rec.autos.simulators

GPL, huge learning curve?

Jan Verschuere

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Jan Verschuere » Thu, 25 Jan 2001 19:14:41

Dave... do you think it's wise to release that much irony on an unsuspecting
GPL novice? <g>

Jan.
=---

Thomas Soerensen

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Thomas Soerensen » Thu, 25 Jan 2001 19:56:00

If you dream of Sntterton you definately need therapy - you need to be able
to divert your dreams to the RING!!!!!!! - otherwise youll never learn it.

Thomas




> >I spend every night with a beautiful young girl (my wife of 6 months) but
> >unfortunately she's always asleep when I crawl in after another night of
> >on-line GPL.

> >I think the first step is admitting I have a problem - last night I
dreamed
> >of Snetterton (:

> Seek therapy NOW...<g>

> Eldred
> --
> Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
> Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
> GPL F1 hcp. +28.80...F2 +151.26...F3 hcp. +373.73

> Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats
you
> with experience...
> Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Thom j

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Thom j » Thu, 25 Jan 2001 21:11:58

Hello Edlred; Per chance are you using "split-axis"...? If I remember
way back when you were not? Did you get a wheel that does? If so
why cant you break&gas at the sametime? Feathering the gas in the
corners while breaking works great for me {imho}...
Cheers Thom_j.

<snipped for NG space>

| >On 22 Jan 2001 15:45:30 GMT, David Buttery
| >>You need to keep some throttle on through the corner

<Eldred states>
| But if you have to slow down for the corner, then you'd have to be off the
| throttle.  I'll admit that this is probably what's holding me back.  I
can't
| hit the brakes or accel. at the right time.  This is pissing me off.  All
I'm
| doing is the same things over and over and over.
| I know, I know - do something different.  But if I do something different,
I
| crash.  Doesn't matter if it's braking points(unless it's earlier), or
line
| through the turns, or whatever.  I have a certain speed/line I can run, a
sort
| of comfort zone.  If I step OUTSIDE that zone, I crash.  How do you get
better
| when you can't get better?
| I really noticed this in the GP race at Kyalami.  I couldn't catch Carlo,
and I
| kept trying different things to see if it mad a difference.  Most of the
time
| the only difference was an off...<g>
|
| Eldred

a..

GPL, huge learning curve?

by a.. » Thu, 25 Jan 2001 22:18:47



I understand you two (struggling to get under 9:00).

But it's even worse!!  :-)

I used to work in the same office as this guy. He drives 8:31 on the Ring
with a joystick and using the evil arcade view!!  :-)

Frustrating, I tell you.

        Alex      :-)

Richard Bellavan

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Richard Bellavan » Thu, 25 Jan 2001 23:19:55

On Wed, 24 Jan 2001 11:56:00 +0100,

LOL !  Last night, before falling asleep, I did a full lap of that
good 'ole Nordschleisse *in my head*...

...and I didn't spin !  :-)

Richard.
--
Richard Bellavance                     Enter-Net Inc.
                                       Phone:  (450) 449-5261 #16
Systems Administrator/                         (514) 990-1683 #16
  Analyst-Programmer                   Fax:    (450) 449-5242

Richard Bellavan

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Richard Bellavan » Thu, 25 Jan 2001 23:38:10




>>That's an *EXTREMELY* important point, often overlooked, IMHO.
>>Through most corners, if you're "off-throttle" you're wasting
>>time trying to "catch" the back instead of preparing your exit.

>But if you have to slow down for the corner, then you'd have to be off the
>throttle.  I'll admit that this is probably what's holding me back.  I can't
>hit the brakes or accel. at the right time.  This is pissing me off.  All I'm
>doing is the same things over and over and over.

The "right" thing to do is really hard to explain, actually.

I don't think I'm *ever* completely off the throttle, even for all out
braking zones like T1 at Kyalami (*especially* for T1 at Kyalami, with

I guess it doesn't really matter during the braking phase, but when you
start turning in, you should be back on the throttle slightly, even if
you're still braking.  It's all a matter of "instinctively" balancing the
car on brakes & throttle based on what you feel the car doing through the
steering wheel...

Try this: if you feel you're coming in a turn too fast, resist the
temptation to lift, just keep on modulating the brakes (careful not
to lock the front and understeer off the track) until you've slowed
down enough.  But keep your foot on the throttle.  Not "pedal to the
metal", mind you, but just enough so you're not "engine-braking" at
the same time.  You should find that the back end of the car stays
calmly where it belongs, i.e. behind the front :-)

Oh yeah, I run a 60/60+1 diff just about everywhere.  The above technique
might not work as well (or at all) with a lower coast-side ramp angle...

I can't remember one thing: do you have a force-feedback wheel ?  I'm not
saying it's some sort of magical solution, but there's no way I could run
the times I do now (and be consistent) if I did not have FF.  I tried it
a few weeks ago, and I couldn't tell what the car was doing.

Richard.
--
Richard Bellavance                     Enter-Net Inc.
                                       Phone:  (450) 449-5261 #16
Systems Administrator/                         (514) 990-1683 #16
  Analyst-Programmer                   Fax:    (450) 449-5242

Rob Adam

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Rob Adam » Fri, 26 Jan 2001 01:35:03

Once I got my magic (fluky?) 8:22 at the Ring I stopped driving it. I've
only been back a couple of times and the best I could get was in the 8:30's.

I had a couple of Ring dreams while I was working on it - that's one of the
reasons I don't want to go back!



it.

Wosc

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Wosc » Fri, 26 Jan 2001 08:08:02

He didn't say he couldn't brake and accelerate at the same time...he said he
couldnt do it at the RIGHT time...which would mean hitting gas too late or
brake too early or any combo of those.

JB


> Hello Edlred; Per chance are you using "split-axis"...? If I remember
> way back when you were not? Did you get a wheel that does? If so
> why cant you break&gas at the sametime? Feathering the gas in the
> corners while breaking works great for me {imho}...
> Cheers Thom_j.

> <snipped for NG space>

> | >On 22 Jan 2001 15:45:30 GMT, David Buttery

> | >>You need to keep some throttle on through the corner

> <Eldred states>
> | But if you have to slow down for the corner, then you'd have to be off
the
> | throttle.  I'll admit that this is probably what's holding me back.  I
> can't
> | hit the brakes or accel. at the right time.  This is pissing me off.
All
> I'm
> | doing is the same things over and over and over.
> | I know, I know - do something different.  But if I do something
different,
> I
> | crash.  Doesn't matter if it's braking points(unless it's earlier), or
> line
> | through the turns, or whatever.  I have a certain speed/line I can run,
a
> sort
> | of comfort zone.  If I step OUTSIDE that zone, I crash.  How do you get
> better
> | when you can't get better?
> | I really noticed this in the GP race at Kyalami.  I couldn't catch
Carlo,
> and I
> | kept trying different things to see if it mad a difference.  Most of the
> time
> | the only difference was an off...<g>
> |
> | Eldred

Leo Landma

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Leo Landma » Fri, 26 Jan 2001 10:10:00



GPL cars are uncontrollable at anything under a solid 36 fps. No wonder you
find the learning curve a bit steep. Get rid of some graphics that just look
nice but won't help your driving, like arms and wheel, special effects,
beveled tyres etc. or go to a lower resolution if that gets you 36 fps. Then
try again, it will be a different car.

Bye,
Leo

kay..

GPL, huge learning curve?

by kay.. » Fri, 26 Jan 2001 10:40:36

I'm getting 'around' 30.  When I look at my fps display it fluctuates
anywhere from 20-40fps.  I don't have a lot of graphics turned on for
the mirrors and whatever I don't need.  It's not just the graphics,
for me it's my driving.  





>> I'm using an MS wheel.  I get around 30fps, playable..

>GPL cars are uncontrollable at anything under a solid 36 fps. No wonder you
>find the learning curve a bit steep. Get rid of some graphics that just look
>nice but won't help your driving, like arms and wheel, special effects,
>beveled tyres etc. or go to a lower resolution if that gets you 36 fps. Then
>try again, it will be a different car.

>Bye,
>Leo

Marc Collin

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Marc Collin » Fri, 26 Jan 2001 11:33:37

The brakes are actually awesome...it is the tires that don't work too well.

Marc.




> > On Mon, 22 Jan 2001 10:12:15 -0000, "Neil Raine"

> > >The key to keeping control is the transition from brake to gas and
> > >vice-versa - this has to be smooth.  At a basic level, you have to
> be aware
> > >that braking makes you turn more, and accelerating makes you go
> straighter,
> > >but you also have to be aware of quite a lot of other weight
> transfer
> > >effects, which will have to come with experience!

> > >One thing I found very useful at the beginning was the realisation
> that the
> > >steering becomes more unstable when you brake, and you can mitigate
> that by
> > >relaxing the brake slightly, or giving it a stab of throttle, and
> then
> > >getting back on the brake smoothly.

> > In most racing games I play (NFS, Test Drive Lemans) I don't even
> use
> > the brake.  I just let go of the gas and shift down.  That usually
> > gets me around the corner just fine.  In GPL, boy is that a shock.
> I
> > guess I have to brake.  But like you said, when I brake the car
> > becomes more unstable and likely to spin out.

> The other bit of bad news is that the brakes don't work too well.
> But the good news is that (unlike modern GP cars) you can let the back
> end kick out quite a long way on bends without spinning.
> The replays included for each track show this quite well - you don't
> have to be 100% neat, and that makes it all the more fun.

> --
> Laurence Wilmer

> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.226 / Virus Database: 108 - Release Date: 05/01/01

Dave Henri

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Dave Henri » Fri, 26 Jan 2001 13:33:13

  use the Wayback machine to travel back...back to 1967....
the time....1967...
the place  Marenello(sp?)
Mr. Ferrari's office.
  "So you want to drive my car do you?"
  "Yes sir...I have been comparing the times of last years
    races and I can beat them, beat them all."
  "Ah but it is one thing to run fast for a single Hot Lap.  But can
   You race consistently fast?  Will you take care of my car?"
   "Yes sir, I haven't used Shift R in weeks...You will be pleased."
   "Good, then go down to the workroom floor and have the
   mechanics fit you a seat."
   "Uh, a seat sir?   I don't use a seat."
    "What kind of talk is this?  Everyone uses a seat."
    "No sir, I float like a kite teathered 10 feet above and
     behind the car.  I can see better this way.."
  "UNTHINKABLE!  Do my cars have automatic transmissions?  NO!
   Do my cars have Purple Paint?  NO!  Do my cars get driven
   by some kite-flying hot-shoe?  NO!"
  "I'm sorry to hear that Il Commodore, I guess I'll just have to
  go hire on with that new Japanese team..."
  "You do that 'Mr floating in the wind' my cars will be raced by
   Good ol fashioned 'Seat of the pants' drivers.  Good day...

___
I rest my case...
dave henrie


Eldre

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Eldre » Fri, 26 Jan 2001 14:33:15



>The "right" thing to do is really hard to explain, actually.

>I don't think I'm *ever* completely off the throttle, even for all out
>braking zones like T1 at Kyalami (*especially* for T1 at Kyalami, with


I'm off the throttle at every hard braking zone.

To use the throttle when you're on the verge of control trying to slow down
seems counter-intuitive...   I've accidentally had my foot a little on the gas
in a turn, and understeered right off the track.  I can't imagine doing it on
PURPOSE...<g>

No, I don't - never have.  I have a TSW2mod.  I haven't decided if I'm going to
buy a FF wheel yet.

Eldred
--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL F1 hcp. +28.80...F2 +151.26...F3 hcp. +373.73

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Rob Adam

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Rob Adam » Fri, 26 Jan 2001 15:52:51

Here's how I imagine it works. You're understeering off a corner. You give
it a quick blip of throttle which breaks the rear loose and starts a slide.
Then you lighten off the throttle until the car straightens out, but now the
car is facing more towards the exit. So you punch it and rocket out of the
corner.

Of course you're still braking too, lots of footwork going on.

I've only managed to do this well a couple of times, but one time it
resulted in a 1:28.57 when I got it just right in Parabolica :)


Andre Warrin

GPL, huge learning curve?

by Andre Warrin » Fri, 26 Jan 2001 17:47:04


>I'm getting 'around' 30.  When I look at my fps display it fluctuates
>anywhere from 20-40fps.  I don't have a lot of graphics turned on for
>the mirrors and whatever I don't need.  It's not just the graphics,
>for me it's my driving.  

You really need 36fps all the way, that is VERY important!
When the Bremgarten track was released I installed the 'medium'
version. 36fps, but at the forrest part fps dropped to 30, or even
lower. I easily noticed this because of worse car control.
So I installed the light version and now have 36fps again.
(36fps is the max you can get in GPL btw)

Andre


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