> Well, I have another name for this mode, but I won't get into it here.
> Things I see when running Arcade:
> 1-2 seconds a lap on me, with no letup. I am lapping in the 196-198 range,
> but the AI cars are lapping in the 200-202 range.
> 2. If I take the plate off, I am able to lap in the 222 range, and the AI
> leaders are in the 220-222 range. I can catch them, but by the time I get
> there, I am out of gas. Seems like I can only get 35 laps in while running
> without the restrictor. By the time I get out of the pits ( fuel / right
> only ), I am a lap down.
> Is this normal for Arcade mode? If so, why would someone want to put up
> with the frustration just to go fast, but loose so badly? I went through 3
> pitstops in this mode ( 100+ laps ), and I didn't see the leaders adjusting
> their speed to allow me to catch up. I thought they were supposed to try
> to keep the race " close " in arcade mode. They did slow a little once
> they lapped me though.......
> Thanks,
> Robert
R:
I'm not certain exactly how to answer since I have no clue what track your
talking about.
But in general. Arcade single player mode after a few laps the cpu drivers are
supposed to adjust to your skill level. Now before the patch I know this
worked. I can't recall what AI % were talking. Possibly as low as 85%.
Since the patch though the cpu players don't seem to be adjusting down to your
level in single player mode. Now before I state this as fact. I've been
feverishly setting up a network for ultimate playability in multiplayer arcade
mode.
I had to make heavy modifications in car setups, qualifying speeds and AI RELS
speeds, along with major modifications to the player info skill ratings.
So when I went back to staright single player quick race (not
multiplayer/single player arcade mode two different beasts) I could no longer
see the AI make an adjustment to my speeds. They just whipped on bye... Now is
this because of the heavy mods I made or not???
So to answer your question in general. Before the patch the AI adjusted after
say 2 laps to your skills. I was runnin I believe around 85-90% then. After
the patch and after mods I no longer see this adjustment.
Now to go further off your topic a bit. If you go into multiplayer and start
up an arcade game and only play single player you then get to test and qualify
something you can't do under quick race. At this time their is no cpu
adjustment during the race. If you want a good race you'll need to heavily
modify everything to have it tweeked just right.
Which leads to.....
I have done the later. If you play arcade multiplayer 1 driver or arcade
multiplayer OR IF YOU DON'T, I have a complete set of car setups, track
adjustments and skill adjustments that will knock the socks off many. Now
there are diehards around here that won't even give arcade a try but from the
feedback I've recieved from everybody who have used it so far it's been a
overwhelming absolute 100% hit. People are amazed at how much better Nascar 2
is after these mod's. These are people who thought Nascar 2 realistic mode was
awesome. Some comments are it's like a complete upgrade what Nascar 3 should
be like... ect.
Why is it good or why someone should give it a try?
Two things:
Car handling.
Even competitive AI field.
First the player driving skills have all been adjusted so the difference in
abilities is much more narrower than the stock settings. What we've found was
there was to much of a variation between the best and worst. What one would
normally do was set the AI where they can hang with the top of the pack. The
problem with this is you come up way to strong on the back and it was to
dangerous especially in a multiplayer enviroment. By making everybody more
even which I feel is MORE REALISITIC anyways, it makes all the cars much more
even from A to Z.
The next thing is to get a stable setup in Arcade mode. You'll have to adjust
your realistic settings a bit. It's actually easier as one would probably
assume to setup a car under arcade. Under arcade you get better grip (more
realistic IMO), better braking. You'll also get unrealistic lap speeds but if
one can put that asside it's no deal at all. You also get more sensation of
speed with the added horsepower. The nice thing here is you get the sensation
of speed along with better control. IMO a win-win. Also your car is more
stable to collisions so IMO an arcade NRO league would be nice!!!
After car setups are nailed down. You then have to adjust the RELS and BLAPS
for each track. Nascar Head-Quarters utility comes in nicely here. You'll need
to boost REL AI speed up so they can run with you. This takes quite a bit of
time to get just right. After that you'll notice that your always qualifying
first. You'll need to adjust the BLAP qualifying variable. What I aimed for
was to never do better than 5th so you get to at least race a few cars instead
of leading from start to finish, Boring!!! Mostly though you'll qualify 10-25
on a good lap. There is only like 2-3 mph seperating first to last. Under
stock N2 it's usually 5-6 mph. This is a direct result in tightning up the
pack.
Once you've completed the above you have a much more finley tuned racing
experience. Again 100% of the players so far have gave it a "no question
better than stock setting realistic mode". About 10 players in all, I've only
got to show people at my place so far.
Now I'm willing to post text files and/or actual files to somebodys web page
so others can try this out to see if this is more what they had in mind racing
Nascar 2. I personally feel this is what it shoulda been in the least to
attract outsiders to Nascar 2. The game is some much more forgiving and fun.
Since your just a wisker faster when running the right line then your all your
competition it makes the individual battles with each car much more
fullfilling. You'll be battling for laps with certain cars to take the
position side by side at tracks like Richmond ect...
Speaking of Richmond. The smaller tracks really get enhanced by this
adjustment. Richmond, Loudon, Pheonix, Martinsville ect. are all now very
controllable to an average racer. These tracks are all strong using 4th gear
throughout. The road courses win big here to!!
I'm really very straight up about this and think many would raise a brow on
how this game played. It's really a major gameplaying adjustment/enhancement
that took well over 20 hours to bring in just right.
Q.B.M.
