he won. Would have been his second victory had his car not
broke at Michigan.

Joe

by **-Coulter,K.** » Sat, 17 Sep 1994 03:50:57

>>I am currently working on collecting complaints, ideas and suggestions
>>to then mail a large "Indycar upgrade Petition" to Papyrus. I am willing
>>to pay for a new verion of Indycar that fixes the proplems I have
>>found, and adds a few things that were simply left out.

Another yellow flag bug is that if you are leading, you always seem to lose
at least one spot on a restart no matter how you attack it.....

AGREED! And full course yellows on ovals seem to take too long.

My idea would be if you don't want to go thru the yellow flag laps, hit an
PF key or something, and fast forward to the restart. The AI could use up
the appropriate amount of fuel,etc, but this would save the driver time (and
in the case of those of us using the keyboard, carpal tunnel!)

And if they can do the AI for a pace car, why not put a safety truck out
every now and then?

Kevin
--
-----
Kevin Coulter "If it don't have wheels, it ain't a sport!!!"
AT&T - Naperville, IL

by **Peter Burk** » Sat, 17 Sep 1994 04:50:52

>AGREED! And full course yellows on ovals seem to take too long.

Unless you run 100% races - the amount of laps one spends under yellow is
appropriate, but I'd like to see variation (from 2-4 laps)

Good idea, especially if damage is off and you fall asleep in the middle
of
the pack...

BUT: how can you run this game with the keyboard? I played F1GP that way,
but ICR just isn't really playable without at least a joystick! Wow! What
are your keyboard laptimes in Laguna Seca?

Another note on yellows: Since the game is so quick in putting out the
yellow when an AI car wipes out, why not give the human the same
respect? I am way out in the lead, just past my pits and I brush the wall
-
dang - I am sideways at 150mph and nobody cares to hold out a yellow
flag for me :-(

There are plenty of such minor bugs, but it seems if Papyrus addressed
the issues raised in just this thread, the game would be a real
killer - and I wouldn't hesitate to PAY for the upgrade (which is a
sure way of getting their attention ;-))

I will soon post a draft of my petition, but if there are more ideas,
just post them here, or email me directly.

Peter

by **Michael Corrig** » Fri, 16 Sep 1994 00:03:27

|> >Subject: Re: ICR Reality check re:Elkhart
|> >Date: 13 Sep 1994 05:43:14 GMT
|>
|> >The major problem is that qualifying speeds are calculated, not driven
|> >by ICR computer drivers. This gives strange results in some tracks:
|> > o Michigan:
|> > 100% opponents have slow qualifying speeds (215-217 pole), but they
|> > can do 222 MPH laps with 40 gallons of fuel
|> > o Cleveland:
|> > In qualifying computer gets times in 0:59-1:00 region, but in
|> > reality they can complete the lap in 1:10-1:15 time (100% opps).
|> >
|>
|> This is nicely reassuring to hear. It drives me into fits of inadequacy
|> trying to qualify while driving behind the slow puckers on the track. The
|> biggest problems are on the road tracks. They corner too slowly, and don't
|> have the horsepower to keep up on the straights. It really gets my goad when
|> they qualify faster than I do, though. I think you just took most of the fun
|> out of the game for me. :)

Don't let it take the fun out for you. You can modify the track.txt file
(I think it is the BLAP value) to adjust the qualifying speeds up and down
without changing the race speeds. That way you can have realistic qualifying
times to go along with the race speeds. Both the qualifying and race speeds
are controlled by the opponent percent, and the BLAP value is used to
adjust the relationship between qualifying and racing.

--

Mike Corrigan

by **Peter Burk** » Fri, 16 Sep 1994 06:20:12

>1. Sound Effects Pause
>----------------------
>Quite often I come across an annoying 1-2 second pause when I hit the
>wall/another car before the "crash" sound effect is played. My system
>is a 486SX-25 with 8Mb RAM (not the ultimate computer, but quite nippy)
>and an 8bit Soundblaster (quite standard and stable). I've tested with
>EMM, no EMM, 2Mb smartdrv, a clean boot and every configuration in
>between, but I still get the pauses. The pauses often occur after about
>the 3rd lap around a course. This is ***y annoying when I'm in the
>middle of a hot race and it starts happening.

I had a similar problem on a Dell 486/66, but never saw this again on
another system. I did swap my soundcard's irq with the parallel port
on the system, which fixed that bug, but then my joystick didn't
work anymore. I then decided that this Dell machine was the problem.

I am pretty sure it is hardware related. I had an 8-bit soundblaster,
too. It works ok if you don't use the dma (just tell ICR an incorrect
address, but you'll never hear the impact)

by **Herbert Pohl** » Sat, 17 Sep 1994 18:13:39

|>
|> Another yellow flag bug is that if you are leading, you always seem to lose
|> at least one spot on a restart no matter how you attack it.....
|>

You know, where the green flag comes. Go slower than allowed (50mph), and make sure you
have full acceleration at this point - you must know the exact spot, and start
accelerating a bit earlier. This works for the pace lap if you are the leader, too.

|> >6. Local Yellow Flags
|> >---------------------
|> >Full course yellow flags on road courses can be a pain, especially if you've
|> >built up a nice lead. The game should introduce local area yellow flags
|> >in most minor accidents.
|>
|> AGREED! And full course yellows on ovals seem to take too long.
Agreed!

|> >7. Pace Car / Number of Yellow Laps Remaining
|> >---------------------------------------------
|> >When driving under a full-course yellow, you have no idea on how much longer
|> >the yellow flag will last, therefore it's difficult to plan a good restart.
|> >
|> >Ideally, a pace car would be brilliant, but hard to implement. A better
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
No, I am sure, its EASY: it's the same that happens in the pace lap...

|> >solution would be to have a board displayed when you cross the line (like
|> >your pit board) that indicates how many laps of yellow are remaining.
|>
|> My idea would be if you don't want to go thru the yellow flag laps, hit an
|> PF key or something, and fast forward to the restart. The AI could use up
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Make it 'half a lap before the restart, so you have time to warm up the tires
(zig-zagging, etc.).

Happy racing!

Herbert

--

by **Chris Gouch** » Sat, 17 Sep 1994 23:42:32

>> The sounds in this game are wonderful- the roaring engine seems quite
>> realistic when I compare it to tapes of real races. It gives a huge
>> sense of power. Am I mistaken, or do I hear the whine of the gearbox
>> in there as well?

> Really? On my system the cars just sound like a generic high pitched
>whine. It's enough to tell you what you're engine is doing, but it
>doesn't sound realistic to me at all. There's no bass whatsoever. Keep in
>mind that I have a Pentium system with a Soundblaster AWE32 to boot. I
>believe I'm using the Soundblaster 16 driver for the game.

>Thanks,
>-Bill

Bill,

I know this is so obvious, and do not be offended, but I have a
SB-16 (thus use the SB drivers as you do). However, not knowing anything
about how the AWE-32 works or operates, I can re-adjust the TREBLE,BASS,
MAS.VOLUME etc. in the configuration of the sound in the Autoexec.bat
file. The SB of mine defaulted to dismal BASS settings for my liking so I
just increased the value... all's bassy now :-)
SB-CLabs do this stuff (at least in my card's case) to cover up the
'background' noise and stuff when emulating the old-style SB's.... there is
a noticeable difference in sound quality when running SB-PRO programs via
the 16 then when I had my orignal PRO card :-( Native 16 supported apps.
are tolorable though. Good luck!

P.S. I as well, never heard any "whining" in the gear-box to my knowledge.
ICR sound is adequate, though, but not 'ground breaking'. What sound setup
does the previous (original) poster have?
--
Christopher Goucher Atlantic Geoscience Centre

work: (902) 426-4754 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
home: (902) 865-9270 CANADA

by **Chris Gouch** » Fri, 16 Sep 1994 21:51:59

>(Speaking of tire wars, I wonder if NASCAR Racing will have
>a Goodyear/Hoosier tire choice.)

--- Rumor has it it will. Not sure of their differences, we'll have to
wait and see. Don't hold me to any of this though. :-(

While on the subject, I sure hope they'll be including some sort of better
display of points; manufacturers, tires (if indeed they're included) etc.
similar in presentation to F1GP... that'd be neat. Anyone have any ideas?

Read in a mag. they wanted the end results to be reminicent of newspaper
articles and the like from your sports page... hope that's the case as it'd
add a lot to it, IMO :-)

Keep er' on all 4's!

--
Christopher Goucher Atlantic Geoscience Centre

work: (902) 426-4754 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
home: (902) 865-9270 CANADA

by **Woodm** » Sun, 18 Sep 1994 11:06:40

>[snip]
>> The improvements came entirely as a result of increased understanding
>> of cornering for me. Instead of throwing the car into desparate
>> four-wheel drifts and screeching around the corners with white
>> knuckles holding my breath I slowed down a bit more going in, and
>> am able to accelerate sooner as I leave. I crash far less often as well.
>[snip]
>The one I find helpful, braking through the apex of the corner. This is
>not hard braking, but keeping the brake on just a little. This has the
>effect of transferring the load to the front wheels, thus enhancing
>steering. I was pleasantly surprised that ICR seems to have simulated
>this quite well. Of course you will need linear braking for this to
>work. (Thank you Thrustmaster Formula T1!!)

Are you talking about trail braking or a quick stab to load the fronts?
--
-- | I believe that nothing is unconditionally
Michael Woodill | true, and hence I am opposed to every statement
| of positive truth and every man who makes it.

by **Terrill Yuh** » Sat, 17 Sep 1994 19:26:00

>>> <stuff deleted on sounds>

>> <stuff deleted on high-pitched whines>

> <stuff deleted on adjusting bass & treble>

I have my SB hooked up to the AUX connectors on my stereo. I can then
easily adjust the Bass, Trable, and of course Volume :+) to whatever suits
my current mood. This has helped the sounds to be more realistic than the
old Radio Shack $15.99 specials I had my SB connected to.

Of course you think whining noises are an issue? Try playing the game when
one of the color "guns" in you monitor goes out and everything is now

Terrill

What's trail braking?
--

Brian Wong Product Marketing Engineering

415-336-0082 Palo Alto, CA 94303

by **CarlosR5** » Sun, 18 Sep 1994 05:45:02

...in the case of those of us using the keyboard, carpal tunnel!)"

*******
How can you possibly get anything out of this - especially on road courses
- using the keyboard instead of a joystick or steering wheel? Just
curious...

by **Michael E. Carv** » Mon, 19 Sep 1994 04:12:25

> >The one I find helpful, braking through the apex of the corner. This is
> >not hard braking, but keeping the brake on just a little. This has the
> >effect of transferring the load to the front wheels, thus enhancing
> >steering. I was pleasantly surprised that ICR seems to have simulated
> >this quite well. Of course you will need linear braking for this to
> >work. (Thank you Thrustmaster Formula T1!!)

> Are you talking about trail braking or a quick stab to load the fronts?

I was referring to trail braking. The quick stab works to for getting
the car pointed in the right direction, while trail braking keeps weight
on the front (steering) wheels.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

by **Michael Corrig** » Sun, 18 Sep 1994 06:11:00

|>
|> I have my SB hooked up to the AUX connectors on my stereo. I can then
|> easily adjust the Bass, Trable, and of course Volume :+) to whatever suits
|> my current mood. This has helped the sounds to be more realistic than the
|> old Radio Shack $15.99 specials I had my SB connected to.
|>
|> Of course you think whining noises are an issue? Try playing the game when
|> one of the color "guns" in you monitor goes out and everything is now

One of the most common causes of loss of one of the primary colors is simply
that the cable has gone bad. You should check this first as it is cheap to
fix (often just re-seating the cable). A friend of mine had green go away
on a brand new 20" NEC ($2K) and was pretty upset until he found that his cat
had been chewing on the cable. A year later his printer quite working and, you
guessed it, the cat had been chewing on that cable too.

--

Mike Corrigan

by **Chris Gouch** » Tue, 20 Sep 1994 10:18:55

>|> >solution would be to have a board displayed when you cross the line (like
>|> >your pit board) that indicates how many laps of yellow are remaining.
>|>
>|> My idea would be if you don't want to go thru the yellow flag laps, hit an
>|> PF key or something, and fast forward to the restart. The AI could use up
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>Make it 'half a lap before the restart, so you have time to warm up the tires
>(zig-zagging, etc.).

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Herbert (and Pete):

This is another problem that needs addressing (or omission from the
manual if they don't). Page 112 - "One Final Secret" mentions the warming up
of tires on the pace laps and yellows (which is true) and how the AI's will
be doing the same.... funny thing, never see the AI's weaving and the only
way I can spark my tires up any is by pulling off a donut (not a Dunkin' ;-))
or two... then they'll raise a few degrees. Otherwise, they actually will
get 'cooler'! AI's drive pretty straight at my place, don't know what's
up on other people's machines. Like another guy has mentioned, doing 'burn
outs' from the pits does heat em' up either. Sure, I can do some SERIOUS
zig-zagging and they'll get a bit warmer, but I usually am in the grass
when I'm done :-( Just nice and smooth zig zags should do it... what'yall
think?
--
Christopher Goucher Atlantic Geoscience Centre

work: (902) 426-4754 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
home: (902) 865-9270 CANADA