rec.autos.simulators

GPL shifting in replay

Johan Foedere

GPL shifting in replay

by Johan Foedere » Sat, 31 Oct 1998 04:00:00

Hi,

Has anyone else noticed this? If you take the in car view in replay
mode, the gears shift by themselves. The driver's hands remain at the
steering wheel. I think this looks pretty weird. Why did papy do this? I
can't think of any good reason. Can you?

// Johan

Vinc

GPL shifting in replay

by Vinc » Sun, 01 Nov 1998 04:00:00

On Fri, 30 Oct 1998 09:43:48 +0100, Johan Foederer


>Has anyone else noticed this? If you take the in car view in replay
>mode, the gears shift by themselves. The driver's hands remain at the
>steering wheel. I think this looks pretty weird. Why did papy do this? I
>can't think of any good reason. Can you?

Yes I noticed this, but I can't understand why. Maybe it's because
this way they don't have to move the driver's arm in the various views
in which it remains visible, so to lower the work for the CPU...
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GEORGE ARUGAY MONTEMAY

GPL shifting in replay

by GEORGE ARUGAY MONTEMAY » Tue, 03 Nov 1998 04:00:00

: >Has anyone else noticed this? If you take the in car view in replay
: >mode, the gears shift by themselves. The driver's hands remain at the
: >steering wheel. I think this looks pretty weird. Why did papy do this? I
: >can't think of any good reason. Can you?

: Yes I noticed this, but I can't understand why. Maybe it's because
: this way they don't have to move the driver's arm in the various views
: in which it remains visible, so to lower the work for the CPU...

But they could have included it as an option, much like what they should
have done for force-feedback support.

George

Randy Cassid

GPL shifting in replay

by Randy Cassid » Tue, 03 Nov 1998 04:00:00

We didn't make the arms move the shifter in the replay because we didn't
have time to do it. Nothing happens on a computer unless you spend the time
to program it (except program crashes, of course, which follow exactly the
opposite principle :-)

Randy




> : >Has anyone else noticed this? If you take the in car view in replay
> : >mode, the gears shift by themselves. The driver's hands remain at the
> : >steering wheel. I think this looks pretty weird. Why did papy do this?
I
> : >can't think of any good reason. Can you?

> : Yes I noticed this, but I can't understand why. Maybe it's because
> : this way they don't have to move the driver's arm in the various views
> : in which it remains visible, so to lower the work for the CPU...

> But they could have included it as an option, much like what they should
> have done for force-feedback support.

> George

Johan Foedere

GPL shifting in replay

by Johan Foedere » Wed, 04 Nov 1998 04:00:00

But isn't it already programmed? I mean, it works during the race and
since the***pit is fully 3d there shouldn't be any problems with
viewpoints or anything. I suppose there is some sort of function that
takes care of the arm movement during the race. Why can't this same
function be used during the replay? Is the replay based on a different
engine?

Please clearify this, because I'm confused.

Thanks,
Johan.


> We didn't make the arms move the shifter in the replay because we didn't
> have time to do it. Nothing happens on a computer unless you spend the time
> to program it (except program crashes, of course, which follow exactly the
> opposite principle :-)

> Randy

Hena H?kk?ne

GPL shifting in replay

by Hena H?kk?ne » Wed, 04 Nov 1998 04:00:00


>But isn't it already programmed? I mean, it works during the race and
>since the***pit is fully 3d there shouldn't be any problems with
>viewpoints or anything. I suppose there is some sort of function that
>takes care of the arm movement during the race. Why can't this same
>function be used during the replay? Is the replay based on a different
>engine?

I'm not sure the***pit IS fully 3D in replays. It certainly is not when
viewing someone else in in-car view during an online multiplayer race. I
noticed that the***pit doesn't move around at all, and there's no arm
movement to the shiter ...

Hena

Jim Sokolof

GPL shifting in replay

by Jim Sokolof » Wed, 04 Nov 1998 04:00:00



> > We didn't make the arms move the shifter in the replay because we didn't
> > have time to do it. Nothing happens on a computer unless you spend the time
> > to program it (except program crashes, of course, which follow exactly the
> > opposite principle :-)
> But isn't it already programmed?

No, not for the replay, as you've noticed... :-)

Right; it's programmed to work during the race. Doesn't mean it's
programmed to work during the replay.

A very similar function could be used, but that doesn't happen "all by
itself" as Randy points out above.

IMO, it doesn't detract from the game's overall appeal because the
replay doesn't have the driver's arm moving to shift the gears... So,
just about ANYTHING else they did while working on the game was a
better investment of time than getting the arms to move in the replay.

It's clearly somewhat different, because the data comes from a spooled
replay instead of directly from the physics world. (So, depending on
your definition of "engine", the answer is "yes", "no", or "sort of".)

---Jim

Randy Cassid

GPL shifting in replay

by Randy Cassid » Wed, 04 Nov 1998 04:00:00

What he said... :-)


Grant Reev

GPL shifting in replay

by Grant Reev » Thu, 05 Nov 1998 04:00:00


> But isn't it already programmed? I mean, it works during the race and
> since the***pit is fully 3d there shouldn't be any problems with
> viewpoints or anything. I suppose there is some sort of function that
> takes care of the arm movement during the race. Why can't this same
> function be used during the replay? Is the replay based on a different
> engine?

> Please clearify this, because I'm confused.

during race situations where time can only move forward at a rate
of 1 times normal speed, it's easy to show a gear shift arm animation
triggered when the driver hit the shift button. During replay where
a viewer could pause at any moment, rewind, etc, the position of the
arm at any given time would have to be stored in every frame of the
replay in order to properly show the arm's movement down to the
stick and back, etc. That would take a bit of time to code, check that
it works, test, etc, and i think they were on a pretty tight
schedule as it was.

of course, i didn't write GPL so i'm only guessing :)
Grant.

Johan Foedere

GPL shifting in replay

by Johan Foedere » Thu, 05 Nov 1998 04:00:00




> > > We didn't make the arms move the shifter in the replay because we didn't
> > > have time to do it. Nothing happens on a computer unless you spend the time
> > > to program it (except program crashes, of course, which follow exactly the
> > > opposite principle :-)

> > But isn't it already programmed?

> No, not for the replay, as you've noticed... :-)

Good point :-)

True, Only wasn't thinking of a similar function, but about the SAME
function. If this were the case it would only mean adding a few lines of
code. But this is clearly not the case.

I totally agree on this one! It's just that I didn't really see the
difference between the movement during the race and the replay and thus
I never thought about is as taking a lot of time programming.

Okay, this is where I stop. I'm not going to try and give a definition
of engine. Anyone want to try?

And just a final remark...
GPL is the BEST racing sim ever. Of course it has its little things that
aren't 'right'. But even if it had 100 of these little things, it
wouldn't make the sim less fun. I'd rather race now without e.g. a
moving arm, than having to wait for another few months.

In short... Great job papy!

// Johan

GEORGE ARUGAY MONTEMAY

GPL shifting in replay

by GEORGE ARUGAY MONTEMAY » Thu, 05 Nov 1998 04:00:00

: during race situations where time can only move forward at a rate
: of 1 times normal speed, it's easy to show a gear shift arm animation
: triggered when the driver hit the shift button. During replay where
: a viewer could pause at any moment, rewind, etc, the position of the
: arm at any given time would have to be stored in every frame of the
: replay in order to properly show the arm's movement down to the
: stick and back, etc. That would take a bit of time to code, check that
: it works, test, etc, and i think they were on a pretty tight
: schedule as it was.

Since Papyrus is capable of monitoring all flying parts in the replay,
e.g. tires, there is no reason why it would be so difficult to monitor the
gear-shifting hand.  To be consistent with the immobile driver notion,
they should not have the driver show his raising hand in replays, too.

Tight schedule?  Maybe, but they should have considered that the delay
would have been well worth it, for the release date by then would have
been Christmas '98.  It's a pleasant feeling having to open a GPL box
under the tree, even if you bought it and wrapped it up yourself.

George

Hena H?kk?ne

GPL shifting in replay

by Hena H?kk?ne » Fri, 06 Nov 1998 04:00:00

Are you saying that you would've gladly waited another 2-3 months for GPL if
they only had included a hand motion to change gears in replays!?!?!

Gee, you are without a doubt the most patient guy I know ...

Hena :-)

Johan Foedere

GPL shifting in replay

by Johan Foedere » Sat, 07 Nov 1998 04:00:00

That is indeed VERY VERY patient. And even wrap it yourself? Oh man! If
I had to wrap GPL up my self it would be an empty box! I don't believe I
would be able to leave the CD in box, and I certainly couldn't put it
back!

// Johan

GEORGE ARUGAY MONTEMAY

GPL shifting in replay

by GEORGE ARUGAY MONTEMAY » Tue, 10 Nov 1998 04:00:00

: >
: >Tight schedule?  Maybe, but they should have considered that the delay
: >would have been well worth it, for the release date by then would have
: >been Christmas '98.  It's a pleasant feeling having to open a GPL box
: >under the tree, even if you bought it and wrapped it up yourself.

: Are you saying that you would've gladly waited another 2-3 months for GPL if
: they only had included a hand motion to change gears in replays!?!?!

: Gee, you are without a doubt the most patient guy I know ...

: Hena :-)

Yep.  I am still delaying my purchase of GPL, considering that I am still
waiting for a sale on a nice set of driving wheel/pedals  (probably wail
until Christmas).  Too bad Papyrus didn't delay till 'xmas, unless of
course they plan to release a patch by that time. I would have been one
happy camper.  :(

George


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