rec.autos.simulators

I'm thinking of getting toca 2. Anyone have any opinions, i know its not as
sim like as gpl but is it worth getting ?

Nice grahpics, although it has a bit of a cartoony look (only a bit though).
As you say yourself, it's not a pure sim, but the driving model actually
ruins the game.  It's like they haven't modelled understeer or something.
Any sudden wheel movement and you spin, go over a bump without the wheel
facing straight forward and you spin.  A realistic touring car game would
IMO make a fantastic game, but this isn't it.
I haven't been tempted to play this game once in the last six months, so
that probaby says it all really.

When you first jump into the car you'll find it's quite touchy, and very
nervous to drive as Simon related, however after running a half dozen laps
at any given track you'll find that you get used to the driving physics and
it becomes much more fun.

It's the only thing on the shelves if you want to play a BTCC sim/game and I
must admit that everytime I see a BTCC round on Speedvision, I get the itch
to fire up TOCA2 and try my hand at the track they raced at.

You should be able to find this for $20 or less these days, so I'd say go
for it!

JJ

i enjoyed it very much.... its no sim, but its lots o fun.

I second that.  And with the low price its certainly worth a look if you
like the series.

Yeah, I'd say so. It's out on the budget label now (Codemasters
Classics) for 12.99, and it's worth that. No sim, as you say, but fun,
and a million miles better than Sega's "game".

--
David. (GPLRank handicap: +19.68)
"After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll,
really."
(Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

Agreed.  It is frustrating at first, but eventually you learn just how
far you can turn before you spin.

The only other problem is that when racing in the championship, you
need to get 15 points at a circuit in order to advance to the next
one.  Luckily there's a cheat code (POSHKID, I believe) that removes
this restriction.

Yep. The low price more than makes up for any problems.

Hmmm, have to disagree Simon, sorry. IMHO, when you *first* drive TOCA2
it does indeed feel a bit twitchy! But, and this is the crux of the
matter, if you perservere with it and put in some practice, it actually
begins to feel a whole lot better.

After a while you notice that when you accelerate, it actually improves
grip, eg: constant acceleration around corners rather than no
acceleration. And the bumps on the track *should* upset the car, just as
they do in real life!

And I think understeer is modelled ok! You can really brake late and
feel the understeer as you struggle to turn the car in. And each car
handles differently, the three wheeler is a real handful at speed!

Maybe you just needed more time to get to grips with TOCA2?

TOCA2 is definately *not* a true sim, but it is a blast for quick close,
door handle to door handle racing.

8-)

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

The handling of the cars is consistent with real life British Touring Cars
where they are all FRONT wheel drive.
They are also VERY stiff with little suspension travel - hence their
twitchiness.

Peter

Except the Audi? I thought they were 4 wheel drive?

8-)

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

TOCA banned four wheel drive and Audi built a 2 wheel drive version for the
'98 season.