rec.autos.simulators

I'm looking for some advice. I enjoy playing NASCAR 2003 but I really have
trouble holding my line in traffic on the super speedways.  On the track by
myself I can run very consistent laps and hold a line anywhere on the track.
But once you start introducting the aerodynamic forces of other cars around
you and drafting on you, I tend to be all over the track, in particular on
curves and coming out of curves.

How do others handle these situations.  Are there any tips or setups the
make this easier to handle.

I've got a decent system - AMD 2100+ and 128bit ATI card, 512m of memory. So
I get good framerates even at 4x antilasing (20-40fps). So I'm not dealing
with lag.  I have a Momo wheel so my inputs are okay. I am using the stock
"fast" setup and have not made much in the way of adjustments to the
steering. It would seem this is an issue with how I drive or the setup I'm
using.

Any help would be great.

Can't remember what the defaults are for steering but you might want to try
100% linear if it's not already.

I agree with Haqsau, in that I think your thinking that 20-40 FPS is *good*
may have some bearing on it. I can't stand it on my machine if the FPS drops
below 80-90 in a pack. 30 FPS may be the NTSC standard for real-time motion
video, but the higher FPS you can get (ditch the AA if you have to), the
smoother everything looks, the easier it is to drive IMHO. Honestly, I like
keeping my FPS above 100 and have been known to turn off stuff mid-race to
achieve it. The goal is to run well and maybe even win, I could care less
about grand stands, helicopters or ambulances being visible while I do it.

As for car handling itself at a SS, that can always be a chore in the draft.
Watch some closeup race coverage of real live SS races and you will see that
while they may be in one big clump from afar, the do move around a bit at
speed within that clump of cars.

        While I wouldn't like my FPS to drop bellow 25 anytime, why nobody
is talking about FF latency. It is resonable to assume that guy has FF
wheel. -- Mario

I've spoken out against FF until I was purple in the face and simply refuse
to get into any FF discussions anymore. I just take it to the track and beat
them with my lowly, non FF TSW. FF in today's games/sims is terribly phoney
feeling and will change your driving style and how you react to different
things on the track. No FF at all is also not accurate but is smoother, more
predictable, and a lot more consistent, so I just choose the lesser of the 2
evils.

Could it be the PFF latency? Sure, but I don't use the stuff so I couldn't
comment.

But, I say get the FF setup correctly (which is so much easier with MS than
the others, not better but easier) and the FF is reasonable...  IMHO, it is
as reasonable as the very wheel you use, reasonably emulate steering a race
car...   in GPL, NR2002 & 2003 it works pretty nice too.  Too bad that
Sidewinder was not somehow bought out (technology wise) and that the buyers
could build some more "high end" wheels, I mean shoot, for $300 you pay for
the TSW, versus the 60 I paid for MS, I could imagine ball bearing shafts,
with the proven optical sensors on the wheel.  A 12 inch diameter nascar
wheel option, adjustable 3 pedals set?  yeah that would been nice.  But I
digress.

To Gkenny.  3 things come to mind,
1 you own a thrustmaster or similiar type wheel.
2 that becuase of the spikes that the wheel produces at "center" you have
used "Thrustmapper" (or similiar controller SW) to creat a generous
Deadzone.
3 that for the game to ever get any indication that you have "moved the
wheel" that you must turn the wheel 1/8th or more from center to either
direction...   This makes the cars hard to hanldle.  My suggestion is to
remove deadzone, or at lease minimalize it (versus spikes)  spikes are where
although you didnt turn the wheel, the controller "sends a signal to the
game more or less 'saying' that you did move the wheel or pedals)

Deadzones--->  Think of granddaddies old old '56 ford pickup.  you know worn
ball joints, bad idler arm, (if your into cars, look at that joke worn
*** gasket ujoint type steering isolator...)  that leads to the ever
unprecise wormgear steering box...   LOL!!  the wheel moves 30-60 Degrees
from side to side without even wiggling the tires...  think how fun it is to
drive at 75 mph?  how about 180?  can you say ditch to ditch (wall to apron)
controlability at best??  that is why they came up with rack and pinion.

        John DiFool

I do have FF (MoMo wheel, the red one) and like the FF feel. I'll play with
the adjustments as suggested here and  in the private emails sent.

Thanks again,

Glenn

Eldred
--
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
Member
Screamers Racing League
IICC League
GPLRank -2.4    MoGPL rank +302.38
ChallengeRank +54.48   MoC +743.77
Hist. +82.82  MoH in progress
N2k3 rank:in progress

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Eldred
--
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
Member
Screamers Racing League
IICC League
GPLRank -2.4    MoGPL rank +302.38
ChallengeRank +54.48   MoC +743.77
Hist. +82.82  MoH in progress
N2k3 rank:in progress

Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

This was a problem. I would look at the car in front and when it moved I
would get out of sync and then it would just mushroom as I tried to get back
in sync. I never realized, until it was too late, that I was "chasing" the
other guy when he really wasn't moving much at all.  So I strated looking
down the track and focusing on the yellow line on the edge of the track. It
cut way down on the wild moves.

Now the issue is unintended moving around.  As the guys move up on me and
draft on me or go side by side, the aerodynamics push the car around (it
will get loose or I get pushed across the track). If I'm leading I'm usually
okay.  when they start drafting on me, I tend to drift up the track in the
corners, but I seem to be able to hold the car better if I'm up front (so I
bet I still have some of the issue you reference).

        Honestly, I don't know. Probably. It was after my 12-hours shift at
work, that I posted, so I was tired, and completly overlooked that he have a
Momo. I assumed it on the basis that everybody (especially inexperienced
simers) nowdays have FF wheel. Mea culpa. -- Mario

Practice :)

-Larry