rec.autos.simulators

Is a FF wheel the same way in that FF is cool and fun but when you want
to cut serious lap times or try to win, the FF efx just gets in the way?

In GPL I'd almost say it is indispensable.  In SCGT, FF is near useless.

GPL gives me a lot of car "feel" and I'm much more consistent now.  SCGT has
nearly no car "feel" just the rumble strip-type effects.

Dale.

I, on the other hand, never knew how to drive GPL any differently than
what I'd do with a real car (I like to caress it :) ), so I noticed a
drop in laptimes and also more consistency.

-Gregor

In Colin McRae (vers 1 this is) :
I find the FF a boon here - it really demonstrates that
you paid the extra for the wheel - not sure if it
helps my driving but it adds to my enjoyment
emmensely. Tend to find I look for large
jumps to get the wheel humming - and this
probably makes for a poor performance.

In GP3:
FF is really annoying, mostly because the FF
is so incredibly subtle I spend half the time
wondering if my wheel has broken. I guess
I could race GP3 better with a non FF wheel
because I wouldn't checking connections under
the desk as I'm driving - or deliberately
knocking other cars to see if the wheel is working.

In GPL:
FF at its best - I'm never distracted by the FF
in this game because it integrates really well
with the visual and audio cues. Not a good enough
racer to explain this - but I can get a feeling for
the level of grip available through the wheel.
FOr instance, I would know when I'm about
to loose it - and this is due to my bad driving,
rather than attempting to test the wheel.

If I went to a nonFF wheel with GPL, I would be
much worse, if this where possible.

In Rally Championship 2000:
this is a cross between the "fun" element in CMR
and the useful element in GPL. This game is the
one I use after I've played GP3 to reassure myself
that the wheel does, in fact work. This is because
RC 2000, would happy wrench the wheel from
your hands - great stuff.

Jan.
=---

If you just want to hotlap then by all means, use a non-FF wheel (car can't
fight back). Might want to lose the centering bungee/spring in there too.
Two of the fastest people I know don't use any form of centering whatsoever.
Using F10 view can also be benificial.<vwg>

Jan.
=---

My post about "wrenched from your hands" was a bit
of a joke. But I do maintain that I need to be able
to detect the FF to allow it to improve my driving.

I did mention that the settings (at a subtle level)
help in GPL, it is the lack of any feedback in
GP3 that's the trouble. I don't see how "loosing
He-man settings" will address this. Are you perhaps
saying that when set to 100% the FF in GP3
somehow decreases?

Have to admit the car is still not as "alive" and predictable as in GPL, but
it helps.

Jan.
=---

It depends on the wheel IMHO. I have used three wheels with GPL, a TMF1,
an MSFF, and now a TM Modena Pro 360. Out of the three I was slowest
with the MSFF because it's a big 'orrible thing.

The TM wheels have no FF but for me they are much more precise and
easier to drive with.

--
Cheers!
Graeme Nash

In my experience, a FF wheel will *ultimately* make you faster in GPL
because the sim models caster return.  IOW, when yer doin' it wrong, FF
tells you!  Like Pavlov's pooch, you soon learn to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to
avoid the *** "U f*cked up" msg. thru the wheel rim, sooooo...after a
while...you start driving so smooooth you don't get the tactile klaxon,
and--mirabile dictu--yer lap times come down.  However...this takes some
getting used to.  I'd say abt. a month...and that's with a *good* wheel (the
original Logi WMFF, the TM/Guillemont Ferrari, etc.).

--Steve Smith

I'd rather not know what I'm doing wrong. Ignorance is GPLRank bliss :-)

LOL, I recently took my UK A-Level psychology exam and pretty much the
only thing I got decent marks on was Pavlovian theory :-) (And Social
Identity Theory!) :-)

--
Cheers!
Graeme Nash

<<I'd rather not know what I'm doing wrong. Ignorance is GPLRank bliss.>>

Then might I suggest you drive with the keyboard....

--Steve