rec.autos.simulators

by **David Geesama** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 00:41:17

Hi, I'm a fresh newbie trying to learn this damn game. It's hard, as
well it should be (I guess driving 215mph requires a little skill ;).
Don't worry, I won't be crashing your multiplayer games for a long time.
I'm trying to work my way through the practice sessions (I can bronze
star any section with a little practice, but I still wreck often). Should
I continue drilling, or get into a little bit of racing? Realistically,
how long will learning this game to a semi-competitive level take? (I
learned Quake3 to a high level, is the learning curve equally tough?)
What's the key to preventing spinouts? Does it take precision and
practice, or just driving conservatively within the car's limits?
Are there any key skills that I should concentrate on? I basically
brake solid into turns, turn with little/no throttle (depends on how
tight), and gas like hell ASAP. Is combined gas/brake very important?

Ok, that's enough questions. Any answers appreciated.

Dave

by **Ian Bel** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 01:21:59

Hi David
Best thing to do is start at one circuit and learn it intimately. Then get
yourself a good setup (ahem) www.simbin.com has a few good ones (I'm told).
The key to preventing spinouts is prediction of the likely car behaviour
given a certain corner/throttle input/steering combination. You can only
develop this with practice. A forgiving car setup will help you a lot during
the learning stage.
You'll get better throttle control if you use Richard Beckett's throttle fix
suggestion (a few posts up or down).
Combined throttle and brake input is extremely important. Particularly if
you push the brake bias rearward which will give you more effective braking
but increase the potential of rear lock ups. Independant Throttle/Brake
inputs will also allow for you to dab the brakes if you are spinning to
bring the car under control by locking the fronts. With combined axis, this
is impossible as in order to brake, you must first release throttle which
will move the weight further forward and worsten the spin.
Good luck

Ian

by **David Geesama** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 02:18:19

I only had the wheel/pedal for a day. I returned them when a splash of
reason caught me by surprise, about how I couldn't afford the expense right
now (I'm unemployed :-( )

So you're saying to try the pedal-centering adjustment if I get another set
and that could make a big difference. I see this DXTweak only runs on
Win98 - what about Win2000? Does XP have the same tweakability as 98?

Dave

> x-no-archive: yes

> What controller are you using? That will make a big difference.

> See the thread on getting the pedals to work properly. I was spinning
> out a lot, before I fixed the pedals, but at least I knew why ;-)

> R

>> Hi, I'm a fresh newbie trying to learn this damn game. It's hard,
>> as
>> well it should be (I guess driving 215mph requires a little skill ;).
>> Don't worry, I won't be crashing your multiplayer games for a long
>> time.
>> I'm trying to work my way through the practice sessions (I can
>> bronze
>> star any section with a little practice, but I still wreck often).
>> Should I continue drilling, or get into a little bit of racing?
>> Realistically, how long will learning this game to a semi-competitive
>> level take? (I learned Quake3 to a high level, is the learning curve
>> equally tough?)
>> What's the key to preventing spinouts? Does it take precision and
>> practice, or just driving conservatively within the car's limits?
>> Are there any key skills that I should concentrate on? I
>> basically
>> brake solid into turns, turn with little/no throttle (depends on how
>> tight), and gas like hell ASAP. Is combined gas/brake very important?

>> Ok, that's enough questions. Any answers appreciated.

>> Dave

by **Eldre** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 06:19:35

> Hi, I'm a fresh newbie trying to learn this damn game. It's hard, as
>well it should be (I guess driving 215mph requires a little skill ;).
>Don't worry, I won't be crashing your multiplayer games for a long time.
> I'm trying to work my way through the practice sessions (I can bronze
>star any section with a little practice, but I still wreck often). Should
>I continue drilling, or get into a little bit of racing? Realistically,
>how long will learning this game to a semi-competitive level take? (I
>learned Quake3 to a high level, is the learning curve equally tough?)
> What's the key to preventing spinouts? Does it take precision and
>practice, or just driving conservatively within the car's limits?
> Are there any key skills that I should concentrate on? I basically
>brake solid into turns, turn with little/no throttle (depends on how
>tight), and gas like hell ASAP. Is combined gas/brake very important?

You could to very well by reading Maxx's suggestions. Look for the thread
titled "practice ideas". He gives some great info that is valuable no matter
what sim you run. There are a few other people who have added well to the
discussion.

Eldred
--
Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPLRank - under construction...

Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

by **Jesse Blac** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 06:04:42

Nice one Ian.

JB

by **David Geesama** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 07:02:30

I've been focusing on Monza in the Driving School mode. Is there a
way to tweak the setup in this mode? What other game mode is good for
practice?

I'm afraid pedals (and linear throttle+brake input) won't be coming
for some time, since I have no money to spend.

It seems that running fast has a lot to do with precisely applying
brakes at the last possible moment entering a turn (like the first chicane
at Monza). Is it a wise idea for me to brake a little early to prevent
overruns, or am I just avoiding a critical skill?

Right now my joystick is set with a brake button and throttle button.
I can run both concurrently, but there's no linearity. I'd be content for
now if there was a way to get progressive brake and throttle and keep the
joystick, until I can buy a wheel.

Dave

> Good luck

> Ian

by **David G Fishe** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 08:10:30

> It seems that running fast has a lot to do with precisely applying
> brakes at the last possible moment entering a turn (like the first chicane
> at Monza). Is it a wise idea for me to brake a little early to prevent
> overruns, or am I just avoiding a critical skill?

Don't worry so much about applying brakes as late as possible. It's more
important to be able to hit your turn in point and hold your racing line (at
the highest speed possible) through the turn.

David G Fisher

> > Combined throttle and brake input is extremely important. Particularly
> > if you push the brake bias rearward which will give you more effective
> > braking but increase the potential of rear lock ups. Independant
> > Throttle/Brake inputs will also allow for you to dab the brakes if you
> > are spinning to bring the car under control by locking the fronts. With
> > combined axis, this is impossible as in order to brake, you must first
> > release throttle which will move the weight further forward and worsten
> > the spin.

> Right now my joystick is set with a brake button and throttle button.
> I can run both concurrently, but there's no linearity. I'd be content for
> now if there was a way to get progressive brake and throttle and keep the
> joystick, until I can buy a wheel.

> Dave

> > Good luck

> > Ian

by **Rob Adam** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 08:14:43

> > It seems that running fast has a lot to do with precisely applying
> > brakes at the last possible moment entering a turn (like the first
chicane
> > at Monza). Is it a wise idea for me to brake a little early to prevent
> > overruns, or am I just avoiding a critical skill?

> Don't worry so much about applying brakes as late as possible. It's more
> important to be able to hit your turn in point and hold your racing line
(at
> the highest speed possible) through the turn.

> David G Fisher

Or put another way "sacrifice entry speed for exit speed". That tenth of a
second you gain by braking late for a corner can be wiped out by the longer
time it takes you to accelerate coming out of the corner, from a lower
speed.

The fastest guys aren't the guys that brake the latest, they're the guys
that brake as late as possible while still getting through the corner at
maximum speed. (Nigel Mansell seemed to be the exception to this rule).

by **Haqsa** » Fri, 14 Dec 2001 08:43:35

> I'm afraid pedals (and linear throttle+brake input) won't be
coming
> for some time, since I have no money to spend.

There are some really cheap wheel and pedal sets available if you look
around, just the other day I saw a Thrustmaster set for $20. The pedals
looked like crap, but Thrustmaster wheels have analog levers that can be
used as throttle and brake, and some people actually prefer the levers
to pedals. Not sure whether it was split axis or not, though, and
getting split axis pedals (or levers or whatever) is extremely
important.

If your stick has a throttle slider you can use that for one of the two,
and you can use the vertical axis of the stick for the other. If it
doesn't have a throttle slider you can use the vertical axis, split in
the middle, for both. All of the racing sims that I have tried are set
up to recognize either combined or split axis pedals, which means that
you can use a single analog axis, split in the middle, for both throttle
and brake. Use the forward motion of the stick for throttle and
backward motion for brake. You will not be able to get combined
throttle and brake this way, but it is way better then using buttons.

HTH,
Hal

rec.autos.simulators

Best approach for newbie to learn F1 2001

Best approach for newbie to learn F1 2001

Best approach for newbie to learn F1 2001

Best approach for newbie to learn F1 2001

Best approach for newbie to learn F1 2001

Best approach for newbie to learn F1 2001

Best approach for newbie to learn F1 2001

Best approach for newbie to learn F1 2001

Best approach for newbie to learn F1 2001

Best approach for newbie to learn F1 2001