noticed, he'll also block your ass...big-time. Now how did they manage to
get an AI driver with such a huge ATTITUDE?
What really gets me, is he is usually that "pivotal" AI-driver you have to
get passed.....with two laps to go - so you can start running down the
leaders (maybe)! If there was a GPL-fist raise button in VR, I'd have worn
the thing out on that buggar! Give him the GTS-R car though.....he deserves
to race you hard anyway.
Reminder: Running the VR tracks backwards is great fun......two of the
tracks I believe are much better in reverse mode.
Note On MP: I noticed several comments on the low quality of the MP play in
VR. Well, I've never noticed it. But, I only run with a few guys at a
time.....and a half-dozen or so AI cars (always include Valdez). If you
want to get you and a friend or two......20 laps at the Desert track and 6
AI......tell me your bored and I'll tell you....that you don't like racing!
It stiffens my crank every time I do it.......its way too much fun to have
sim racing.....especially in the new GTS-R with 709 horses!
Couple Notes On Track and Driving Hints: At the **Desert track**, I started
running the hill climb in 4th instead of 3rd. Stay center or left of center
track on the last right-hander and you'll avoid the bump that lifts the
rears off the ground (thus losing valuable traction) that's on the inside of
the turn. When you've got the car lined up for the exit (about half way up
the last hill - after the last right hander), then shift to 3rd and go.
I've dropped 3 secs off my lap times with this "cuteness".......I think I'm
running like 152's there now in the GTS-R (solo). I still can't figure out
how to run the corkscrew flat. Maybe I shouldn't even be trying? Also, on
that big left-hander (decreasing radius turn) before you cross S/F for
another lap....here's a technique I just started using that seems to take
all the risk out of that turn.....without hurting my lap times: Coming down
the hill, instead of shifting to 6th gear....make 5th gear just a skosh
taller and stay in 5th all the way down (if you get your gearing right....it
should only mean a brief 1 or 2 seconds of throttle breath), now you don't
have to brake to turn in....just "lift" and turn in and nail the throttle
right after you turn in. The weight shifts nicely to the nose of the
Viper....and you'll fly through that turn with little chance of dropping a
right-side wheel (which means of course, you'll bite a VR cactus...which is
like biting a parked bulldozer....lol...). I don't even want to look at my
speed over the S/F line now.....its too scary!
Tom
PS: Anybody who runs Viper with "pave the world" turned on........is a
whimp and should go play with the girls down at the beauty shop!
car?
> -Larry
> "Tom Pabst" <tmpa...@home.com> wrote in message
> news:jYOx7.9742$gT6.5942908@news1.rdc1.sfba.home.com...
> > Hey Guys....
> > Thanks for the compliments on providing the info....was just trying to
> help
> > out since I'd just gone through all that stuff to put VR back on my
"play"
> > race box about two months ago. I drive it almost every day....when I
need
> a
> > break and just want to go fast and play with some of those Ramirez AI.
> > (...lol...)
> > Ruud: I promise to take a look at Racer. I downloaded it about a week
> ago
> > (when you released the last version update). But, that kind of thing is
> my
> > spare time work.....and I'm pushing to finish the GPL Watkins
track....and
> > I've promised the guys over at the VR sites a new cockpit for the
> > GTS-R....that's my next graphics project. I do promise you, I will look
> at
> > Racer and I'm encouraged by the compliments you have been getting for
it.
> > When I can get to that, if I can help out (even on an interim basis)
with
> > some graphic textures or whatever, I'd be glad to do it. Keep up the
good
> > work, I am following what you are doing and admire your tenacity.
> > Steve: I'm aware that "Heat" is the next gen sim from VR. I have been
> > watching what you guys are doing with it.....with some help from the
good
> > guys at MGI (unofficially) and some good leadership from John Bodin (a
> good
> > guy). In fact, two weeks ago I asked Dave Henrie for the URL where I
can
> > get all the "patches" I need to bring Heat up to current status. I just
> > haven't had time to do it yet, for the same reasons I haven't gotten to
> > Racer yet.
> > Maybe I can figure out how to work 8 days a week?
> > Tom
> > PS: I call this "work" with tongue in cheek. Its not really work as in
> > "hard" or "not fun" .....etc.
> > "Tom Pabst" <tmpa...@home.com> wrote in message
> > news:HSDx7.6830$gT6.4818206@news1.rdc1.sfba.home.com...
> > > Ruud....
> > > The VR 1.2.1 beta patch allows much more than just allowing VR to run
in
> > > Win2K.
> > > It also allows more detailed (more polygon) cars and tracks (I think
the
> > > Win2K thing was kind of a "smokescreen" for that fact). It also
> > > substantially improves the sound reproduction on many 3D sound cards.
> > > There's a few other things you can do to VR to improve your enjoyment
> > > running it:
> > > **Viper Executable Switches:
> > > Add "-nointro" and "-nocanary" allows VR to be launched without
the
> CD
> > > and bypasses the VR Intro Movie (launches you directly to the main UI
> > > screen). The format is as follows: "C:\Sierra\Viper Racing\Viper
> > > Racing.exe"[spc]-nocanary[spc]-nointro
> > > **Drive the Viper GTS-R in Quick Race Mode:
> > > Download the Viper GTS-R patch and place it in the VR "Data"
folder.
> > > Enter VR and go to the Options/Hacks tab, select the "ViperGT" from
the
> > list
> > > of available cars, and you'll be driving 760 hp, Dodge Viper (winged)
> > GTS-R
> > > race car in Quick Race Mode. (Note: You must select the Viper GT car
> each
> > > time you enter VR, it will not remember that selection on subsequent
> > > launches of the sim.)
> > > **Set AI Strength:
> > > Of course, after selecting the Viper GTS-R race car above, you
will
> be
> > > stomping the AI cars into the ground on all race tracks. That will be
> fun
> > > for a while, but soon prove boring, if you love racing. So, you can
> allow
> > > all the VR AI drivers to race you with the Viper GTS-R "race car" as
> well,
> > > by making the following changes in the VR "options.cfg" file found in
> the
> > VR
> > > Config folder:
> > > Using "notepad" or a suitable "text" editor - search the
> options.cfg
> > > file for a line that reads as follows:
> > > "opponent_strength = x" where x = either the value 1, 2,
or
> 3
> > > (depending on how you have it selected in the UI screens for AI
opponent
> > > strength. If you change this number (x) to a "6" (numeric 6), then
the
> AI
> > > will now be driving winged Viper GTS-R race cars along with you....and
> > they
> > > will be back to their old nasty, aggressive selves again!
> > > **Race Against Larger AI Fields:
> > > Back to the VR "options.cfg" file again, search for the line
> that
> > > says:
> > > "ai_car_count = x" If you have selected the max number of
> > > opponents from the standard UI race set up screen, this "x" will have
a
> > "7"
> > > in its place. Change the 7 to a 14 and you now have 14 of those nasty
> > > "Ramirez and Sanchez" AI buggers to race against (also in GTS-R race
> > cars).
> > > Set the race realism to "simulation," put on full damage and run 20
lap
> > > "long" races against 14 VR AI drivers running Viper GTS-R race cars
and
> > > you've just put yourself into major-league-challenge space again., in
> > terms
> > > of being able to actually win races! You will have to carefully pick
> your
> > > passing opportunities, run near perfect racing lines and plan a race
> > > strategy that involves patience.....in order to beat these guys! Good
> > luck.
> > > **Turn On The VR Spotter Voice:
> > > VR always had this option, but many did not use it. I am in
the
> > > process of creating new spotter voices that will be easier to hear and
> > > understand. In the meantime, you can turn on the "stock" VR spotter
> voice
> > > (which I believe I remember from my VR beta testing days to be none
> other
> > > than, Mr. Dave P. himself. Dave is a little weak of voice, and lacks
> that
> > > distinctive European accent (they don't have spotters in sports car
> racing
> > > that have southern accents like N4) reminiscent of Mr. Bell or Mr.
> Daily.
> > > But, he does an adequate job of telling you when you've cleared an
> > > opponent's front fender(s).....so I always use him.
> > > **Other Cars VR Editing Tools:
> > > For quite some time, VR has allowed "hacks" into the cars data
> > files
> > > that allow importing of just about any car, race car, truck or vehicle
> you
> > > can imagine....into VR in race-able form. Many of these cars are SCGT
> > > conversions, some are 3D creations of note, with their own cockpits
and
> > race
> > > engine sounds and are quite remarkable. One of the best sources for
VR
> > > "hack" cars is at:
> > > http://rdvr.btwracing.com/
> > > This site is run by a long-term VR user named "Iceman" who is a
talented
> > 3D
> > > car modeler and graphics artist. You can also find all kinds of VR
hack
> > > tools and utilities at his website. He's also a pretty likable guy
who
> > will
> > > help you learn to do VR editing if you want to have a go at that (for
> > fun).
> > > I have recently (two weeks ago) acquired the tools necessary to create
> new
> > > VR race car cockpits, 3D models and all.....from scratch. My first VR
> > > cockpit project
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