rec.autos.simulators

I'm running a P200mmx with 64meg and a Creative Voodoo 2. With most graphics
on I get 20-30fps whether I'm in 1024 or 800 or 640 (there is a difference
but only a few frames). However when I put 19 cars in a session it drops to
6-12fps. This happens when the cars aren't even on the screen. If I put 10
cars out it's acceptable.

Why do the cars make such a difference when the Voodoo2 is doing all the
graphic work. I would expect slowdowns when they are on screen but not at
other times. I remember ICR2 and Nascar2 having number of cars selectable
but always thought it was for when they were on-screen (with rendition they
ran like silk with everything on inc all cars anyway so I never used it).
I've never seen this in any other racing game where it made any noticable
difference.

Any ideas.

Dean

P.S. I thought about the processor having to drive the cars off-screen but
this wouldn't make sense to use up all that CPU power when you could use
simple routines to work out where the other cars would be and only calculate
the physics when they were in view.

You need more cpu to run the physics and ai.

Games and systems tend to be balanced for a certain mix of graphics
vs. everything else.  GPL requires an unusual balance - heavier
on the cpu side.

rob.

% You need more cpu to run the physics and ai.

% Games and systems tend to be balanced for a certain mix of graphics
% vs. everything else.  GPL requires an unusual balance - heavier
% on the cpu side.

To add another note. . . Papyrus prides themselves (IMHO rightly so) on
the extensive physics models in GPL.  They opted to not compromise this
and the AI must adhere to the same physics models as the human player's
car.   This requires alot of CPU horsepower.  More AI = more CPU drain.

Since the Voodoo cards tend to rely on CPU horsepower for calculating
the graphics, you must share the CPU for graphics and phyics
calculations.  You may want to consider getting a Rendition card for 3D
if you are planning on keeping your CPU for awhile.  As the Rendition
cards do most of the calculating required on the card and thus put less
strain on the CPU.  The Thriller seems to be the card of choice (outside
3DFX cards).

--
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Thanks for the info. I would have thought it would be easy to produce the
same effect of drivers on different parts of the track without working out
every bit of physics but there you go.

Dean

It's reasonable, I don't want to waste my precious CPU cycles worrying
about the shape of the contact patch on some car I'll never see again
(until he laps me :O( ).

Nonetheless, there does seem to be some slightly anomalous behaviour,
the AI seem to be able to get a lot of acceleration at high speeds.

Andy

I wondered why all top AI drivers in various cars (including eg. Rindt
in Coventry) are able to reach 320 km/h or 200mph just before the
Masta kink, while I can only push my Coventry to 305 km/h (the exit
speed out of Malmedy is not that different).

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And there's me in my little ol' Ferrari doing a measly 196..... IGPS Spa
will be fun :-)

Cheers!
Graeme Nash

http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk
ICQ# 11257824

1998 Xoom GP2 League Champion

Belive it or not (most likely not but i really did do it) i hit 200 once in the
Ferarri at Spa.  My exit from Malmedy was really good though.  Eagle im about
201 if i get a good run at it.

My problem lies in the fact that i have to slow WAY down for Masta and Eau
Rouge.  Drives me nuts too cause i should (in theory) only be like 5-7 secs of
the best laps at Spa (when i make it the whole way without spinning...which
isnt often on a hotlap).  But in reality im like 15 secs slower.  Is it really
possible for me to loose that much in just those two corners???

What kind of speeds are you running in the corners? Yesterday I turned a
3m19 lap in the Ferrari and dropped to a lowest speed of 123mph in Eau
Rouge and 178mph in Masta.

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Cheers!
Graeme Nash

http://www.karisma1.demon.co.uk
ICQ# 11257824

1998 Xoom GP2 League Champion

--
   _____
 /_______\              .\\ a t t h e a d
I  XT /~~~~                    
I  500\_____       1977' Yamaha XT.Rex 500 Enduro
 \____/\__I_I      http://matthead.home.pages.de/