rec.autos.simulators

> > This may ruffle some feathers here, but...

> []

> > -Larry

> Then crank the AI setting above 85% :-)

> --

> Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes.

> cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

> At this point, I find Nascar Racing 3 not only completely un-enjoyable at
> this point, but borderline defective.

> At first, I was enamored at the nice graphics, smoke, slight physics
> improvements, etc...  But, after playing it for a few months, I am
> thoroughly disappointed.  The honeymoon is over.

> N3 has so many problems I don't even know where to start.

> 1.  The AI is incredibly stupid.  It seems smart at first, but after so
> getting wrecked out so many times by cars just swerving down from the top
> grove right in to you, slamming on brakes for no reason whatsoever, etc... I
> am no longer impressed by the AI.

> 2.  Graphics stutter in the corners.  A PC with 128MB RAM, a TNT2 Card, and
> a 450Mhz processor should not be seeing this.

> 3.  Weebles wobble but they don't fall down.  Except in Nascar Racing 3.
> What _is_ it with that car wobble?

> 4.  Double-File restarts don't work.  I have YET to see double file restarts
> actually work.

> 5.  Multi-Player.  So many problems here, I won't go in to them all.  Some
> of it Papyrus can't fix, like bone-head drivers, bad connections, etc...
> But, there should be SOME way for the system to keep track of race hosts
> that cancel races before they are done, and if it reaches a certain
> threshhold, that person cannot start any races for a certain period of time.
> I am SO tired of race hosts getting damaged, and then "taking their ball and
> going home" by canceling the race in mid-race.  Multi-Player won't be
> useable until we have dedicated servers again, like we did with NROS.
> Period.  Yes, I know about the beta...  I'm not convinced it is the answer,
> though.  DEDICATED servers like TEN are the answer, and that's what we
> really need to push for.

> 6.  Force Feedback.  I know that some here think it's great.  I think it
> sucks.  I find it very unrealistic and to me it does nothing but slow down
> my reaction time because of the excessive latency it adds.

> 7.  Did I mention the kamakazi AI?

> 8.  Run races without yellow flags offlline?  Not if you want to finish a
> race without the track being blocked permanently.  This seems to be the
> worst at Bristol.  Have a big pile-up without yellows on, and the wrecked
> cars, dozens of them, will just sit in the middle of the track and go no
> where.  This is a new problem with N3.

> There's a lot more, and I'm sure that most of this has already been
> mentioned, but I had to put my 2 cents worth in.

> And, no.  While I do play GPL, I don't think it's the Messia of Racing Sims,
> so don't even go there...

> Thany you :)

> -Larry

> > Discussion is one thing.  Unilateral pissing and moaning about a sim which he
> loved
> > five minutes ago is quite another.

> --
> -----------------------------------
> Morgan Vincent Wooten

> http://members.tripod.com/~morganv/
> -----------------------------------

> > > I think the AI are pushovers.

> > Then crank the AI setting above 85% :-)

> > --

> > Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes.

> > cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

> >This may ruffle some feathers here, but...

> >At this point, I find Nascar Racing 3 not only completely un-enjoyable at
> >this point, but borderline defective.

> (snip)

> >5.  Multi-Player.  So many problems here, I won't go in to them all.
Some
> >of it Papyrus can't fix, like bone-head drivers, bad connections, etc...
> >But, there should be SOME way for the system to keep track of race hosts
> >that cancel races before they are done, and if it reaches a certain
> >threshhold, that person cannot start any races for a certain period of
time.
> >I am SO tired of race hosts getting damaged, and then "taking their ball
and
> >going home" by canceling the race in mid-race.  Multi-Player won't be
> >useable until we have dedicated servers again, like we did with NROS.
> >Period.  Yes, I know about the beta...  I'm not convinced it is the
answer,
> >though.  DEDICATED servers like TEN are the answer, and that's what we
> >really need to push for.

> I'm one of those guys that just can't stay interested in single
> player. I bought N3 purely because of the TCP/IP online component.

> My .02 worth is the online component seems more like a 'hack' than
> something developed by a company that has 'years' (NROS/TEN)
> experience as well as a parent company (Sierra) that has 'done it
> right' in other games (Tribes, Homeworld).

> When I first tried online racing, I couldn't find 1 out of 10 servers
> that I couldn't even *ping*, much less connect to. Now I've 'found'
> the secret. 1st I have to try and connect (98% reports 'connection
> failed'). Only THEN does it seem I can ping the server (50/50 chance
> on a return). If I can ping the server (and the latency is fine) I can
> generally then connect just fine.  If I don;t go thru those steps then
> I don;t race. wtf is up with that?

> OK, I've heard my 'problem' of not being able to connect/ping 'in
> general' is due to me trying to connect to a host that has gone on to
> qual/race/etc. What kind of online connect scheme is THAT I ask you?
> And in any case, if that's the case then SAY SO in the docs. For the
> longest time I just thought something was just broke. Besides IMHO,
> once a host moves past practice it should disappear from the list
> anyway.

> Bad drivers: What *IS* it with these yahoos. Forget the intentional
> sMAsHErs, nothing you can do about that (except, see below), I'm
> talking about just plain ol rookies. Last night I joined 6+ races,
> went thru the practice, quals, etc. only to be taken out before even
> getting to the backstretch. The last race I was so disgusted I just
> quit N3 (at the start in turn one, me in 5th with the leaders holding
> their line some dip$hit decided to try and pass everyone low on the
> *apron*. That was bad enough but another dumba$$ was cutting under HIM
> in the grass! Both then decided they weren't gaining anymore ground so
> they simply decided it was time to 'merge' into the already tight
> field.

> Now I don't claim to be a 'professional league' driver or rocket
> scientist but it doesn't take me but once to figure out I cannot
> occupy the same physical space someone else is already occupying.  You
> would think others would figure out (giving them the benefit of a
> doubt) after a couple times of taking out the field on a start that a
> 30 lap race isn't going to be won in turn 1. Seems to me there is an
> inordinate amout of drivers that practice quals to get up front, but
> have NO CLUE whatsoever how to actually *race* after that.

> What I'd like to see is (just like a host can set max latency/ping
> time now) also have the ability for a host to be able to set entrance
> requirements to a minimum number of 'points' AND/or prevent players
> from joining that have had 'N' incidents in past (insert appropriate
> number) races. Yea I know there are leagues and a host can password a
> race, but 'joe schmoe' pickup drivers like me that try hard to race
> clean can't know 'everyone', and it takes too long to get to know the
> 'insiders' so I can at any given moment join a race that consists of
> people actually wanting to have a chance to *finish* a race over the
> course of the event.

> It's been a long time since I played NASCAR ('95ish). Despite the bugs
> you more experienced drivers are seeing, I guess I'm just not jaded
> yet and I love N3. but I'll tell ya... the online bozos are absolutely
> ruining this game for me...

> > This may ruffle some feathers here, but...

> > At this point, I find Nascar Racing 3 not only completely un-enjoyable
at
> > this point, but borderline defective.

> > At first, I was enamored at the nice graphics, smoke, slight physics
> > improvements, etc...  But, after playing it for a few months, I am
> > thoroughly disappointed.  The honeymoon is over.

> > N3 has so many problems I don't even know where to start.

> > 1.  The AI is incredibly stupid.  It seems smart at first, but after so
> > getting wrecked out so many times by cars just swerving down from the
top
> > grove right in to you, slamming on brakes for no reason whatsoever,
etc... I
> > am no longer impressed by the AI.

> > 2.  Graphics stutter in the corners.  A PC with 128MB RAM, a TNT2 Card,
and
> > a 450Mhz processor should not be seeing this.

> > 3.  Weebles wobble but they don't fall down.  Except in Nascar Racing 3.
> > What _is_ it with that car wobble?

> > 4.  Double-File restarts don't work.  I have YET to see double file
restarts
> > actually work.

> > 5.  Multi-Player.  So many problems here, I won't go in to them all.
Some
> > of it Papyrus can't fix, like bone-head drivers, bad connections, etc...
> > But, there should be SOME way for the system to keep track of race hosts
> > that cancel races before they are done, and if it reaches a certain
> > threshhold, that person cannot start any races for a certain period of
time.
> > I am SO tired of race hosts getting damaged, and then "taking their ball
and
> > going home" by canceling the race in mid-race.  Multi-Player won't be
> > useable until we have dedicated servers again, like we did with NROS.
> > Period.  Yes, I know about the beta...  I'm not convinced it is the
answer,
> > though.  DEDICATED servers like TEN are the answer, and that's what we
> > really need to push for.

> > 6.  Force Feedback.  I know that some here think it's great.  I think it
> > sucks.  I find it very unrealistic and to me it does nothing but slow
down
> > my reaction time because of the excessive latency it adds.

> > 7.  Did I mention the kamakazi AI?

> > 8.  Run races without yellow flags offlline?  Not if you want to finish
a
> > race without the track being blocked permanently.  This seems to be the
> > worst at Bristol.  Have a big pile-up without yellows on, and the
wrecked
> > cars, dozens of them, will just sit in the middle of the track and go no
> > where.  This is a new problem with N3.

> > There's a lot more, and I'm sure that most of this has already been
> > mentioned, but I had to put my 2 cents worth in.

> > And, no.  While I do play GPL, I don't think it's the Messia of Racing
Sims,
> > so don't even go there...

> > Thany you :)

> > -Larry

> --
> Bob Curtin
> Worcester Area Strategy & Tactics Exchange
> http://www.tiac.net/users/ten10ths/
> "If God had intended men to join the Army he would have given us green,
baggy
> skin"