rec.autos.simulators

Toca2 sold out IMVS

Jerr

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Jerr » Wed, 14 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Anyone planning on ordering T2 from iMVS.com will find that they are
out of stock from their supplier as of today.  No restock date given
after waiting 10 days on my order.  Very disappointing.
Mark C Dod

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Mark C Dod » Thu, 15 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Save your money until they bring out an AI patch. I was thrashing the AI
cars after very little time practicing. As for the graphics......yuk!

> Anyone planning on ordering T2 from iMVS.com will find that they are
> out of stock from their supplier as of today.  No restock date given
> after waiting 10 days on my order.  Very disappointing.

Zonk

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Zonk » Thu, 15 Apr 1999 04:00:00


in what way?

I have no pop-up (view distance set to 800m- perhaps some on the long straight
at snetterton), and the car modelling is great, as is the actual track detail
and placement of objects.

the transparent glass & driver movements are pretty dman good, too.

Z.

Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Meij

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Meij » Thu, 15 Apr 1999 04:00:00

I also have no problem with the gfx, just a problem with the AI. Without
dipping into the support classes I have found I can beat the AI on all
tracks without too much practice. Why is it that both SBK and Toca 2, the
finest *racing* sims of the moment are both lacking when it comes to AI
strength. I'd like a NASCAR 2 style percentage scale so we can make them
harder than "real life".

M





>>Save your money until they bring out an AI patch. I was thrashing the AI
>>cars after very little time practicing. As for the graphics......yuk!

>in what way?

>I have no pop-up (view distance set to 800m- perhaps some on the long
straight
>at snetterton), and the car modelling is great, as is the actual track
detail
>and placement of objects.

>the transparent glass & driver movements are pretty dman good, too.

>Z.

>Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Mark C Dod

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Mark C Dod » Fri, 16 Apr 1999 04:00:00

The dash and instruments are equivalent to old MCGA games. The digital instruments are
almost unreadable. The rear vision mirror, even in the selected "hi res"mode, is total
crap. Tried all resolutions up to 1600x1200 32 bit and there is no improvment on these
objects. The whole thing smacks of lazy programing.

This is another game where the TNT graphics are visually better than the Voodoo 2
graphics. Frame rate seems about the same.

As for the AI. If they can improve the AI cars by a small percentage then the game could
be great fun but as it is the challenge is not there.



> >Save your money until they bring out an AI patch. I was thrashing the AI
> >cars after very little time practicing. As for the graphics......yuk!

> in what way?

> I have no pop-up (view distance set to 800m- perhaps some on the long straight
> at snetterton), and the car modelling is great, as is the actual track detail
> and placement of objects.

> the transparent glass & driver movements are pretty dman good, too.

> Z.

> Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Mark C Dod

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Mark C Dod » Fri, 16 Apr 1999 04:00:00

You got to admit the dash, instruments and rear vision mirror are rubbish.

> I also have no problem with the gfx, just a problem with the AI. Without
> dipping into the support classes I have found I can beat the AI on all
> tracks without too much practice. Why is it that both SBK and Toca 2, the
> finest *racing* sims of the moment are both lacking when it comes to AI
> strength. I'd like a NASCAR 2 style percentage scale so we can make them
> harder than "real life".

> M





> >>Save your money until they bring out an AI patch. I was thrashing the AI
> >>cars after very little time practicing. As for the graphics......yuk!

> >in what way?

> >I have no pop-up (view distance set to 800m- perhaps some on the long
> straight
> >at snetterton), and the car modelling is great, as is the actual track
> detail
> >and placement of objects.

> >the transparent glass & driver movements are pretty dman good, too.

> >Z.

> >Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Zonk

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Zonk » Sat, 17 Apr 1999 04:00:00


Hmm, i don't see the need for a full "mirror" image, somehow. Fail to see the
need to chew cpu time on it. Instruments? well, the rev counter is all that's
important, and i have no trouble reading that.

Dash?

Looks pretty damn authentic to me.

Z.

>You got to admit the dash, instruments and rear vision mirror are rubbish.


>> I also have no problem with the gfx, just a problem with the AI. Without
>> dipping into the support classes I have found I can beat the AI on all
>> tracks without too much practice. Why is it that both SBK and Toca 2, the
>> finest *racing* sims of the moment are both lacking when it comes to AI
>> strength. I'd like a NASCAR 2 style percentage scale so we can make them
>> harder than "real life".

>> M





>> >>Save your money until they bring out an AI patch. I was thrashing the AI
>> >>cars after very little time practicing. As for the graphics......yuk!

>> >in what way?

>> >I have no pop-up (view distance set to 800m- perhaps some on the long
>> straight
>> >at snetterton), and the car modelling is great, as is the actual track
>> detail
>> >and placement of objects.

>> >the transparent glass & driver movements are pretty dman good, too.

>> >Z.

>> >Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.
Meij

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Meij » Sat, 17 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Um... not really. I rarely change gear using the rev counter and all I use
mirrors for is to see if anyone is there, not to see who it is or check my
hair. Basically the views are adequate for their usage and, as Zonk says,
the dash is pretty realistic.

M



>You got to admit the dash, instruments and rear vision mirror are rubbish.


>> I also have no problem with the gfx, just a problem with the AI. Without
>> dipping into the support classes I have found I can beat the AI on all
>> tracks without too much practice. Why is it that both SBK and Toca 2,
the
>> finest *racing* sims of the moment are both lacking when it comes to AI
>> strength. I'd like a NASCAR 2 style percentage scale so we can make them
>> harder than "real life".

>> M





>> >>Save your money until they bring out an AI patch. I was thrashing the
AI
>> >>cars after very little time practicing. As for the graphics......yuk!

>> >in what way?

>> >I have no pop-up (view distance set to 800m- perhaps some on the long
>> straight
>> >at snetterton), and the car modelling is great, as is the actual track
>> detail
>> >and placement of objects.

>> >the transparent glass & driver movements are pretty dman good, too.

>> >Z.

>> >Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Mann

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Mann » Sun, 18 Apr 1999 04:00:00

The "small" in-car mirror is almost useless because of the low
resolution.  You need to use the "large" mirror if you want a clear
view.  Also, it's true the dash is no where near as beautiful as say,
NFS3, but it does the job.  Alot of the graphics in TOCA2 are low
resolution, such as the sky and dash, but somehow, when you're
immersed in the game, they all come together and create a believable
atmosphere.  It's strange.  The graphics in a game like NFS3 are
beautiful, the sky, the dash, the surround enviroment, but it doesn't
get the same feeling across.  And the in-car rain effects of Toca2,
while not being the highest resolution, are some of the best seen.
Just look at those rain drops sliding up the windshield the faster you
go.  Now that's attention to detail.
>The dash and instruments are equivalent to old MCGA games. The digital instruments are
>almost unreadable. The rear vision mirror, even in the selected "hi res"mode, is total
>crap. Tried all resolutions up to 1600x1200 32 bit and there is no improvment on these
>objects. The whole thing smacks of lazy programing.

>This is another game where the TNT graphics are visually better than the Voodoo 2
>graphics. Frame rate seems about the same.

>As for the AI. If they can improve the AI cars by a small percentage then the game could
>be great fun but as it is the challenge is not there.



>> >Save your money until they bring out an AI patch. I was thrashing the AI
>> >cars after very little time practicing. As for the graphics......yuk!

>> in what way?

>> I have no pop-up (view distance set to 800m- perhaps some on the long straight
>> at snetterton), and the car modelling is great, as is the actual track detail
>> and placement of objects.

>> the transparent glass & driver movements are pretty dman good, too.

>> Z.

>> Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Mark C Dod

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Mark C Dod » Tue, 20 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Good mirrors don't chew up too many frames on outher sims. Why have them at all if they
are useless as in TOCA 2? The little whiny motors are always so high reving it is hard to
tell what gear you are in, especially after a stack, so it would be good to be able to
read the instrument gear readout, after all, you could do that in GP2 MANY years ago so
why the retro step. And I must admit, if I take off my glasses and really unfocus my eyes
the dashboard in my Nissan looks remotely like that in TOCA 2.

Another poitn. If you get lapped (which happened to me after I got punted off), but you
want to finish the race for the points you have to complete ALL of the laps.In every type
of motor racing I know of, including the BTCC, you only have to complete the lap you are
on after the leader has finished. But no, TOCA 2 expects you to continue racing whilst
the finished cars wander all over the track at 30KPH. Stupid AI and the whole game smacks
of cashing in with as little programming effor as possible.



> Hmm, i don't see the need for a full "mirror" image, somehow. Fail to see the
> need to chew cpu time on it. Instruments? well, the rev counter is all that's
> important, and i have no trouble reading that.

> Dash?

> Looks pretty damn authentic to me.

> Z.

> >You got to admit the dash, instruments and rear vision mirror are rubbish.


> >> I also have no problem with the gfx, just a problem with the AI. Without
> >> dipping into the support classes I have found I can beat the AI on all
> >> tracks without too much practice. Why is it that both SBK and Toca 2, the
> >> finest *racing* sims of the moment are both lacking when it comes to AI
> >> strength. I'd like a NASCAR 2 style percentage scale so we can make them
> >> harder than "real life".

> >> M





> >> >>Save your money until they bring out an AI patch. I was thrashing the AI
> >> >>cars after very little time practicing. As for the graphics......yuk!

> >> >in what way?

> >> >I have no pop-up (view distance set to 800m- perhaps some on the long
> >> straight
> >> >at snetterton), and the car modelling is great, as is the actual track
> >> detail
> >> >and placement of objects.

> >> >the transparent glass & driver movements are pretty dman good, too.

> >> >Z.

> >> >Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

> Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Mark C Dod

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Mark C Dod » Tue, 20 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Don't know about you but when other companies support the 3D cards and
processor you have spent money on with decent graphics in all aspects of the
game, including rear mirrors and dash, then slack programming just doesn't cut
it. TOCA 2 is a badly programmed grab for money where no effort has been made
to improve the gameplay or graphics over the limited fucntionality available on
the Playstation version.

If another driver is behind me I like to know who it is. Is it the person just
ahead of me in the championship so I should put more effort into staying in
front or is it somebody I can let pass and ensure I finish the race? This is
the function of a rear vision mirror and what you use it for in other racing
sims. Can't do this in TOCA 2. One blurry set of eight blocky pixels looks the
same as other sets of blocky pixels.


> Um... not really. I rarely change gear using the rev counter and all I use
> mirrors for is to see if anyone is there, not to see who it is or check my
> hair. Basically the views are adequate for their usage and, as Zonk says,
> the dash is pretty realistic.

> M



> >You got to admit the dash, instruments and rear vision mirror are rubbish.


> >> I also have no problem with the gfx, just a problem with the AI. Without
> >> dipping into the support classes I have found I can beat the AI on all
> >> tracks without too much practice. Why is it that both SBK and Toca 2,
> the
> >> finest *racing* sims of the moment are both lacking when it comes to AI
> >> strength. I'd like a NASCAR 2 style percentage scale so we can make them
> >> harder than "real life".

> >> M





> >> >>Save your money until they bring out an AI patch. I was thrashing the
> AI
> >> >>cars after very little time practicing. As for the graphics......yuk!

> >> >in what way?

> >> >I have no pop-up (view distance set to 800m- perhaps some on the long
> >> straight
> >> >at snetterton), and the car modelling is great, as is the actual track
> >> detail
> >> >and placement of objects.

> >> >the transparent glass & driver movements are pretty dman good, too.

> >> >Z.

> >> >Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

Meij

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Meij » Tue, 20 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Why do you need to know what gear you're in? If the revs are at the top,
change up, if they're at the bottom change down for more revs. If you're
either in bottom gear you *should* know anyway and avoid changing to
reverse.

Personally the mirrors are adequate for me to work out who is behind me or
ahead of me as I know the field well enough to know which car in a team
should be where in the field. For example you know if you're near the back
and an Audi is close behind you, the chances are it's Bintcliffe not
Muller.

As for the finishing all the laps thing, I can't say I've noticed it as
I've never managed to end up being lapped. If this is the case they need to
fix it sharpish. Nothing *i've* seen in TOCA2 indicates lazy programming, I
just get the feeling you're falling into the trap where something you don't
agree with becomes a bug, not a design issue. The dash works fine for most
of the people here so why not put your glasses on *before* you drive?

M



reving it is hard to

Zonk

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Zonk » Tue, 20 Apr 1999 04:00:00


Mirrors are huge frame-rate killers. Ever looked at games like GPL/GP2, and
the frame rate increase when mirror are turned off? Low-res mirrors make
sense.

And you can't tell who's behind you becuase of the mirrors? Jeez, really? :)

Granted telling which driver of two is diffcult, but telling the cars apart is
not. In any case, you have split timing every sector.

I suggest you take alook ta the PSX version if you actually think that the PC
graphics are similar.

Z.

Mark C Dod

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Mark C Dod » Thu, 22 Apr 1999 04:00:00

Lets just agree to disagree. TO me it's sloppy graphics and programming. To you
it's acceptable. I guess I expect more effort for the money.

> Why do you need to know what gear you're in? If the revs are at the top,
> change up, if they're at the bottom change down for more revs. If you're
> either in bottom gear you *should* know anyway and avoid changing to
> reverse.

> Personally the mirrors are adequate for me to work out who is behind me or
> ahead of me as I know the field well enough to know which car in a team
> should be where in the field. For example you know if you're near the back
> and an Audi is close behind you, the chances are it's Bintcliffe not
> Muller.

> As for the finishing all the laps thing, I can't say I've noticed it as
> I've never managed to end up being lapped. If this is the case they need to
> fix it sharpish. Nothing *i've* seen in TOCA2 indicates lazy programming, I
> just get the feeling you're falling into the trap where something you don't
> agree with becomes a bug, not a design issue. The dash works fine for most
> of the people here so why not put your glasses on *before* you drive?

> M



> >Good mirrors don't chew up too many frames on outher sims. Why have them
> at all if they
> >are useless as in TOCA 2? The little whiny motors are always so high
> reving it is hard to
> >tell what gear you are in, especially after a stack, so it would be good
> to be able to
> >read the instrument gear readout, after all, you could do that in GP2 MANY
> years ago so
> >why the retro step. And I must admit, if I take off my glasses and really
> unfocus my eyes
> >the dashboard in my Nissan looks remotely like that in TOCA 2.

> >Another poitn. If you get lapped (which happened to me after I got punted
> off), but you
> >want to finish the race for the points you have to complete ALL of the
> laps.In every type
> >of motor racing I know of, including the BTCC, you only have to complete
> the lap you are
> >on after the leader has finished. But no, TOCA 2 expects you to continue
> racing whilst
> >the finished cars wander all over the track at 30KPH. Stupid AI and the
> whole game smacks
> >of cashing in with as little programming effor as possible.

Mark C Dod

Toca2 sold out IMVS

by Mark C Dod » Thu, 22 Apr 1999 04:00:00

If I get 80 FPS instead of 90 FPS then so be it, but let the user make the choice if they
wan't hi res mirrors or not. If the loss of frame rate in unnaceptable then let the user
choose the option, not have it hard coded to low res..


> >Don't know about you but when other companies support the 3D cards and
> >processor you have spent money on with decent graphics in all aspects of the
> >game, including rear mirrors and dash, then slack programming just doesn't cut
> >it. TOCA 2 is a badly programmed grab for money where no effort has been made
> >to improve the gameplay or graphics over the limited fucntionality available on
> >the Playstation version.

> >If another driver is behind me I like to know who it is. Is it the person just
> >ahead of me in the championship so I should put more effort into staying in
> >front or is it somebody I can let pass and ensure I finish the race? This is
> >the function of a rear vision mirror and what you use it for in other racing
> >sims. Can't do this in TOCA 2. One blurry set of eight blocky pixels looks the
> >same as other sets of blocky pixels.

> Mirrors are huge frame-rate killers. Ever looked at games like GPL/GP2, and
> the frame rate increase when mirror are turned off? Low-res mirrors make
> sense.

> And you can't tell who's behind you becuase of the mirrors? Jeez, really? :)

> Granted telling which driver of two is diffcult, but telling the cars apart is
> not. In any case, you have split timing every sector.

> I suggest you take alook ta the PSX version if you actually think that the PC
> graphics are similar.

> Z.


rec.autos.simulators is a usenet newsgroup formed in December, 1993. As this group was always unmoderated there may be some spam or off topic articles included. Some links do point back to racesimcentral.net as we could not validate the original address. Please report any pages that you believe warrant deletion from this archive (include the link in your email). RaceSimCentral.net is in no way responsible and does not endorse any of the content herein.