rec.autos.simulators

Hi.

I notice that most of the discussion in this group relates to PC games. I
include computers other than the IBM-PC when I say PC.

Personally, I like Hard Drivin' and Race Drivin', the arcade versions
only. Virtua Racing is o.k. but really nowhere as good as HD and RD when it
comes to simulating the feel of a real car. If only they could be merged so
that we could have VR quality graphics and HD quality force-feedback!
Add in some G-force simulation and that would be a hot simulator.

While I'm on the subject, has anyone seen or heard of better simulators?
I imagine car companies must have them.

============================================================================
Damon B. Poole                  ___   ___   ___       Voice: (617) 621-8810
Open Software Foundation       /  /  /__   /__          Fax: (617) 225-2782

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I had the opportunity to try a beta version of a car/flight sim that
will be out in amu***t parks in the US sometime next year.  You
sit in a two-person "pod" that contains two seats, joysticks, pedals
and a large, high-res screen.  The best part is, this pod sits in a
gimble mount at the end of a thirty foot boom that rotates the whole
thing at about 30 rpm.  By linking the movement of the joystick to
that of the screen and the movement of the pod on the gimble, you
get a very nice feel of pulling g's.  In fact, you can pull about
2 g's max.  Couple this with 30fps of 5,000+ textured, shaded, anti-aliased
polygon graphics and you have quite a system.  I sure was impressed.  
Can't wait to give it a try at some amu***t park.  

-Carl
--
        Carl J. Schnurr                                 1-919-660-2515

        Durham, N.C.      27706