> We've all been thru the arguments for and against driving from the
>***pit. But I had some random thoughts today that might add to the
> discussion. I won't be using racing examples tho...
Here are my thoughts on playing games from a first-person perspective
(I snipped most of your post because it's not wholly relative, but
I've avoided these threads until I could elucidate my thoughts).
I buy a racing simulator because I want to experience something I
can't do in real life. Part of the experience of driving a car is
sitting in the***pit. That means having my hands and a wheel in
front of me, a proper dashboard, a view-limiting windshield and a
mirror.
Now, IMHO people who drive from 'arcade' views aren't doing anything
wrong. They have a difference set of expectations and are trying to
have a different experience than I am. Someone may prefer a hood view
or a behind-the-car-view or a nose view because it makes the game
easier and/or more enjoyable. For me, I want to experience the same
visual limitations as a real driver and have the same sense of
perspective as I do in a real car and whether I'm faster or slower is
irrelevant.
The "I can't do this in real life but I can on a computer" aspect is
why nearly everything I buy is a simulation in some sense, whether
it's Nascar 2002, Mig Alley, Operation Flashpoint, Out of the Park 4,
or even the Civilization games. Being able to drive in the***pit in
my racecar or have a limited field of view in my F-51 or look through
the scope of an AK-47 is why I buy these games, it's why I bought
Sublogic's Jet and Flight Simulator for my Apple ][. For me, it's not
about fun or playability, it's about makebelieve. =)
Oh yeah, I also play Space Channel 5 because I don't look good in a
cute little plastic dress and still haven't found any martians to
shoot while dancing to funk music.
Jason