rec.autos.simulators

> After playing the demo I dismissed this game immediately as arcade crap.  I
> was right, the demo was horrible.  Average graphics, poor physics and poor
> steering control.  Well, I just bought the game bc Magruder at Digital
> Sports and Moore at SGN both liked it.  I respect their opinions very much
> and knew the full release must have been greatly improved for both of these
> guys to like this game.  Well after a few dozen laps I too repent, I like
> OF1R!  (Too bad Eidos released such a horrendous demo, I would have never
> considered this game without reading the aforementioned reviews so they got
> lucky.)

> Here's my second opinion.  What OF1R lacks in pure simulation it more than
> makes up for in fun and atmosphere.  It truly captures what I think F1
> racing must be like.  Excellent sensation of speed.  VERY forgiving physics
> model, but still PHYSICS nonetheless.  Using one of the truly innovative
> dynamic view cams (I prefer 2 which causes the camera to tilt as you corner
> or accelerate/brake) I really got the sensation of inertia since my view was
> effected by G forces in ALL 6 directions.  This was very impressive and
> makes the feel much closer to a sim than I first thought.  Now this is
> clearly not a sim but a "sim lite".  It is not pure arcade because it has
> physics and still requires fundamental driving technique.  However, the
> physics is so relaxed you can push very hard before you are punished.  One
> problem, some forces like the curbing (which cause your car to tilt about 30
> degrees) were poorly done.  This is no GPL (my farovite game) but still a
> lot of fun in its own way.  OF1R is a welcome break from GPL which at times
> is a lot of work for a game ;-).   Still, GPL is still safe in its' throne
> as racing sim King (other than Papy outdoing itself, will anyone attempt to
> top GPL?).

> Comparing apples to apples, OF1R is much better done than F1RS for my money.
> I consider F1RS, and Ubisoft, greatly overrated.  While F1RS has less
> FORGIVING physics I don't think its' physics MODEL is any more sophisticated
> or impressive than OF1R.  The spins are just as canned.   Neither game is
> that difficult to drive.  To me, OF1R feels right and is FAR more immersive.
> OF1R also has no major bugs, is easy to run with a full field of cars, has
> GREAT sounds, and is very immersive.  Oh, and there's no annoying lens flare
> (what a great use of cpu resources Ubi)  ;-).  I must confess, I am a
> Ubisoft basher bc they sell patches (MGP2) as new games, have never
> responded to my support questions, and generally sell products I find
> unpolished or incomplete (F1RS and Speedbusters, too many criticisms to get
> into here).  My only major complaint about OF1R is that it has so many well
> done features, why did they stop short of making this a true sim?

> In conlusion of this long winded analysis, I urge those of you yearning for
> a fun modern F1 game to give the full release of OF1R a shot, it's my
> favorite modern F1 game and is light years better than that atrocious demo.

> BTW-anyone get this to work with a LWFF USB?  I just don't think the
> controller menu will display non-gameport devices.

> --
> Joe Marques

> Funny you should write what you did.  I ordered the game before playing
the demo
> on the advice of the digital sports review.  Shortly after placing my
order, I
> downloaded the demo and hated it.  I tried to cancel my order, but it was
too
> late.  When the game I arrived I cracked it open and took on a few
circuits.
> Sure it's not the most realistic game, but it does capture the essence of
the
> sport.  I have more fun playing this game than any of the other racing
sims I
> own (TOCA2, SCGT, F1RS, and NSIII).  It's also made me a better driver in
SCGT,
> but I still haven't figured that one out yet.

> Glad you're enjoying the game.

> > After playing the demo I dismissed this game immediately as arcade crap.
I
> > was right, the demo was horrible.  Average graphics, poor physics and
poor
> > steering control.  Well, I just bought the game bc Magruder at Digital
> > Sports and Moore at SGN both liked it.  I respect their opinions very
much
> > and knew the full release must have been greatly improved for both of
these
> > guys to like this game.  Well after a few dozen laps I too repent, I
like
> > OF1R!  (Too bad Eidos released such a horrendous demo, I would have
never
> > considered this game without reading the aforementioned reviews so they
got
> > lucky.)

> > Here's my second opinion.  What OF1R lacks in pure simulation it more
than
> > makes up for in fun and atmosphere.  It truly captures what I think F1
> > racing must be like.  Excellent sensation of speed.  VERY forgiving
physics
> > model, but still PHYSICS nonetheless.  Using one of the truly innovative
> > dynamic view cams (I prefer 2 which causes the camera to tilt as you
corner
> > or accelerate/brake) I really got the sensation of inertia since my view
was
> > effected by G forces in ALL 6 directions.  This was very impressive and
> > makes the feel much closer to a sim than I first thought.  Now this is
> > clearly not a sim but a "sim lite".  It is not pure arcade because it
has
> > physics and still requires fundamental driving technique.  However, the
> > physics is so relaxed you can push very hard before you are punished.
One
> > problem, some forces like the curbing (which cause your car to tilt
about 30
> > degrees) were poorly done.  This is no GPL (my farovite game) but still
a
> > lot of fun in its own way.  OF1R is a welcome break from GPL which at
times
> > is a lot of work for a game ;-).   Still, GPL is still safe in its'
throne
> > as racing sim King (other than Papy outdoing itself, will anyone attempt
to
> > top GPL?).

> > Comparing apples to apples, OF1R is much better done than F1RS for my
money.
> > I consider F1RS, and Ubisoft, greatly overrated.  While F1RS has less
> > FORGIVING physics I don't think its' physics MODEL is any more
sophisticated
> > or impressive than OF1R.  The spins are just as canned.   Neither game
is
> > that difficult to drive.  To me, OF1R feels right and is FAR more
immersive.
> > OF1R also has no major bugs, is easy to run with a full field of cars,
has
> > GREAT sounds, and is very immersive.  Oh, and there's no annoying lens
flare
> > (what a great use of cpu resources Ubi)  ;-).  I must confess, I am a
> > Ubisoft basher bc they sell patches (MGP2) as new games, have never
> > responded to my support questions, and generally sell products I find
> > unpolished or incomplete (F1RS and Speedbusters, too many criticisms to
get
> > into here).  My only major complaint about OF1R is that it has so many
well
> > done features, why did they stop short of making this a true sim?

> > In conlusion of this long winded analysis, I urge those of you yearning
for
> > a fun modern F1 game to give the full release of OF1R a shot, it's my
> > favorite modern F1 game and is light years better than that atrocious
demo.

> > BTW-anyone get this to work with a LWFF USB?  I just don't think the
> > controller menu will display non-gameport devices.

> > --
> > Joe Marques

>Guys,
>It does have a good astmosphere, but any enjoyment is very short lived as it
>represents no challenge at all. It is easy to win races from the back of the
>grid, and the timings are plain silly!
>Iain


>> Funny you should write what you did.  I ordered the game before playing
>the demo
>> on the advice of the digital sports review.  Shortly after placing my
>order, I
>> downloaded the demo and hated it.  I tried to cancel my order, but it was
>too
>> late.  When the game I arrived I cracked it open and took on a few
>circuits.
>> Sure it's not the most realistic game, but it does capture the essence of
>the
>> sport.  I have more fun playing this game than any of the other racing
>sims I
>> own (TOCA2, SCGT, F1RS, and NSIII).  It's also made me a better driver in
>SCGT,
>> but I still haven't figured that one out yet.

>> Glad you're enjoying the game.

>> > After playing the demo I dismissed this game immediately as arcade crap.
>I
>> > was right, the demo was horrible.  Average graphics, poor physics and
>poor
>> > steering control.  Well, I just bought the game bc Magruder at Digital
>> > Sports and Moore at SGN both liked it.  I respect their opinions very
>much
>> > and knew the full release must have been greatly improved for both of
>these
>> > guys to like this game.  Well after a few dozen laps I too repent, I
>like
>> > OF1R!  (Too bad Eidos released such a horrendous demo, I would have
>never
>> > considered this game without reading the aforementioned reviews so they
>got
>> > lucky.)

>> > Here's my second opinion.  What OF1R lacks in pure simulation it more
>than
>> > makes up for in fun and atmosphere.  It truly captures what I think F1
>> > racing must be like.  Excellent sensation of speed.  VERY forgiving
>physics
>> > model, but still PHYSICS nonetheless.  Using one of the truly innovative
>> > dynamic view cams (I prefer 2 which causes the camera to tilt as you
>corner
>> > or accelerate/brake) I really got the sensation of inertia since my view
>was
>> > effected by G forces in ALL 6 directions.  This was very impressive and
>> > makes the feel much closer to a sim than I first thought.  Now this is
>> > clearly not a sim but a "sim lite".  It is not pure arcade because it
>has
>> > physics and still requires fundamental driving technique.  However, the
>> > physics is so relaxed you can push very hard before you are punished.
>One
>> > problem, some forces like the curbing (which cause your car to tilt
>about 30
>> > degrees) were poorly done.  This is no GPL (my farovite game) but still
>a
>> > lot of fun in its own way.  OF1R is a welcome break from GPL which at
>times
>> > is a lot of work for a game ;-).   Still, GPL is still safe in its'
>throne
>> > as racing sim King (other than Papy outdoing itself, will anyone attempt
>to
>> > top GPL?).

>> > Comparing apples to apples, OF1R is much better done than F1RS for my
>money.
>> > I consider F1RS, and Ubisoft, greatly overrated.  While F1RS has less
>> > FORGIVING physics I don't think its' physics MODEL is any more
>sophisticated
>> > or impressive than OF1R.  The spins are just as canned.   Neither game
>is
>> > that difficult to drive.  To me, OF1R feels right and is FAR more
>immersive.
>> > OF1R also has no major bugs, is easy to run with a full field of cars,
>has
>> > GREAT sounds, and is very immersive.  Oh, and there's no annoying lens
>flare
>> > (what a great use of cpu resources Ubi)  ;-).  I must confess, I am a
>> > Ubisoft basher bc they sell patches (MGP2) as new games, have never
>> > responded to my support questions, and generally sell products I find
>> > unpolished or incomplete (F1RS and Speedbusters, too many criticisms to
>get
>> > into here).  My only major complaint about OF1R is that it has so many
>well
>> > done features, why did they stop short of making this a true sim?

>> > In conlusion of this long winded analysis, I urge those of you yearning
>for
>> > a fun modern F1 game to give the full release of OF1R a shot, it's my
>> > favorite modern F1 game and is light years better than that atrocious
>demo.

>> > BTW-anyone get this to work with a LWFF USB?  I just don't think the
>> > controller menu will display non-gameport devices.

>> > --
>> > Joe Marques

>>The graphics in OF1R are better than in GPL

>What the hell?  You must be running GPL is software mode or something, cause
>OF1R looks like a cartoon compared to GPL with 3dfx in use!

>Dan Belcher
>Team Racing Unlimited

> Did you get the patch that updated the AI?  Also, did you race all the
> tracks?  Australia is indeed very easy to win.  I didn't find this to
> be the case in Monaco!

> Randy

> >Guys,
> >It does have a good astmosphere, but any enjoyment is very short lived as
it
> >represents no challenge at all. It is easy to win races from the back of
the
> >grid, and the timings are plain silly!
> >Iain


> >> Funny you should write what you did.  I ordered the game before playing
> >the demo
> >> on the advice of the digital sports review.  Shortly after placing my
> >order, I
> >> downloaded the demo and hated it.  I tried to cancel my order, but it
was
> >too
> >> late.  When the game I arrived I cracked it open and took on a few
> >circuits.
> >> Sure it's not the most realistic game, but it does capture the essence
of
> >the
> >> sport.  I have more fun playing this game than any of the other racing
> >sims I
> >> own (TOCA2, SCGT, F1RS, and NSIII).  It's also made me a better driver
in
> >SCGT,
> >> but I still haven't figured that one out yet.

> >> Glad you're enjoying the game.

> >> > After playing the demo I dismissed this game immediately as arcade
crap.
> >I
> >> > was right, the demo was horrible.  Average graphics, poor physics and
> >poor
> >> > steering control.  Well, I just bought the game bc Magruder at
Digital
> >> > Sports and Moore at SGN both liked it.  I respect their opinions very
> >much
> >> > and knew the full release must have been greatly improved for both of
> >these
> >> > guys to like this game.  Well after a few dozen laps I too repent, I
> >like
> >> > OF1R!  (Too bad Eidos released such a horrendous demo, I would have
> >never
> >> > considered this game without reading the aforementioned reviews so
they
> >got
> >> > lucky.)

> >> > Here's my second opinion.  What OF1R lacks in pure simulation it more
> >than
> >> > makes up for in fun and atmosphere.  It truly captures what I think
F1
> >> > racing must be like.  Excellent sensation of speed.  VERY forgiving
> >physics
> >> > model, but still PHYSICS nonetheless.  Using one of the truly
innovative
> >> > dynamic view cams (I prefer 2 which causes the camera to tilt as you
> >corner
> >> > or accelerate/brake) I really got the sensation of inertia since my
view
> >was
> >> > effected by G forces in ALL 6 directions.  This was very impressive
and
> >> > makes the feel much closer to a sim than I first thought.  Now this
is
> >> > clearly not a sim but a "sim lite".  It is not pure arcade because it
> >has
> >> > physics and still requires fundamental driving technique.  However,
the
> >> > physics is so relaxed you can push very hard before you are punished.
> >One
> >> > problem, some forces like the curbing (which cause your car to tilt
> >about 30
> >> > degrees) were poorly done.  This is no GPL (my farovite game) but
still
> >a
> >> > lot of fun in its own way.  OF1R is a welcome break from GPL which at
> >times
> >> > is a lot of work for a game ;-).   Still, GPL is still safe in its'
> >throne
> >> > as racing sim King (other than Papy outdoing itself, will anyone
attempt
> >to
> >> > top GPL?).

> >> > Comparing apples to apples, OF1R is much better done than F1RS for my
> >money.
> >> > I consider F1RS, and Ubisoft, greatly overrated.  While F1RS has less
> >> > FORGIVING physics I don't think its' physics MODEL is any more
> >sophisticated
> >> > or impressive than OF1R.  The spins are just as canned.   Neither
game
> >is
> >> > that difficult to drive.  To me, OF1R feels right and is FAR more
> >immersive.
> >> > OF1R also has no major bugs, is easy to run with a full field of
cars,
> >has
> >> > GREAT sounds, and is very immersive.  Oh, and there's no annoying
lens
> >flare
> >> > (what a great use of cpu resources Ubi)  ;-).  I must confess, I am a
> >> > Ubisoft basher bc they sell patches (MGP2) as new games, have never
> >> > responded to my support questions, and generally sell products I find
> >> > unpolished or incomplete (F1RS and Speedbusters, too many criticisms
to
> >get
> >> > into here).  My only major complaint about OF1R is that it has so
many
> >well
> >> > done features, why did they stop short of making this a true sim?

> >> > In conlusion of this long winded analysis, I urge those of you
yearning
> >for
> >> > a fun modern F1 game to give the full release of OF1R a shot, it's my
> >> > favorite modern F1 game and is light years better than that atrocious
> >demo.

> >> > BTW-anyone get this to work with a LWFF USB?  I just don't think the
> >> > controller menu will display non-gameport devices.

> >> > --
> >> > Joe Marques

> Randy Magruder
> http://members.home.com/rmagruder

> >Joe Marques wrote
> >> I just bought the game bc Magruder at Digital
> >>Sports and Moore at SGN both liked it.

> >And now you like it because they liked it? OF1R combines GPL quality
> >graphics with NFS quality physics. Not a winning combination to say the
> >least.

> The graphics in OF1R are better than in GPL, and the physics are
> different.  Not necessarily better or worse, but different, because
> the cars are so different.  I don't know whether you've played the
> full retail version or not, but I spent a LOT of time dealing with
> these issues in my review, AND I made it clear that *** realism
> fans would probably want to pass.  I do like the game and feel it
> offers more of a feeling of being in an  F1 race than does its
> competition, even with the easier physics.  It just means you can push
> the car that much harder, but when you go off, you go off, and the
> results are similar in both the Ubisoft titles and OF1R.  But then,
> everyone has their own opinion.  Yours is no less valid than mine, but
> I do hope that you are saying what you are saying because you gave the
> retail version a fair shot and are not just making assumptions.

> Randy
> Randy Magruder
> http://www.racesimcentral.net/

>>VERY forgiving physics model

>Well by this sentence alone you might have well said it was an arcade game
>to be honest..... F1 cars ain't forgiving in the least...Ask Micky
>Schumacher:-)

> No, I'm running a Voodoo3 3000 and I stand by my assessment.  The only
> reason that GPL looks less "cartoonish" is because Papyrus uses a very
> bland palette.  Things look old fashioned and plain because they
> captured the late 60's, not the 90's.  In terms of the in-car view
> with the wheel and the wheels in front and 3D***pit I give the edge
> to GPL, but when it comes to the colorful scenery, curbs, and many
> other things, OF1R is better.  Of course, GPL has better dust and
> smoke, for sure.

> Randy

> >>The graphics in OF1R are better than in GPL

> >What the hell?  You must be running GPL is software mode or something,
cause
> >OF1R looks like a cartoon compared to GPL with 3dfx in use!

> >Dan Belcher
> >Team Racing Unlimited

> Randy Magruder
> http://www.racesimcentral.net/