enjoy it some. They do give you a lot of tracks to try!
news:b67bb3$qm1$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
> I thought the review was very amusing too, if not a little biased.!!!
> Come on Kayf, it ain't that bad...
> I am dissappointed too,
> What we have here is a console racer in a sims fireproofs, ie on the PC...
> Have the Codies forgotten and abandoned us for PS2 and Xbox owners???
> Anybody played the Xbox version??
> The lack of mouse support is a bummer too... (but confirms the console
> coding)
> HOWEVER>>>>>>>>>>>>
> I have to say after while I did get into it and enjoyed some good races..
> BUT>>>>>>>>>>>
> I then banged Nascar 2003 into the slot and wow...
> Hello, I say HELLO, guys this is driving !!! Hope Codemasters can come up
> with the goods in a patch
> Ian D
> www.F1Fun.com
> www.snapaday.com
> "JTBurn" <toddsoren...@comcast.nospam.net> wrote in message
> news:uzadnQv_4MymdBujXTWcoQ@giganews.com...
> > Man, that is one excellent and entertaining review!!
> > Describing the racing line that the AI take as:
> > "It's rather akin to being in a scrum of grandmothers in a supermarket,
> all
> > trying to get their trolleys to the
> > discount support stockings to snap-up a bargain. Do they really care
> > whether you are in their way?"
> > is hilarious, and also sad as it is true.
> > Thanks, Kayf. Best stuff I've read in a newsgroup in months.
> > Todd
> > "Kayf" <fyanha.loset...@subdimension.com> wrote in message
> > news:b66jjv$8mf$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > > TOCA (Totally Outclassed Crumby Arcade) Race Driver.
> > > I don't really know where to start with this piece of junk, so I'll
just
> > > list the bugs/features/annoyances that have forced me to uninstall
this
> > > fiasco. Having had this game on my machine makes me feel dirty.
> > > - the game does not remember settings for each player. You have to
> > activate
> > > the cheat codes every time you start the game. It does not remember
> that
> > I
> > > hate that god-damned ghost car; not even from one test session to the
> > next.
> > > It always defaults to auto gear shift and I want manual only, so a car
> > > set-up is needed every time you race.
> > > - the cheat codes! Now there is a bunch of crap. You buy the game
but
> > are
> > > not allowed to access all of it until you have jumped through a few
> hoops.
> > > If you want to get what you paid for immediately, you have to phone a
> > > premium rate line (1 per minute!) or pay 2.99 for each cheat code
> > on-line!
> > > There are eight cheat codes including a 'sim' cheat code to make the
> game
> > > less arcade. So, you have to pay extra to get the game to do what is
> says
> > > on the box. They sure do know what the word 'cheat' means. By the
way,
> > > gamecopyworld.com has a cheat code generator, so you don't have to get
> > > ripped-off twice.
> > > - the steering is amongst the worst I have known since before GP1.
Many
> > > people have posted on this issue and the best I can say is that you
get
> an
> > > equally controllable result using the keyboard. The steering is not
> > linear
> > > throughout the throw of the wheel, it varies the scale of input in
> corners
> > > and only uses the first 10% of wheel movement. Welcome to the world
of
> > the
> > > psychotically frustrated. If you check out the advance option of the
> > > controller screen, you may notice a serious time lag between
controller
> > > input and the screen response. With my MOMO wheel, it is up to half a
> > > second lock to lock. This shows up as a noticeable delay in car
> response
> > > while racing.
> > > - the car models are very poor, amateur arcade estimates. Perhaps the
> > money
> > > ran out after they put together the (excellent) graphics engine. Cars
> > turn
> > > about a central axis and not the tyre/asphalt contact points. It is
> easy
> > to
> > > straight-line chicanes without penalty. I know the Knock Hill track
and
> > > there is no way you can go through the chicane in 5th gear with the
> > throttle
> > > full open - except in TOCA RD, that is. No wonder I just beat the lap
> > > record by three seconds! The box calls this a 'state-of-the-art
physics
> > > engine, tested for realism by professional race drivers'. After they
> had
> > > tested it, the drivers were taken back to the safety of their padded
> cells
> > > and given more sedative.
> > > - the damage model. I know there is supposed to be one but what does
it
> > > actually do? The box says 'incredible vehicle damage system'.
> Certainly
> > it
> > > is incredible - at least in the sense that it is not credible. I just
> > tried
> > > it out by driving a Holden down the Bathurst straight at 180mph and
> > crashing
> > > into the barrier. I could not notice any change in car handling at
all.
> > At
> > > that impact speed, you would normally have a petrol tank necklace and
> your
> > > backside full of crank case. Perhaps Ryan McKane is actually Captain
> > > Scarlet in disguise and is totally indestructible. I did look for
> > Mysterons
> > > on the track but have not spotted them as yet.
> > > - the AI is woeful. They want the racing line and they will take it,
> > > regardless of where you are. It's rather akin to being in a scrum of
> > > grandmothers in a supermarket, all trying to get their trolleys to the
> > > discount support stockings to snap-up a bargain. Do they really care
> > > whether you are in their way?
> > > - the in-car view is poor and the steering response differs depending
on
> > the
> > > view you use! To get any kind of chance, the bumper view seems to be
> the
> > > best way to go. I don't know about you but I always sit on the bumper
> of
> > my
> > > car when I drive to work. It is the only way to feel part of the car
> ;-)
> > > - the grass is sticky in the same way that it was in TOCA 2. Rather
> than
> > > slide and crash on the grass, you actually slow down and can drive out
> of
> > > most potentially fatal crashes. Perhaps this design of grass should
be
> > used
> > > on the real CART or F1 circuits? We can then get rid of all of those
> > crash
> > > barriers and let the crowd have a really good view from the track
apron.
> > > - the pit lane drive is automated! I enjoy the challenge of hitting
the
> > pit
> > > marker, keeping pit speed and avoiding the other pit lane traffic.
> Those
> > > few seconds are stolen by the crass computer model. Also, where is
the
> > pace
> > > lap on those races with rolling starts? I do not want to be thrown
into
> > the
> > > car with no sense of involvement or control before the green flag. If
I
> > > want to be a passenger, I'll go by public transport. This then leads
on
> > to
> > > another problem - because the controller input is so poor, the instant
> you
> > > get control usually involves a steering over-reaction and throttle
lag.
> > If
> > > you don't somehow guess the correct controller inputs and match them
at
> > the
> > > right time, you either lose momentum or head for the wall.
> > > - where are the flag rules? For fun, I caused a pile-up. Everyone
> simply
> > > got back on the track and raced away without a single yellow flag.
> > > - there is no option to turn off that inane music, nor can you be rid
of
> > the
> > > intro 'piracy' warning or the story board cut scenes. You have to
> > endlessly
> > > press the 'esc' key to skip these. Mind you, this is the first time a
> > game
> > > has got the anti-piracy system right. They make the game so poor that
> you
> > > feel ashamed to pass it around.
> > > - on a number of occasions, crash barriers have suddenly become
magnetic
> > and
> > > the car steers straight for them, regardless of my attempts to slow
down
> > or
> > > steer. Once against the barrier, the car refuses to move away. A
bug?
> > > Also, if I test on the Brands Hatch circuit after trying any other
> track,
> > > the car has the throttle stuck wide open on the pit straight and then
> > loses
> > > power on the rest of the circuit - a first/second gear crawl. If I
can
> > get
> > > back to the pit straight, the wild ride starts again.
> > > If I had intended to buy an arcade game, TOCA RD would make me feel
> > cheated.
> > > However, this game is advertised as a psuedo-sim and I really resent
> > having
> > > wasted money on it. It is a travesty, pure and simple.
> > > 38 international circuits, 13 championships and 42 licensed race
cars -
> > that
> > > gives about 830 combinations of disappointment, frustration and
despair.
> > > You are better off taking your 30 to a drug crazed Neanderthal and
> asking
> > > them to punch you in the face. The emotions are the same but at least
> you
> > > do not feel you have added to the profits of a bunch of charlatans.
> > > Before anyone reminds me; yes, the graphics are good. The question
is -
> > are
> > > they a replacement for immersive game play or realism? If you don't
> feel
> > > part of the game, don't feel you are really there, who cares what it
> looks
> > > like? In any event, graphics are useless once the frustration makes
you
> > > start to cry uncontrollably.
> > > Go ahead, buy the game. Misery likes company.
> > > Kayf.
