>>>Obviously anyone who bought Psygnosis F1 has a 3d card, so the
>>>outdated GP2 is useless to them.
>>What is clear is that if you're looking for a sim GP2 is several
>>worlds ahead of Psygnosis F1, and what's more it is very playable on a
>>P-200. It is even playable on anything down to a P133 in SVGA and a
>>P-90 in VGA.
>In my opinion it is not "playable" on any of those systems unless you
>use VGA. IMO using SVGA causes such a tremendous slowdown in
>frame-rate it becomes basically undriveable - partly becuase it *is* a
>realistic sim you NEED a high frame-rate to be able to control the car
>properly (i.e., assuming steering assistance and junk like that is
>turned off). And yes, I've run it on both a P133 and P200.
>Joe
I've been playing GP2 SVGA on a P166 with 32Meg RAM Matrox Mill since it came
out, and after having taken a look at Psygnosis F1 on a P166 Monster3d
I would say the only edge it has on GP2 are the graphics and track
realism.
The control and driving model on F1 just didn't feel right, going into
the corners I didn't need to brake since when you let off the accelerator
the car slows down NOTICEABLY and does not keep coasting like it should.
The opponent AI was very weak and would repeatedly slam into me even though
I had the line for a corner when we were fighting for position, and that
really frustrated me after being used to the smarter AI of GP2 and Nascar2.
When I returned to GP2 to compare how well it holds up to F1 and have to say
that it holds up quite well at for me.
I really love the driving model, curbs, smart opponents in GP2,
and actually it runs quite well for me in SVGA with no sky and all the
mirror details turned off except smoke, which after all is pretty good
since Psygnosis F1 doesn't even _have_ mirrors. At those settings in SVGA,
I never go above 100% processor occupancy except if I am at Monaco which
I don't race there very often anyhow.
Personally I would use Psygnosis F1 to drive around and familiarize myself
with an F1 circuit before watching that F1 race on TV that weekend, since
it's tracks are very realistically done and beautiful, but other than that
I doubt I would play it much since the AI problems would probably really
drive me nuts.
As a 3dfx Voodoo owner, I would LOVE to have a 3dfx version of GP2,
but I think it is too harsh to say that GP2 is unplayable on your
P200, you just need to tweak the graphics option a bit more I think, and yes,
I am also spoiled by the fast framerates we Voodoo owners come to expect
and wish GP2 could run at 30+ FPS.
For Sim fans thinking about buying Formula1, I would say buy it at place
where you can return it if you don't like it, since F1 is, as advertised
more of an Arcade Racer than a diehard Racing Sim and you may find that
the pretty graphics and realistic tracks just aren't enough to make this
a keeper. I am glad I was able to get a look at this at a friend's house
after all the hoopla about it and the long delay for it's release here in
North America, but sadly it's just not my type of game.
I will keep playing GP2 to satisfy my F1 simulation needs, and hope
Microprose gets it's head out of its rear cavity and gives us a 3dfx
version with the promised Wet Weather effects and networking.
Cheers.
--John (fan of GP2, ICR2, N2, NFS, Stunts etc.)
--
Note: my real e-mail address is below. Delete the asterisks.
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Seattle, Washington USA. | http://www.cool.com/~jsilva
