rec.autos.simulators

Just been playing GP2, and came across a serious problem. I was racing at
Aida on Pro diffuculty, 25% race length, and was leading with 3 laps to go
when on pops the 2-laps fuel left light. Aaaaaaggghhh! The damn game has
filled me up with too little fuel to complete the ***y race. As far as
I know there is no option at the start to control how much fuel you get,
as I am on a no-stop strategy for 1/4 race distance - what the hell am
I supposed to do? I tried the race again, and the same thing happens, this
time with me in third place. Despite the fuel meter claiming to have 23
laps of fuel for a 21 lap race, the car runs out on the start of the final
lap -> Aida cannot be played (by me) on 25% race distance. Yeah, I could
pit at some point, but I am not superman and I cant get a bit enough lead
to rejoin still in 1st place.

This 'problem' (being ***y generous) has really ***ed things up. It
cost me my first 'pro' level win, too. Anyone else encountered it, and
what the hell should I do to avoid it again?

Cheers,

Ben.

: Just been playing GP2, and came across a serious problem. I was racing at
: Aida on Pro diffuculty, 25% race length, and was leading with 3 laps to go
: when on pops the 2-laps fuel left light. Aaaaaaggghhh! The damn game has
: filled me up with too little fuel to complete the ***y race. As far as
: I know there is no option at the start to control how much fuel you get,
: as I am on a no-stop strategy for 1/4 race distance - what the hell am
: I supposed to do? I tried the race again, and the same thing happens, this
: time with me in third place. Despite the fuel meter claiming to have 23
: laps of fuel for a 21 lap race, the car runs out on the start of the final
: lap -> Aida cannot be played (by me) on 25% race distance. Yeah, I could
: pit at some point, but I am not superman and I cant get a bit enough lead
: to rejoin still in 1st place.

: This 'problem' (being ***y generous) has really ***ed things up. It
: cost me my first 'pro' level win, too. Anyone else encountered it, and
: what the hell should I do to avoid it again?

Sounds like you have too much down force on your car.  I am pretty
confident that GP2 models this when calculating fuel consumption.  You
may also have your gears set up that also is causing severe fuel
consumption.  Try short-shifting (shifting up early).  Try a notch
taller high gears.  With the proper setup and driving techniques I get
better gas milage than indicated by the "estimated" fuel load.
: Cheers,

: Ben.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

As far as I can see it's based upon driving style. If you rev the guts
out of the engine, get stuck in gravel or do power turns, you'll
naturally use more fuel. Be careful on downshifts and when upshifting
and your fuel lasts longer.

When selecting the strategy you can use the arrow keys to add/remove
fuel, and I usually add a couple of extra laps just to be on the safe
side.

Cheers!
John
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: Yeah, this may be part of the problem - I was running with lots of
: downforce. But I *liked* running with lots of downforce, and I was quick
: with it - my fastest race lap was over a second faster than anyone else.
: I could run with another 10 laps worth of fuel and still be on the pace, so
: why cant GP2 model the fact that I need more fuel, or let me select how much
: I take.

: OK - its a problem, not a bug, but IMHO it needs sorting out.

I agree.  One should be able to specify the amount of fuel one starts
out on, if it's a no stop strategy race.

Since I am currently in a unix session and the frame rate really sucks
;-), I can't shell out and check GP2 right now.  But, is it possible to
go to the carsetup and specify the number of laps of fuel one gets in
the car for a no-stop strategy?  I know you can for other strategies?
If so, just specify more fuel than the number of laps you will be
running.  If it's not there, then it is a major design flaw (along with
the quick race fixed limit of fuel and length).

BTW:  I didn't find anything in the USA's TFM about pit strategy/fuel
setups.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

: : Just been playing GP2, and came across a serious problem. I was racing at
: : Aida on Pro diffuculty, 25% race length, and was leading with 3 laps to go
: : when on pops the 2-laps fuel left light. Aaaaaaggghhh! The damn game has
: : filled me up with too little fuel to complete the ***y race. As far as
: : I know there is no option at the start to control how much fuel you get,
: : as I am on a no-stop strategy for 1/4 race distance - what the hell am
: : I supposed to do? I tried the race again, and the same thing happens, this
: : time with me in third place. Despite the fuel meter claiming to have 23
: : laps of fuel for a 21 lap race, the car runs out on the start of the final
: : lap -> Aida cannot be played (by me) on 25% race distance. Yeah, I could
: : pit at some point, but I am not superman and I cant get a bit enough lead
: : to rejoin still in 1st place.

: : This 'problem' (being ***y generous) has really ***ed things up. It
: : cost me my first 'pro' level win, too. Anyone else encountered it, and
: : what the hell should I do to avoid it again?

: Sounds like you have too much down force on your car.  I am pretty
: confident that GP2 models this when calculating fuel consumption.  You
: may also have your gears set up that also is causing severe fuel
: consumption.  Try short-shifting (shifting up early).  Try a notch
: taller high gears.  With the proper setup and driving techniques I get
: better gas milage than indicated by the "estimated" fuel load.
: : Cheers,

Yeah, this may be part of the problem - I was running with lots of
downforce. But I *liked* running with lots of downforce, and I was quick
with it - my fastest race lap was over a second faster than anyone else.
I could run with another 10 laps worth of fuel and still be on the pace, so
why cant GP2 model the fact that I need more fuel, or let me select how much
I take.

OK - its a problem, not a bug, but IMHO it needs sorting out.

Ben.

Presumably there's some setting in the program that determines the
ratio of fuel laps to race laps. Any budding editor writers out there
that fancy giving it a try?

Richard

However that was a 100 percent distance race, and I had the choice to
add extra fuel in my last pitstop. As far as I know, when selecting no
stops for a short race, you don't get the choice of how much fuel is
put in.

The fuel display is one of the things I prefer in ICR2.  I want to see
how many _gallons_ of fuel in the tank and consumption, not how many
laps worth I have left.  Microprose did the same thing with Grand Prix
Manager and it always annoyed me on that.

We all know how good our pit crew are but has anyone noticed the speed
of the refuelling equipment?  I tried a three stop stratagy at Monza
(100%) and all of my stops took about 8s.  I then tried a one stop
stratagy and my stops took the same time to within a couple of tenths.
Maybe my crew had removed some stuff from the rig... ;-)

Mark
_________________________________

"..every lap I think `Oh bollocks!
This is dreadful..`" Damon Hill
__________________________________

<snip>

Agreed, but GP2 should also simulate maximum size of fuel tank.  
The limit shouldn't get exceeded in 25% race, but 100% race is
totally different.  No stop strategy (I think this is almost
impossible because of tyre wear) would require economical driving
style.

<snip>
<snip>

I think this is isn't possible.  "No stops" = fuel for race and two extra
laps.  Maybe someone will come up with editor for this;-)

BTW: Did they have 80 kph speed limit on all tracks in 94?  I think
some tracks with wide pit roads (Monza, Hockenheim) had 120 kph limit.

Pasi.

As I remember it, refuelling was allowed in the rules late in 1993 (Nov
or Dec I think) for the 1994 season.  This meant it was too late for any
of the teams to change their car designs for the '94 season, this meant
all the cars on the grid could handle a 100% race distance on a single
tank of fuel had they wanted.

As F1GP2 simulates the '94 season it should be (and is) possible to
drive a 100% race distance with no pit stops.

You're right about the tyres though!
   __________________________
  /------ Shane Bingley -----\
 /---- Chelmsford, England ---\

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

says...

Actually, driving a 100% race without refueling should be outright
impossible.

You are right. After the Imola incident the limit was set at 80kph for
all tracks, but was then raised by the federation for ctracks whose pit
lane is not particularly dangerous.

--
Nicola Salmoria