rec.autos.simulators

Okay. We all know that Crammond's way of dealing with processor
overload is to "slow down"the frame rate until the congestion is
lessened. But  I have one question...... since GP2 is not a "real
time" sim, does the speed of our processor prevent all of us from
comparing lap times????    I am currently running a couple of ICR2
series' and dont have any problem being competitive. Likewise for
Nascar on Hawaii. However, I have been trying for 3 wks (since I
bought the game) to get my lap times down on GP2. I've only run
Brazil, as I want to concentrate on finding the right line and the
feel of the car. I have downloaded some hot laps and compared them to
my own personal best (1:19.???), and I have even graphed both laps(the
other was 1:15.???) and they are almost identical in every comparison.
I cannot find any way to pick up some time, let alone 3 SECONDS!!! I
can only assume it is because I am running on a 486DX 100. Do I need
to pack up the game until I can upgrade? Sure seems like it to
me........ lemme know what you guys think......

post replies or email at

David A Branch
Lead Dog Racing
"the lead dog eats no dust"

Hope that helps.

===========================================================
Alex Fernandez
MTS
Lucent Technologies
No. Andover, MA
email:

tel: (508)960-6510
===========================================================

   processor 136
   Video 81

I play the game in VGA with all the graphics turned off. I get an est
frame of 25+ but I play at 21. With all the detail off, I use the
"best line" option to give me braking and turn in points, etc. I also
use the Formula T1 wheel & pedals.

I have only played three tracks (and mastered none!):
Brazil 1:16.1xx
Hock 1:43.7xx
Monza 1:23.9xx

So you should be able to go a lot faster with you 486DX100
Lee
 Lee       __ __ _          Utah Karting Champion (1991 1992 1993)
 __  _ - ~~ l     ~-_            "Karting is the purest form of motor



 >~~\___/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\___/~        1987 Fiero GT Metallic Blue

: Okay. We all know that Crammond's way of dealing with processor
: overload is to "slow down"the frame rate until the congestion is
: lessened. But  I have one question...... since GP2 is not a "real
: time" sim, does the speed of our processor prevent all of us from
: comparing lap times????    I am currently running a couple of ICR2
: series' and dont have any problem being competitive. Likewise for
: Nascar on Hawaii. However, I have been trying for 3 wks (since I
: bought the game) to get my lap times down on GP2. I've only run
: Brazil, as I want to concentrate on finding the right line and the
: feel of the car. I have downloaded some hot laps and compared them to
: my own personal best (1:19.???), and I have even graphed both laps(the
: other was 1:15.???) and they are almost identical in every comparison.
: I cannot find any way to pick up some time, let alone 3 SECONDS!!! I
: can only assume it is because I am running on a 486DX 100. Do I need
: to pack up the game until I can upgrade? Sure seems like it to
: me........ lemme know what you guys think......

Well there are drawbacks to having the CPU Occupancy over 100%.  Running
over curbs is completely different at >100% vs. <80%.  The higher the
occupancy the longer the car seems to stay airborne and the harder it is
to get the feel for when to correct and get back into the throttle.  The
drawback to having the occupancy <100% is that the simulated world is
traveling faster than it would in real time.  Thus a 1:19 could really
be anything from 1:17.5 to 1:15 in real time.  Anywhere from 3-5%
difference in "reaction" time can make cornering and braking difficult.  

But, then I am the wrong guy to ask.  I have never been one to come
close to breaking these "sim" records.  I am usually hard pressed to
even top a real world record in my simulated world.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

says...

I think there could be small differences in car handling for different
frame rates (more frame rates = more accurate control). However the time
in the game should flow at the same speed, regardless of how we perceive
it.

I have a 486/100 as well, and am reasonably fast (~1 sec from the best
times I've seen at Monza and Monaco). I guess you are just slow ;-)

It's amazing the amount of time you can gain in GP2 with practice and a
better setup. The first day I practiced at Monaco my best time was
1:21.8. I would look at the hotlaps from other people and think "how can
they do that? I can drop to 1:20, maybe 1:19, but 1:18 is out of my
reach". Now my best is 1:17.3.

--
Nicola Salmoria

Yep... I was affraid of this. I'll bet your are right too.

I usually manage to break the "sim" records. I got down to 1:58.242 at
Spa today (no helps ON). I cannot come close to some of the astonishing
laptimes/speed that others seem to always post though. I had one friend
on my INDYCAR racing League (first series). THat guy was just awesome. I
nicknamed him "Magic". Turns out he was an expert at cutting corners &
lowering times. I think everyone can come close to the "sim" records
with enough practice. I always did, and I was not that great (as I said).
Had lots of fun, which is the important thing :-)

Hi Greg,

Michael is correct as far as the time compression goes, but I think he
might be being a little pessimistic about it. From my own limited
testing, it appears to be reasonably constant if you are driving <100%
processor occupancy. By this I mean that you won't particularly notice
the difference between a PO of 70% and one of 80% (less than 0.25 sec
per lap).

The key is to never let the PO go above 100% when things really do
start to get bogged down.

Cheers,
Richard