rec.autos.simulators

N4-Driving Style Advice

Paul Jage

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Paul Jage » Thu, 25 Oct 2001 20:55:12

Although I have had N4 for a little time, only now am I beginning to give it
the time it deserves. One of the areas I am struggling with is avoiding
hitting the car in front of me while still trying to keep up with him (being
in the UK, I play off-line). If I think I am going to hit him, taking my
foot off the throttle (partly or fully) often  leaves him and the pack to
speed away. If instead I try and use the brakes then more often than not I
will spin. The problem is mainly in the corners, because even if I enter a
corner correctly, (and with what I think is enough of a gap between me and
the next car) if I run up on him too quickly a stab on the brakes will spin
me, alternatively no lifting off the throttle will stop a collision. I
suppose my problem is I have not yet learnt how to 'read' the car/traffic in
front of me/anticipate them and use my rear mirror properly. I have tried
practising with just 12 cars on the track, for example and this helps a
little, but I think I really need a N4 expert to give me some advice on how
I can better my style here. Fortunately I am happy and able to put the hours
in to practice. (I trust that my problem does not make me sound like some
'no hoper',  and that others may have experienced the same).

For information I am presently using a MS FF wheel and pedals, play at
95%-100% AI, and my system is an Athlon 1.4, 512 mb ram, Geforce 2 Ultra,
and SB Live. I play at almost max world detail and at 1024 res (32 bit
colour) and 43 cars. (I am using Doug Arneo's set ups so I know this isn't a
problem, and am currently learning Lowes, and Martinsville).

Any help appreciated.

PJ

Colin Harri

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Colin Harri » Thu, 25 Oct 2001 21:10:40


To be fair, Paul, this is less YOUR problem than it is an AI problem. The AI
don't, on certain tracks, drive anywhere near the style that human drivers
do. They slow at odd times, for no reason, at places like...well, most of
the tracks really! Evading them is a matter of feathering the throttle a
bit, or braking a little while keeping the throttle down (to stabilise the
car). Better yet, run some online races with all human drivers. Hopefully
this problem won't occur so much (just watch out for those darn wreckers
online!)

Kevin Clar

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Kevin Clar » Thu, 25 Oct 2001 21:50:04


> Although I have had N4 for a little time, only now am I beginning to give it
> the time it deserves. One of the areas I am struggling with is avoiding
> hitting the car in front of me while still trying to keep up with him (being
> in the UK, I play off-line).

Why?
Pings to the papy servers even on 56k are often less than 300. There are
also a couple of UK servers with pings under 200. Works perfectly well
from the UK. Get out there and show the Yanks how it's done! :)

Kev

Paul Jage

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Paul Jage » Thu, 25 Oct 2001 21:52:23

Thanks for the advice. I had not thought about braking while still keeping
the throttle down. Is this better than just using the brake without any
throttle?

PJ




> > Although I have had N4 for a little time, only now am I beginning to
give
> it
> > the time it deserves. One of the areas I am struggling with is avoiding
> > hitting the car in front of me while still trying to keep up with him
> (being
> > in the UK, I play off-line). If I think I am going to hit him, taking my
> > foot off the throttle (partly or fully) often  leaves him and the pack
to
> > speed away. If instead I try and use the brakes then more often than not
I
> > will spin. The problem is mainly in the corners, because even if I enter
a
> > corner correctly, (and with what I think is enough of a gap between me
and
> > the next car) if I run up on him too quickly a stab on the brakes will
> spin
> > me, alternatively no lifting off the throttle will stop a collision.

> To be fair, Paul, this is less YOUR problem than it is an AI problem. The
AI
> don't, on certain tracks, drive anywhere near the style that human drivers
> do. They slow at odd times, for no reason, at places like...well, most of
> the tracks really! Evading them is a matter of feathering the throttle a
> bit, or braking a little while keeping the throttle down (to stabilise the
> car). Better yet, run some online races with all human drivers. Hopefully
> this problem won't occur so much (just watch out for those darn wreckers
> online!)

Steve Levet

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Steve Levet » Thu, 25 Oct 2001 21:56:09

Yup, it will settle the car in the corner and also stop the spinouts that
you have be doing.

--

Steve Levett

European Racing League.
http://www.europeanracingleague.com

ERL is proudly sponsored by Thomas Enterprises.
http://www.thomas-superwheel.com

Co-founder of 502 Racing.
http://www.502racing.com
------------------


> Thanks for the advice. I had not thought about braking while still keeping
> the throttle down. Is this better than just using the brake without any
> throttle?

> PJ





> > > Although I have had N4 for a little time, only now am I beginning to
> give
> > it
> > > the time it deserves. One of the areas I am struggling with is
avoiding
> > > hitting the car in front of me while still trying to keep up with him
> > (being
> > > in the UK, I play off-line). If I think I am going to hit him, taking
my
> > > foot off the throttle (partly or fully) often  leaves him and the pack
> to
> > > speed away. If instead I try and use the brakes then more often than
not
> I
> > > will spin. The problem is mainly in the corners, because even if I
enter
> a
> > > corner correctly, (and with what I think is enough of a gap between me
> and
> > > the next car) if I run up on him too quickly a stab on the brakes will
> > spin
> > > me, alternatively no lifting off the throttle will stop a collision.

> > To be fair, Paul, this is less YOUR problem than it is an AI problem.
The
> AI
> > don't, on certain tracks, drive anywhere near the style that human
drivers
> > do. They slow at odd times, for no reason, at places like...well, most
of
> > the tracks really! Evading them is a matter of feathering the throttle a
> > bit, or braking a little while keeping the throttle down (to stabilise
the
> > car). Better yet, run some online races with all human drivers.
Hopefully
> > this problem won't occur so much (just watch out for those darn wreckers
> > online!)

Jeff Cause

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Jeff Cause » Thu, 25 Oct 2001 22:35:40

Paul,

The number one thing I would recommend is you spend a little bit of time
learning how to tweak a setup for your driving style.  As good as Doug's
setups are, everyone drives a little bit differently and in N4, that is
enough to justify getting the setup configured for YOUR driving style.  You
can find a couple one-page quick setup guides at my web-site - one that I
did and one I found on the 'net.  I would use these after looking over some
of the more in-depth guides available on the Internet and the N4 manual to
get a good base of knowledge.  jmo but you should be able to get your car
setup well enough so you can stab on the brakes without spinning when you
run up on another car.

And as a couple others have noted, learning how to brake while still on the
gas is also a useful technique for gaining better car control in a corner.
It takes a while to get used to, but I think can be quite effective.  Not
sure what else you drive, but I have found N4 to require very minor and
subtle adjustments to gas and brake inputs as opposed to past titles where
you tended to slam one or the other on.  Again, practice, practice, practice
will get you there.

Good luck!!!

Jeff Causey
FrogDog Racing
www.frogdogracing.com


Paul Jage

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Paul Jage » Thu, 25 Oct 2001 23:58:00

If I can improve my 'driving' I'd love to race on-line. Never realised there
were servers in UK that I could do this, and at possibly an acceptable ping.
Could you point me in the right direction for these?

PJ



> > Although I have had N4 for a little time, only now am I beginning to
give it
> > the time it deserves. One of the areas I am struggling with is avoiding
> > hitting the car in front of me while still trying to keep up with him
(being
> > in the UK, I play off-line).

> Why?
> Pings to the papy servers even on 56k are often less than 300. There are
> also a couple of UK servers with pings under 200. Works perfectly well
> from the UK. Get out there and show the Yanks how it's done! :)

> Kev

Colin Harri

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Colin Harri » Fri, 26 Oct 2001 00:28:51


The best around: www.uk-racing.net

HTH!

Kevin Clar

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Kevin Clar » Fri, 26 Oct 2001 00:48:38




> > If I can improve my 'driving' I'd love to race on-line. Never realised
> there
> > were servers in UK that I could do this, and at possibly an acceptable
> ping.
> > Could you point me in the right direction for these?

> > PJ

> The best around: www.uk-racing.net

> HTH!

Correct, or just look on the race list, select the ping column and that
will list them by increasing ping. Then just look at the ones at the
lower end of the range (sub 350). Like I said, most of the papy servers
are fine and have an enormous race of abilities from fast guys to ones
who can't even make the pace lap without crashing!

Kev

George Majo

N4-Driving Style Advice

by George Majo » Fri, 26 Oct 2001 11:27:14

adjust your shocks! The shocks greatly affect how you can aviod hitting a
car infront of you. I had a hard time at some places like martinsville,
after shocks are adjusted the car will slow down alot quicker.

--
Free Email!
http://www.onlineautoracing.com
"

Dave Henri

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Dave Henri » Fri, 26 Oct 2001 11:48:40

  Good tip...but.....HOW should he adjust the shocks..????
Stiffer?  Softer??  Medium???  Just a-bit more feedback would be helpful.
dave henrie

George Majo

N4-Driving Style Advice

by George Majo » Fri, 26 Oct 2001 12:06:14

so far its softer, but some tracks may be stiffer, I havent tried many
tracks, but so far its been softer shocks especially softer front shocks.
its helped me from running into people and spining them out lol

--
Free Email!
http://www.onlineautoracing.com

Richard Walke

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Richard Walke » Fri, 26 Oct 2001 00:54:29



Hmm... UK servers, eh?

Where?

--
Richard.

"Don't pass me by don't make me cry don't make me blue."

Kevin Clar

N4-Driving Style Advice

by Kevin Clar » Fri, 26 Oct 2001 18:53:31




> > Pings to the papy servers even on 56k are often less than 300. There are
> > also a couple of UK servers with pings under 200. Works perfectly well
> > from the UK. Get out there and show the Yanks how it's done! :)

> Hmm... UK servers, eh?

> Where?

www.uk-racing.net
john Metco

N4-Driving Style Advice

by john Metco » Fri, 26 Oct 2001 10:21:41

use other traffic as BRAKE ASSIST
it works in real life , it should work in the game.

:=))


..
I beginning to give it
struggling with is avoiding
keep up with him (being
more often than not I
because even if I enter a
a gap between me and
on the brakes will spin
'read' the car/traffic in
properly. I have tried
example and this helps a
me some advice on how
and able to put the hours
make me sound like some
ram, Geforce 2 Ultra,
so I know this isn't a


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