rec.autos.simulators

It would be nice to have something like "tendency to crash" -data in the
drivers2.txt. This way you could create more realistic driving styles to
Andretti and Wall Tracy. The fact that accidents occur randomly isn't good
for drivers like Little Al and Jimmy Vasser who don't make mistakes so often
in real life. The same goes for mechanical failures.

I suppose chassis, engine and tires don't affect AI performance but they
should. In 1995 season Honda-Firestone drivers had an advantage on oval
tracks only. In ICR2 different combinations for AI opponents are only some
numbers in the drivers2.txt. It's a shame that Papyrus has no plans for
chassis and engine updates for 1996. I understand that it takes too much time
to create Homestead and Rio tracks but the chassis-engine-tire update for
1996 season shouldn't be too much to ask. It would also keep the game alive
much longer.

The most important thing to fix, however, is AI driving in certain tracks.
Though Rick said it's recorder from a human player it disturbs very much.
Phoenix is undriveable because AI cars brake far too heavily to corners 1
and 3. You can't simply drive so slow those corners. Surfers' Paradise
chicanes are a big problem too when AI cars drive on the grass and bounce
from the walls. The AI speed in the corner 11 at Mid Ohio needs fixing and
the last corner at Long Beach is driven wide too often by AI cars.

The problem with some billboards shining through AI rear wings shouldn't be
difficult to fix, too. And I would be very happy if Papyrus did something
to those "cars through each other crashes and turning sideways in still"
-problems. At least they should fix them to their next racing game. I bet
the Papyrus programmers know themselves that AI cars don't behave like
a real car or your own car in their games.

                                                Jussi

<snip>

I'm currently working on Phoenix for my next season race I don't find it undriveable
at all.  While it is true the AI cars brake more heavily than needed in those turns it
give a great opportunity to pass :) With some gear changes you can easily out
accelerate them out of turn 1 and take them low (because they do slow down so much).
In turn three you can either take them on the outside or follow them and take them low
down the front straight. Of course you need to develop a setup that will allow you to
drive a very flexible line to do this.

I will admit though that it has taken many laps to learn how to deal with their heavy
braking...and many trips to the pits for repairs ;)

Chris

I think the AI is generally pretty amazing; there are certainly bugs,
like their tendency to hit cars clearly in view of them (esp. on the
bend at the front straight at Long Beach), but there are also many
times I feel almost like I'm racing with real racers.

I do think it would be fun if some kind of "personality" factor were
implemented, i.e., make different levels of
impetuousness/aggressiveness for drivers. Al Unser Jr or Rahal could
be a 1, Michael Andretti a 10, rookies could have their own special
newbie ratings... set it up on stats from last year (or this year for
rookies). It would just be fun to see a car and think "uh-oh, need to
get away from him!" or "that guy's reliable." Then the cars wouldn't
just be "names", they'd actually remind you of the drivers.

As far as I know, the AI driving has to be like that since it also
controls the human player autobrakes. If the AI braked normally, the
braking help probably wouldn't work correctly.

Cheers!
John

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/_______:/  \::/    Racing is in my ***, it's part of me   \::/  \._______\

As it is now ICR 2 comes with 12.5 tracks.
Phoenix and Surfers are unraceable for well known reasons and
Mid-Ohio T1 is done way, way, too slowly by the AI. Even the
AI's racing line in T1 at Mid-Ohio is wrong. Mid-Ohio accounts
for the 0.5...
Fixing these "track characteristics" problems should be relatively
easy. Anyway there's no doubt that the reward will be staggering.
We are talking 2.5 tracks. :)

--
--- Terje Wold Johansen

--- http://www.ifi.uio.no/~terjjo/
--- "I am your inferior superior." O.W.