rec.autos.simulators

Just bought the new issue of PC Gamer here in UK, it features a six-page
interview for GP3 and has all the photographs which were on that German
gamers website - not sure if there are a couple of new one's.

So most of you will have seen them.

Interestingly, it does NOT mention if the shots are h/w or s/w, it only
states (on a photo caption) that "Only the Monaco track was playable in D3D,
but it was more than enough to wet our appetites"

To me, the shots look much smoother, more "solid" with little or no
pixelation (the shadows underneath the cars DO look a little blocky..).

The Sauber smoking tyres shot certainly looks h/w rendered.

Jordan looks incredibly realistic.

Maybe its just the difference in "clarity" between a web based picture and a
printed page photo.

Who knows.

** Note: I'd scan these and put them up but I don't have the "binaries -
simulators" group.**

*

The Interview.

The interview is with Nick Court of Microprose Grand Prix Team, a seperate
team from Crammond's Symergy Ltd.

The main points mentioned were:

No player head-motion control.

......Sadly not able to look left or right, seemingly the only player
      movement will be a nod  forward and back under braking and
      acceleration....very disappointing.

.......Physics mapped G-force on drivers head in external views....eh?

No animated pit-crews.

.......The visor wipe will stay though..!!

Single 3d car model for all teams

.......in my opinion a bit lazy.

Limited Pit-Crew communication.

.......hmmmmmm.

No more extensive lap info.

........a la GP2.

NO INTERNET PLAY.

........possibly for GP4.

Little change to limited player replays.

Excellent new 3d sound samples.

........brum brum.

No editors to ship with game.

........  :-(

Grand Prix 4 - to be a simple 99 upgrade pack....?

Grand Prix 3 released June 2000.

...........4 months away..!!!!!

To be honest, I felt slightly disappointed with the interview.Court seemed
to be saying "due to time restrictions.....maybe in GP4.."

Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

*

PC Gamer Monaco D3D playtest.

There was also a section devoted to the PC Gamer journalist who is a die
hard racing sim fan having a go around the hardware version of Monaco.

Here's some points of note:

First Impressions..?

"Very impressed, there's definitely an immediate WOW factor"

"Cockpit layout looks great.....greater impression of being there"

Handling.............?

"Simply incredible.....on removing driver aids the first changes from GP2
become apparent. Braking distances have been slightly increased, possibly
due to new physics engine simulating the new grooved tyres, narrower
wheelbase and also the lower level of wing downforce.

The engine seems more responsive and higher revving, and power slides out of
corners are far more apparent and frequent, getting close to a competitor in
a bend causes the front of your car to wash out, with unwelcome understeer
closely following.

Its also nice to be able to see the front wheels rotating from the***pit,
it gives a valuable visual reference to know when the wheels have locked
under heavy braking.

In short, its breathtaking and a vast improvement over the legendary
handling/physics engine of GP2."

And the new D3D graphics...up to the job...?

"Certainly you can see that a huge amount of time and work has gone in to
the trackside graphics.

The advertising billboards and surrounding buildings are crisp and clear and
the track itself looks as solid as tarmac on a computer screen can currently
be.

The cars themselves are beautifully modelled, showing off perfect liveries
of their respective sponsors and the additional colours that 3d acceleration
allows have been put to good effect.

The whole experience feels solid and believable."

The other drivers..more human AI than before...?

"I only made one successful overtaking manoeuvre, on the run down to the
Loewes hairpin at Monaco, and it didn't seem to be any harder than in GP2.

However, following the AI cars around the rest of the circuit it was
significantly harder than I'm used to, but the subtelies of the different AI
drivers will only become apparent after days or weeks of play."

So, better than GP2 in your opinion....?

"Undoubtedly, in every area, AI, graphics and physics. This beats GP2 hands
down, and EA are certainly going to have to produce something special to
beat another Crammond masterpiece."

*

Well, there you go.......

My opinion.

Disappointed by the lack of expansion of certain aspects (pit, view left
right...ect) but thankfully, it seems that the true core of the simulation -
the driving aspect. the nitty-gritty seems to be spot on.

And surely thats the most important thing.

Discuss.....

Ian
(idav)

The***pits are animated with head movements outside views, ala GP2 and the
whels which so many***pit editors struggled to add in.

Is it me or does  looking left and right seems a totaly usless and
unrealistic option especially for a modern F1 sim?

Its pointless and hard to sue in GPL btu if is done now and again but in
real modern F1, who the 'ell is stupid enough to try look around them!?!!?

1. You can't with the head rests, and
2. You need to check your brain if you want to have a loksey out over the
harbour as you swoosh out of the tunnel, and
3. Mirrors are the only thing used in rel F1.

So really theis was the only thing it seemd to lack but although its nice,
it ain't very nessiary OR realistic.

I really hope the final artwork for the cars is better than in these
screenshots, and why are they only using one 3D shape? Gp2 had 2, GP3 should
have one for every car. Especially if they are gonna draw a circular airbox
on the Jordan, the 3D shape should match, look at the shots you'll see what
I mean.

The  screenshots I've mentioned are:

1) http://www.avault.com/news/avscreenshots.asp?pic=gprix3&num=10
2) http://www.avault.com/news/avscreenshots.asp?pic=gprix3&num=14
3) http://www.avault.com/news/avscreenshots.asp?pic=gprix3&num=5

I s'pose we'll have to wait for some official final Harware 3D shots,

David C

Dave Ewing

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David A. Ewing

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Martin
Long Live Nigel Mansell!

Jyrki Vaananen

(skip void to reply)

Hres my reason.......
Look at the Jordan car's edge, absolutly smooth, no pixelation....... looks
3d rendered.

But look at the actual textures on the car, very pixelated caused by the
"jam" file containing an undersized .bmp for the textures which as fine in
GP2, just hope this ain't the case in GP3, thisis the first discouagingthing
I've seen really.

But still as long as the phsyics are good, I'll try to kep my eyes away from
small textures:-)

Ian, if you are still willing to scan and upload the pics, you can
easily access the binaries group by going to www.remarq.com and
searching for alt.binaries.autos.simulators You have to register, but
once you've done that, then its quite easy. I'm in the same boat, and
don't have access to the binaries group, but have dowloaded the
replays that have been posted there using remarq.com.

I'd love to read the full article, as we don't get the mag in Aust.

Rafe Mc

Cheers.....Ken

Dave Ewing

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David A. Ewing

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Cheers.....Ken

Cheers.....Ken

LOL! Too true, wake up Bernie and Mosley!!!

Are you sure it isn't just because your speed is greater than usual (the tow
increases your high speed a lot)?

nh