rec.autos.simulators

Don't see any posts concerning the LFS S1 release. How is it? I obviously
checked the demo, so I suppose its just like that. I want a small
lotus/caterham 7 type thing, so I'm quite keen. Any comments?

-Simon H

I think it's very good, a little less *** than gpl but very
entertaining and realistic imo. The Caterham type cars are very tricky to
drive, but if nothing else they'll teach you the importance of being smooth
;-)

The lfs community seem to hang out almost entirely on racesimcentral, much
like gpl nowadays.

Malc.

Enjoy,

uwe ("hoover" on LFS)

--
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Very promising. I'd wait for version S2, whenever that comes out
because the sim currently lacks damage and tyre wear modelling.
Multiplayer is like bumper cars in both the good and bad sense. IOW,
fun, but.....

Why wait for S2? S1 costs 12 (UK Pounds) and you will need to have it for
S2 anyway, may as well get some practice in ;-)

Online and with the AI you get a battering, but usually only until your car
control improves sufficiently that you can avoid all the other drivers that
need to improve their ability.

That takes practice. Why put off  'till tomorrow what you can do today?

Malc.

in the best cases you can expect online racing where its bumper-to-bumper
lap after lap, everyone looking for an oppertunity to dive past the man
in front. very fun!

- craig

its cheap , get it
--

Steve H
GPL Rank   -17.90

Can't help about the shape i'm in
Can't win,it ain't pretty and my tires are thin..

It has flaws, but it's definitely worth the small price. I find the
Caterham-style cars very spin-happy (GPL feels easy in comparison :-) but
some of the other cars are very satisfying to drive, and online racing can
be as rewarding or frustrating as anything else I've ever tried.

Andrew McP

Being a real-life front-wheel-drive racer (Minis), I had to get S1 after
running the Demo. I've only done serious racing in the GTI which is
absolutely super. The handling and setups of these cars are far superior to
anything I've tried before (front wheel drive sim). Much more real. There is
no damage (I couldn't really care about crash damage) but I long for
transmission/engine/chassis damage due to hard use. This should be really
interesting the day tire wear/temps are implemented; most people drive like
John Rhodes in the 60s. When this is added , people will have overheated
their fronts on the first lap :)

Reading up on Victor Vlaardingens interview they are also working to improve
the sound which isn't really that bad once you get used to it.

If you should get it? Hell, this sim costs as much as two packs of
ciggarettes or two rental videos over here. No choice, just buy it!

For me this is the game with the brightest future right now, along with
NetKar. I dig the way its done without publishers too!

/Matt, Norway

Just for a hot-lapping game with nice visuals and a fun car (the Caterham)
it's more that worth the price of admission, and the online play with a good
group of mates is really fun.  Even with mindless twits it can be fun, as
you can sit back for a moment, drive through the carnage and then annoy them
all by winning on talent (but you really have to watch your mirrors to avoid
being dive-bombed into corners by the wreckers).  I've dumped everything but
LFS from my PC (yes, even GPL) as it is really quite fun at the moment.

Stephen

Why on earth not? Would you care to back that up with something worth
reading?
AFAIK the only issue regarding it's 'simness' is the keyboard steering aid.

Similar real life cars are pretty easy to drive too compared to the sort of
cars simulated in most current sims, and at the moment they all run on road
tyres not slicks. I think it would make an excellent rally sim, and fills a
niche for those of us that want a 'modern' sim but don't just want NASCAR or
F1.

Malc.

The one thing going for it, since they are synthesizing the sound on the
fly, is the different sound when you are on or off the throttle, which is
accurate and a nice touch.  It makes it that much better to be feathering
the throttle on the Caterham into that fast sweeper under the bridge on the
city course, then once your safe get the intake really honking as you hammer
it.  Smiles all around.  :-)

Stephen

BTW, why don't they include a dirt AutoX mode. Just have a dirt skid pad so
we can make a RallyX course, that would be cool too :)

Thanks,
Alex

I succumbed to temptation and got it before I read your opinions anyway ;-).
Thanks all though. It's good fun.

-Simon H