The AI files for yet another Dega AI can be found at:
ftp://ftp.teleport.com/users/mcarver/AutoSim/yadai09.zip
This is a "quasi-beta" version. We are looking for feedback. Our
attempt is to create a "dancin' partner" AI.
Here is the README.TXT
AI for a Drafting Fest at Talladega or Yet Another Dega AI version 0.9
While the original AI (artificial intelligence -- or computer driven
cars) provided by Papyrus "pretend" to draft, many of us have been quite
unhappy with their performance at Talladega. While the cars' performance
is modeled on restrictor plate racing, the AI don't seem to keep in mind
that their cars have a restrictor plate. Enter "Yet Another Dega AI"
(YADAI)!
It is our goal to re-create the type of racing we see while watching a
Winston Cup race at Talladega (or Daytona). This version of YADAI, is
not perfect, but comes closer than Papyrus' or other AI patches seen to
date. There are still some problems, some appear to be hard-coded into
the simulation and others can be refined in future versions of YADAI.
What can you expect from installing YADAI? More and longer trains of
drafting cars. No longer will you or the AI be able to pass drafting
cars without drafting partners. If you lose the draft, you will not be
able to pick it up again unless you find a "dancing partner" or the pack
ahead starts dicing for positions. Yes, there will still be passing by
the AI, but they are more interested in staying in drafting packs than
passing. Don't worry, there will still be 3-wide passing in the
tri-oval. Your rear view mirror will fill up with the hoods of the
drafting cars behind you. You will be able to "entice" fast cars to
leave a pack to help you pass. The AI will better maintain their speed
going into and out of the turns. The AI will make their pit ins and outs
faster. This will help alleviate the problem of the racing cars slowing
down for cars going into or out of the pits. However, don't expect the
AI to get any smarter about not falling in line behind crippled and
slower cars (sorry, but it looks like Papyrus will need to fix this
one).
HOW TO
To reap the benefits of YADAI, copy the enclosed files into the TALADEGA
directory under the TRACKS directory. If you decide you don't like the
resulting performance of the AI, you can revert to the original AI by
copying all of the *.LP files from the CD-ROM's NASCAR2\TRACKS\TALADEGA
directory back into the same directory on your hard drive.
FINE TUNING
To fully appreciate this new AI, you will need to alter the RELS figure
in the TALADEGA.TXT file. Even at Papyrus' default level of 104, the AI
cars under-drive compared to the performance and handling of the human
driven car. This is one of the reasons it is possible to pass drafting
cars even without recruiting a drafting partner. I recommend starting
with a range between 108-114. The lower end should be for joystick
users, while the higher numbers should be for drivers with steering
wheels for input. While the resulting speeds and times will be higher
than the real speeds and times at this track, the experience of racing
will be more realistic. Since Papyrus has allowed the human drivers to
outperform the track, the AI should be granted the same right.
Here is a good way to calculate the right RELS number for use with
YADAI. Start a regular race at Talladega (make sure you have the YADAI
files installed). Do not qualify. You will want the last position on the
starting grid. For quicker testing, you may want to turn off the "Pace
Lap" option. At the drop of the green flag, drop back from the pack.
Make sure that you are far enough away from the pack to not pick up any
effects from the draft. Once you have gotten your car up to speed,
continue to run 5-8 laps. With the F2 Standing List displayed, monitor
your time from the Leader of the race. Since they should be drafting
after 2 or 3 laps, they should easily be gaining 0.10+ seconds a lap on
your position. If you can keep up with the leaders or gain on them,
raise the RELS number in TALADEGA.TXT. However, if they are gaining more
than 0.20 seconds per lap, lower the RELS number. In order for this test
to work, you must be running consistently your best laps.
Once you have found a comfortable RELS line, you can fine tune it by
comparing your times while drafting. If the RELS is too high, you will
consistently run faster laps when tucked behind a fast car or pack of
cars than when you are leading a pack of cars. Ideally one should be
running about the same lap times while following a draft or leading a
draft (well, unless the lead car is in fact faster than you are). Try to
find an even ground with the RELS number that will allow you to get
comparable times leading or following in a pack. As you get better at
Talladega with your setups and driving line, you may need to raise the
RELS number to keep up with your performance. For a real challenge try
120!
Now that you have upped the ante by raising the RELS line, you need to
adjust the BLAP number. This number controls the qualifying speeds. Here
are suggested BLAP numbers for the different RELS based on 1997's pole
qualifying time:
RELS BLAP
108 49994
109 50005
110 50014
111 50024
112 50034
113 50044
114 50054
DRIVING WITH THE NEW AI
You will need to spend some time learning how the new AI drive the track
and race the competition. There are enough differences, that you may be
frustrated at first. Take your time and analyze what the AI are doing
and why. You will find that since you are usually driving tucked up
behind other cars, that you must really concentrate on driving through
the windshield of the cars in front of you. This is always the case in
close racing, but is more important in a restrictor plate race. Be ready
to lift a little on the gas when the cars ahead start dicing for
position or come up on slower traffic. Also be ready for the car in
front of you to lift a little to let someone into the pack. Since the
new AI now know how important the draft is, they would rather have
someone come into the pack in front of them than break up a fast moving
train. So they will lift a little to let people in.
Be kind to your drafting partners! If you treat them nice, they will
draft with you and help you move up the field. If you mess with them
(cut them off, or squeeze them), they will drop back and you will lose
the benefit of their draft. Many times you will find that you make
better time following certain cars than you do leading. With time you
will learn the grooves you can take going through the turns without
upsetting your drafting partners. When it comes down to racing for the
finish or a position when racing to the yellow flag, then it's time to
mess with your partners! Until then, they are the best friends you have
on the track.
There are spots on the track where the AI still act poorly. Learn these
spots early and avoid the headaches and crunched fenders that may
result. Here are a few rough points to watch out for.
DRIVERS' MEETING
Coming out of the dog-leg, if you are in the middle or outside groove,
the inside cars have a tendency to push you into the wall. This can be
avoided if you are carry enough speed and hold your line in the middle
or in between the middle and outside groove. If you are not carrying
enough speed or start drifting to the outside groove, be patient and
lift. This will allow the inside car to make its determined move to the
outside lane. If you only lift slightly, you should be able to pick up
their draft and make a move later.
Entering turn 3 on the inside groove can be quite difficult if there are
cars outside of you. Depending on your speed and your approach, you may
be able to force them to keep the outside groove. However, this is a
dicey place to pass unless you approach it just right. You either need a
lot of steam, or must be far enough in front of the outside car to make
this turn without getting nudged or nailed.
Exiting turns 2 and 4 on the outside can also be tricky. Again, it
depends on the amount of speed you carry coming out of the turns and the
groove you take. If you carry enough speed and hold the inside car to
the low to middle grooves, you should be able to continue safely through
the this turn up to the outside wall. If you find yourself slipping to
far up the groove and the inside car is moving up and maintaining speed,
the prudent choice is to lift and let them have the outside groove
entering the straight.
Entering the pits under yellow can be a problem. Depending on how far
back you are in the pack, the cars in front may come to a stop while
they wait for the pitting cars ahead to straighten things out. Be
patient and alert to this problem. Stay to the left of the car in front
and be prepared to slow or stop. Do not pass this car before entering
your pit stall or you will receive an unwelcomed black flag.
First turn after the green flag at the start of the race is another
problem area. As the AI try to go through this corner 2 wide and also
prepare to form a one car groove down the back stretch, they tend to
slow and bunch up. If you didn't qualify up front, be ready to take this
corner extremely carefully and be ready to touch the brakes. Maybe even
brake heavy if you are on the inside. If you are on the outside, you may
be able to move up to the wall.
In an attempt to keep the cars in the racing groove from slowing too
much when passing cars exiting the pits, we have greatly increased the
speed the AI takes through turns 1 and 2 on the apron. You may find this
too fast, however, the speed tends to compensate for the extra time the
AI take entering and while pitting. Also they do not seem to get up to
proper speed while coming down the back straight.
Well, there you have it! Version 0.9 of YADAI (Yet Another Dega AI).
Please send all feedback, positive and negative, to
mcar...@teleport.com.
The YADAI team:
Rob Camp (snow...@whidbey.com)
Jon Guest (jon_gu...@pegasus.meganet.co.uk)
Michael E. Carver (mcar...@teleport.com)
The following people have been extremely helpful in the preparation of
YADAI:
All of the folks at The Sim Project (http://members.aol.com/simproject)
Christopher D. Lund (Author of TLMetry)
Gerhard Lingenberg
Tom Hansen
And too many others to name
Thanks!
--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.
mcar...@teleport.com http://www.teleport.com/~mcarver
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