rec.autos.simulators

> >Hi guys..

> >Ok, none of this sensationlist:  GPL rules, everything else sucks.  I
just
> >want honest opinions.

> >Is F1 2001 worth getting?  better than F1 2000 CS?

> >Personally, I liked all of them, and GP3, but I'm also love GPL  (have
been
> >since it came out), but I do get sick of hearing the GPL will never be
> >beaten crap.

> >Honest opinions need apply only...   ;0)))

> >James

> Here's my opinion and it may not be shared by others.
> But, you asked, right?

> I think F1-2001 is a piece of crap.

> I bought it, installed it and have spent a lot of time in an
> effort to make it run without tiny pauses every few seconds.

> My system is pretty much a dedicated *** system:

> It is a PIII-1000, GeForce 2 Ultra, 384mb, DX8,
> 12.41 Detonator drivers, SB Live. I use Win98SE.
> F1-2001 is installed on a clean partition with nothing else.
> I have a fixed length swapfile of 800mb on a separate
> drive. I use either a TSW wheel or an Act Labs Force RS.
> Both of my drives are fully defragmented. TONS of
> sims/games are installed and run flawlessly.

> I won't accept a game or sim that pauses like F1-2001.
> I have reduced the sim's detail/sound to minimum levels
> and reduced the resolution to 800x600. I use no FSAA.

> Same thing.

> A reinstallation of DX8, video (12.41) and audio drivers
> (downloaded from creaf.com 2 days ago) had no effect.

> I have haunted newsgroup/web boards and tried MANY
> things to prevent the irritating pauses.

> I will return it tomorrow and buy both F1-2001 and Sony's
> Formula One 2001 for my PS2. I will probably return one
> of them based on which is the more deserving of return.. :)

> All I can say in a positive way about F1-2001 for the PC is
> that Electronics Boutique is a great store. :)

> For those who have had good luck with it, good for you.
> For me it will be only a bad memory by mid-afternoon.

> ..next?

> > On Sun, 07 Oct 2001 22:53:03 GMT, "James Pickard"

> > >Hi guys..

> > >Ok, none of this sensationlist:  GPL rules, everything else sucks.  I
> just
> > >want honest opinions.

> > >Is F1 2001 worth getting?  better than F1 2000 CS?

> > >Personally, I liked all of them, and GP3, but I'm also love GPL
> (have been
> > >since it came out), but I do get sick of hearing the GPL will never
> be
> > >beaten crap.

> > >Honest opinions need apply only...   ;0)))

> > Ok, for a change here's my honest opinion :)

> > Quick first impressions were great. Before I installed it I allready
> > read about the problems with various drivers, and about the
> > run-it-in-a-window-or-use-fraps trick, so when I started it the game
> > run very smooth. In ever way it's an improvement over f1cs. Better
> > graphics, better fps, GREAT sound, AI seems to be very good (didn't
> > test it enough though), variable weather is very good, and I love how
> > bumpy the tracks are, fasten your seatbelts extra tight when you drive
> > on Brazil :)

> > Buuuuut there's one problem. The control of the car didn;t feel right
> > to me. I had problems with steering, way to much oversteer, so much
> > that I had to allmost before a corner before I could enter it.
> > In the corner itself I had to constantly adjust the steering to keep
> > the line. Braking also wasn't good, one time I braked perfectly before
> > a corner, on the next lap my brakes hardly seemed to function.
> > I spend a day on messing with my controller settings.. tried every
> > possible combination of sensitivity and deadzone settings, but to no
> > avail. The car remains ***to drive. I also tried settings from other
> > players who don't have these controller problems, but they also
> > didn;'t help. For now I gave up and deinstalled F1 2001, it's
> > completely unplayable for me at this time. Hope someone finds a
> > solution for this..

> > Oh, with a couple of guys from VROC we tried multiplayer.
> > We were with 5 or 6 players. We had a couple of problems.
> > It happened twice to me that I started at -exact- the same spot as
> > another player, once in the pitbox, once at the start of a race.
> > This resulted ofcourse in a major crash (of our cars, not the game).
> > But worse, and this happend a couple of times to several players:
> > First lap of the race - I was driving, nothing specaculair going on,
> > some cars far behind me and some cars in front of me, and suddenly the
> > cam switched to outside view, a moving tv-cam. I could still control
> > my car. After a couple of seconds, without warning I was back in the
> > chatroom. I can't think of any reason why this would happen, so I
> > think this is a major bug, especially since it happend a couple of
> > times.
> > Besides this, the driving was reasonable fine. The cars were all
> > warping quite a bit, but this could have been because of a bad
> > connection, allthough the host and most of the players were on a fast
> > cable connection.

> > So all in all, it seems that the basis of f1 2001 is a very good sim,
> > but as long as I can't get the controllers work correct I can't judge
> > it.. I never liked GP3, untill I got the controller setting correct,
> > and since then I love it. I hope the same will happen with f1 2001..

> > Andre

> > >James

>>Have you tried running the game in windowed mode???????

>John, Dave, Mike, and everyone who responded, I -finally-
>got F1-2001 to run without pauses. It required me to
>run in a window with my desktop set to the same res/depth
>as the game as several had suggested. I didn't try that
>before. It's pretty cool!

>I still will most likely buy the Sony and the EA F1 games
>for my PS2. As I get older, it feels better to settle back
>in my easy chair to play (anything).. hehe.

>F1-2001 PC seems to be -very- nice, and I thank each of you.

> > Just guessing here (since I don't freaking have it yet!) but maybe you
> > still have to do the trick like we did with F1CS2K, where you have to
> > manually set the dead zone to zero in the player file?

> > > On Sun, 07 Oct 2001 22:53:03 GMT, "James Pickard"

> > > >Hi guys..

> > > >Ok, none of this sensationlist:  GPL rules, everything else sucks.  I
> > just
> > > >want honest opinions.

> > > >Is F1 2001 worth getting?  better than F1 2000 CS?

> > > >Personally, I liked all of them, and GP3, but I'm also love GPL
> > (have been
> > > >since it came out), but I do get sick of hearing the GPL will never
> > be
> > > >beaten crap.

> > > >Honest opinions need apply only...   ;0)))

> > > Ok, for a change here's my honest opinion :)

> > > Quick first impressions were great. Before I installed it I allready
> > > read about the problems with various drivers, and about the
> > > run-it-in-a-window-or-use-fraps trick, so when I started it the game
> > > run very smooth. In ever way it's an improvement over f1cs. Better
> > > graphics, better fps, GREAT sound, AI seems to be very good (didn't
> > > test it enough though), variable weather is very good, and I love how
> > > bumpy the tracks are, fasten your seatbelts extra tight when you drive
> > > on Brazil :)

> > > Buuuuut there's one problem. The control of the car didn;t feel right
> > > to me. I had problems with steering, way to much oversteer, so much
> > > that I had to allmost before a corner before I could enter it.
> > > In the corner itself I had to constantly adjust the steering to keep
> > > the line. Braking also wasn't good, one time I braked perfectly before
> > > a corner, on the next lap my brakes hardly seemed to function.
> > > I spend a day on messing with my controller settings.. tried every
> > > possible combination of sensitivity and deadzone settings, but to no
> > > avail. The car remains ***to drive. I also tried settings from other
> > > players who don't have these controller problems, but they also
> > > didn;'t help. For now I gave up and deinstalled F1 2001, it's
> > > completely unplayable for me at this time. Hope someone finds a
> > > solution for this..

> > > Oh, with a couple of guys from VROC we tried multiplayer.
> > > We were with 5 or 6 players. We had a couple of problems.
> > > It happened twice to me that I started at -exact- the same spot as
> > > another player, once in the pitbox, once at the start of a race.
> > > This resulted ofcourse in a major crash (of our cars, not the game).
> > > But worse, and this happend a couple of times to several players:
> > > First lap of the race - I was driving, nothing specaculair going on,
> > > some cars far behind me and some cars in front of me, and suddenly the
> > > cam switched to outside view, a moving tv-cam. I could still control
> > > my car. After a couple of seconds, without warning I was back in the
> > > chatroom. I can't think of any reason why this would happen, so I
> > > think this is a major bug, especially since it happend a couple of
> > > times.
> > > Besides this, the driving was reasonable fine. The cars were all
> > > warping quite a bit, but this could have been because of a bad
> > > connection, allthough the host and most of the players were on a fast
> > > cable connection.

> > > So all in all, it seems that the basis of f1 2001 is a very good sim,
> > > but as long as I can't get the controllers work correct I can't judge
> > > it.. I never liked GP3, untill I got the controller setting correct,
> > > and since then I love it. I hope the same will happen with f1 2001..

> > > Andre

> > > >James

> I'll save you some time with the PS2 versions: EA wins across the board.
> Here's my comparison:

> Physics:

> EA: Feels the way I expect an F1 would except a bit grippy at times and
not
> enough feeling of inertia when lifting and "gliding" through chicanes.
The
> feel is one of tremendous power and speed with very tight control.  Easy
to
> drive but hard to drive extremely well.  Control is very direct and
smooth.
> FF is good, not GP3 and certainly not GPL but the best F1 after those.

> Sony: Feels very similar to EA.  Major difference for me is the actual
wheel
> control (using the Logitech Force GP).  The control isn't as direct or
> immediate in this one.

> EA wins here by transferring excellent physics to your hands via control
and
> decent force feedback.  I did my standard F1 physics test: cut the wheel
and
> pop into first gear.  This is the "celebration" dance where the car spins
in
> circles.  EA looked and behaved exactly as expected, spinning around the
> inside front tire.  Sony felt artificial, spinning slightly, moving
forward
> and STOPPING then spinning again.  This just didn't feel real.

> Graphics:

> EA: I can't believe how good this looks with 22 cars on the track!  GT3
are
> you listening?  Trade in some eye candy for more cars and damage.  Pure
> racing experience is far more important than the color of the sky at
sunset.
> Back to EA, the tracks aren't the most accurate but the graphics are
superb.
> Great textures, lighting effects, particle effects, etc.  Best F1 visuals
on
> a console by far.

> Sony:  Looks dated but certainly still very nice.  Little too much shimmer
> and jaggies.  Colors muted and overall darker.  Gameplay impact, it's
harder
> to see what's ahead.

> EA wins handily again.

> Sound:

> EA: Best sound ever, period.  Won't waste too much time describing since I
> think it's not even close.

> Sony: Sounds like a toy F1, not even close to reality.

> EA wins again.

> Gameplay:

> EA: Bottom line for me: fun.  The AI is a huge improvement over prior
years.
> Competitive, sometimes daring, far from perfect.  I play sim mode, no
> driving aids with EASY opponents.  For comparison, my avg. lap at monza is
> 1:28.  I'm hardly an expert but on easy I'm in the race.  I qualify 12-13
> and generally stay competitive throughout, finishing anywhere from top 10
to
> last depending on the day I'm having.  The racing is tight and exciting,
> probably more exciting than real F1 which is okay for me since 1 hour of
> lapping alone is not my idea of racing.  I don't mind a slight departure
> from pure F1 that includes more passing and action but still seems
realistic
> and credible.  I really enjoy this game.  The challenge mode was a fun
bonus
> that is worth going back to as a sort of driving school for the newbies.

> Sony:  The AI is pretty good around the track but I can't get around the
> first lap!  At monza I've crashed and restarted at least 30 times.  I'm
> either too fast and rear-ending the car in front or too slow and getting
hit
> from behind.  I know first turns can be treacherous but this is just poor.
> There are still hits and spins in EA but I get through the first chicane
in
> EA at least 9/10 times.  The lack of a true***pit view is a big negative
> for me as well since I never feel like I'm actually IN a car.

> EA takes this category as well.

> Overall:

> EA is my choice for best modern F1.  I won't spend anymore time with GP3
on
> the computer since EA on my TV looks better (amazing considering the PC
> resolution advantage), feels just as good if not better and is more fun
and
> immersive.

> --
> Joe Marques

> > On Sun, 07 Oct 2001 22:53:03 GMT, "James Pickard"

> > >Hi guys..

> > >Ok, none of this sensationlist:  GPL rules, everything else sucks.  I
> just
> > >want honest opinions.

> > >Is F1 2001 worth getting?  better than F1 2000 CS?

> > >Personally, I liked all of them, and GP3, but I'm also love GPL  (have
> been
> > >since it came out), but I do get sick of hearing the GPL will never be
> > >beaten crap.

> > >Honest opinions need apply only...   ;0)))

> > >James

> > Here's my opinion and it may not be shared by others.
> > But, you asked, right?

> > I think F1-2001 is a piece of crap.

> > I bought it, installed it and have spent a lot of time in an
> > effort to make it run without tiny pauses every few seconds.

> > My system is pretty much a dedicated *** system:

> > It is a PIII-1000, GeForce 2 Ultra, 384mb, DX8,
> > 12.41 Detonator drivers, SB Live. I use Win98SE.
> > F1-2001 is installed on a clean partition with nothing else.
> > I have a fixed length swapfile of 800mb on a separate
> > drive. I use either a TSW wheel or an Act Labs Force RS.
> > Both of my drives are fully defragmented. TONS of
> > sims/games are installed and run flawlessly.

> > I won't accept a game or sim that pauses like F1-2001.
> > I have reduced the sim's detail/sound to minimum levels
> > and reduced the resolution to 800x600. I use no FSAA.

> > Same thing.

> > A reinstallation of DX8, video (12.41) and audio drivers
> > (downloaded from creaf.com 2 days ago) had no effect.

> > I have haunted newsgroup/web boards and tried MANY
> > things to prevent the irritating pauses.

> > I will return it tomorrow and buy both F1-2001 and Sony's
> > Formula One 2001 for my PS2. I will probably return one
> > of them based on which is the more deserving of return.. :)

> > All I can say in a positive way about F1-2001 for the PC is
> > that Electronics Boutique is a great store. :)

> > For those who have had good luck with it, good for you.
> > For me it will be only a bad memory by mid-afternoon.

> > ..next?

> >Have you tried running the game in windowed mode???????

> John, Dave, Mike, and everyone who responded, I -finally-
> got F1-2001 to run without pauses.

>>  I don't know if this applies, but I had similar experiences with F1cs.  I
>>'fixed' it by NOT overclocking.  I had my Piii500 overclocked to 549 or
>>something close by using SoftFsb.  The menu's even had hesitations.
>>Everytime my mouse would move over a menu item, it would stutter and echo.
>>During a race the stutters would get worse and worse, even with all detail
>>off and screen rez reduced.
>>  I don't remember why I tried with reducing the overclocking, probably
>>testing the pedal fix from Microsoft for dx8a, but I did and the stutter
>>disappeared.  I can go up to 515mhz but the next step up brought on the
>>stutters.  Unfortunately,  I don't know if it was just the chip speed
>>difference or the reduction of the agp multiplyer that cured the
>>stutters..But it was sound related combined with overclocking.
>>dave henrie

>Hi Dave. I appreciate the suggestions, but I'm not overclocking anything.
>Not the processor and not my video card.

>I thought right off that it was a soundcard driver problem, but installing
>the latest drivers from Creative didn't have any effect.

>I've just gotten tired of it. I've exhausted my knowledge and
>the only thing left is possibly to format c: and start over, but I'm
>not going to do that. By the way, there are no background tasks
>other than systray and explorer and my processor is showing
>about 90-92% prior to launching F1-2001.
>.


>>> On Sun, 07 Oct 2001 22:53:03 GMT, "James Pickard"

>>> >Hi guys..

>>> >Ok, none of this sensationlist:  GPL rules, everything else sucks.  I
>>just
>>> >want honest opinions.

>>> >Is F1 2001 worth getting?  better than F1 2000 CS?

>>> >Personally, I liked all of them, and GP3, but I'm also love GPL  (have
>>been
>>> >since it came out), but I do get sick of hearing the GPL will never be
>>> >beaten crap.

>>> >Honest opinions need apply only...   ;0)))

>>> >James

>>> Here's my opinion and it may not be shared by others.
>>> But, you asked, right?

>>> I think F1-2001 is a piece of crap.

>>> I bought it, installed it and have spent a lot of time in an
>>> effort to make it run without tiny pauses every few seconds.

>>> My system is pretty much a dedicated *** system:

>>> It is a PIII-1000, GeForce 2 Ultra, 384mb, DX8,
>>> 12.41 Detonator drivers, SB Live. I use Win98SE.
>>> F1-2001 is installed on a clean partition with nothing else.
>>> I have a fixed length swapfile of 800mb on a separate
>>> drive. I use either a TSW wheel or an Act Labs Force RS.
>>> Both of my drives are fully defragmented. TONS of
>>> sims/games are installed and run flawlessly.

>>> I won't accept a game or sim that pauses like F1-2001.
>>> I have reduced the sim's detail/sound to minimum levels
>>> and reduced the resolution to 800x600. I use no FSAA.

>>> Same thing.

>>> A reinstallation of DX8, video (12.41) and audio drivers
>>> (downloaded from creaf.com 2 days ago) had no effect.

>>> I have haunted newsgroup/web boards and tried MANY
>>> things to prevent the irritating pauses.

>>> I will return it tomorrow and buy both F1-2001 and Sony's
>>> Formula One 2001 for my PS2. I will probably return one
>>> of them based on which is the more deserving of return.. :)

>>> All I can say in a positive way about F1-2001 for the PC is
>>> that Electronics Boutique is a great store. :)

>>> For those who have had good luck with it, good for you.
>>> For me it will be only a bad memory by mid-afternoon.

>>> ..next?

> > Yep, it's still got that problem!  weird isn't it?
> > Iain

> > > Just guessing here (since I don't freaking have it yet!) but maybe
you
> > > still have to do the trick like we did with F1CS2K, where you have
to
> > > manually set the dead zone to zero in the player file?

> > > > On Sun, 07 Oct 2001 22:53:03 GMT, "James Pickard"

> > > > >Hi guys..

> > > > >Ok, none of this sensationlist:  GPL rules, everything else
sucks.  I
> > > just
> > > > >want honest opinions.

> > > > >Is F1 2001 worth getting?  better than F1 2000 CS?

> > > > >Personally, I liked all of them, and GP3, but I'm also love GPL
> > > (have been
> > > > >since it came out), but I do get sick of hearing the GPL will
never
> > > be
> > > > >beaten crap.

> > > > >Honest opinions need apply only...   ;0)))

> > > > Ok, for a change here's my honest opinion :)

> > > > Quick first impressions were great. Before I installed it I
allready
> > > > read about the problems with various drivers, and about the
> > > > run-it-in-a-window-or-use-fraps trick, so when I started it the
game
> > > > run very smooth. In ever way it's an improvement over f1cs.
Better
> > > > graphics, better fps, GREAT sound, AI seems to be very good
(didn't
> > > > test it enough though), variable weather is very good, and I
love how
> > > > bumpy the tracks are, fasten your seatbelts extra tight when you
drive
> > > > on Brazil :)

> > > > Buuuuut there's one problem. The control of the car didn;t feel
right
> > > > to me. I had problems with steering, way to much oversteer, so
much
> > > > that I had to allmost before a corner before I could enter it.
> > > > In the corner itself I had to constantly adjust the steering to
keep
> > > > the line. Braking also wasn't good, one time I braked perfectly
before
> > > > a corner, on the next lap my brakes hardly seemed to function.
> > > > I spend a day on messing with my controller settings.. tried
every
> > > > possible combination of sensitivity and deadzone settings, but
to no
> > > > avail. The car remains ***to drive. I also tried settings from
other
> > > > players who don't have these controller problems, but they also
> > > > didn;'t help. For now I gave up and deinstalled F1 2001, it's
> > > > completely unplayable for me at this time. Hope someone finds a
> > > > solution for this..

> > > > Oh, with a couple of guys from VROC we tried multiplayer.
> > > > We were with 5 or 6 players. We had a couple of problems.
> > > > It happened twice to me that I started at -exact- the same spot
as
> > > > another player, once in the pitbox, once at the start of a race.
> > > > This resulted ofcourse in a major crash (of our cars, not the
game).
> > > > But worse, and this happend a couple of times to several
players:
> > > > First lap of the race - I was driving, nothing specaculair going
on,
> > > > some cars far behind me and some cars in front of me, and
suddenly the
> > > > cam switched to outside view, a moving tv-cam. I could still
control
> > > > my car. After a couple of seconds, without warning I was back in
the
> > > > chatroom. I can't think of any reason why this would happen, so
I
> > > > think this is a major bug, especially since it happend a couple
of
> > > > times.
> > > > Besides this, the driving was reasonable fine. The cars were all
> > > > warping quite a bit, but this could have been because of a bad
> > > > connection, allthough the host and most of the players were on a
fast
> > > > cable connection.

> > > > So all in all, it seems that the basis of f1 2001 is a very good
sim,
> > > > but as long as I can't get the controllers work correct I can't
judge
> > > > it.. I never liked GP3, untill I got the controller setting
correct,
> > > > and since then I love it. I hope the same will happen with f1
2001..

> > > > Andre

> > > > >James

> > I take it back, it doesn't seem to have that problem as I've just been
> in
> > the control options, then looked at the plr file, and deadzone is
> still set
> > to 0!
> > Iain

> > > Yep, it's still got that problem!  weird isn't it?
> > > Iain

> > > > Just guessing here (since I don't freaking have it yet!) but maybe
> you
> > > > still have to do the trick like we did with F1CS2K, where you have
> to
> > > > manually set the dead zone to zero in the player file?

> > > > > On Sun, 07 Oct 2001 22:53:03 GMT, "James Pickard"

> > > > > >Hi guys..

> > > > > >Ok, none of this sensationlist:  GPL rules, everything else
> sucks.  I
> > > > just
> > > > > >want honest opinions.

> > > > > >Is F1 2001 worth getting?  better than F1 2000 CS?

> > > > > >Personally, I liked all of them, and GP3, but I'm also love GPL
> > > > (have been
> > > > > >since it came out), but I do get sick of hearing the GPL will
> never
> > > > be
> > > > > >beaten crap.

> > > > > >Honest opinions need apply only...   ;0)))

> > > > > Ok, for a change here's my honest opinion :)

> > > > > Quick first impressions were great. Before I installed it I
> allready
> > > > > read about the problems with various drivers, and about the
> > > > > run-it-in-a-window-or-use-fraps trick, so when I started it the
> game
> > > > > run very smooth. In ever way it's an improvement over f1cs.
> Better
> > > > > graphics, better fps, GREAT sound, AI seems to be very good
> (didn't
> > > > > test it enough though), variable weather is very good, and I
> love how
> > > > > bumpy the tracks are, fasten your seatbelts extra tight when you
> drive
> > > > > on Brazil :)

> > > > > Buuuuut there's one problem. The control of the car didn;t feel
> right
> > > > > to me. I had problems with steering, way to much oversteer, so
> much
> > > > > that I had to allmost before a corner before I could enter it.
> > > > > In the corner itself I had to constantly adjust the steering to
> keep
> > > > > the line. Braking also wasn't good, one time I braked perfectly
> before
> > > > > a corner, on the next lap my brakes hardly seemed to function.
> > > > > I spend a day on messing with my controller settings.. tried
> every
> > > > > possible combination of sensitivity and deadzone settings, but
> to no
> > > > > avail. The car remains ***to drive. I also tried settings from
> other
> > > > > players who don't have these controller problems, but they also
> > > > > didn;'t help. For now I gave up and deinstalled F1 2001, it's
> > > > > completely unplayable for me at this time. Hope someone finds a
> > > > > solution for this..

> > > > > Oh, with a couple of guys from VROC we tried multiplayer.
> > > > > We were with 5 or 6 players. We had a couple of problems.
> > > > > It happened twice to me that I started at -exact- the same spot
> as
> > > > > another player, once in the pitbox, once at the start of a race.
> > > > > This resulted ofcourse in a major crash (of our cars, not the
> game).
> > > > > But worse, and this happend a couple of times to several
> players:
> > > > > First lap of the race - I was driving, nothing specaculair going
> on,
> > > > > some cars far behind me and some cars in front of me, and
> suddenly the
> > > > > cam switched to outside view, a moving tv-cam. I could still
> control
> > > > > my car. After a couple of seconds, without warning I was back in
> the
> > > > > chatroom. I can't think of any reason why this would happen, so
> I
> > > > > think this is a major bug, especially since it happend a couple
> of
> > > > > times.
> > > > > Besides this, the driving was reasonable fine. The cars were all
> > > > > warping quite a bit, but this could have been because of a bad
> > > > > connection, allthough the host and most of the players were on a
> fast
> > > > > cable connection.

> > > > > So all in all, it seems that the basis of f1 2001 is a very good
> sim,
> > > > > but as long as I can't get the controllers work correct I can't
> judge
> > > > > it.. I never liked GP3, untill I got the controller setting
> correct,
> > > > > and since then I love it. I hope the same will happen with f1
> 2001..

> > > > > Andre

> > > > > >James