rec.autos.simulators

>RC2000 isn't the only sim/game to make this mistake, but it's the
>most recent.  The issue is steering sensitivity.

>Consider this:

>The average PC steering wheel controller has a maximum angular
>deflection from side-to-side of about 270 degrees.  For comparison,
>my Pontiac Grand Am steering system has an angular deflection of
>about 780 degrees.

>Now imagine that the Pontiac were to be accurately modeled in a
>sim.  If the sim was controlled with a PC steering wheel, the vehicle
>response to equal steering inputs at the wheel would be roughly
>three times greater.

>In case my point needs to be spelled out for some people, This Is
>Not Good.  It's made even worse by the fact that we don't have
>instant feedback through our shorts about how the car is
>responding to minute movements of the steering wheel.

>The time tested method for dealing with this discrepancy between
>PC wheels and real-life steering systems is the linear/non-linear
>steering slider.  Learn it, know it, live it.

>Why Do Sims Get Released Without Proper Steering Setup
>Adjustments?

>How can RC2000 have shipped without a non-linear steering
>option?  It was painfully obvious the first time I sat down with it
>that the steering was too sensitive.  Don't try to argue realism,
>the point has already been made about the lack of PC wheel
>angular resolution.

>Is it possible that the developers of sims, and I'm including TRI
>and CARTPR here, mistakenly think that the Dead Zone
>adjustment is all that's needed?  How is having a dead zone
>in the steering realistic?  In the age of USB controllers and
>PDPI cards, a dead zone adjustment is not needed in
>anything purporting to be a sim.

>IMO, AMA Superbike has the best steering configuration
>options available, hands down.  GP2 is second best.
>Papyrus does OK in GPL, but the Nascar/ICR sims are
>weak in this area.  Viper and SCGT are passable, if I
>remember correctly.

>DTR is difficult to figure out.  They don't have a linear adjustment
>for steering, yet the steering works well.  I think they must have
>hard-coded some level of non-linear steering into the sim.  If
>anyone knows for sure, please share.

>My point to all this is that, it is unfathomable to me that something
>so basic to creating a good sim as steering setup configurability
>could be left out.

>I hope this oversight will be corrected in RC2000, and that everyone
>else who may be working on a sim will keep this issue in mind!

>--
>Pat Dotson

>I can't remember the name offhand but I've downloaded a utility that allows
>you to
>adjust the deadzone and linearity of joystick/wheel inputs.  It
>runs in the background and can be setup anyway you like using
>draggable curves for adjustment.  Not as good as having it in a game
>itself, but the next best thing.

>John

> I can't remember the name offhand but I've downloaded a utility that allows
> you to
> adjust the deadzone and linearity of joystick/wheel inputs.  It
> runs in the background and can be setup anyway you like using
> draggable curves for adjustment.  Not as good as having it in a game
> itself, but the next best thing.

> John

> --
> John Hartridge

> Best system I've seen so far is actually in a flight sim.  Jane's F-
15 has
> something that looks like a graphic equaliser.  About 10 sliders, each
> representing a portion of your joystick's range.  Lets you control how
> sensitive the joystick is at any particular position.  I'd love to see
> something like that in a racing sim.  Easy to implement too, I
imagine.  You
> could have a separate set of sliders for steering, brake, throttle,
clutch,
> etc.

> -A

> >RC2000 isn't the only sim/game to make this mistake, but it's the
> >most recent.  The issue is steering sensitivity.

> >Consider this:

> >The average PC steering wheel controller has a maximum angular
> >deflection from side-to-side of about 270 degrees.  For comparison,
> >my Pontiac Grand Am steering system has an angular deflection of
> >about 780 degrees.

> >Now imagine that the Pontiac were to be accurately modeled in a
> >sim.  If the sim was controlled with a PC steering wheel, the vehicle
> >response to equal steering inputs at the wheel would be roughly
> >three times greater.

> >In case my point needs to be spelled out for some people, This Is
> >Not Good.  It's made even worse by the fact that we don't have
> >instant feedback through our shorts about how the car is
> >responding to minute movements of the steering wheel.

> >The time tested method for dealing with this discrepancy between
> >PC wheels and real-life steering systems is the linear/non-linear
> >steering slider.  Learn it, know it, live it.

> >Why Do Sims Get Released Without Proper Steering Setup
> >Adjustments?

> >How can RC2000 have shipped without a non-linear steering
> >option?  It was painfully obvious the first time I sat down with it
> >that the steering was too sensitive.  Don't try to argue realism,
> >the point has already been made about the lack of PC wheel
> >angular resolution.

> >Is it possible that the developers of sims, and I'm including TRI
> >and CARTPR here, mistakenly think that the Dead Zone
> >adjustment is all that's needed?  How is having a dead zone
> >in the steering realistic?  In the age of USB controllers and
> >PDPI cards, a dead zone adjustment is not needed in
> >anything purporting to be a sim.

> >IMO, AMA Superbike has the best steering configuration
> >options available, hands down.  GP2 is second best.
> >Papyrus does OK in GPL, but the Nascar/ICR sims are
> >weak in this area.  Viper and SCGT are passable, if I
> >remember correctly.

> >DTR is difficult to figure out.  They don't have a linear adjustment
> >for steering, yet the steering works well.  I think they must have
> >hard-coded some level of non-linear steering into the sim.  If
> >anyone knows for sure, please share.

> >My point to all this is that, it is unfathomable to me that something
> >so basic to creating a good sim as steering setup configurability
> >could be left out.

> >I hope this oversight will be corrected in RC2000, and that everyone
> >else who may be working on a sim will keep this issue in mind!

> >--
> >Pat Dotson

>Best system I've seen so far is actually in a flight sim.  Jane's F-15 has
>something that looks like a graphic equaliser.  About 10 sliders, each
>representing a portion of your joystick's range.  Lets you control how
>sensitive the joystick is at any particular position.  I'd love to see
>something like that in a racing sim.  Easy to implement too, I imagine.
You
>could have a separate set of sliders for steering, brake, throttle, clutch,
>etc.

>-A

>>RC2000 isn't the only sim/game to make this mistake, but it's the
>>most recent.  The issue is steering sensitivity.

>>Consider this:

>>IMO, AMA Superbike has the best steering configuration
>>options available, hands down.  GP2 is second best.
>--
>>Pat Dotson

>On Mon, 6 Dec 1999 10:29:49 -0000, "John Hartridge"

>>I can't remember the name offhand but I've downloaded a utility that
allows
>>you to
>>adjust the deadzone and linearity of joystick/wheel inputs.  It
>>runs in the background and can be setup anyway you like using
>>draggable curves for adjustment.  Not as good as having it in a game
>>itself, but the next best thing.

>>John

>Here you go..

>http://home.att.net/~stickworks/ctfjv320.zip

>CTFJV320.ZIP contains version 3.20 of the CTFJ Joystick Utility
>for W95 and W98. CTFJ features improved scaling and deadzone
>routines and expanded scaling methods over those provided with
>Windows as well as providing Gain and Range adjustments that
>allow you tailor your joystick reponse for optimum results with
>any game or simulation.

><snip>
>> The average PC steering wheel controller has a maximum angular
>> deflection from side-to-side of about 270 degrees.  For comparison,
>> my Pontiac Grand Am steering system has an angular deflection of
>> about 780 degrees.

>Pat, that doesn't equate to a rally scenario, since the steering in any
>rally car (or F1/2/3, CART, etc.) is much quicker than what we get in
>street versions.

>>I can't remember the name offhand but I've downloaded a utility that
allows
>>adjust the deadzone and linearity of joystick/wheel inputs.  It

>Here you go..
>http://home.att.net/~stickworks/ctfjv320.zip

> OK, here is a great way to make the steering in
> RC2000 less sensitive.  Download CTFJV from
> the following link:

> >>I can't remember the name offhand but I've downloaded a utility that
> allows
> >>adjust the deadzone and linearity of joystick/wheel inputs.  It

> >Here you go..
> >http://home.att.net/~stickworks/ctfjv320.zip

> CTFJV gives five different settings for applying non-linear movement
> to a joystick axis.  I used it with my ACT Labs Force RS wheel
> connected to a USB port.  So, apparently, this program will work
> with practically any wheel.

> After installing CTFJV, I settled on adding two clicks on the linear
> adjustment (out of a maximum of five).

> RC2000 is a piece of cake to drive with slightly less sensitive
> steering.  How this adjustment got left out of the game I'll never know.
> My stage times improved by more than 30 seconds right off the bat.
> I can keep the car on the gravel roads at 110 mph (or is that KmH?),
> and flick the car right around any turn.

> If you think RC2000 steering is too sensitive, try CTFJV.

> My impression f RC2000, by the way, is that it's pretty good.
> But, it's not a GPL killer.  It's not even close.  It's as good as
> just about anything else right now, though.

> --
> Pat Dotson