rec.autos.simulators

Grand Prix Legends questions

Toni Lassi

Grand Prix Legends questions

by Toni Lassi » Fri, 07 May 1999 04:00:00

Got it sorted out by swapping drivers, thanks anyway. Now to practice
dual-axis starts in GPL and then to VROC =)

David Ewin

Grand Prix Legends questions

by David Ewin » Fri, 07 May 1999 04:00:00


> I have a couple questions about Grand Prix Legends.   Right now I'm using a
> 4-button joystick, 2 buttons for gas and brake.   I also have to use automatic
> shifting.   I wish I could use a steering wheel with pedals, but unfortunately I
> cannot because of a disability.   I am constantly getting out-accelerated and
> out-braked in online races.   I was wondering if there was any way to adjust the
> automatic shifting, so that the computer doesn't let off the gas as much during
> a shift.   I have viewed replays of the fast drivers, they barely let off the
> gas, because they can use the clutch with manual shifting.   I could probably
> make up some time if I could cut down the delay during a shift.

> I was also wondering if there was a way for me to decrease the braking distance
> (either via setup or something else), even though I use a button instead of a
> foot pedal.   Any help would be appreciated.   Thanks.

The best way to use a joystick in a racing sim is to use the Y-axis (pushing forward
and back) as the accelerator and brake and the X-axis (pushing left and right) as
steering. This way you get  analog control of your acceleration and braking which is
crucial in a sim like GPL.  This will also free up your buttons for use as shifters,
which should also dramatically improve your control and lap times.  Spend some time
getting used to this and I'm sure your driving will greatly improve.

Dave Ewing

Mike Rodrigue

Grand Prix Legends questions

by Mike Rodrigue » Sun, 09 May 1999 04:00:00

Gotta agree with ya, Dave.

Once you get used to it, it's not bad at all.

I drove GP2 from the time it was released to the time GPL came out with
guess what?  A CH Flightstick. Got pretty respectable times there, as well.
The only thing it doesn't allow by its very nature is dual-axis throt/brake
control which is a whole lot less serious than using button control and auto
trans.

Even today, I am driving with my trusty son-of-Flightstick, but now with CH
ProPedals for the brake and throttle. They didn't cost a fortune, and are
serving me well (until I get my wheel).

Later,
Av/Mikey

|
|> I have a couple questions about Grand Prix Legends.   Right now I'm using
a
|> 4-button joystick, 2 buttons for gas and brake.   I also have to use
automatic
|> shifting.   I wish I could use a steering wheel with pedals, but
unfortunately I
|> cannot because of a disability.   I am constantly getting out-accelerated
and
|> out-braked in online races.   I was wondering if there was any way to
adjust the
|> automatic shifting, so that the computer doesn't let off the gas as much
during
|> a shift.   I have viewed replays of the fast drivers, they barely let off
the
|> gas, because they can use the clutch with manual shifting.   I could
probably
|> make up some time if I could cut down the delay during a shift.
|>
|> I was also wondering if there was a way for me to decrease the braking
distance
|> (either via setup or something else), even though I use a button instead
of a
|> foot pedal.   Any help would be appreciated.   Thanks.
|
|The best way to use a joystick in a racing sim is to use the Y-axis
(pushing forward
|and back) as the accelerator and brake and the X-axis (pushing left and
right) as
|steering. This way you get  analog control of your acceleration and braking
which is
|crucial in a sim like GPL.  This will also free up your buttons for use as
shifters,
|which should also dramatically improve your control and lap times.  Spend
some time
|getting used to this and I'm sure your driving will greatly improve.
|
|Dave Ewing
|
|

Eldre

Grand Prix Legends questions

by Eldre » Mon, 10 May 1999 04:00:00



>Have you thought about a wheel with paddle shifters? That way you could
>shift with the paddles, and use the buttons on the wheel for gas and brake.
>Of course you would not use the gas brake peddles on the base. Theres
>nothing quite like shifting your own gears in GPL. I can't imagine playing
>it with the auto. It would take most of the fun out of it.

Playing it WITHOUT auto takes the *control* out of it, for me.  I never figured
out how to wrestle the beast to stay on the track while downshifting 3 gears
going into Parabolica...  
And Monza's the EASIEST track...! :(  I wouldn't DARE try it at Someplace like
Mosport...

__

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Eldre

Grand Prix Legends questions

by Eldre » Mon, 10 May 1999 04:00:00



>If you do manage to find a way of using manual gears, you'll gain 2secs
>EVERYWHERE, i did, i slowly started to learn manual for each track, then got
>faster and faster, manual gears make a HUGE difference.

2 SECONDS?!?  On *every* track?  Great, I'll NEVER catch up... :)  I'm still
running auto.

__

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^Frett

Grand Prix Legends questions

by ^Frett » Tue, 11 May 1999 04:00:00

Odd?? I race all tracks with no help in GPL and no foot pedals.
I use 2 buttons for shift-up/down & one for clutch & 2 paddles
for gas/brake all while steering with only Two hands!! I ain't no
hot'shoe but Monza is not hard to get down to at least 1:30.xx.
You do it the same way you get to "Carnegie Hall.." Practice!
Cheers... Thom _j.



> Playing it WITHOUT auto takes the *control* out of it, for me.  I never figured
> out how to wrestle the beast to stay on the track while downshifting 3 gears
> going into Parabolica...
> And Monza's the EASIEST track...! :(  I wouldn't DARE try it at Someplace like
> Mosport...

Kirk Lan

Grand Prix Legends questions

by Kirk Lan » Wed, 12 May 1999 04:00:00

I can't STAND the auto...darn thing won't let you drive it right.  I started
with the stick from day 1 (lets you recover from spins faster) and haven't
looked back.

--
Kirk Lane

ICQ: 28171652




>>If you do manage to find a way of using manual gears, you'll gain 2secs
>>EVERYWHERE, i did, i slowly started to learn manual for each track, then
got
>>faster and faster, manual gears make a HUGE difference.

>2 SECONDS?!?  On *every* track?  Great, I'll NEVER catch up... :)  I'm
still
>running auto.

>__

>Put your message in a modem, and throw it in the ***-sea...
>remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Eldre

Grand Prix Legends questions

by Eldre » Wed, 19 May 1999 04:00:00


writes:

>Odd?? I race all tracks with no help in GPL and no foot pedals.
>I use 2 buttons for shift-up/down & one for clutch & 2 paddles
>for gas/brake all while steering with only Two hands!! I ain't no
>hot'shoe but Monza is not hard to get down to at least 1:30.xx.
>You do it the same way you get to "Carnegie Hall.." Practice!
>Cheers... Thom _j.




>> Playing it WITHOUT auto takes the *control* out of it, for me.  I never
>figured
>> out how to wrestle the beast to stay on the track while downshifting 3
>gears
>> going into Parabolica...
>> And Monza's the EASIEST track...! :(  I wouldn't DARE try it at Someplace
>like
>> Mosport...

Well, maybe my T2 just doesn't give me enough control.  I'm still using the
default Eagle setup, and my fastest time is 1:32.04.  Yesterday I tried a setup
that someone sent me(I've been busy) and I couldn't complete TWO laps with it.
The car is all over the track... :(  
It keeps 'wandering'(I think that's the term).  It was like me trying to drive
the Ferrari when I first GOT the game... :(
I think I'll try to run a couple hundred laps before I go to class tonight.  I
see a problem with that, though.  I have to brake in the same spots.  If I go
any deeper into the turn, I can't stay on the track.  So logically, that means
my times will never get faster, right?  I'm at my limit?  ARGH!

__

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Antony Bower

Grand Prix Legends questions

by Antony Bower » Thu, 20 May 1999 04:00:00


> I think I'll try to run a couple hundred laps before I go to class tonight.  I
> see a problem with that, though.  I have to brake in the same spots.  If I go
> any deeper into the turn, I can't stay on the track.  So logically, that means
> my times will never get faster, right?  I'm at my limit?  ARGH!

No, fortunately for you this is quite wrong. It's a beginners' error to
think that you go faster in GPL by braking later. I certainly made this
mistake soon after I started practising seriously, and it retarded my
development for a while.

The most important thing to improve your lap times is to get on the power
earlier on the exit from a corner. To do this, you must have the car balanced
and the tyres hooked up (i.e. not sliding) in the middle of the corner. Thus
it helps to enter a little slower, and therefore you will go faster if you brake
*earlier*.

GPL cars decelerate under braking *much* faster than they can accelerate. Thus
spending a little more time decelerating loses much less than is gained by
spending much more time accelerating, if that makes sense.

It also helps to steer an expanding radius curve on exit from a corner
(Taruffi's book explains this very well). This is possible if you use a
slightly tighter and slower entry curve.

Caveat: my GPL laptimes don't really qualify me to give advice like this,
but I think you'll find the above is useful.

   Anton

--
Antony Bowers, Department of Computer Science, University of Bristol, UK.
http://www.cs.bris.ac.uk/~bowers/

Eldre

Grand Prix Legends questions

by Eldre » Sun, 23 May 1999 04:00:00



>The most important thing to improve your lap times is to get on the power
>earlier on the exit from a corner. To do this, you must have the car balanced
>and the tyres hooked up (i.e. not sliding) in the middle of the corner. Thus
>it helps to enter a little slower, and therefore you will go faster if you
>brake
>*earlier*.

I already FEEL like I'm braking too early.  I keep getting rear-ended by the AI
*and* by humans... :)

Not yet, but I'll keep reading it.

And where can I find the book?  And what's the title?

__

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Antony Bower

Grand Prix Legends questions

by Antony Bower » Tue, 25 May 1999 04:00:00




> I already FEEL like I'm braking too early.  I keep getting rear-ended by the AI
> *and* by humans... :)

OK, well, perhaps you are. I get rear-ended too sometimes. It's just that I
used to try to go fast by braking far too late and then had to scrub
off speed by sliding sideways, and for ages I wondered why I wasn't going faster.

The best example is Sunset bend on Kyalami. It's easy to slide wide here.
When I started braking 10 yards earlier and keeping tight to the line, I immediately gained at least half a second, although it felt
slower, probably because more controlled.

Hmm, don't bother, I read this somewhere but I'm not sure I understand it either
now :)

Off the top of my head: "The Technique of Motor Racing", Piero Taruffi,
published by Barnes & Noble, written in 1959. I got it from Amazon.com.
It's one of the books mentioned in the back of "4 Wheel Drift".

  Anton

--
Antony Bowers, Department of Computer Science, University of Bristol, UK.
http://www.cs.bris.ac.uk/~bowers/


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