rec.autos.simulators

> Just picked up N3 at the local EB and brought it home and installed it.  The
> install caused a crash after testing the wave file, requiring a reboot.
> After the reboot the install went flawless.  It checks system speed and
> detected me at greater than p2 400. Next gives you the option for 16 bit or
> 8 bit sounds.  It defaulted to 16bit  for me.  Then it checks if you have a
> compatible 3d video hardware.  It detected my d3d device and let me go.
> Finished the install, skipped the readme and dove right it.  First thing I
> noticed was it looked like absolute crap.  Huge video problems.  So back to
> the options menu (very difficult to read with the screwed up video) and
> turned on software video rendering.  After restarting the game it looked
> about like N2 at 8x6 and sounded pretty cool.  Since I don't have a A3d card
> I couldn't enable reflections.  Direct sound sounded good on the sblive
> value though.  After running a while in software and playing at Bristol (my
> favorite track)  I figured I would check out the readme.  For those with a
> Riva 128 or ATI rage Pro based card you are SOL on D3D support.  The readme
> says something about texture rendering problems.  My Canopus T3d128 is
> based on the Riva 128 card and it looks like absolute ***in D3D. I like my
> card for the video in features and have been waiting on the Asus Geforce
> with video in. Well back to the mini review.  In software at 8x6 on a
> celeron 550 with 192 meg of ram there was very little hitching in the video
> with all options on.  Everyonce in a while the cars would warp around  a
> little.  I may sound a little negative about the game mainly 'cause I wanted
> to see the cool smoke effects, but I really have enjoyed what I have see in
> the game so far.  I have only played Bristol and 'dega.  'Dega was a bit
> bizarre though.  I ran my same line as I do in N2 with all the same speeds
> at every location. (204 on back straight, 202 on front and a slow of 191-192
> in the turns and was running 199+ laps.  In N2 was only good for 194-195.
> My 199.4 lap at 'Dega was only good for 39 place in practice at 100%.  Hell
> I don't know if I can go any faster :).  Well got to go back and check out
> the rest of the 28 tracks.
> Got to go back and check the AI some more.  It does seem more aggressive.

> My 2 cents.  If I currently had N2 or N99 and a Riva 128 or ATI Rage Pro, I
> would wait on a new video card before getting the game. The new sounds and
> better AI aren't enough to justify the new game in my opinion.  Me I am
> gonna keep it and get me another video card.

> Have fun.

> Mike

> >Riva 128 or ATI rage Pro

> Heh, yep, I have an ATI Rage Pro turbo. Hey, if you get a chance, turn on D3D
> and go into a race. You still get the smoke, just with really funky colors,
> it's kinda weird. The smoke really does look awesome, even when the rest of the
> track looks like something out of a fun house from hell. Anywho, I'm getting my
> Monster 3d II in soon, so that'll help a LOT (it's in a different, but slower
> computer). I ran N3 on the computer with the M.3DII. The processor is slower,
> same ram. I'm running full details and everything on this computer with
> SOFTWARE support, but getting a lot of jerkiness on the one with the M.3d.II.
> SO, I figured I'd combine the best of both worlds and get the M.3d.II put into
> this one. We'll see how the framerates run.

> Corey Leigh

> Phil,

> I have almost the exact same setup as you (actually not as stout)...
> only PII300 and my sound card is an Ensoniq Soundscape.  I have the
> same 3D card, same amount of memory as you.  My machine runs N3 very
> smooth at 800X600, 43 cars, all graphics on, default settings for
> everything (since that what the setup program figured my machine could
> handle... and it was right on)... oh, and the graphics are incredible
> compared to N2/N99.  I was suprised by the smoothness since I had to
> turn down graphics with N99 on most tracks.  I wonder if you have a
> problem with your system or if you have any background programs
> running?  The only track I've tried where I noticed any choppiness
> (and it was very subtle), was Martinsville.  I never thought to check
> the frame rate as it was so smooth that it didn't dawn on me to check
> it.  I will say that for some reason at 1024X768 the F2 (Standings)
> display was shifted to the upper left corner of the screen and
> blinking badly.  I didn't get around to changing my desktop screen
> settings to see if I could fix it, as I just went back to 800X600 and
> had FUN!!

> I hope you get past the choppiness and have better experiences with
> it!

> Dave Ericson
> MomoBoy online
> JDB Racing

> > I have a PII400, Diamond monster 3DII (12 meg), SB 128 PCI, 128 Ram
> > (100
> > mhz) and the game was choppy at 800X600 will all th cars on the
> > track.
> > Can't hardly get more than 25 fps. What type of machine is required
> > to
> > run the game in  1024X768 with all the options turned on?

> > Online *** is a mixed bag. Was able to do 2 races (with 19
> > drivers!)
> > ok, but 3 disconnects ("your connection is bad, your connection is
> > getting worse, your connection sux big time"...). BTW, I have a
> > cable
> > modem.

> > Philster

> > Philster