that TIR feels exactly like SCGT2 to me. The demo can be hacked to
incorporate some of the tweaks that can be used with the full version,
and so far, here's what I've done to make the demo more playable:
1) I've incorporated a fix for the "sticky" grass and dirt (we had to
do this when SCGT first came out, IIRC).
2) I've installed some "***" physics settings to make the grip
levels more realistic (we had to do this with SCGT originally, as
well).
3) I have modified the volume levels and the sound files for the tire
squeal to provide better feedback on wheelspin and grip levels (which
was something we didn't have to do for SCGT).
With these changes, the demo feels a LOT like SCGT2 would feel if ISI
were to undertake such a project. Overall, the TIR physics engine
feels a lot like an ISI product in general, and graphically it's
superior to anything ISI has done so far (out of the box, with no
third-party graphic mods, that is). The AI reminds me a lot of the AI
in SCGT -- there isn't much "I" in the "AI" overall, but the AI cars
do slap and bang in a competitive manner, they drive both defensively
and aggressively, and they will bulldoze you out of the way if you're
not careful -- overall, though, the AI seems like it can be
challenging and entertaining, at the very least.
The overall lack of a damage model means there are no consequences for
being overly aggressive, which is a drawback from a realism
perspective, but in this respect, TIR isn't much worse than SCGT was
when it first arrived on the scene. SCGT at least provided us unseen
damage, and later visible damage was made available . . .
unfortunately, I don't think we'll ever see damage in TIR.
In general, though, the physics modeling in TIR seems to be much more
sophisticated than SCGT -- the physics engine runs at a higher
frequency than either TIR or Viper Racing, and it seems to model more
aspects of the chassis geometry than either of these sims. If I had to
rate it, I would say that while TIR may not be operating at the same
level as F1 2002 physics-wise, it definitely seems to be up to the F1
2000 or F1 2001 level, and it far surpasses SCGT or Viper Racing.
If there's any interest, I would be willing to make the mods that I
have incorporated into the demo version available as an all-in-one
package -- it would be simple to put together a self-installer that
would be easy for everybody to use.
FYI, the mods that I have incorporated are things that have been
posted on the High Gear TIR forum by others -- I haven't reinvented
the wheel, and I haven't come up with something new and revolutionary
on my own . . . all I've done is pick and choose between other
people's various tweaks, and I've come up with a combination that
captures a lot of the "feel" and e***ment that I first experienced
with SCGT and Viper Racing.
TIR is definitely not GPL, but I think it is the best commercial
sports car sim we've seen yet . . . Codemasters' Pro Race Driver just
can't compare, physics-wise, and it's a huge disappointment in
comparison to TIR.
If anybody would be interested in a self-installer for the mods that
I've incorporated into the demo, let me know -- note that these mods
SHOULD also work with the full version as well, so if there is any
interest, and if we can arrive at a consensus for what feels "right,"
we may be able to establish some sort of a standard "***" set of
tweaks. I know that an independent "***" physics mod is already
available from the BHMS site, but the big difference between what
currently exists and what I have done is that I have also increased
the tire sounds, which REALLY helps you to understand what is going
on, physics-wise, and THAT has made a big difference in my overall
perception of TIR's physics model.
-- JCB