car. No, I couldn't *feel* it like I do in GPL, but I felt like I knew
what the car was doing. However, it was a sluggish, heavy feeling car.
Different than GP2 (which I had still occasionally played), but I liked
F12000 better.
Enter GP3... Got it the day it came out and was disappointed. It was,
alas, GP2.5 as I had been told. But I played it, and it grew on me. I
even tried to play it a lot, but then GPL crept back in and again took
hold of my simming time.
F1CS2000 is released.***that. I'll wait til F12001 comes out. I
don't want an "updated" game. I got that with GP2.5
John Bodin releases the "all-chassis" patch for F1SC2000. Sounds cool,
but I wonder if it'd work with the original F12000. Blow the dust off
the game, apply the patch, and I've got a great feeling game! I'm
actually having fun with this thing again. The patch however, is buggy
with F12000 so John makes up a patch specifically for this game. Better,
but there's still probs on my machine. (I'll tell ya bout 'em later,
John). I can live with 'em though. Finally a modern F1 game I really
enjoy. Too bad The AI really sucks in this game. Oh well... Guess you
can't have it all...
So I'm sitting on the toilet (sorry folks, but that's how it happened)
and I'm reading PC Gamer magazine, specifically Andy Manhood's review of
F1CS2000. "Enhanced physics. Realistic AI. Smoother framerates.
Beautiful new sound. This is what F12000 should have been. The new
Modern F1 King". I respect his reviews more than anyone's, considering
he was as awe-struck as I was when I first fired up GPL. Dammit. Off to
the store to spend another $30-$40 on practically the *same game*!
I get home, install it, set it up, and take 'er for a spin. Wow, this
*feels* fantastic! better than F12000 with the all-chassis patch! Motors
are sluggish again, though, but the framerates are much better, and the
AI actually seems to still have their brain stem intact... Wonderful,
but could it get better??? Off to the web to find John's patch for
F1cs2000. Got it!
I apply the patch. That zippy, blippy motor is back! Take a spin in a
Mac. Damn this car looks gorgeous from inside, now that I was able to
set the***pit detail to high because of the better framerates. Rev
limiter out of the pit... take the right that will lead me to Eu Rouge
(sp?)... Rev limiter off... BLIP! spin... (I love that patch!).
Straighten it back out, and head to... OH BAYBEE!! the fixed Eu Rouge!
Yessss! I get through, down the straight, motor screaming, tossing it
thru the next series of right/left/right turns, sliding, hopping on the
curbs, too much throttle coming out... Spin... but wait... That "oh, the
car is spinning, I'll just have to wait for it to stop" feeling is gone!
My corrective inputs actually help me right the car much quicker than
before (sorta *cough* GPL like)! Can you say powerslides? I can now(not
to the extent of GPL, but you can kick it out if ya wanna)!
To my Eagle in GPL... "Sorry, hon, but I'm gonna let you have a bit of a
rest. Don't worry, cause daddy's gonna be back before you know it, cause
some things only you can do for me and I'll always remember that. We'll
always have the 'Ring and a chicane-less Monza. But it's a big world out
there... Indy has to be driven backwards, and you need wings to go thru
the fast switchbacks at Sepang. Actually, I think you would like my new
friend if you could meet her. You have a lot in common.
Good night, dear... *kiss*
Once again, thanks to Andy Manhood for inspiring me sh!t or get off the
pot (literally) and get this game, as well as John Bodin for the
must-have all-chassis patch. Wonderful work guys. You made modern F1 fun
again!
Warlock!