rec.autos.simulators

Need for Speed 4 demo was good
SCGT demo was better still.

GPL demo way  more immersive than SCGT .  When you have a big lose and the
car cartwheels and wheels get torn off really adds a dimension.  The
graphics are better than SCGT. I have a Voodoo card and so i was only
running both at 640 x 480.  Sound is way better than SCGT.
This is probably news to on one, so I won't go on...

 A few questions about GPL demo.

I am only using a keyboard to drive at the moment.
I can't get the accelerator/ brake/ clutch,shift up/ shift down to assign
anywhere else except the numerical pad so my right hand is going a million
miles an hour and my left hand is doing nothing.  I would like to be able to
shift up with ummm... the E key...and shift down with the F key.  What am I
doing wrong that it won't accept these keys as shifting keys?

The Panoz in the SCGT demo is very touchy when trying to nurse around the
track with a keyboard and you can hardly accelerate in 1st or 2nd gear
without being in a straight line.  GPL doesnt seem to mind so much where I
put the power on.  (I suppose GPL could modelling the traction of the open
wheeler accurately? )

If I buy a wheel and pedals will this change?  I assume this is something
you miss out on with a keyboard as you accelerate and brake at a fixed rate.
With a set of pedals you can brake too hard and lock up and also accelerate
too heavily as well.  Is this right?

Any comments on how much a wheel and pedals adds to gameplay would be
appreciated as I was thinking of buying a set.  The main reason I havent is
that I am temporarily living back home with my parents and they would go
psycho as they think playing computer games is for kids (I'm 29).  I'm sure
there are plenty of ***s with driving wheels, but parents just don't
understand.

 I will buy the full GPL game as soon as I get a chance to shop around (in
australia this is) for a good price...
Consider it Another copy sold though!!!

Steve.

Let's put it this way: if you think GPL is good with a keyboard,
you'll go _insane_ with a good steering wheel and pedals.

You will notice the most remarkable difference in gameplay you can
imagine. GPL was not designed to be used with a digital pad, or
keyboard. And because of that, if you're using it, it complete sucks!
However, with a good joystick (or even better, a steering wheel!) you
will notice a world of difference. GPL is so accurate that you feel
notice every bump in the road, every time the car begins to slide,
every time you're accelerating or breaking... the list goes on!

Yes, if you _can_ break and accelerate too harsh, but all you'd need
to do then is ease of the gas or brake a little. With a keyboard you
can't do this, and so you will crash. All the time...

I know the feeling. I never grew out of games, and I probably never
will!

I look forward to hearing your opinion on the full version of GPL.

I'm sure you'll enjoy the multiplayer races too.

BTW, the AI in GPL is incredibly tough, so once you get the full
version you can download the AI tweak and slow all the cars right
down. You WILL need this, especially as a beginner! Hell, I'm not a
beginner and I _still_ need it! ;-)

The Excelsior

"ICQ #40620378"

with keyboard, braking help and traction control are mandatory, you cant
spin yor wheels, gives you way more control, etc  ... buy one :)

buying a wheel is a must if you like GPL ...

I bought a Thrustmaster F1 (or NascarPro) wheel and im very happy with it
...

McKafre De La Rosa

BTW: I still use keyboard in GP2 ... :)

Steering wheel with 8 buttons (4 programmable), a gearstick, a set of
pedals and digital/analogue control.

All for around 50 (49.99, to be exact!)

The Excelsior

"ICQ #40620378"

That's intentional.  We  only allow you to assign function keys and the
numeric keypad keys to "controls that are essential to drive the car"
(steering, throttle, brake, clutch, shift up, shift down).  This is so
that if you try to chat (during a multiplayer race) while driving the
car, you don't activate a bunch of driving controls while you're
typing.

When you use an on/off controller (key or joystick button) for
throttle/brake, traction control/anti-lock brakes are used (even though
you may have them turned off in the options/gameplay screen).

Yup.

Yup.  If you have a joystick, try using it.  Just assign throttle to
"push-forwards" and brake to "pull-backwards".  Then put shift up on
one joystick button, and shift down on another.  Some people get pretty
good driving this way, but a set of pedals is easier and more natural.

It adds *immensely*.  I don't think it's possible to overstate how much
it adds to the experience to use analog steering/throttle/brake instead
of on/off controls.

Randy

Having to use the NUM pad is a pain in the neck! Think about us poor
laptop owners.

Well, it has been fine since I bought a couple of analogue joysticks
for my laptop, but that's not the point...

The Excelsior

"ICQ #40620378"

I am a parent (35 years old at last count) and I MAKE steering
units and my daughters think it's great. So do my parents.

Tell your parent you are a consumer tester or something

Take Care

--

Redline Race Controls      

Nigel of Lakewood Motorsports
Nascar Coruba & Coke Chevy
Hamilton
New Zealand

Nothing wrong, it will only assign them to the numerical pad I do believe.
You might be able to go to the players\yourname\ directory and look at the
ini files in there and reassign controls through the ini file to get what
you want.  But GPL really wasn't meant to be played, nor really can be
played proficiently, with the keyboard.  You should invest in a decent
quality joystick at the very least, you will find GPL much more enjoyable.

Again, neither are really designed with keyboard usage in mind, especially
GPL.

Yes.  Using keys or joystick buttons/paddels for throttle/brake is to be
either on the gas or brake or off the gas or brake...there is no in between.
With the pedals you can feather the gas/brake as appropriate.

Its night and day difference.  No comparison whatsoever.  If you can't
manage wheel/pedal set, get a decent joystick (are 20 bucks in the US and
up) and start with that...definetly better than keyboard or gamepad.

The Excelsior

"ICQ #40620378"

First of all : Thanks to people on newgroup for answering my questions in
this thread.

Just having a look at Thomas Enterprises...they're a THREE man operation -
couldnt get over that...
Sadly, those wheels are too expensive to be my first wheel :-(

Playing the GPL demo a bit more (just doing practice laps on the track by
myself with a keyboard) I thought
of a Simpsons episode where Homer says something like " There is this hole
in my life that i have tried
to fill with family, friends, religion, community service... but THIS will
finally do it."
     I believe it was the episode where he desparately wants to buy this
really expensive automated reclining chair
 that gives you a massage. When he tries it out in the shop they do a little
2001: A Space Odyssey parody of Dave
 Bowman going through the star gate.
 Knowing my memory I could be combining two completely different episodes.
:-)

Steve.