rec.autos.simulators

I've compiled some of the things I think needs to be fixed by Ubisoft.
They concern the 3Dfx-version but I suppose most of them also apply to
the D3D version. I'm sure I've missed a couple of things here so
please add what you feel needs to be here. When the list looks
complete I will mail it to Ubisoft.

(1) Graphics hotkey - Starting a race = terrible framerates when you
need them the most. In GP2 we had a hotkey (alt+d) that would let us
switch between different levels of graphic detail while driving. F1rs
really needs a similar key for the starts.

(2) Pit pause - When making an unplanned pitstop we get a menu where
we're supposed to tell the pitcrew what to do. The thing is that the
game does'nt pause here! In real life I think the driver would tell
the pitcrew what to do before he's in the pits. Of course we can't
verbally tell our computer what to do, so we need a pause in the game
here.

(3) Control config - I think work is being done here already but it
needs to be mentioned. Using a wheel with separate pedals means way to
much fiddling around.

(4) Car setup memory - When I start a track I want the game to
automatically load the car setup I last used for that track. I don't
want the game to always use the default setup.

(5) Black sky - What's with the black sky in Australia. Does it happen
at other tracks too?

(6) Introskip - An option to skip the intros would be nice. They're
getting quite annoying..

(7) Blue and red flag - Has anyone actually seen these in the game?
The blue flag really should be in there.

(8) Accelerator sensitivity - I think the accelerator should be less
sensitive. OK, in real life the car would probably spin with little
pressure on the pedal, but in real life the driver also feels how much
he is accelerating. I'm using the anti-spin cheat now, but I hate to
cheat. (Yes, I tried fooling around with the sensitivity in the
control config)

(9) Engine volume - The sound of the players engine needs to be louder
than the opponents, at least when starting a race.

(10) Replays - I think work is being done already for hardware support
in the replays. BTW, why can't we watch replays of ghostlaps?

(11) Skip trackinfo - To make menu-hopping a bit faster, skip the
trackinfo that's being shown everytime you go to a track. If you want
to read it, it's in the trackselection menu anyway.

(12) More telemetryfunctions - How about wheelspin and lock?

Karl

Couldn't agree more.
Also, I would like to be able to calibrate the wheel within the game. It is a
real pain to exit the game just so you can recalibrate the wheel. I don't know
about everyone else out there but it takes me a few goes.

no big deal but It shouldn't takwe them long so why not.

I like it being like this. Though maybe a setting "half traction cotrol" would
be good. Though I would like the sound to be more responsive to the throttle.

It would be good if we can set the volume of all these things within the game.

I'm not that fussed.

Keep the list going.
David Mocnay

Karl,
There are many other problems, but I'll comment on your first.
I have absolutely no slow down at the beginning of races.

Agreed.

I have no problem with 'fiddling around'. My CH wheel and pedals are fine.

Agreed. Also the car setup does not save the tyre types. It always sets to
C.

Only seen black sky once.

Agreed.

Agreed.

Use the 'anti spin'!

Not a real problem I think.

Agreed.

Agreed.

You've missed the 2 most annoying features, and they are :-
i) when escape is hit during a race, and abandon race selected, the program
goes through EVERY lap of the race before exiting to a menu! In a full race
this can be a long time, and makes the whole load/save process too painful
to repeat.
ii) there are too many program crashes. I get crashes regularly if I load
other people's ghost laps or save games. Also after abandoning races it
happens.
There are other problems like the configuration settings not being retained
when you change to another type of race. For example if you are in Time
Attack and you have 'automatic gears' set on , if you change to say a race,
'auto gears' are now off!
There are others, but I'll have to remember what they are and let you know
later.
I have already passed most of these onto Ubi UK.
Cheers,
Iain

Karl> (2) Pit pause - When making an unplanned pitstop we get a menu
Karl> where we're supposed to tell the pitcrew what to do. The thing
Karl> is that the game does'nt pause here! In real life I think the
Karl> driver would tell the pitcrew what to do before he's in the
Karl> pits. Of course we can't verbally tell our computer what to do,
Karl> so we need a pause in the game here.

But think about multiplayer? I don't think it is practicle here.

Bye, Lars
--
    ____
   / / /_   Lars Heinemann              Tel.:   049 05251 409089

 /_/_/_/    University Of Paderborn             33102 Paderborn, Germany

Regarding the video's, I have already posted some files which go
a long way towards fixing this one.
E-mail me for more details.

http://www.btinternet.com/~the.solicitors

Great Song Lyrics, No3
What the Hell Is wrong With You Tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I noticed one last night. I had crashed out of a race at Interlagos on the
first lap and decided to let the race continue and I'd watch the rest of it
while occasionally alternating between the TV perspective and the***pit
view of one of the other drivers. I wanted to see how the AI drivers
interact with each other.

Anyway, through the first half of the race I would hear 'Yellow Flag' every
so often. I kept an eye out to see if I would see a blown engine or the
remenants of a good wreck as the car drove by. But I never saw anything. Oh
well, I assumed the accident had occured on the other side of the track or
something and it was cleared by the time the car I was watching came around
the bend. The problem was that starting about halfway through the race (it
was a 100% race distance) the guys waving yellow flags would appear and
would stay there, lap after lap, for the remainder of the race! While cars
that are inaccesible are often left in the gravel traps in real F1, I've
never seen a yellow flag waved for the balance of the race at the site.

pausing would make life difficult for network players.  I prefer N2's method
were you can view what the crew plans to do (standard is fuel and tyres: damage
repair if necessary) and switch as desired.  I can imagine this being difficult
in at full speed in F1RS though :-)

brian

Hi folks,

I added your thoughts to the list and sent it to Ubisoft yesterday.
Here's their reply I got today:

(1) Graphics hotkey - Starting a race = terrible framerates when you
need them the most. In GP2 we had a hotkey (alt+d) that would let us
switch between different levels of graphic detail while driving. F1rs
really needs a similar key for the starts. Another way of solving this
could be an option to set how many opponents are drawn around you.

(2) Pit pause - When making an unplanned pitstop we get a menu where
we're supposed to tell the pitcrew what to do. The thing is that the
game does'nt pause here! In real life I think the driver would tell
the pitcrew what to do before he's in the pits. Of course we can't
verbally tell our computer what to do, so we need a pause in the game
here.

(3) Faster race ending - when escape is hit during a race, and abandon
race selected, the program
goes through EVERY lap of the race before exiting to a menu! In a full
race
this can be a long time, and makes the whole load/save process too
painful
to repeat. Gives us an option to abandon the race without the computer
completing it.

(4) First lap freezing - The very first lap of a circuit, after
starting the game contains many
graphics freezes (3dfx), where the picture stops for a moment, but the
game continues. Once this lap is complete, it never happens again.
Maybe
they need to send all the information to the appropriate place, before
letting you onto the track?

(5) Car setup memory - When I start a track I want the game to
automatically load the car setup I last used for that track. I don't
want the game to always use the default setup.

(6) Introskip - An option to skip the intros would be nice. They're
getting quite annoying..

(7) Blue and red flag - Has anyone actually seen these in the game?
The blue flag really should be in there.

(8) Accelerator sensitivity - I think the accelerator should be less
sensitive. OK, in real life the car would probably spin with little
pressure on the pedal, but in real life the driver also feels how much
he is accelerating. I'm using the anti-spin cheat now, but I hate to
cheat. (Yes, I tried fooling around with the sensitivity in the
control config)

(9) Engine volume - The sound of the players engine needs to be louder
than the opponents, at least when starting a race.

(10) Replays - I think work is being done already for hardware support
in the replays. BTW, why can't we watch replays of ghostlaps?

(11) Skip trackinfo - To make menu-hopping a bit faster, skip the
trackinfo that's being shown everytime you go to a track. If you want
to read it, it's in the trackselection menu anyway.

(12) More telemetryfunctions - How about wheelspin and lock?

(13) Black sky - What's with the black sky in Australia. Does it
happen
at other tracks too?

Are you sure about that? It didn't make any difference at all for me.

Karl