rec.autos.simulators

I have wasted so much time....practicing on a new track.....or even
practicing to find those extra "tenths" here and there that we all know are
"available" but....hours of practice to find them....having to switch to a
"replay" screen to check my "speed" through any particular spot on a track
I'm working on!  And, please don't tell me the rpm indicator should tell me
that....because it doesn't!  The gauges in gpl are not "discernible" down to
at least 200 rpm minimum from within the***pit view....at least not
without taking too much time to squint and read it.......which is the case
in all real race cars.  Plus...there are many turns where you are coming
down through the gears......you still need to know your entry
"speeds"....not a single speed.....so the rpm indicator again is useless in
this regard.

Again, all the "purists"......maybe we could make this feature only
available in "Training" mode?  I don't even care if the speed (digital read
out) is integrated into the***pit dash!  Who cares....I want to be able to
stop wasting time having to change to a "replay" to get the kind of feed
back all drivers need when practicing a new track...or getting faster on
one!

I think there's a real possible "side benefit" in online/multiplayer....in
being able to have a clear digital speed read out!  It would "help" to clean
up the "starts" where there's so much "noise" coming from cars around
you......no time to discern your rpm's at any given point (lucky to remember
what gear you are in.....and no time to glance to the lower right to check
it really)......we'd avoid those "first turn" slam jobs from drivers simply
going "too fast...without really being aware of it".....!!

So....just like for the "brake lights" (see post on brake lights....can we
have them?)....I'm offering to purchase any 3D video card and send it to the
first person who can figure out how to get this data into the***pit view
in GPL!  It needs to be a digital read out....easily viewable while
driving....and I don't care if it's incorporated into the***pit dash or
not!  That would be "nice" but not totally necessary!

If the same person figures out both the brake lights and the speed indicator
..........I'll get you a 3D video card and a sound card (of your
choice).....or substitute any other similarly priced computer component and
ship it to you (my expense) anywhere in the world!

You have my honor...my "word" on this...publicly stated in this
"forum".......it would be pretty hard for me to not "hold up my end of the
bargain!"

Ok you tech guys....this can't be that hard?  Get cracking!

Tom Pabst

http://www.racesimcentral.net/ or http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Home of the "UNBIASED" review!

I have one of the buttons on my wheel mapped to the F10 button. I can check
my speed at certain points around the track by switching to the external
view, then back to the***pit. Sure it is a bit 'unrealistic' but it saves
having to review the replay to see your speed.

Some points I like to check at Monza are the start/finish line, the red sign
on the right up the main straight and out of the Vialone. All these points
are on straight sections of track. I never do this through the corners so
you may not be able to use this method to check your entry speed as the
***pit view may compromise the way you enter the corner.

Bye,
Ian

Jon   Van Ginneken

"I try to do my best every day. If, at the end of the day
I know I did the best job I could do, I am satisfied."

                                  --Alex Zanardi

Thank you for an "intelligent" response to my inquiry.  I'll give that a
try.....actually I wouldn't care about the "switch" when practicing...but it
wouldn't do if actually in a race.  I use the "speed" (or the tach...as long
I can see rpm's in "200 rpm increments) to "pace" laps that are mid-way in a
long race.  I learned to do that from Bob Bondurant....and I don't know any
race car driver who doesn't (unless he's running in F1, CART or NASCAR where
either a "spotter" or awesome telemetry will do it for him).

I guess with GPL, Papyrus' design of it was intended to be "true" to that
period of racing.  I understand that....I would make exactly the same
decision.  But, with the lack of serious racing sims out now (N3 delay,
TransAm disbanded.......and the list goes on) we find ourselves with only
one serious and good racing sim.....GPL.  I no longer "think" of GPL as a
1967 F1 Racing Sim.  It's a 1999 racing sim.....the only one I can drive and
enjoy....and the only one with that level of car physics and a relatively
active online following.  I've done everything I can to bring GPL into the
90's......all "current" graphics for cars, track signage (heck....I even
took the driver's suit and completely redid all the files to have colors and
a "racing harness" added....it looks pretty cool actually), etc.  I know
many, many, many other sim drivers who've done the same.

I believe, as do many others, that adding a "speed indicator" and "brake
lights" would improve GPL's "playablility" in online racing....especially
when we have a "mix" of driving skills that vary by wide margins (because of
GPL's steep learning curve).  Maybe I'm wrong about that?  Who knows?  Until
we have them....we won't will we?

Thanks again for your "input".......I appreciate you taking the time to make
an intelligent post.

Regards,

Tom Pabst
(Not of Tom's Hardware)

*************************************************************************

At the same time, I'd like to see the mirrors added to the chase (arcade)
view.  I drive the chase view because I have a hard time seeing the turns
in time to make the right decisions about how to proceed.  I rely on
sound right now to tell how close a car is when they're overtaking me.  
Granted, it's not the optimum way to do it, but I'm a better driver in
chase view.

--
=========================================================
John Simmons - Redneck Techno-Biker (Zerex12)
http://www.members.home.net/jms1/index.html

John Simmons - Barbarian Diecast Collector
http://members.home.net/jsimm/diecast_index.html

IGPS (Season 2) Director
http://207.104.111.77/igps2/igps2.html

If you want to send me email, go to either of the URL's
shown above & click "Send Me Mail" in the contents frame.
=========================================================

Take it as part payment for the great soundpack....I still owe you ;-)

Bye,
Ian