rec.autos.simulators

: One way to get a 'feel' for linear vs non-linear is to drive down a
: straight.  Move the stick back and forth like you were trying to warm up
: the tires.  Linear will be MUCH quicker to react than non-linear (at
: least on my equipment it does).

I really noticed the difference when I tried to weave between the other
cars at the back of a NASCAR standing start. Non-linear was controllable,
Linear just made me yo-yo back and forth bouncing off the other cars!

                                                   DR J

--
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me90drj : "It's an old code sir, but it checks out. I was about to clear him."
is94drj : "....5....4....3...Wait! What's that red light?...."
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The non-linear steering is used with driving wheels, while the linear
steering is used with a joystick

it works like this, i think:

Linear

How far the wheels on the car turn
|
|                /
|              /
|            /
|          /
|        /
|      /
|    /
|  /
|/
________________________ How much you turn the joystick

Non-linear

How far the wheels on the car turn
|                
|               |
|               !
|              /
|             /
|            /
|           /
|         _/
|       _-
|____---    
________________________ How much you turn the joystick

So you see, with non-linear, the steering is less sensitive than linear
when you turn the joystick a little, but more sensitive than linear
when you turn it a lot. So if you buy a steering wheel, be sure and
remember to set steering to non-linear.

btw. Did I mention I'm a lousy ASCII artist? :)

btw2. The reason why you keep hitting the wall is that you have become
used to WC's ridiculously unrealistic driving-physics, and when you
switched to Indycar, you're no longer playing an arcade game, but a
SIMULATION.

btw3. For a _real_ challenge, try Nascar,
--> a.k.a. The Best Game Made On This Planet (besides BatMud)

Tommi Pajari

: I've been struggling trying to drive in ICR with a joystick since the
: keyboard doesn't seem like it's capable of controlling these cars
: (unlike WC where the keyboard is much better than the joystick), and
: I'm wondering what affect Linear vs. Non-Linear steering has on the
: car?  I've tried both and can't see any difference (I keep hitting the
: wall either way).  

Well, I think that "non-linear" means, that your joystick does react more
sensitive at the outer sides than in the middle. So, if you are driving
along a straight at full speed and turn a little bit to one side, you get a
much stronger reaction using linear steering. This means your steering is
more direct but more difficult to control. If you use non-linear steering
(as I do) you will have a car which is not as sensitive in the middle range
but still has the same steering lock.
I hope this does help you.

: I'm sure that once I get the feel for this game it
: will be alot of fun - but it's getting pretty frustrating!!  

You are very definitely right! It was frustrating to mee, too, but after
much, much practise I am now good enough to drive a car with car damage
turned on (managed to win a race at laguna seca). The better you get the
more fun it is!

Bye, Michael

 -----------------------------------
| Michael Koppenhoefer at           |
| University of Karlsruhe, Germany  |

 -----------------------------------