rec.autos.simulators

What times have people done using the buttons for gas/brake?

Chris

Using digital buttons for your breaking and accelerating in Grand Prix
Legends is no good at all. I imagine you spin your wheels every time you
accelerate and lock your breaks every time you break, right?

Some of my very best hotlaps have been done using the Microsoft
Sidewinder Precision Pro (USB) to steer left and right and the excellent
pedals from my Microsoft FF wheel to break and accelerate.

When it comes to enjoying all the fun and realism of GPL, nothing beats a
good FF wheel, but if it's beating your best lap record that you're
interested in, a good joystick/pedal setup will do you justice, and is
about the best you can get.

I'm not sure why you have a problem with the deadzone in the MS Precision
Pro stick however. It seems absolutely perfect to me and is splendid in
GPL. Remember that the Sidewinder software allows you to determine how
much movement is in the stick as well as the size of the deadzone. You
might want to look into how yours is set up.

Neo

No, because the software automatically switches on traction control and ABS
when you use the buttons.

Chris

the
[snip]

Have you assigned braking and accelerating to the same axis?  If so, this
means that you can't throttle and brake and the same time, right?  Don't you
find that something of a disadvantage?  Also, unless you have far better
hand coordination that me, don't you find that while moving the stick in one
axis you tend to lose precise control in the other axis?

I use a joystick as well, and have assigned steering to the x axis, throttle
to the third (z) axis and braking to the trigger.  This makes the brakes
either on or off, which means that I do sometimes have to pump the trigger
to prevent locking up.  However, after some experimenting, I find this set
up gives me the best and most "natural" feeling control.

Next item on my shopping list is a wheel, or at least a set of pedals :)

S.

Which is even worse than wheel spinning and skidding!

Neo

I'm more of a "warmlapper" but I use a joy stick like Wolfgang does so I guess
its a valid way to go.  I use the stick for steering and accellerating and
braking (x/y axis?).  I use the #1 fire button trigger for upshifting and the
#4 for downshifts. #3 for clutch and the hatswitch for side looks (where is
that maniac Surtees anyway?).  The important part of the whole thing is my
Logitech Wingman Extreme Digital joystick.  Not the awful Logitech Wingman
Extreme Digital 3D!  Never had a moments worry about exact car control in any
driving/racing game. Logitech doesn't make my stick anymore so I bought two
from a department store when I replaced my faithful first stick.  Best grip of
any stick, works with any game without fiddlement and it was cheap!  About the
only time fit for public exposure I've done was a F2 1:10.05 at The Glen.  Good
luck.
Mtanker
A   V A S T  Right-Wing Conspirator

I use the joystick itself to control left/right and accelerate/brake and
only use buttons for changing gears or looking left/right.  Somehow I
don't think you're going to achieve very good times if you continue
using the buttons for gas and brake.

I'm not too sure if the MS PP is ideal for my style of driving so I
cannot recommend you doing the same as me.  I think I tried this stick
and found it extremely difficult to steer with as it had very little
joystick deflection and required precise movements to keep the car in a
straight line.

If you really want to know what sort of times can be achieved with just
a joystick though, here are some of my current best times :-)

Kyalami    1:20.12
Monza      1:27.89
Zandvoort  1:25.11
Nurb'ring  8:20.xx
The Glen   1:05.04
Spa        3:18.26

There are no tracks that I am slow on.
--
Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington)

No person's opinions can be said to be
more correct than another's, because each is
the sole judge of his or her own experience.

Do you race any NASCAR or DTR where for some tracks you need
to stand on it the whole time?  Any soreness or joystick damage
from this :-)

Did your stick come with an AC/DC power adapter or a power cord?

Thanks, from a current Interact FX Racing Wheel user who
is considering a joystick because I am hoping it will
give more precise control of steering, plus I can't
find a power adapter for my racing wheel, and am
sick of chewing up batteries.  PS no room for a real
wheel yet :-(

--
Doug Appleyard
"Bound to cover just a little more ground"

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[...deleted...]

Curious which stick you use?  Also I am a joystick
newby so is the z axis controlled by pushing the stick
forward, or do you use the trigger on the joystick,
or something else?

Actually you said throttle - how does that work
for acceleration/deceleration?  Is it controlled
by your left thumb, and does it rebound when you
lift your thumb?  Again sorry for being without a clue.

Thanks

--
Doug Appleyard
"Bound to cover just a little more ground"

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Used the left-right motion for steering, the slider for throttle (lots
of range of motion), the trigger for braking, the two left side thumb
buttons for shifting up or down, the rear thumb button for clutch, and
either the base buttons or the hat for sideways looks.

With the original drivers, Win95 would not recognize simultaneous
button pushes..  ie: no downshifting while braking.  Not good.

However, the current downloadable drivers DO allow simultaneous
buttons, so much better.  

Braking with the trigger, however, you loose a lot of time because GPL
automatically switched on braking assistance, so you can't get maximum
braking.  ( that's why you all have been running into me from behind )

For that reason alone, I am now retraining myself on a wheel.

As far as having to brake whilst accelerating.  Mmm, well obviously
using my joystick I never am able to, though it hasn't prevented me from
driving fast or consistently (I have finished Grand Prix races with this
setup).  Having never been able to use this technique I am not able to
say where I am missing out, or by how much it could be preventing me
from improving. :-)

I have both N2 and N3 and also have the DTR demo.  I'm still pretty new
to N3 and haven't raced over 10% distance yet what with graphics card
probs (see my other post), though with N2 I used to do 50% races without
problems at tracks like Tally, no noticeable soreness.  I actually have
a glass door from a cabinet that sits on my knees with the stick on that
- no room on my computer desk - so during long distance races I do find
myself attempting to stretch the old pins, but no arm ache as such.  As
far as wear, like I said, I found non-digital sticks to wear quite
rapidly.

No, it just plugged into my game card's joystick port.

I'm in the same position.  That's why I'm sticking (no pun intended)
with my current setup.  With more room I would definitely be considering
getting a wheel.
--
Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington)

No person's opinions can be said to be
more correct than another's, because each is
the sole judge of his or her own experience.