rec.autos.simulators

Hey all.. I thought some would enjoy this turismo 4 video. I don't think I
can link to it directly, but if you go to ps2.ign.com right now, the main
feature is "E3 2003: gran turismo 4 movie: direct-feed footage.must-see!".

It's a video of the Subaru WRC car offroad in a desert-type area. The
environment looks amazing, and so does the lighting... The car looks
actually realistic taking those corners too, like it was driven with a wheel
and someone who knows what they are doing. (as apposed to all the CMR3
videos i've seen that are clearly digital joypad.. straight into trees :)

Mike
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

E3 2003: Gran Turismo 4 Movie

The problem with this game has always been one of multiple cars.  One
car on the track... it's an amazing work of art.  Throw in 6 opponents
and it's an exercise in futility.  During the Sony E3 press conference
the lead designer (forget his name) stated that for the first time in
the GT series, there will be AI improvements made.  That's odd
considering I remember hearing the same statement during the GT3 speech.
  Watching a few of the GT4 movies there were several shots of the cars
banging into each other.  Sure it's early, but I don't think Japanese
developers understand AI.  There idea of AI is to have close,
competitive races.  European and North American developers understand
that not only should the races be competitive, but the computer
controlled cars should respect your car and your racing line.  I may be
wrong.  The only good thing I can say about Japanese developers and
racing games is that they tend to leave out their fascination with
'boss' levels.  Another tired and stale *** cliche perfected by
Japanese developers.

Here's the best write up I've seen concerning GT4

http://www.gamers.com/game/1351024/

The paragraph about the AI still has me worried.

Sony's area of expertise is marketing and making money.  They realise that
the average moron that buys Gran Turismo games barely knows what AI is let
alone whether it's any good or not.  It's gotta sell to the masses, and
rolling demos and screenshots are No1 priority.

I agree totally.. The AI in Turismo STINKS.

Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com

As always, but it might get more fun if the AI is replaced
with humans. :)

I also like the part about the new driving wheel from Logitech
with 900 degrees rotation...  Finally, this could be a replacement
to going to the gym... :)

--
/S

I had the most fun with GT3 when both friends who owned PS2's linked them up
and we had two TV's. It's just a fun game to be kickin' around with friends
playing..

That 900 degree rotation wheel seems to make sense.. I mean, we're trying to
simulate cars with these wheels that only rotate like what 200 degrees?
Granted, that's perfectly fine for an F1 car.. but I'm sure cars like the
GTi in LFS would have to turn more than that...

It will be interesting to see it's implementation.. meaning, when you drive
the F1 car, will it's lock-to-lock only be 200 degrees or whatever, but when
you drive a completely stock regular road car, will it use it's full 900
degrees.. etc. I also wonder if that's actually measured and part of the
game.. that would be a very interesting and innovative thing if during the
making of the game, each car's steering range was measured and then
programmed it's limits and everything for use with that one wheel. I guess
thats' the bonus have having proprietary hardware like that 900 degree
wheel.

Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com

 From an article on ps2.ign.com...

"Polyphony plans to up the level of artificial intelligence. Players
will notice the AI behaving in more considerate ways -- not smashing or
bumping into you, for instance --; they will make fewer mistakes, and
there are more likely to catch up near the end of a game. For those who
have spent significant time with GT, so often you'll win a race far
ahead of other cars. Now, losing cars will never be that far behind."

This is the 2nd time I've seen mention of the other cars making it a
close race.  That's not AI folks!  Let's hope they're putting just as
much effort into the "considerate ways" as they are as their new ***
banding of the computer cars.