rec.autos.simulators

        I just received my Matrox Millenium video card in the mail today, and
unfortunately the "optimized" NASCAR software wasn't included.  One of
those deals where you have to mail/fax a coupon and they send you the
software.

        Anyway, I was wondering if anyone out there had tried the Matrox with
the optimized NASCAR yet.  I installed the new card in my machine
(P90, 16 Mb RAM), and I found the performance in the "ordinary"
off-the-shelf NASCAR to be just about identical with the Matrox as it
was with my Diamond Stealth 64 DRAM.

        Any feedback???

Ian McIlroy
Ottawa, Ontario

My opinion:

Enhanced Nascar racing will be a Win 95 application. Papyrus may be waiting
for some WIN 95 3D-API to support more than only the chip used on the Matrox.
Since all the textures have to be in the card's memory to really speed up
graphics you will need at least a 4MB or 8MB version of the card.

But this is only my opinion...

Ralf

Replies by email only thanks

M
 Ralf Beck
: I asked Papyrus about that enhanced Nascar version. They didn't get me any
: info besides that the graphics will look the same as in SVGA and you can
: expect higer framerates.

: My opinion:

: Enhanced Nascar racing will be a Win 95 application. Papyrus may be waiting
: for some WIN 95 3D-API to support more than only the chip used on the Matrox.
: Since all the textures have to be in the card's memory to really speed up
: graphics you will need at least a 4MB or 8MB version of the card.

: But this is only my opinion...

: Ralf

Enhanced Nascar racing will be a Win 95 application. Papyrus may be
waiting
for some WIN 95 3D-API to support more than only the chip used on the
Matrox.
Since all the textures have to be in the card's memory to really speed up
graphics you will need at least a 4MB or 8MB version of the card.

But this is only my opinion...
<<<

No. The Matrox version of NASCAR is a DOS application. It is in alpha
testing (internal only) now. I don't think you need a 4MB+ version of the
card, though I am not working on this project so I can't say for certain.

Rick Genter
Technical Lead, IndyCar Racing II/NASCAR Racing for Macintosh/Windows
Papyrus Design Group, Inc.

Erm, if its in alpha howcome my friend got the CD from Matrox after
sending in the card that came with the Millineum?

I've seen Nascar for Millineum in action in front of my very eyes
thats how I commwented on it in an earlier post?

M

RickGenter

: Enhanced Nascar racing will be a Win 95 application. Papyrus may be
: waiting
: for some WIN 95 3D-API to support more than only the chip used on the
: Matrox.
: Since all the textures have to be in the card's memory to really speed up
: graphics you will need at least a 4MB or 8MB version of the card.

: But this is only my opinion...
: <<<

: No. The Matrox version of NASCAR is a DOS application. It is in alpha
: testing (internal only) now. I don't think you need a 4MB+ version of the
: card, though I am not working on this project so I can't say for certain.

: Rick Genter
: Technical Lead, IndyCar Racing II/NASCAR Racing for Macintosh/Windows
: Papyrus Design Group, Inc.

   I'm confused.  I recently purchased a Matrox Millenium and
yesterday I received my CD-ROM from them with NASCAR included on it.
Are you saying that there is yet another Matrox version of NASCAR???
The copy I received from Matrox is essentially the same as the retail
V 1.2 that I already had (except for a different menu screen, no Track
Pack tracks, and incompatible car files).  It also seems a bit faster,
performance wise.

Regards,
Ian McIlroy

I stand corrected; I just checked and it has shipped. I wasn't working on
the Matrox project so I didn't hear that it shipped. The last I had heard
it was still in alpha. Glad you got it.

Rick Genter
Technical Lead, IndyCar Racing II/NASCAR Racing for Macintosh/Windows
Papyrus Design Group, Inc.