rec.autos.simulators

        I bought it a few months ago and it has been on my "other pc
games I would play if GPL didn't exist" drawer. The other day after a
heavy argument with Chris Amon, after he attempted to overtake on the
inside at Masta in Spa on the 30th lap, I decided to give GPL a break
for a few days as my sanity was at stake here! Of course I
disqualified C.Amon from the race and now he'll be driving a copper
for the rest of the season for his insolence! I know it is a bit harsh
but I had to make an example of him as my eagle had to be completely
rebuilt after the incident.
 Anyway, after a couple of days without GPL, withdraw symptoms such as
shaking hands, voices in my head and uncontrollable urge to compete
set in. So I decided I had to race something, since in real life the
only sensation of speed I get is from my old banger as I strive to
beat the traffic and get to work every morning; So I rooted through my
drawer and ended up installing GP500, after concluding that Castrol
Superbike wasn't up to the task as far as I am concerned.
        I wasn't too impressed at first as I expected to just break
world records on my first lap. But as it turned out it was slightly
more difficult to learn than I thought, so I used the old GPL
beginner's rule to just try and keep the thing on the track at first.
Once that was done and I had more control of the bike, I was amazed to
find myself really enjoying this sim. All the circuits are spot on and
the sensation of speed is awesome!
I don't know much about racing bikes, but was very surprised at this
sim as it seemed very realistic to me. The graphics are great and it
runs very smoothly, and I think I am hooked!
        Tonight I'll be doing 20 laps on each circuit so I can get  a
better feel of the bikes, but this looks like a long project and it
could get in the way of GPL . I am amazed because this is the first
sim since GPL that got my interest, and I have bought everything else
out there. Not even RC2000 stood the test.
        Now, if any of you guys are playing it I wouldn't mind some
advice on set-ups and driving -oops! riding technique for a beginner.

Mauricio.

I've started playing it again & you're right, it is pretty damn neat when you get into it. It's also a great tool for learning proper racing lines which transformed GPL for me.

No idea about setup on GP500 though so any links would be appreciated.

Cheers
Colin

Andre

Johan

Andre

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

http://members.tripod.com/~morganv/
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Bobby

Take 1 Serial Port wheel with a pedal unit
Take 1 USB MS Freestyle Pro

Ditch the wheel and use the pedals from the wheel for gas/brakes, in
combination with the Freestyle to tilt the bike. I think that they're hard
to get hold of now, so a standard joystick works well too. Anything that
provides rapid lock-to-lock and is not directly coupled to the gas/brakes
does the trick (i.e. I hate having a joystick to control steering on the
x-axis and accelerating/braking on the y-axis).

Failing that, I think somebody went and produced a very expensive dedicated
bike sim controller. I had the webpage somewhere, but I've just lost it...

Bobby

No, the full retail version.

Yes, which controller to use in this sim is, as you say a big problem.
I have tried the wheel but it just felt like too much effort since
there's only 2 tires to get grip from on a bike, as for the keyboard,
it is a waste of time as no accuracy can be obtained from it. I ended
up using my MS Precision Pro joystick and it didn't take me long to
find a configuration I was happy with, and I felt quite comfortable
with it  in the end. I have also opened it up and attached a small
spring to the throttle which makes it even better. But I'll be buying
a force feedback joystick this weekend which I think will be just
perfect.
I was very concerned at first about braking, as the joystick has got
throttle (sort of anyway), but the way I see it - and I am very much a
beginner, this sim is about spending more time on the throttle, and
precise braking doesn't seem to be too much of a problem, so I have
front and rear braking in one button. I would definitely have to say
that a FF joystick should be the best for this sim. Shame it doesn't
support 2 controllers though, I just don't understand why simulators
are still nowadays made only to support one controller, but never mind
that.

Mauricio.

Johan