rec.autos.simulators

OK - it's here, I've driven it for a while...and, well, umm...it's alright.

It's certainly not ground-breaking.  It's GP2 with an overhaul.  Graphics
still have a GP2 feel about them, but brush up quite well at 800x600 or
above.  . (note to G.Cram DROP THE OLD CODE - it's holding back the quality
of graphics...start afresh with Direct 3D Accel only..software mode isn't
necessary anymore)

Physics is basicaly the same as GP2 - perhaps a little more catchable in a
slide - which I like!  Not too difficult - none too easy neither - just
nice.

Don't like the moving steering wheel - doesn't feel right somehow - perhaps
have it's movement turn on & offable!?!

The Data-logging side is improved a little - with trace print outs being an
AWESOME addition - they look great - just like the pros use!!

Menu system improved a great deal, and the bgnd music is really very nice.

Wet weather is outstanding - no-one has ever done it that well.

Sound is pretty much the same as GP2 - perhaps the samples are a little bit
better - but fundamentally the same - disapointing...(note to G.Cram. MUST
DO BETTER HERE!)

AI - havn't toyed around enough yet - had a *** crash and they managed to
get out my way, and ran 3 abrest down into Eau Rouge, and ran out of track
without getting barged off.

The MANUAL IS CRAP...the same as the GP2 manual, which was the same as the
GP1 manual. Full of errors, most of the track maps have missing or wrongly
placed pit lanes, and the Box quotes rec. spec '..AMD Anthlon'  what's an
Anthlon....athlon perhaps? No wonder Hasbro are advertising for a manual
writer on their website.

So - I'm happy - it's what I wanted, and what I expected.  I do think,
however - that Hasbro & Microprose must realise that the code now needs to
be canned, and to start GP4 with a clean sheet.  Retaining the old code
would be a mistake now. Software mode needs to be droped, sound imroved,
packaging dept fired.

I'm looking forward to seeing people edit this till it bleeds though -
because the scope is there (in the same way GP2 code has been retained) for
the old editing programs to be re-jigged to work for GP3 (track editor out
TOMORROW!!!) so, damnit, get me gp3jam!!!

Oh, and I've just un-installed GPL.  I hadn't played it for a few weeks, and
felt no need to subject myself to the continued ritual of spin, spin, spin,
spin.  Get's boring after 10 mins. GP2 still interests me 4 years later, and
the same will happen with GP3.

So there you go... Not the best game ever, certainly not a driving
simulator, but a damn good F1 game that I'll be enjoying for a while.

Doug

On Fri, 28 Jul 2000 12:09:44 +0100, "Douglas Ellison"

After some hours of driving (mainly at Hockenheim), I agree with most
of your points. Graphics are ok, the unfiltered textures and some cars
look really bad, but on the other hand the virtual***pit and the
rain effects are great. Sound is disappointing (mainly because you
can't hear other cars), and controls seriously need a fast patch
(known problem with 3 axis-wheels, and FF doesn't work right on my R4
FF). Imo, physics are very good, the car feels more 'real' than in
GP2, perhaps only because you can see your tires. Cars also feel more
loose, especially when accelerating you have to react very quickly
when your rear loses traction. Curbs feel a bit odd, as in GP2. I
*love* the weather effects, I never noticed how much I missed them in
GPL (or GP2) until today. Driving in the wet is pretty challenging, as
you have wheelspin up to the 4th gear (at least). In summary, the car
doesn't always feel the way I'd like it to do, but as far as I can
judge from various in-car video coverage of current F1 races, physics
seem to be very accurate, especially when driving on the limit. I
think I'll spend a lot of hours with GP3 :)

Daniel

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Douglas, thanks for your honest appraisal.  Now on with the debate. :)

On Fri, 28 Jul 2000 12:09:44 +0100, "Douglas Ellison"

<highly selective editing>

   Mediocrity makes many a best-seller.  

   And if that's all you want and all you expect, that's exactly what
you'll get.  :(

   The trouble is, this *is* the starting point for future versions.
If it took x years (x being a hotly-debated number between 0.5 and 4)
to do "GP2.5", HTF do you expect Geoff to come up with a totally new
GP4 by next year?

   The thing that everyone needs to understand (and it becomes more
apparent with time) is that Geoff has *reached his vision*.  He thinks
a GP simulator should be done a particular way and *he's there now*
(he was with GP2, except the PCs of the time weren't fast enough for
the graphics and weather, and GP3 has fixed that).  Anyone expecting
something radically new from Geoff is going to have a long, loooong
wait.  

   As time goes by and PCs become more capable, we see developers like
Geoff plateauing as they reach their vision, while others like Kaemmer
(I500, ICR, NASCAR, ICR2-3D, GPL, N4) just keep pushing the limits of
computer-simulated reality (be it physics or graphics or multiplayer).

   GP3 will be a very good game, but it doesn't do much to advance the
start of the art of simulations.  It has great playability and will be
very accessible to the masses (as per Geoff's vision).  But for those
of us who are striving for something better, we have to look to other
developers for that vision, as it isn't part of Geoff's.

   I understand that some people don't have the time for some sims.

   But, Douglas, what worthwhile achievement in your life have you
ever achieved by devoting the odd 10 minutes a day to it?  Some of us
(yup, us fanatics :), think that achievement has its own rewards.

"But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was
nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into
a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark