rec.autos.simulators

<snip>
<snip>

I fail to believe that *anybody* would have exactly the same amount of
time for GPL, a GPL-quality modern F1 sim, a GPL-quality BTCC sim, a
GPL-quality CART sim, a GPL-quality sportscar sim, a GPL-quality truck
racing sim and a GPL-quality bike sim.

Everyone has their favourite types of motorsport.
--
David. (GPLRank handicap: -2.05)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

In effect, after playing the richness of GPL and then trying another
poorly done sim it often feels very much the same.  Those that get
e***d about GPL and extoll its virtues have seen what is possible when
it comes to driver feedback and handling and they don't want to return
to the poor imitations that continually turn up claiming to be the new
promised land, only to find that they have been let down once again.

However, not everyone is able to get into GPL or is given the
opportunity to discover its delights.  Many will just think it is just
plain too difficult, haven't got the time to get used to it or just
don't even want to bother with it in the first place.  I would imagine
that you fall into one of these camps.

But for those who have been able to, once they finally discover what it
has to offer, it is like a breath of fresh air in comparison to
everything that has gone before.  To them it is that something new and
wonderful that they have been searching for unknown in simland and as a
result they can become quite e***d and enthusiastic about the whole
thing.  That is why you still see these posts about someone who has just
improved their laptimes.  Because they have been able to sense the
potential that GPL has to offer and there is a real sense of
achievement, that all that hard work and effort is finally paying off.

So I don't begrudge these people their moment.  They have probably
worked long and hard to achieve it and, as a result, want to share this
achievement with those that they feel will understand - their peers.  

Sure you could say we are just playing a game, but the guys here are not
your common or garden casual driving sim players.  They are much more
dedicated to this genre and put much more time into it than most and are
therefore more emotionally involved and serious about the whole scene
than your casual gamer.

So when something new comes out - in this case GP3 - they are going to
want to compare it to what has gone before and are going to be more
outspoken about what they have to say.  That's why we come to ras isn't
it?
--
Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington)

No person's opinions can be said to be
more correct than another's, because each is
the sole judge of his or her own experience.

What a classic post Peter, this should be in the GPL FAQ.. posted on
every sim board... read and understood by David G. Fisher...

I can understand the reactions from the none-GPL players:
There you have those crazy GPL fanatics again.. a new perfect sim
comes out, and all they can say is 'It's no GPL'!
But you made perfectly clear how it's like when you truly understand
the beauty of GPL: Everything else just seems like a step backwards.

I have fun with GP3, even with all it's faults and letdowns, and
allthough I still can't get the warez version working with my V2, I
will still buy it Friday. Just like I enjoy and have bought F1WGP,
RC2000 and F1 2000. They are fun games/sims, but simply can't be
compared with GPL.

Andre

- if they were all GPL-quality it would be easier for the accomplished GPL
driver to adapt to the different formulae, therefore "shortcutting" the
learning curve (except for bikes...).

- variety is the spice of life, so if you got "stuck" in one sim you could
put it aside and have something equally rewarding to drive instead for a
while.

But, you've got a point... what if I rephrased to " ...racing simulation
fans will drive anything that's properly simulated at the moment ('cos we're
desperate!! ;-)).

Jan.
=---

Jan.
=---

Agree though, it's not the other games are not worth playing, they just
don't quite acchieve the same level of input/reward.

Jan.
=---

<snip>

Totally agree. Even if GP3 were fantastic, I'd still play GPL, because
I happen to very much like that era of Formula 1. And there's Spa, the
Ring etc, of course.

Yep. Sounds much more like it ;-)

--
David. (GPLRank handicap: -2.05)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

I'm an atheist...

Where?  Prove it.

Eldred

--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPL hcp. +69.95

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

PAPA DOC

Hi Eldred

Read between the lines.

The real test of GP3 is if people will be playing it instead of GPL. I
don't know how this will turn out, and I would have thought it's too early
too say.

I eventually took GP2 of my computer and kept GPL. I don't play GPL much
now because I find it too difficult and too frustrating. I also don't
think it is reaIistic in that it's too difficult to stay on the road, but
then let's not reopen that one....

I remember when GPL came out anybody who dared to criticise it was flamed
(mainly by those who are currently enjoying slagging off GP3). I
criticised GPL because it didn't have enough options to make it
accessible. It would have been easy to implement a few of the options
which gave GP2 wide appeal. Whatever the arguments, GP3 will be a massive
commercial success although I concede that GC's reputation has now been
tarnished.

Lawrence

You are mostly correct IMHO. It is human nature, principally among males, to
become strongly identified and associated with things they love or enjoy. Some
people will come to blows over ford versus chevy or mustang versus
camaro,football versus baseball,Harleys versus japanese bikes, RPG versus
anygame thats not RPG, etc. I find myself doing that sometimes. I admire GPL
for it's genre leading physics, but it is not as much fun compared to Viper or
MCM2 or SCGT or Gran Tourismo, great physics does not make for a complete
package in the "fun" department, and for me "fun" is the bottom line on
videogames.  The more I hear some GPL lovers denigrate games that are not even
on the market yet, makes me think that they will, for the forseeable future,
hold GPL up as the standard which cannot be exceeded, partly because no one
else will likely ever make another racing sim quite like GPL.
F1 sims and Nascar sims will come along with more faithful physics models at
some point, but they cannot be better than GPL if GPL is your standard for near
perfection, and you expect your skills at GPL to make you an automatic ace at
GP3 or N4 or whatever, and conclude that they must have bad physics if they
don't feel like GPL. There should be some similarities in "feel", but there
should be numerous differences beween different racing sims. Some people will
prefer 60's racers like GPL even when a more accurate sim comes along
portraying modern cars, simply because their heart belongs to their first love
, GPL, with all of it's virtues and quirky slippery handling cars. Too each his
own. I personally hate Opera singing , and much prefer Pop music, but that does
not mean that Opera singing is inferior. A modern F1 sim with a great physics
model will not have cars that feel like GPL, and one can enjoy or hate either
game without being wrong, it's just a matter of preference.

Stir in a good amount of "Alpha Male" behaviour, whereby the one who shouts
loudest gets the most attention, and you have a perfect recipe for a r.a.s.
"discussion".

Stephen

I am... I would have spent many hours on something people all of a sudden
wouldnt care about anymore.. thats no good.

SLG