rec.autos.simulators

Is there a way to determine whether a driver is running a particular
aid(s)?? I run in a league and have some questions about whether a
particular driver is or is not using driver aids during race sessions.
I am not accusing him of cheating, just running totally legal (both in
NR2003 and the league rules) driver aids. MY issue with this comes from
the fact that I DON'T use such aids and whether getting beat by some
one who does, is something that I should address with the league
admins.

I know there is an player.ini file edit to allow the export of extra
info which adds tag info to each player and an "Options" line below the
results, but I don't know how to decipher these lines and/or tags.

Finally, is there a "penalty" for using traction control, stability
control, etc. in NR2003? That is, degraded performance in exchange for
increased control of the car?

Mike
mls67
TrippBros. Racing

I never understood how/why Papy could give such an advantage to what was
meant to be basic help for some newb.  The SIM aspect should have been given
priority and it was a huge disappointment to me that it wasnt.

Mitch

There are performance penalties for turning on traction control,
anti-lock brakes and stability control. I know of a test using "replay
analyzer" where these where confirmed. The penalties are in top end rpm.
That doesn't mean that the improved control isn't an advantage. When
using these "aids" I find it almost impossible to make a high
performance setup. Also if you turn your aids off and use force feedback
it is easier to actually feel the car to make a competitive setup. In
road racing the additional skill needed when not using aids seems to win
out over using them. However in SW and ST oval racing some think aids
are an advantage. SuperSpeedway racing is always affected by top end rev
penalties.

Roofing riding is not penalized but it is an advantage because of the
improved site lines. Road racing "roof riding" can be an advantage,
however on ovals I don't think it's much of an advantage because I use
no aids and drive in***pit and win races anyway. I feel roof riding is
cheating but I run with guys anyway cause I like them ... but I remind
them they are roof riders and that roof riding is the way little girls
would drive.***pit=SIM Roof Riding=game. I SIM race.

After everything we have talked about here I still believe the biggest
gain comes from not using force feed back, where you don't have to react
to it and cause input steering and scrubbing. However I use force
feedback because I'm looking for everything that can get closer to real
simulation. I'm not interested in playing games.

The biggest penalty of all comes from drinking beer and smoking dope.

;)

1 or 2% ain't bad, but beyond that you're dead meat on long runs.

-Larry

The game has a lot of ways to try to gain a competitive advantage, but
none of them beat basic driving and pitting skills. Take a poor setup
with whatever aids you want, and if you drive and pit well, you will
beat most of the people out there.

It's all a matter of perspective.

And if he's that good at staying on line, he don't need 70% anyway :)

At 70% you can cook dinner and race at the same time!

-Larry

N2003 does such a good job with multiplayer that any shortcoming can be
overlooked by the sheer fun of being able to race against so many
people whenever you feel like connecting to the servers.

The minor points about aids, views, force-feedback, all that other
stuff are insignificant (in my opinion). The game is just a great,
great race simulation, and truly allows drivers that take the time to
set up their cars and practice to consistently beat lesser drivers. I
don't really care what view the guy is using when I am 0.2 seconds
behind them, because I know that if they don't hold their line I am
going to be able to pass them.

Interesting thread, and I would like to hear some other opinions about
this. I personally can't see having steering assist set very high, but
I do leave stability control on simply because I hate it when someone
gets loose, touches my fender and makes my car do a 360.

For anyone that wants a FAIR race using driving skills instead of
exploitation skills then NR2003 isnt an option any more.

I went to a LAN event a few years back and it was funny to all of a sudden
see some of the fastest guys day iin and day out were all of a sudden
running in the back of the field at the LAN.  Coincidence?  I dont think so.

Mitch