rec.autos.simulators

Whats the verdict? I have tried both demos but want to hear from those who
own and race the games.

--
Kevin Anderson

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DK-Racing
#15 K_Anderson
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http://www.racesimcentral.net/

SBK is graphically prettier, but GP500 had better gameplay. GP500 also has a
" cleaner " look to it. I don't know how else to describe that. But SBK is
more detailed visually, though it does seem

I like both, but GP500 is still a better game.

I hope this made sense.....:^))

         http://www.cushdrive.com/

i agree GP500 is superior as far as feeling like your on a sport type bike.
besides 2 strokes rule.

Personaly I've always liked SBK.  I find GP500 is too forgiving.  But
supposedly (havn't tested much yet) SBK mp code isn't the greatest.  GP500
code is ok, could use work. but is better than SBK.  SBK graphics\sounds I
perfer.  And the laguna seca model in SBK is the bomb.

DjFIL

I love both of them..

They both have their own strong points...

I like the fact that they feel different and GP500 feels like a light GP
bike...   SBK2000 feels more like a Super bike with less power and heavier.

I have tried the SBK2000 mp code and I think it is pretty good.   GP500
didn't work for me, but I've heard it isn't bad either...

Both are good in their own ways..  just get both!!  :-)

James Pickard

I prefer GP500. Although it has less detailed graphics it is more realistic.
Also the bikes somehow seem to big in SBK2000 compared to the tracks.

I have EA Sports SBK, which I assume is different from 2000, and I've tried the
GP500 demo. GP500 has the better "feel" by far. The graphics in both are
superb. I've not been able to warm up to either of them as I don't feel
connected, control wise. I think the best controller setup would be joystick
and foot pedals but I haven't tried it yet. Can anyone tell me... I'm using  
ECCI wheel and pedals, and I have a CH flightstick, and both are connected to
the computer through a joyswitch. Can I use the joystick and pedals at the same
time for a bike sim without doing any rewiring ?

--
Don Scurlock
Vancouver,B.C.

I don't have GP500, but I do have both SBK and SBK2000.  2000 is a vast
improvement over the original.  The graphics are phenomenal, and the
physics model is much better.  With a FF joystick you get a real feel
for what's happening with the bike, not just the annoying gear-shift
whacks like the original.  There's also real difference between the
bikes - trying to keep the torque of the Ducati in check is really
tough.  The low-speed steering is kind of funky, but the head-waggle at
least gives you some indication of when you're about to tuck the front
end.  The steering's also a little too slow with the default setups,
I've been using Med 1 for both rake and trail and it's better.
Definitely worth the upgrade - and I was pissed enough over the SBK/V3
incompatibilities to not consider it initially.

Been watching Daytona 200 coverage, and why haven't I seen an ad for it
yet?  The first SBK bombed in the US, and is EA missing another golden
opportunity to show off one of thier *good* racing games?
Or did I miss an ad during a piss-break ;)?

Kendt

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

I have been playing the demos using my wheel and pedals. I think it is far
better then any jostick. I could however see the joystick might be better in
the chicanes.

--
Kevin Anderson

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DK-Racing
#15 K_Anderson
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http://www.awtech.net/

I've tried it with the steering wheel but it just didn't feel right.
The leaning of the joystick feels more immersive but only for
steering, you definitely want pedals for brake and throttle. Check
this out if you haven't already.  http://members.home.net/starpad/

Don Scurlock
Vancouver,B.C.

No multiplayer championships.
No lap records.
No practice mode.
No telemetry recording.
No left/middle/right independent tyre temperatures/wear.

Sorry, but apart from the improved graphics I don't think it's an
improvement at all. The handling feels more authentic, but more forgiving as
well. I feel happier having paid full price for the original than I did for
this.

Si.

Whats the problem with SBK & V3 cards? I have a V3 card and was
considering getting SBK......

8-)

*Peter* -  http://www.cix.co.uk/~peterpc/home.html

The original SBK would only support 640X480 with the V3. They did release a
patch but that only let you go up to 800x600.

The new SBK 2000 works fine with the V3.

--
Jeff Murchison JR
Screamers Racing League
www.speakeasy.org/~jmurch/

OK, I'll grant you that on features you're right.  I was just going on
feel...

Doesn't bother me - I can only get 28.8 reliably at home.

Hadn't noticed, but I'm not fast enough to care ;)...

I hated the SBK practice mode anyways, I'd rather fire up a full race
and run the practice session.

Good point, but the setup options aren't good enough to use it anyways
(another bad point of SBK2K).

There's no indicators, but are you sure it's not there?  I could swear
at a few races it felt like I was burning up one side of the tire more
than the other.  Could just have been the particular turns, though.

What do you think of GP500?  Does it add some of these features, and is
it worth another purchase?

Thanks,
Kendt

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

On balance, I'd agree with you. While generally excellent, I felt that the
original SBK game exhibited some peculiar behaviour. Pushing a bike hard at
full realism on the new game feels great and some of the bike behaviour when
things get out of shape is a vast improvement over it's predecessor.

I played lan games with my friends quite a lot. We were hoping for a better
championship implementation. Instead of just the single race it would have
been nice to allow full weekend in multiplayer championship. (What I'd
really like is an interface where you never leave the pit lane during the
race day. i.e. you can adjust your settings, etc. while remaining in the 3D
track environment, seeing the other riders out there while you pit. How
about dynamic weather changes? That'd be amazing.)

The best use I found for it was adjustments to gearing. The curves gave a
really good idea of where performance gains could be made. What I really
don't like about this as a missing feature is it's an indication of where EA
wants to take the franchise, i.e. away from the "simulation" genre and into
the "racer" console-type arena. You could tell just by playing the original
game that the love of bikes drove the development team to produce the game.
That feel just isn't there in the new one. It stinks of having EA's
marketing guys crawling all over it.

You might be right. I don't know.

I don't have it. I tried the demo and thought it was good though the crash
behaviour seemed "floaty" and unauthentic, but it's never been released here
so without ordering it from the UK (paying shipping, taxes, duty, etc.) I
can't try it. I'm a SBK devotee anyway!

Si.