rec.autos.simulators

Since some people have already posted messages with wish lists, I thought I
would post my own, although I realise that this is a very, very tall order,
even to PAPYRUS. But I do wish that they can prove me wrong...

Here, then, is my wish list:

ENGINE SETTINGS:

This has always been somewhat forgotten in all the sims so far. Of course,
in modern race cars most things are tested in the workshop, and the
on-circuit settings are mostly done through EEPROM programming. However, it
was very different in the old days. Perhaps something can be made in GPL 2?
I don`t dare wish it for GPL...

Engine heads:

4 types, with 2 compression ratios and 2 valve sizes, cross-combined to make
up 4 types. The implications are plentifold: high compression ratio=more
acceleration, higher power output, but unwillingness to rev very high, and
more stress on the engine (bad for long races with long straights). Valve
size: bigger=more top-end, worse at low revs. In a game with engine damage
and full-size races, one of the 4 combinations should be optimum...

Camshaft profiles:
2 types, one for maximum power output at high revs, another for optimum
acceleration in the mid-range.

Carburettors:
2 sizes, maybe 3: big ones for top-end, small ones for mid-range, and a
"compromise" size.
For injection cars, there could be a slider with 3 positions, to roughly the
same effect. Don`t forget that fuel injection, in those days, was still
mechanical (no electronic control).

SPARKPLUGS:
If the effects of ambient temperature can be modelled to affect engine
behaviour, there should be 3 to 5 degrees of sparkplugs, with different
grades (concerning self-cleaning temperature when working).

There could be other things, but this would already make me very happy!

SUSPENSION:

This is where it all began. Most good sims today have detailed suspension
settings, so there is not much to add. However, it would be nice to see
spring settings that would diferentiate between spring stiffness ( which
implies different springs) and spring pre-load.

On the damper side, the rumour has it that GPL will have almost perfect
settings: compression and rebound, both fast and slow. Enough said.

As far as geometry is concerned, I don`t think there is much to add to those
in Indycar 1 & 2. But it would be nice to have adjustable ride height: very
handy for the Nurburgring!!

TRANSMISSION:

As someone has already suggested, it would be nice to separate gearbox
ratios from diff ratio. Nicer still would be to have adjustable limited-slip
differentials, especially if combined with classic and viscous (Ferguson)
types. The Torsen can not be reallistically used: I think it had not been
invented back then.

This, then, is my wish list for car settings. Although I was thinking
especially of GPL (2?), it can be applied to almost any simulator. I realise
that it is a bit far-fetched for most sim fans, but there could be, for each
setting, an "Automatic" checkbox that would give, say, 95 to 98% of the
optimum, so that those who don`t like to fiddle around with settings can get
on with their driving without too much of a handicap. However, I must point
out that setting up the cars is very much an essential part of racing them
in real life; it has always been, and it always will. The best driver in the
world cannot win with a bad car, or one that is not well set up. Therefore,
IMHO, car settings are an essential part of any simulator, and, as far as
they are well implemented in the car`s behaviour, the more detailed, the
better!

I`m looking forward to any responses to this. Let me know what you think.

As always, I apologise for any mistakes.

Daniel Fris

P.S.: If anyone from CODEMASTERS is reading this, please put car settings in
TOCA2!! How could you leave them out????

P.P.S.: If anyone from PAPYRUS is reading this, don`t worry: your car
settings are among the best, and, above all, are the best implemented in the
car`s behaviour. They can only get better. I hope they will.

FYI, from what i've heard... this is what we can *expect* to able to adjust
in GPL :

Dampers or shocks:  (Both bump and rebound. )
Springs
Camber
Toe-in/out
Ride-height
Anti roll-bars
Tire-pressure
Brake-balance (Cockbit adjustable.)
Gear-ratios
Steering-ratio
Differential-settings: (Limited Slip Differiental torque-settings)

There is also some rumours that it will be possible to tune the
caracteristics of the engine. I.e. high-torque for twisting "mickey
mouse-tracks" vs. high topend power for high-speed tracks.

Hope this helps,

--
Best,
Edwin Solheim
ed_ on NROS

The Paddock - a legendary site..: http://home.c2i.net/thepaddock
Cheek Junior Team: http://home.sol.no/~solhmrek

Edwin,
The ability to adjust the fore-aft braking ratio from the***pit was most
certainly *NOT* a standard feature in 1967.  It would be incorrect to have
this modelled in this way.  Adjustable in the garage, for sure, but not
from the***pit.
--
Regards,

Bruce.
GP Legends Historic Motor Racing Club is at:-
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Jeeezuz Christ!
I want a DRIVING simulation............*NOT* an ENGINEERING simulation!!
--
Regards,

Bruce.

As you may have guessed, I`m a bit partial about car settings in racing
sims. I do, however, fully respect the point of view of those who don`t like
it. But I think that good software can cater for both sides, letting me and
others like me have their fun, without spoiling the game for those who want
simple or no settings. Also, I would not like to see a driving model or good
graphics spoiled because of programming time and effort put into the
settings. It would be interesting to organise a referendum among sim fans
about this settings issue. Perhaps you could do it, in your site? (BTW, very
nice: good text and GREAT pictures! Congratulations!)

Somehow, I think the "simple settings" side would win easily...Anyway, I do
stand by what I said: in real life, a great race driver is someone who, not
only drives superbly, but also manages to set up the car very well, or, at
least, can convey to the team members what the car does wrong so tha they
can tune it to higher efficiency, and to his driving style.

Still, even discarding the finer points, don`t you think that something
should be done about the engines? Even if it`s just a slider between torque
and maximum power? The engine is such an important part of a race car, and
it never gets any attention!

As always, I apologise for any mistakes.

Regards,

Daniel Fris

Cripes, Daniel......thanks very much for the nice comment regarding the
site.
Oh, I agree that, provided the software producers have the means (read
time/money) to include it then certainly, cater for all tastes.

It's just that feel the hackles rise when I read that "youngsters",
raised on a diet of electronic, digital, semi-automatic, computerised,
fly-by-wire motor-racing as found in the nineties, want to incorporate
these features into an historical simulation.  To me, that is nonsense
and makes nonsense of the term "historical simulation".

If a feature was not available in 1967, then the computer simulation
should NOT include it.  If, in the instance of GPL, the mission statement
for the Papyrus team was to create a simulation of F1 racing at or around
1966/67, then there should be no tendency at all to include examples of
technology that just were not available, not used or not authorised at
that time.  This goes for the engines as well as any other part of the
car.  If one wants an "historical simulation", then that is what one
should expect to find in the package....not some smorgasbord of
sim/arcade and "what if".

Incidentally, with regard to historical accuracy, in real life a great
driver is not/was not necessarily also a great "setter-upper".  There are
numerous examples of drivers who, whilst brilliant when "in the office",
could not convey any information to their engineer in a clear and
technical manner.  James Hunt immediately comes to mind.
--
Regards,
---
Bruce.

The Grand Prix Legends Historic Motor Racing Club:-
http://www.netspeed.com.au/brucek/legends/

Hi again, Bruce

I totally agree with this. IMHO, the simulation should be as faithful to the
original as possible. This works both ways, however: if a given setting was
available at the time, I would see its inclusion in the game as a positive
point, even if it increases its difficulty. If it was not, it should not be
included, as you say. That`s why I`m against telemetry in GPL, and all for
it in modern F1 sims.

You`re right, of course. But bear in mind that, for drivers like that, the
inability to help in the set-up of the car was seen as a minus point, not a
good one.

The reverse is also true, of course: there are drivers who are great at
setting up the cars,  but just can`t cut it at top-level racing. They are
usually hired as test-drivers by the teams, and help in development work.

As always, I apologise for any mistakes.

Regards,

Daniel Fris

Daniel.....
For Gods' sake.....stop "apologising for any mistakes", mate!!
Your comments are correct.

No, I wasn't specifically referring to you when I said "youngsters",
although, at 35, you hardly qualify as an "oldie": when I was enjoying
the sights and sounds of the Tasman Cup in 1963, you were being born! :-)

I don't recall the Ferguson device ever appearing in a Championship
race.....it certainly *was* raced (Tasman Cup series, 1963).

--
Regards,
---
Bruce.

The Grand Prix Legends Historic Motor Racing Club:-
http://www.netspeed.com.au/brucek/legends/