rec.autos.simulators

  Well,....Kurt,,,,,since the focus of GPL is formula One from the late
60's, you "could" practice the tracks, but do you really race at the
Nurburgring?  Or Spa?  The program needs a focus otherwise they would call
it the universal driving simulator which would probably be as sucessful as
the universal military simulator(it died a quick and unlamented death)  If
you want something that can input real world vehicles(first of all where
would you get the data...after all I know for a fact my NEON can whup the
pants off any garden variety Trans Am Mustang package...???  See what I
mean?  What you are asking for is in no way part of the scope of a "Formula
One Grand Prix Racing Sim."
later!
dave henrie

I got annoyed with Sierra's site, so I'm posting this here,

As I was playing GPL, I got an idea I don't think any other car sim has.
How about this.

Since GPL models certain cars, it must not be too hard to have a screen
which allows entering constants of ANY car.  I don't mean change the
racecars already in the game, I mean to allow us to input variable from any
car of our choosing.  This would be real cool, especially for those of us
who do race.  It would allow us to practice driving our own cars, be they
front or mid-engine, street car, race car, or whatever.

Imagine how useful it could be to input constants from your own actual
racecar then "practice" a track before ever actually driving it.  Wouldn't
it also be fun to input constants for something like a Land Cruiser and see
how good a time you could get.

What do you think.

--
Thanks,

There *is* a program that will allow you to do this....to a certain
extent.
If you want real-world data, both in and out, then that is what you'll
get.
However, you WON'T get the graphics or the gameplay.

Now....isn't that what a *** simulation is all about, hmmmmm?

The data to be entered does not have to be extremely detailed, because it
would be impossible to obtain data. However, with some simple parameters,
together with the setup options already in the game, it should be possible
to have an aproximate idea of the car`s behaviour.
I would suggest:

Front wheels weight
Rear wheels weight
Height of C.G.
Wheelbase
Trackwidth, front and rear
Drag, rolling and aerodynamic

Even with only these parameters, it would be nice to see how the cars
behave.

As for the arguments posted against the idea, I don`t think they really
hold.

The simulation of most modern race cars would be impossible, because there
is no way to enter the effects of artificially induced aerodynamic loads
that most modern cars use, with ailerons, spoilers, and huge wings. So,
Indycars, F1 and even GTP/Sport-Prototypes could not be modelled!

As far as putting PAPYRUS out of business, I think that one must have been a
joke!:))

First, there`s much more that makes up a racing sim than the physics model
alone, however important it undoubtedly is. The tracks alone would amply
justify buying Indycar 3, NASCAR 3 or whatever else PAPYRUS puts out! Then
there`s AI, which must be different in each type of race class. Graphics and
processor power will also grow in the next 12 to 18 months, so that would be
another reason. Furthermore, we would not get the graphics of the cars to go
with the parameters entered, so it would just give an idea of their
behaviour, and nothing else.

Second, this could be a test-only feature, or just not allowed in
Championship races: the "specially-built" cars could only be used in track
tests, or single races.

Third, PAPYRUS could limit the range of the parameters, so that only
single-seaters of the 50`s and 60`s could be modelled. We could try our
hands at the 1500cc F1 cars of the 50`s, or Formula Juniors, or the Coopers
and Vanwalls that preceded the era depicted in GPL. This would take care of
the "focus" issue which, IMHO, is the only one that has anything in it.

Finally, I fully respect the opinion of those who disagree, but they don`t
have to use this feature if they don`t like it. I don`t think it would hurt
PAPYRUS to include this, and it would further enhance the appeal of what is
already a ground-breaking game: another world-first, in the new reference
racing simulator!

Again, I apologise for any mistakes: English is not my native language.