To save processor usage (and it's not really needed anyhow).. just imagine
if the entire screen had to be rendered.. the top of the screen would be
blue (sky).. whilst the bottom of the screen would be car, and/or track
(bigger car, perhaps?= more processor requirements). Is it really so bad not
having them there. Also, ever watched "Grand Prix", the movie?.. It was
originally done in letter-box format, and looks a LOT better in this mode.
Do you really think that letterbox mode is THAT bad??.. trust me, you're not
missing anything!
No..not really. A race weekend can only be saved after/during a practice
session. Once the green flag drops, you are committed to the race. Again,
Papyrus did not choose to give us the option for a few reasons (some of us
may disagree with them!) - For one, it is not realistic. Second, I believe
it would be VERY difficult for the computer to be able to take into account
all the data for a possible field of 20 cars: exact position on the track,
body position (suspension settings, lean, tire temps,etc) speed (accelating,
deceleating, tires locked, slipping?) etc., etc. It could be done, but just
think of how tough on your system GPL is anyhow, without having to set aside
resources for the constant tracking of all of this data in order for it to
be saved at any given point in time. Also, there are concerns about someone
"cheating" by saving a race, then a few laps later crashing, only to resume
where they last saved a game..
Try the Eagle Woman's GPL FAQ site at
http://www.nh.ultranet.com/~alison/gpl/main.htm,
Mark Reynold's "MotorSports Mania, at:
www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Track/6704
Dave Mansell's "Skunk Racing", at: www.fan.net.au/~mansell/gpl/gpl.htm
Papyrus believed that there ISN'T a Force-feedback wheel available today
that could provide the "realism" that they were looking for. Sure, the wheel
will shake in your hand if you go on the grass, but it is the same if you go
in gravel, on concrete, on the curbs, etc. I'm really not sure, as I've
never tried one, but that's their story anyhow! (and I tend to believe it,
somewhat).. today's ff wheels just aren't capable of the "real" feel of a
race car's steering wheel. Would have been a nice touch, anyhow, though.
Say what? You've got me stumped there!
Hope that helps, Iain!!
doktorB
http://webhome.idirect.com/~drbryan/gpl
For the GPL demo track files(Watkins Glen AND Monza), FAQs,demo help,
release date updates, and more! new:
* GPL System Performace Test *
** Poll-of-the-Week: What's makes GPL so great? **
*** "The Grandstand" - GPL Meeting Place for Chat & Online Races***
----------
To improve framerate, and give a wider angle perspective of the racing
environment. I've gotten used to it, and rather like it now.
Nope.
Yep, try http://nh.ultranet.com/~alison/gpl/
Pretty good explanation of this in David Kraemmer's introduction in the
manual. Papyrus is not going to model it until it can be done right.
Sorry, I don't know on this one.
Don Burnette
Dburn on Ten
As for SB liveeax support, no. No surround type sound, let's hope it comes
later.
% No..not really. A race weekend can only be saved after/during a practice
% session. Once the green flag drops, you are committed to the race. Again,
% Papyrus did not choose to give us the option for a few reasons (some of us
% may disagree with them!) - For one, it is not realistic. Second, I believe
% it would be VERY difficult for the computer to be able to take into account
% all the data for a possible field of 20 cars: exact position on the track,
% body position (suspension settings, lean, tire temps,etc) speed (accelating,
% deceleating, tires locked, slipping?) etc., etc. It could be done, but just
% think of how tough on your system GPL is anyhow, without having to set aside
% resources for the constant tracking of all of this data in order for it to
% be saved at any given point in time. Also, there are concerns about someone
% "cheating" by saving a race, then a few laps later crashing, only to resume
% where they last saved a game..
Here we go again with the "cheating" with a save race option. If I am
racing for my own pleasure who am I cheating? Besides, the AI have a
tendency to make VERY bad moves and actually cause crashes (which
unfortunately involves me) and thus ruins the "experience" of a full
race. This happened last night, I only had 22 laps left to finish a full
length race and a totally blind AI decided it was time to move back onto
the racing groove on the straight. Only problem was I was on the racing
groove! This has happened on more than one occasion. A save race
feature would have certainly helped me enjoy the "experience" much more
than having it ruined by a bad move from the AI.
If Papyrus was truly concerned by "cheating", it would be simple enough
to implement a "code" which would indicate whether a race had been saved
or not for those concerned with such off-line league racing.
The program doesn't need to keep track of anything (it already is). The
problem is how to save it to file and bring everything back to that
state. There were a few holes in the first save race patch for N2,
where some of the things wheren't brought back to that state (though
they fixed it with the next patch).
And what is this "realistic" argument? It doesn't hold true. There are
so many features in the game that are not "realistic". Let's see....
Pause (very unrealistic -- a real racer would wet his pants rather than
pause the race to use the nearest porta-pottie).
Retire from a race and then start it all over again without having to
run through the practice sessions again to qualify for the grid. Very
unrealistic.
Ability to "materialize" one's car from anywhere on the track to the
pits in the same state as it was on the track (cheating in my book, as
one is then able to read tire temps that would NEVER be available to the
mechanics in 1967). Really unrealistic.
And the list can go on....
Again, the only arguments that hold true are:
1) The Papyrus development team in their infinite wisdom and power
decided a save race feature was not worthy of their efforts or product.
-or-
2) The Papyrus development team decided that it would be impossible to
code a save race feature in time to get the product released. And
instead decided to devote the time it would have required to more
pressing issues.
The Papyrus team aren't talentless programmers and the ability to code a
race save feature are within their abilities.
--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>% No..not really. A race weekend can only be saved after/during a practice
>% session. Once the green flag drops, you are committed to the race. Again,
>% Papyrus did not choose to give us the option for a few reasons (some of
us
>% may disagree with them!) - For one, it is not realistic. Second, I
believe
>% it would be VERY difficult for the computer to be able to take into
account
>% all the data for a possible field of 20 cars: exact position on the
track,
>% body position (suspension settings, lean, tire temps,etc) speed
(accelating,
>% deceleating, tires locked, slipping?) etc., etc. It could be done, but
just
>% think of how tough on your system GPL is anyhow, without having to set
aside
>% resources for the constant tracking of all of this data in order for it
to
>% be saved at any given point in time. Also, there are concerns about
someone
>% "cheating" by saving a race, then a few laps later crashing, only to
resume
>% where they last saved a game..
>Here we go again with the "cheating" with a save race option. If I am
>racing for my own pleasure who am I cheating? Besides, the AI have a
>tendency to make VERY bad moves and actually cause crashes (which
>unfortunately involves me) and thus ruins the "experience" of a full
>race. This happened last night, I only had 22 laps left to finish a full
>length race and a totally blind AI decided it was time to move back onto
>the racing groove on the straight. Only problem was I was on the racing
>groove! This has happened on more than one occasion. A save race
>feature would have certainly helped me enjoy the "experience" much more
>than having it ruined by a bad move from the AI.
>If Papyrus was truly concerned by "cheating", it would be simple enough
>to implement a "code" which would indicate whether a race had been saved
>or not for those concerned with such off-line league racing.
>The program doesn't need to keep track of anything (it already is). The
>problem is how to save it to file and bring everything back to that
>state. There were a few holes in the first save race patch for N2,
>where some of the things wheren't brought back to that state (though
>they fixed it with the next patch).
>And what is this "realistic" argument? It doesn't hold true. There are
>so many features in the game that are not "realistic". Let's see....
>Pause (very unrealistic -- a real racer would wet his pants rather than
>pause the race to use the nearest porta-pottie).
>Retire from a race and then start it all over again without having to
>run through the practice sessions again to qualify for the grid. Very
>unrealistic.
>Ability to "materialize" one's car from anywhere on the track to the
>pits in the same state as it was on the track (cheating in my book, as
>one is then able to read tire temps that would NEVER be available to the
>mechanics in 1967). Really unrealistic.
>And the list can go on....
>Again, the only arguments that hold true are:
>1) The Papyrus development team in their infinite wisdom and power
>decided a save race feature was not worthy of their efforts or product.
>-or-
>2) The Papyrus development team decided that it would be impossible to
>code a save race feature in time to get the product released. And
>instead decided to devote the time it would have required to more
>pressing issues.
>The Papyrus team aren't talentless programmers and the ability to code a
>race save feature are within their abilities.
>--
>**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
> Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
