rec.autos.simulators

Since Nascar Racing 4 is using the jewel from Papyrus (their new game
engine, also used in GPL), it can be modeled for about every kind of exiting
motorsports.  But Nascar Racing 4 is not really an open-source sim.  Like
always, Papyrus gives us the chance to modify *everything* in the simulation
except the core engine.

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AFAIK, The GPL/N4 physics model doesn't model any tiny details in the road
surface (which is an essential part of a rally sim). Therefore it wouldn't
be any good.

--
Mika Takala

Please remove the invalid parts from my email address if replying by email.

--
-- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard>
-- May the Downforce be with you...
-- http://www.ymenard.com/
-- This announcement is brought to you by the Shimato Dominguez
Corporation - helping America into the New World...

There are equal bumps, they are just now shown the same on the screen.
There is a difference between the game engine modeling the bumps and the
graphic engine showing the effect.  To say that GPL has smooth tracks is
quite false.  They are very, VERY bumpy.  Watch the suspension movements.
It's just not presented when driving like other game engines.

Anyway to think that Papyrus couldn't do a Rally sim only because of such
minimal possible problem is quite naive.

--
-- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard>
-- May the Downforce be with you...
-- http://www.ymenard.com/
-- This announcement is brought to you by the Shimato Dominguez
Corporation - helping America into the New World...

--
-- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard>
-- May the Downforce be with you...
-- http://www.ymenard.com/
-- This announcement is brought to you by the Shimato Dominguez
Corporation - helping America into the New World...

Well, I think Papyrus won't go into making a rally sim, but who knows - they
did SODA Offroad Racing a couple of years ago. I haven't had a chance to try
it, though, so I cannot say if it is good or not.

GPL track editors have tried to make the altitudes so that individual bumps
are modelled, but the framerate went way down. To make a rally sim as good
as GPL was in it's class, we would need much more detailed special stages. I
think the most admirable part of a rally drivers work is to place the car
very precisely on the road avoiding any big rocks and holes on the road (and
to do that continuously 3 days :)).

I think we already have rally sims that are capable of modelling just a long
stage and the road with a decent physics modelling (imagine maybe Rallys
Masters' physics with Rally Championship 2000's stages).  The best part is
still missing, and I think we'll need more horsepower in our computers to
make it happen. The GPL engine (adjusted so that it would be good for
rallying) would be a nice and welcome addition - but not in any means
mandatory.

--
Mika Takala

Please remove the invalid parts from my email address if replying by email.

Driving the Nordschleife in GPL has convinced me, though, that even if
someone made a truly hard-core simulation of asphalt rallies only, it'd be
hugely fun. And very much possible to do.

--

Does anyone have a decent .cfg file for it?

Barry

-Gregor

  I think it's quite a bit easier to do than people so far in this thread
suspect.  My vehicle physics engine allows a programmer to place a "bump map"
onto the track.  It's really easy to do and allows any size random bumps to be
used, as well as placing potholes, ridges, etc., where ever you want.  It
reproduces the effect everyone is talking about here rather well IMO.  It'd
definately be an easy addition for Papy or anyone else to include in an
existing engine, and doesn't eat much CPU power at all.  It's not even
noticable in mine :-)  

Todd Wasson
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Performance Simulations
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Software
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