A few more interesting thoughts -------------
I just received a very interesting e-mail from one of our associates
who abviously frequests the RAS.
His statement was that it would be interesting to actually attack
the "Ring in a Formula One car with wings and ground effects.
Indeed.
In think the concept and the background of his statement is valid
and very worthy of evaluation by PAPYRUS.
GPL is a GREAT sim ------ no question it is the best ever, with
realism being second to none, but a facit is missing ------------ that
is --------------- the facit of PERSONAL entertainment.
Now ---- I know this may ruffle a few feathers out there with
serious sim-racers ----------- but we have to consider the feeling and
the perspective of someone who does not was to practice incessantly to
achieve the level of expertise needed to compete with the AI -----
especially when it haphazardly adjusts itself to a level to where it
will allow JIM CLARK to qualify at KYALAMI seven seconds quicker than
actually was the time in 1967. If PAPYRUS is going to allow such a
mis-nomer to be commonplace ------- then they owe the general public
-------- the ones who may wich to take advantage of it ---------- a
patch that allows the adjustment of AI to be manually set by the OWNER
of the product.
I am proud that some people who may have developed this sim have
been pro or semi pro racing drivers ------------- big deal ----------.
This is WALTER MITTY racing people ---------- this isn't real life
------- and we need to understand that until we can actually program
the steering unput feedback, the vibrations of the chassis as the
tires are starting to lose that last bit of percentage of traction, a
view of 360 degrees without having to search on some keyboard for the
button that allows a left / right view ----------------- this is never
going to compete with the real experience, and to attempt to "sell"
the weak points of the sim by explaining it away as "well -- with
practice you can ................" is a shame.
I defend the sim GPL wholeheartedly --------- but I think ego has
gotten in the way of common sense in its development and perhaps in
the long run PAPYRUS may pay a penalty for it.
They need to understand that just because the beta testers and
designers sit down and play these things ongoing for months at a time
doesn't mean EVERYONE will ---------------- nor will they have the
reasons in their life to do so.
I enjoy this sim ------------- BUT ------------------ I have gotten
to the place where I just PRACTICE ----------- because I don't have
the desire to become some hermit living in my home whereas I sit at
the computer for eight hours a day practicing to perfect my skills.
Pro drivers get paid for that ----------- I don't.
I bought this sim because it was a return to a historical time in
Formula One history and as a boy I WORSHIPED these guys in the sim I
now see on the track when I think I want to try it. It is nice to
jump into the Lotus or Ferrari and give them a whirl. I savored the
victories of my hero CLARK as much as Colin Chapman or anyone else of
the crew of Lotus did.
BUT ------------ this is NOT real life. This is a sim -------- with
its limits ----------- and drawbacks.
GPL2 ------------- if there IS such a thing --------------- could be
a GREAT sim if Papyrus would allow common sense to prevail and let a
bit more input of serious sim-racers as well as the neophytes of the
sim-world have a bit more say-so as to how the sim were finally
released.
Entertainment is the ability to get involved in something and let
yourself have a pleasant experience for the period of time expended.
I really don't find an experience whereas I (speaking from experience
here) am fighting cold tires and doing my darndest for a lap or two
while the AI motors away as if they had the advantage of
"blanket-warmed" tires --------- or more horsepower appealing. Always
fighting from a deficit position is not wat entertainment is all about
------ at least to me.
Of course ------------- there are those who do --------- let a
manual adjustment allow such a thing. Let the manual adjustment have
the opposite effect for others.
1976 was a neat year in Formula One --------- the Tyrell with six
wheels and the level of competition was interesting. It WOULD be nice
to be able to compete on the "Ring" with winged Formula One cars.
It would be nice to be able to "dial in" the level of competition
for one's personal taste and "expertise".
So what if these were the best ---------------- Until I have someone
actually shove a contract in front of me asking me to sign it and join
their FORMULA ONE team -------------- I really don't give two hoots
about that -----------
I truly think that argument is just a weak excuse to cover the weak
points of the sim ------------
We deserve --------------- as consumers ----------- better than
that.
Doug