rec.autos.simulators

I use both.  A wheel at home, and a stick on the road.  The sim experience
is the same with both for me (having a well-developed imagination helps),
and I certainly wouldn't have told Wolfgang Woeger a few years back that his
choice of a joystick meant that he didn't have a full understanding of sim
racing.

I can see I've waded into it here, so I'm just going to summarize my points
for clarity.  I simply wanted to say that LAN racing is not so impractical,
and a lot of fun.  I perhaps overenthusiastically stated my sense of wonder
about the notebook, but it really is just that.  I still can't believe what
Dell managed to pack into a 5lb box.  Anyway:

1. *If* you can set it up, a LAN game beats online for the quality of
connection and racing.  I never said it was easy, but with the notebook it's
not a problem, and since I anyway visit my friends and see them
face-to-face, this is a nice change and allows me to combine pleasure
(visit) with pleasure (simming).  I can also get out of my chair, walk over
and give my friend a good Nelson Piquet girly-kick if he pulls an Salazar on
me...

2. The hardware required to set up a network is cheap and a network is a
no-brainer to set up, something I didn't realize at first.  A lot of people
have two computers at home, and with a crossover cable you're in business
for some really fun LAN racing.

But you're right.  For 20 people, VROC is great.  Papyrus has rock-steady
multiplayer code and I applaud that.  In a perfect world, all sims would
work as well, but in the end, even a sim without internet multiplay is worth
buying for me.  A great driving model and good track accuracy makes it an
enjoyable hot-lapper as Gerry said.  Good AI means I can still have fun on
the road, or a quick race at odd hours on my own terms.

Stephen

"Richard S Beckett" <

I'll have to practice a lot, to get the feel of driving a kart with a fixed
rear axle, and no gears. When I buy a new sim, then I need to practice, to
get used to the feel of that particular sim. What's the difference?

R.
  then don't mess with the standard Kart, go for the Shifter carts, and
...with your Buttinski mere inches from the asphalt, I think 80mph (or
higher with the Shifters,) would seem dang fast.
dave henrie

With the internet you can do it every night. I raced in a league for two
and a half years with just a 28.8k connection. I also did some LAN
events over the same period. But when I look at the replays from over
the years, how much better are the LAN ones? Answer: not much better,
just fewer!

Gerry