rec.autos.simulators

JSN, my suggestion is to either find someone with Speedvision, or find a
place that sells/rents video tapes of the BTCC (TOCA) races and watch one.
Then you will understand how I felt about the original TOCA. At first I
thought it was an arcade game, the way the AI drivers were acting. But after
watching my first video on the real races, WOW! They really DO act that way.
And some (Alain Menu??? <G>), seem to do it with a vengeance when he is
behind.

Best advice: PUSH BACK HARDER!  :)

GPL is easy (because I'm a good driver).  Toca2 on the other hand is
impossibly.  This isn't because a greater level of skill is required, but is
instead due to an unfair AI.  Doesn't matter if you qualify for pole 3+
seconds quicker than the opposition, at some circuits you will be taken out
in the first corner everytime.

After 20+ attempts at Croft, each time cheated of a clean start, and
sickened by watching 15 cars predictably pile past, I found the only option
open was to cut the first corners to retain any position.

Also, on another corner, if close enough the computer controlled cars
consistently and deliberately try and knock you off.  I'm not joking!  If
somehow you evade collision then they slide off by themselves.

TOCA2 has just been one fustrating experience and no joy.

Their aggro is much reduced than TOCA 1. I have no great difficulty with them
knocking me off  the track because they are too slow to catch me.

Croft's first corner is pretty damn *** IRL. Just be patient and not so
aggressive. No point do or dying in the first corner, is there?

Z.

Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

: GPL is easy (because I'm a good driver).  Toca2 on the other hand is
: impossibly.  This isn't because a greater level of skill is required, but is
: instead due to an unfair AI.  Doesn't matter if you qualify for pole 3+
: seconds quicker than the opposition, at some circuits you will be taken out
: in the first corner everytime.

  TOCA 2 is a racing sim not a driving sim - you have to learn to mix it
in traffic rather than just hoping that the other guys will swerve to
avoid you.  I don't think the AI is unfair - it's just pretty damn hard.
After a few weeks of practice I can mix it in traffic in TOCA 2 without
being punted off - you just need to know how the car will respond when
other cars "lean" on it round corners.  In some ways it's better in
TOCA2 to know how to race in traffic than how to do a really good
hot-lap.  It's also much more _fun_ to win from 10th having raced your
way through traffic and made use of a good pit stop - as opposed to
qualifying pole and reeling off 20 hot-laps.  Where's the fun in that?

--
Richard G. Clegg     Only the mind is waving
Dept. of Mathematics (Network Control group) Uni. of York.

www: http://manor.york.ac.uk/top.html

I usually start at the back of the grid and let the other cars fight it out
in the first corner :-) When things have settled down, I overtake them all
(and usually win the race, at expert level; not because I'm so good, but
because the AI is a bit week (if you have the good setup, that is). This is
the most enjoying way to play the most enjoying driving game available today
(IMHO). I like the rough AI: I'm just as rough to them :-) When I'm in the
mood, I'm the first to smash the others out of the very same first corner!

Anyway, about the starts: before the lights go green, give full throttle. As
soon as you're off, wiggle your input device (joystick, wheel) quickly left
and right. Change to 2nd gear quickly too. This way you won't spin as much
and you won't be overtaken anymore when you've got a pole position. Well,
maybe by 1 or 2 cars, but certainly not 10!

Have fun. Stick to it. It really is a great game when you get the hang of
it!!!

Jeroen van Engelenhoven

One way to gain traction at the start, is to go side to side
(slightly) through the first few gears. If done right, you should be
able to hold your own, even at Croft.
 I think it takes a little time for this sim to grow on you. I found
it frustrating at first and almost gave up, but now I can't leave it
alone. Im looking forward to the upcoming patch that increases the AI,
as its gotten to the point where its to easy.
 My only complaint is that I can't seem to find any online racing here
in North America, they all seem to be in the UK, and as much as I like
it, racing at 4 am just doesnt cut
reg

How long have you been playing? Do you ram the other cars?
They seem to learn and demand revenge. When I first started playing it I
just used to wham into the cars... which is great, until they get behind
you on a hairpin and think nothing of barreling into you.

If you take it steady and avoid the cars though, they don't seem so eager
to take you out. I'm just about to finish it on expert level with a fair
number of golds.

No, I can get pole and stay first through the first corner at Croft. It's
not impossible.

OTOH, I reckon it's one of the best games there is. Stick with it.

Chris
--
              Chris Appleton | Experience is that marvellous thing


 Coming soon - Pure Amiga II, the Revenge:  http://www.pureamiga.org

On Fri, 30 Apr 1999 20:36:26 +0100, Chris Appleton

Other people have posted this, but:
Hold revs on about half power for red. Floor it on green, and jiggle
your wheel a bit. Shift up /really/ soon. I've only had TOCA2 a couple
a days, but it does work.

--

SJKH,

Ipswich, UK
"I have several test post replies listed on e-bay.  Contact me if you are
interested." - Randy Smith.