rec.autos.simulators

VROC Disappointments

David G Fishe

VROC Disappointments

by David G Fishe » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00

I was ripped apart a few months ago here at r.a.s. for insisting there were
problems with GPL online.

David G Fisher

i love the game just hate to try to play

Michael E. Carve

VROC Disappointments

by Michael E. Carve » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00


% I was ripped apart a few months ago here at r.a.s. for insisting there were
% problems with GPL online.

No you weren't...  We all agree that there are problems with GPL online,
however, most of us also realized that some of the problems aren't GPL's
but are inherent with the territory of Internet *** and trying to
achieve the depth of racing that GPL is attempting.  Some of the
problems you pointed out were not problems with GPL, but with ISP's,
setups, and Internet "weather".

By the way Dave, it you keep picking at that damn scab, it will never
heal....

% David G Fisher

% i love the game just hate to try to play
% >online since its too unstable.
% >
% >Dave

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

David G Fishe

VROC Disappointments

by David G Fishe » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00




>% I was ripped apart a few months ago here at r.a.s. for insisting there
were
>% problems with GPL online.

>No you weren't...  We all agree that there are problems with GPL online,
>however, most of us also realized that some of the problems aren't GPL's
>but are inherent with the territory of Internet *** and trying to
>achieve the depth of racing that GPL is attempting.  Some of the
>problems you pointed out were not problems with GPL, but with ISP's,
>setups, and Internet "weather".

>By the way Dave, it you keep picking at that damn scab, it will never
>heal....

Yes, I was ripped apart.  I know all about how online racing works and have
1,000+ hours of online racing experience. I know what problems are caused by
a game, what are caused by the internet itself, and how a sim in 1999 can
perform online.

One example of what I was dealing with were so called internet racing
experts who insisted that the claim of frequent disconnects of racers was a
myth. In this thread, it's pretty obvious that people are now willing to
admit that they are commonplace.

By the way, I have no interest in debating this topic anymore.

Also, I haven't mentioned a word about GPL online for a couple of months so
I'd say the scab is looooong gone.

David G Fisher

Marty U'Re

VROC Disappointments

by Marty U'Re » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00

When I first started racing GPL online I too had constant disconnect problems.
Even after following all the setup recommendations on VROC and on Alison's web
site.

Two things stand out as big improvements for online racing in GPL over dialup
modem.
1. Replace winmodem (controlerless), with non-winmodem, with onboard seral
port.
2. Slow 56k modem to 33.6 or disable V.90/56k.

The second change took me from 50% disconnects to LESS than 10%, rarely really.

The online racing experience with GPL has become big fun.

Marty


> > I hosted many races, all at Silverstone. Thats one track I like/know
> well.
> > Only one race went smooth.
> > Mostly people join, practice, then disconnect.  One race I hosted this
> > morning, 4 people practicing, 20 seconds to race start, two got
> > disconnected, and I lost my green button, and the race started with out
> me.

> > Bummer.  All in all I am discouraged with VROC.

> > Is there anything I am not aware of about VROC that would make my
> experience
> > more enjoyable.
> > Are others unwilling or unable to stay connected to me?
> > I am depressed about the whole thing.
> > Any input is welcome.

> I am not sure why the connections are not stable.  Having flown Air Warrior
> 3 and Cart Precision Racing, I was very suprised on how hard it is to stay
> connected.  It probly is not you, but a weak connection fot he other racers
> to your ip address.  I really wish there was a way to solve this problem
> since it really is a bummer to be in the middle of a good race and get
> disconnected.

> --
> David Robinson

> Egan's Law

> The Pace car will always go 2 MPH slower then your race car idles in first
> gear.

Andrew MacPhers

VROC Disappointments

by Andrew MacPhers » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00

No-one disagreed that there are issues, they just disagreed with your spin on the ball.

Gummy Bear

Andrew MacPhers

VROC Disappointments

by Andrew MacPhers » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Quote 2:

Quote 1:

The prosecution rests its case m'lud.

Ian Parke

VROC Disappointments

by Ian Parke » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Hi, If you can still get hold of it (or have it), it's on the PC Gamer
Christmas 1998 cover CD
--
Ian Parker

ICQ   21772592


>just got to download nutscrape from somewhere unless i can find it on a
>cover disk somewhere!

>--

Maps

VROC Disappointments

by Maps » Sat, 20 Feb 1999 04:00:00




>>4)see latency without going on to pit lane.

>   You can now.  Just hit Alt-L while driving.

I mean when not even on the track. You see, I don't like going on to
the track when practice is over (I don't like getting yelled at), but
often we sit there for up to 5 minutes waiting for the race to start-
that is almost always when I've got the time and inclination to check.

Not a big issue; just one of the dozen or so random ones I was trying
to think of.

Maps

VROC Disappointments

by Maps » Sat, 20 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Hi Michael,

On Thu, 18 Feb 1999 08:03:49 GMT, "Michael E. Carver"



>% 1) a way for people to allow their machines to host while they aren't
>% there (Please please!). This would mean cycling through tracks
>% automatically after each race.

>Rumor has it that this and more such features are coming the much
>anticipated patch from Papyrus...

I think they now realize just what a hit this personal server/TCP/IP
format is. Not that I think Quake2 is perfect, but it certainly has
had a lot more experience with the format- and millions more users.
Gamespy, the equivelent of VROC in a way, tells you more about a
server than you would even want to know- down to the names, scores and
pings of other players currently playing, last time you went to that
server, last ping at that server... unbelievable, really. Q2 *really*
was painful to use until I found Gamespy- similar to GPL before the
saints of VROC descended to help us out.

Great! That is a big help- now I won't have to say "Who's the host?
... Uh, thanks!"

Thanks, and see ya out there...

Maps

VROC Disappointments

by Maps » Sat, 20 Feb 1999 04:00:00


>When I first started racing GPL online I too had constant disconnect problems.
>Even after following all the setup recommendations on VROC and on Alison's web
>site.

>Two things stand out as big improvements for online racing in GPL over dialup
>modem.
>1. Replace winmodem (controlerless), with non-winmodem, with onboard seral
>port.

Agreed- Winmodems are not encouraged for CPU intensive stuff like GPL

I have a 56k, but never achieve over 28k- fact is, I almost never get
disconnected. Well, not during a race, at any rate.

>The second change took me from 50% disconnects to LESS than 10%, rarely really.

>The online racing experience with GPL has become big fun.


<...>

Just a guess- but isn't CPR using dedicated servers at Microsoft's
site? I think so. And regarding flight sims- I am not sure they need
the same bandwidth of driving sims, where cars are within feet of each
other for extended periods, sharing so much data between cars. Uses a
lot of bandwith.

I understood that the TCP/IP personal server format adopted by Papy
was something they took on only after much nudging- they thought it
was a near impossible task (if impossible). Clearly, they achieved
something wonderful- I hope the barriers get pushed much further now.
This is the only way to race, outside of a real car!

schwab

VROC Disappointments

by schwab » Sat, 20 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Yeah (BTW I agree with your post about online being the next best to the
real cars!)

Just hit the tilde key to turn chat OFF when in a menu. Then hit ALT-L,
hit the tilde key again to turn chat ON, and you will see the latency.
This sequence is important.

--Dave





> >>4)see latency without going on to pit lane.

> >   You can now.  Just hit Alt-L while driving.

> I mean when not even on the track. You see, I don't like going on to
> the track when practice is over (I don't like getting yelled at), but
> often we sit there for up to 5 minutes waiting for the race to start-
> that is almost always when I've got the time and inclination to check.

> Not a big issue; just one of the dozen or so random ones I was trying
> to think of.

> >"But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was
> >nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into
> >a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark

--
Dave Schwabe

The Aussie Toad -- Grand Prix Legends & Brabham site
http://users.wi.net/~schwabe
Randy Cassid

VROC Disappointments

by Randy Cassid » Sat, 20 Feb 1999 04:00:00



Close the chat pad, hit ALT-L, then open the chat pad back up.  More
often than not, this will work.  However, there is a bug in GPL 1.0
that can sometimes leave the "show latency" control deactivated when
you get out of the car (this same bug can also sometimes leave your
driving controls deactivated when you try to get _into_ your car).
This bug is more likely to happen if you leave the chat pad open when
you hit the green button to get into your car.  The bug is fixed in the
upcoming GPL 1.1 patch.

Randy

Jack

VROC Disappointments

by Jack » Sat, 20 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Oooohhhhh....

It has a definite version number now! And it's a full tenth! Sounds pretty
significant and just around the corner!

Any comment, Randy? Please?!? Don't make us beg.

Michael E. Carve

VROC Disappointments

by Michael E. Carve » Sat, 20 Feb 1999 04:00:00




% >
% >>4)see latency without going on to pit lane.
% >
% >   You can now.  Just hit Alt-L while driving.

% I mean when not even on the track. You see, I don't like going on to
% the track when practice is over (I don't like getting yelled at), but
% often we sit there for up to 5 minutes waiting for the race to start-
% that is almost always when I've got the time and inclination to check.

% Not a big issue; just one of the dozen or so random ones I was trying
% to think of.

If you close the chat window and press ALT-L and then re-open the chat
window you can see the latency report.  This works as well before you
even enter the "track" (i.e., sitting at the screen with the race
program cover -- as long as the green flag is showing in the lower right
hand corner).

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


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