rec.autos.simulators

My main complaints haven't changed since I started racing online.

1. Hosts who take way too long to start the damn race.

2. People who quit once they feel they've fallen back too far.

3. Drivers who try to win a race on the first lap.

4. Chat. I know most people are trying to be friendly, but too much time is
spent chatting between races.

I'd love to have all the time back that was wasted with the above over the
last two years. It adds up quickly.

David G Fisher

As long as my car isn't damaged, i'm there till the end. There is NO
way to force people to stay and race if they are 5 laps down.

Of late I am seeing less and less of Start Line and 1st corner pile
ups. Stick with Pro  races and I bet you see a LOT more caution at the
start.

GPL Spy kicks you back to IRC/ VROC. You can immediately hop into
another race (if there IS one) or chat with the guys you just raced
with. You choose.

Don't dwell on it.

G. Patricks

If you are talking GPL, the race starts automatically

Agreed, Although I've quit races when driving in a crowd of idiots who are
running like demolition Derby drivers.

Agreed. There are some real menaces out there

Your choice to disconnect and find another server

Mark

% My main complaints haven't changed since I started racing online.

% 1. Hosts who take way too long to start the damn race.

Patience....  Maybe the host is waiting so that enough people can show
up and have enough practice time to qualify and get in the rhythm for
the track.

% 2. People who quit once they feel they've fallen back too far.

Well, if it's a sprint type race, I can understand why some folks want
to bail once they are out of contention.  They got online to race with
someone, not just run around the track all by themselves.  But, I agree,
hey folks stick it out... the more track time you give yourself, the
better you will be the next time.

% 3. Drivers who try to win a race on the first lap.

Hey if they are good enough to not wreck anyone, more power to them.  I
don't mind the ones who are quick off the line, but I don't take kindly
to the ones that take out half the pack before the first turn.

% 4. Chat. I know most people are trying to be friendly, but too much time is
% spent chatting between races.

Not a friendly person, are we? ;-)  Go take a pee break or something and
let the others talk.  One of the things that actually helps bind the
online sim-racing community is the chance to "talk" with each other.  

% I'd love to have all the time back that was wasted with the above over the
% last two years. It adds up quickly.

Almost sounds like it's time to hang up the virtual racing goggles and
tend to some gardening. ;-)

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

    I can see your point with #s 2,3 & 4.  However, my experience is that if
you don't have a long practice session then you're not likely to have to many
competitors.  Besides that,  You can see how long the practice sessions are
from with in GSB and (i think) VROC.

Race Communications Association
http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html

Holodyne Engineering

Mystic Music

In my opinion, all hosts should avoid accelerating the start of a race. Many
people use that short period between the conclusion of practice and the
start of the race for any number of things: last minute setup tweaks, a bit
more practice for late arrivals, bathroom break, snack break, etc.

For a host to prematurely start a race to satisfy the desire of one or two
anxious and rude individuals, whose only interest is their own, is a
mistake, and could be a disservice to the other competitors.

I make it a policy to courteously invite anyone who is clamoring for a start
to consider finding another server. Anyone that doesn't have the patience
and consideration to wait for the normal start should not bother connecting
to any race I'm hosting.

Jack Rambo

In answer to questions 1-4... You be the host Simple eh:)))

If you can't host, well simply take the good with the bad.

--

Rgds Phil.

IHO waiting isn't a problem elsewhere than at Spa and the 'Ring. If it
is obvious no-one is on a fast lap and there's not enough time, why
don't you just ask the host to force start the race?

Yeah that's a shame especially with smaller fields of cars.

Actually this is not always the case. I had an amazing race yesterday
at Monza, with six drivers. I qualified 4th or 5th, and at the start
we all rushed into Curva Grande. I took it a little easy to avoid the
mayhem but there was none! Six cars dove cleanly into the Lesmos, and
then into Parabolica with no incidents in the first lap. Later I
passed the no.5 guy when he went off at the end of the second lap but
after that it was clean racing all the way to the end. And it was an
intermediate short race!

I don't see lot of meaningless chatter. Personally, I think it's nice
to give credit to people who post great times in practice, wish good
luck to others before the race, apologize if you***up somehow and
exchange a few friendly words after the race. If the post-race turns
into a chatbox, hey why don't you just leave and find another host?

If you play online and keep considering the time wasted, maybe you
shouldn't be playing in the first place. It is supposed to be fun you
know?

% IHO waiting isn't a problem elsewhere than at Spa and the 'Ring. If it
% is obvious no-one is on a fast lap and there's not enough time, why
% don't you just ask the host to force start the race?

Downside to this is that GPL will toss out the "qualifying" times and
force a grid based on the arrival of the clients.  The upside is that if
you are the host you always get the pole. <G>

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Really? I though the recorded times remained in effect. Oh well, got
to go host some races <g>.

Did I say that? Try reading the thread from the beginning.

David G Fisher

Wow. You sure jump to some conclusions.

My post was a response to someone who had complaints about online racing in
GPL. I said that I'd been racing online for two years and that the
complaints he had were common in any racing game/sim. Many people  DO waste
A LOT of time when they host.

David G Fisher

Understand that mine was a  general comment, not necessarily directed at
you.

I do believe that anyone who comes to a hosted race and, without
establishing any rapport with the host, starts badgering him/her with
comments like "Let's go!!!" or "Come on. What are we waiting on?" lacks
maturity and tact.

Jack Rambo