rec.autos.simulators

Can anyone recommend a Motor Racing game (probably Formula1, though Indy
might be fine) before I go out and spend money on something which misses
the mark.  

I am particularly interested in gameplay rather than a flash user
interface, but needless to say a nice graphics would be great.

I am looking for a game which allows car setup and race strategy,
including things like fuel load, tyres, aerofoil, and maybe engine and
gearbox.  Ideally the game would support pitstops allowing (for example)
the first three to be changed.

Any information whatsoever on any current Motor Racing game would be
appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
mart

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HTH,

=8>}

-DG-

First of all, go for an F1 sim, as half the tracks in Indycars are
ovals, and being from ol' Blighty you probably don't care much for that
kinda thing.

I know just the thing...

Yep, sounds like Grand Prix 2 by Microprose is what you are looking for.
You can change fuel load so you have to decide what kind of strategy to
use. As far as I know, no sim really allows you to go into changing
gearboxes and engines, but it has a reasonable car setup interface.
Tyres cannot be changed, but there are different compounds, it's just
that the computer takes the best choice.
The fuel load and strategy can be changed during a race via a pitstop,
but since there is little change to the setup during races in real F1
[just gurney tabs etc.] anyway, GP2 does not have this implemented.

Yup, get GP2, I hear its only 30 squids now!
--
Dave Bowers

Martin-

It's been our experience that if you're more of a car person than a
computer person, you will be happiest with Indycar2 by Papyrus IF you get
a Rendition based video card.  This program and video card combination
will get you high "frame rates" (pictures per second) so that the
simulation will seem "fluid."  This program also allows adjustments
of all the items you listed.

Rendition based cards are sold by:

Canopus
Intergraph
Sierra
Creative Labs

All of these include the special version of Indycar 2 except the Creative
Labs one.

-Erick

If your looking for an F1 sim, there is only one....

Grand Prix 2 (World Circuit Racing) by Microprose.

It's critics will tell you it has no network support, poor modem/link-up
play, slow frame rates, no tyre choice, no weather options, plus a few
more minor omissions. All are true.....

However, if you like F1, if you like excellent graphics, if you like
being able to adjust everything, and I mean everything, (except the items
mentioned above), if you like good game play, if you like good AI in the
computer cars, if you like a racing sim to "feel" real, if you like to
just jump in the car and drive without adjusting anything, if you like
spending hours pouring over every set-up detail, if you like driving on
your own on any one of six*** tracks, if you like driving a full race
season, including practice, qualifying, and warm up sessions,  if you
want to edit every part of the game, from driver and team names, to car
graphics, to your place in the pit lane, to the bhp and grip of the car,
then look no further, GP2 is for you.

You need a good fast pc to appreciate its staggering graphics and get a
good frame rate, you need lots of spare time to practice driving the car,
and to appreciate its pure attention to detail, above all you need GP2.

Go get it......NOW.

d:~)

#:~>  **Peter**