rec.autos.simulators

The last two days i had some time to play F1CR. Here are some comments about
the game:
1. I think the car F1CR behaves like a modern F1-car. Modern F1 - cars are
not designed to be driven with power slide. Please correct me if i am wrong,
but watching races on tv, i seldom saw F1 -drivers performing power slides.
2. Like in F1CR, i think, modern F1-cars are difficult to be driven on the
limit. If you dont be careful, the car snaps away without very much warning,
if you go over the limit.
3. Graphics: i think everybody agree: F1CR has the best one so far.
4. Features: F1CR has 107% rule for qualifying, option for only one spare
car per weekend. Penalties for resisting to be overtaken by a car if the
blue flag is out. Animated box crew.
5. AI: thats the weak point of F1CR: the AI has problem with the unexpected.
But if you are behaving like you should or like you are expected (by the
programmers :) ) you should not be in trouble. That means dont break too
early, if you are to be lapped, dont stay in the driving line and become
slower, but leave the driving line and then become slower and all should be
fine. Leraning AI? I played the game not long enough to say somthing about
that, but Creatures meet F1?!?

ad 1 and 2: Of course that is all theory, since i never drove a F1-car.

So what you're trying to say is that the AI is modelled after Jacques
Villeneuve?!?!?!

I have raced only one full race so far, but if you behave "predictable for
the AI" you will not crashed by the AI-drivers. But nevertheless it's a good
idea to save the game every five laps.
If you watch the AI driving, their behaviour looks sometimes like you see it
observing a race F1-race on TV.
The only problem with the AI seems that they have sometimes too long
reaction times.

There is a interview with Stephane Decroix, project manager on Ubi Soft's F1
Racing Championship, on

http://www.gamespot.co.uk/stories/interviews/0,2160,2044829,00.html

Decroix says:
"To satisfy Formula One fans, the development team aimed at creating
opponents who match with real drivers. As a result, AI has reached such a
high level that all competitors have a very humanlike behaviour. The new
engine REVENGE allowed developers to make competitors react to new
parameters. Parameters are reactive to genuine Formula One race parameters
(tyre type, fuel quantity and race strategy). Therefore, players will face
drivers who drive like those of the 1999 FIA Formula One season: some will
be very aggressive, others will wait for your mistake, others won't be fair
and will close the door while being overtaken... "

"In fact, players will compete against drivers programmed with a real
fighting spirit and who know how to take advantage of even the slightest
weakness. During the race, the AI evolves. Every computer-managed car will
learn during the races the best trajectories and the best speed for each
curve. "

[What comes now is very interesting]
"Very important also is the fact that, certainly for the first time in a
racing simulation, the computer manages as many parameters for the AI
drivers as it does for your own car. This means the cars managed by the
computer are placed exactly in the same driving conditions as you are."

  Bells and alarms should be going off...'save every 5 laps????'  Is this
Quake?
dave henrie

From my point of view the developers of F1CR tried something special with
implementing the AI in that way. BUT: they were not allowed to finish their
approach (the-market-cannot-wait-shit). We have to wait for the patch.