come to an interesting conclusion: frame rate matters. Not in the
conventional sense of better gameplay, but it actually affects your
lap times!
I'm running a C300A/V1000 and with minimum detail online, I'm
getting 29-36 fps. Good, but not good enough. I hooked up tonight
with a friend (he was hosting on a cable modem, I'm on a 48K modem
connection) and we were racing default Eagles at Monza. I'm racing in
arcade mode, so I can watch the speedo and see I'm doing a good speed,
but my lap times were off. Hot laps were reported as 1:36s, when they
should be 1:33s or so. When we raced head to head, he could beat my
top speed easily (he spun and was surprised how quickly he caught up).
I disconnected, rebooted to 450MHz, reconnected and ran some more
laps. My frame rate was now pretty steady at 35-36, with the odd 33.
My first hot lap was a 1:33.6. Later in a race, I was able to clock a
1:32.19, 0.10 sec off my personal best (so my computer was up to full
speed). Our top speed was pretty much equivalent now.
I had noticed this sort of slow-motion with some other online
connections, but that was with more graphics and much slower frame
rates (20ish, so I wasn't that surprised). It seems as if the server
is locked at 36 frames per sec - if your client can't handle them in
one second, well, it will get it done in a bit more real time.
This is distressing. First, it brings back the memories of the
biggest flaw of GP2 (lack of real-time correlation on slower
processors). Second, if you don't have a fairly stout system (one
that can produce 36 fps online in *some* graphics configuration),
you'll be left behind.
Has anyone else noticed this? (I know Alison's FAQ says you
*really want* 36 fps online, but doesn't mention this *major* side
effect. BTW, I've tuned up my DUN as per her instructions.) I hope
I'm wrong, but it seems to be true.
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