rec.autos.simulators

Mmm... I was fiddling around with the views while thinking about my wish
list post when I realised I quite like the F10 view. Yes, I know it
doesn't give the "being there" feeling of the***pit. But the sense of
speed -- especially if you hunch over the steering wheel in a position
guaranteed to bring a smile to an osteopath's face -- is rather
impressive, especially at 800x600.

It also gives you a much better view ahead and helps predicting the course
ahead. So much so that I find -- to my embarrassment -- that after a few
laps I managed my first lap (just) below 1:12 :-)

I've now returned to using the***pit view but I keep itching to press
that F10 key. Help, I am a sick man ;-)

Andrew

PS I realise there's nothing wrong with driving using the external view.
It's a game and if it works for you it shouldn't matter. But in my heart
of hearts, it's cheating!

Byron,
I've discovered that the F10 provides more "stability" and I've actually driven
faster laps in this view than from the "in***pit" view.

Is it possible that, when switching to the external view, we are also toggling
into a different driving "mode"?  I wonder if Papyrus have done something
here...i.e., is the external viewpoint possibly an for an "arcade" mode in the
finished game?

Curious.

I think it's a variety of things. For a start the external view is
smoother for me on a P200mmx (same in N2-3dfx). It's also easier to see
rather than "feel" the car start to get away from you. I suppose you might
argue that it's gives you a better view of your car and makes up for some
of the input you're missing from the real thing. But even with my nose
pressed against the monitor, it's not as immersive as the***pit view,
and that's what counts as much as the lap times.

Andrew

Joe