rec.autos.simulators

Having vigorously defended Team Crammond on these pages over the last few
days, my initial reaction is that although some elements of the game are
excellent, it has an almost arcade feel in comparison to, wait for it guys,
wonderful old GPL.

That said, there is much to commend GP3 for. Perhaps the best thing about it
is that it hasn't been written as an elitist game for high end PC users
only. Even modest machines are going to do it justice - a triumph of both
sense and marketing, don't you think, in comparison to the snail races we
endured when GPL arrived on the scene.

Nonetheless, some things are absolutely unforgiveable: -

- As warez users indicated, there is no sound from other cars at all, which
creates an extremely detached feeling at times (cannot find anything to
adjust in the options on this - have I got this right?).

- The "hover cars" in pit lane look totally ridiculous

- The frame rate is clearly limited by the old basic game engine, where the
feeling of speed on long straights is not what it should be. In these days
of 80fps+ in Quake 3, 25.6fps just doesn't cut the mustard (I believe that
someone has already written a tweak to overcome this).
I will not get into the numbers game of what my system is, other than to say
processor occupancy is well within limits when this lack of speed is
apparent.

- Replays are also limited by the age of the basic engine.

- No safety car, pit stop penalties etc.

Now for what I really like about the game: -

- Excellent driving feel which builds on GP2's reputation in this area

- Fabulous weather implementation

- Crash sequences can be frighteningly ***

- Unique implementation of force feedback, which successfully replicates the
car "pulling" in tight corners

- Steering wheel console is an "industry standard"

- The Alps in the distance at Monza at last appear in a game...

Clearly there is much to discover and I will now take my time to get to know
GP3 over the next few evenings and will do another post on Sunday to give a
more considered view.

I shall very much look forward to reading everyone else's opinions on r.a.s
over the next few days.

I must say I really admire you for "eating your own words" Chris... must
feel very bitter I reckon.

I really hope you're NOT referring to the controller-setup screen here...
(?) -  'cause if it's still the same that was in the "beta" (and GP2), I
completely disagree with you..  The controller setup in GP3 is damn right
stupid. It takes ages to setup a wheel and the fact that you have to guess
what button goes where - instead of just selecting the comman you want and
then depressing the button you want to control it - dont help much.  Not to
mention that non-exsisting support for split-axis.

I for one, wont buy GP3 no-matter how good it is tho...  for 2 reasons;
1. I have no plans to put even more money into Bernie's pocket... - besides
F1 is so dull anyway.

2. No online-racing....  (how "he" could miss that one,  is beyond me...
Wake you Crammond - we're living in the 21st century now!!)

Ed_

Snip

Do you mean the way the Steering Wheel snaps towards
full lock? Mostly on left hand corners?

Seb

I believe he was talking about the amount of information provided by
the***pit steering wheel console.
--
Nos

One of the drivers from the 70s (Reutemann?) had a go in one a couple
of years ago - and got out ecstatic - at how easy the cars were to
drive now, and how much more you could concentrate on racing as
against driving your own car...

Jonathan Beckett

www.btinternet.com/~jonbeckett

Regards Mike

% That said, there is much to commend GP3 for. Perhaps the best thing about it
% is that it hasn't been written as an elitist game for high end PC users
% only. Even modest machines are going to do it justice - a triumph of both
% sense and marketing, don't you think, in comparison to the snail races we
% endured when GPL arrived on the scene.

Or simply using code that was written in 1994 and not pressing the
envelope and upping the ante....

% Nonetheless, some things are absolutely unforgiveable: -

% - As warez users indicated, there is no sound from other cars at all, which
% creates an extremely detached feeling at times (cannot find anything to
% adjust in the options on this - have I got this right?).

Artistic license (that's the way Geoff wants it)....

% - The "hover cars" in pit lane look totally ridiculous

Using CART style airjacks <G>

% - The frame rate is clearly limited by the old basic game engine, where the
% feeling of speed on long straights is not what it should be. In these days
% of 80fps+ in Quake 3, 25.6fps just doesn't cut the mustard (I believe that
% someone has already written a tweak to overcome this).

Again using the same code that was written in 1994. :(

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

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

JoH

You can tell this from the in-car camera in a modern F1 car. During a
race, when the driver is driving at a reasonable pace, the steering wheel
deflection is purely to steer the car along its chosen path. There is no
correction of the steering, no opposite lock unless a mistake is made.

Contrast this with a car with more power than grip e.g. 50's or 60's GP
car. Even when the car is driven smoothly, the driver will be rapidly
moving the wheel from positive to opposite lock as he balances the car,
drifting through the corner.

With the modern car there is far more emphasis on the driver being
pinpoint accurate with the timing of his control inputs, especially as
the corners come at him that much faster, and the braking distances are
so much shorter.

- Michael

BTW they used Ferrari wheels during testing.

 To me, F1 should be flat-out/full-blown RADICAL racing, and it's not
anymore.

 Anyway, thanks for some retail-info on GP3.  

<snip>

Y'know, I'm puzzled by the whole on-line racing thing. I *know*
it's a big part of GPL's appeal to folks hereabouts, but I would
be interested to know...

The USA doesn't have the interest in Formula 1 that exists in
Europe and elsewhere in the world, true? So, is the lack of
on-line racing in GC's F1 games simply his recognition of the
fact that most of the world doesn't get free 'phone calls to
their ISPs?

I've often wondered about playing various games on-line, against
non-AI opponents - but there's no way I can afford to indulge
that interest.

Martin D. Pay
Just my 2 penn'orth...

<snip>

<EG> I've taken to wondering recently what would happen if you
were to put Michael Schumacher - generally acknowledged as the
best driver today - in one of those 1967 cars...

Martin D. Pay
Suspects Schuey wouldn't be a happy chappie...  ^_-