rec.autos.simulators

I've only recently been able to try GPL as until now I've had a Cyrix CPU,
upon which the GPL demo won't run. So even though its old hat to you'all by
now, its new to me.

One thing that seems to be laking in the demo is any sound feedback of
reaching the car's traction limit. The first think one knows about a slide
is purely from visual references. I have to say that I do miss the sound
feedback. I have considered sound feedback of traction limits a type of
concession for the lack of other driver feedbacks that sims just can't
reproduce. I note that just about all other sims, the good ones at least,
have incorperated some knid of sound feedback for traction limits - Gp2,
NASCAR, ICR, etc.

I wonder if this is just missing in the demo or if the real product will be
the same. Perhaps some of you who appear to have a closer-to-final copy can
respond.

I've only recently been able to try GPL as until now I've had a Cyrix CPU,
upon which the GPL demo won't run. So even though its old hat to you'all by
now, its new to me.

One thing that seems to be laking in the demo is any sound feedback of
reaching the car's traction limit. The first think one knows about a slide
is purely from visual references. I have to say that I do miss the sound
feedback. I have considered sound feedback of traction limits a type of
concession for the lack of other driver feedbacks that sims just can't
reproduce. I note that just about all other sims, the good ones at least,
have incorperated some knid of sound feedback for traction limits - Gp2,
NASCAR, ICR, etc.

I wonder if this is just missing in the demo or if the real product will be
the same. Perhaps some of you who appear to have a closer-to-final copy can
respond.

Cheers

Phillip McNelley

If this *is* what you are saying, then you have a problem with your
set-up cos I here the tyres squealing fine, and very helpful it is to,

As you say it helps to know when you are getting close to the limit,
but there definitely *are* tyre squeal in GPL.

8-)

*Peter*    8-)
(NB: remove asterix to e-mail)

--

mark

I hear sounds including tyre screeching sounds. What I mean is that the
tyre screeching doesn't seem to be progressive enough for my liking. Once
you hear the screeching you appear to be already at the limit. What I like
about some other titles is the way you can ease up to the limit by judging
the amount/type/pitch/loudness of the tyre sounds. You can, in a way, sense
you're approaching the limit and then keep the car on the edge by balancing
the tyre sounds. In GPL I get the impression the tyre sounds are somewhat
black and white. They aren't progressive if you get what I mean.

Because of this it seems to take a lot more experience to find out how fast
a corner can be taken. One has to actually try various different speeds and
see what falls off and what stays on. This data gathering can be done of
course but I think its better to have some kind of inherent feedback form
the car that suggests where the limit is, rather than to have to rely
purely on the historical experience of the driver.

I accept that it takes both experience and feedback to drive well at a
given circuit. But GPL seems a bit light on the car feedback side to me -
sound-wise that is - visuals are great. Perhaps its just that I'm too used
to the other sims I drive and that I'm too new at GPL. I recall how every
time a new sim comes out the ride feels strange and foreign. These comments
are just my first impressions.

Thanks for your reply.

Cheers

Phillip McNelley

This is my biggest complaint about ALL the Papyrus sims, especially on road
courses: They do not give you sufficient  "seat of the pants" feedback.

I am reserving judgement on GPL until I have it in my hot little hands, but it
is distressing to hear you complain about the one characteristic of Papy sims
that I dislike.

Regards,
Krabby

They took them from Nascar 2.
There will be new audio for the final release.
If you want better sounds, head over to the "files" section at the APEX
 http://gpl.gamestats.com ). There are some cool new sounds. (Again, they
will not be as good as the ones when the game is released, but they are a
MAJOR improvement.)

doktorB
http://webhome.idirect.com/~drbryan/gpl
***  Look for an update on my site sometime soon! (It's my first ever page.
I started it Thursday afternoon, but threw it together RAPIDLY when I found
myself to be the first person on the Internet to have the Monza demo!! -
1135 hits and counting - in less than 3 days!)

Thanks to the "Save Monza" supporters.. if you haven't signed already,
please go to my page and do it! Thanks
-------

that's how it works, right?), but got a warning message that it could
not be delivered within the first 4 hrs after sending. I hope the
petition has some effect. It would be a shame if the Monza track
disappeared.

And: Thanks for posting the track! :)

BTW, do you (or anyone) know how and where the car setup is stored in
the demo? Is it coded into the monza.dat file? I wonder if we are
using the Glen setup for Monza, or if we have a new one especially
written for this track.

--
Wolfgang Preiss   \ E-mail copies of replies to this posting are welcome.

Am working on an update to the site right now!

keeping fingers crossed.
doktorB
http://webhome.idirect.com/~drbryan/gpl

Thanks for everyone's support!!

I tell you what guys.   I'm a diehard Nascar fan and have not paid too much
attention to much road racing over the years but GPL has me hooked.  If you take
the time to get use to the feel of the sim, you will be rewarded.  I could not
stay on the track too much at first but now I'm *** around the tracks with no
problem at all.

There is allot that setup has to do with it.  I have not seen the latest demo and
don't know what setup is with it but I know from the default setups of the past to
some that the testers did, it made a huge difference in drivability of the cars.

Don't give up on it without giving it a fair shake.

--
Brian Tate
BTate80    on TEN
Zanzibar in Quake2  (The guy running around with the middle finger up)
Assist LA for THOMAS ENTERPRISES HAWAII ACE LEAGUE  http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Perhaps its my own imagination? but I thought the tyre squeals did get
slightly louder if you push harder once the squealing has started?

I cannot agree that GPL is "light on car feedback"! I think it is *THE*
most responsive car physics engine we have yet seen in *any* sim, and
it *FEELS* better than any other sim, all IMHO of course?

I do appreciate that it feels quite different to most (all?) other
sims, and is probably the hardest to master control of, and it is this
difficulty in mastering, that some people often mistake for other
inadequacies. With practice (lots, and lots) it will feel more natural.

I believe this sim, has taken us *all* to another, higher plane, and we
all have to adapt accordingly to get the best from it......

8-)

*Peter*    8-)
(NB: remove asterix to e-mail)

to effectively sign a petition that might help to save the Monza track
from demolition. It's funny how people often start cherishing things
only when it's too late (How often do I hear "I used to have one of
these myself. I wish I had kept it." when I'm driving around in one of
my old cars.) I bet some Romans in the middle ages voted for tearing
down the stupid old Coliseum. Now their inheritors are glad they
didn't... :)
Send an e-mail, that's all it takes.

--
Wolfgang Preiss   \ E-mail copies of replies to this posting are welcome.

   Agreed again. The "3D"***pit makes it even moreso!

I don't know if anyone else has noticed but no sim has ever recreated the
sound of cars taking off the line properly. The sounds of 20+ cars lighting up
their tyres on the start (and warmup laps) is very distinctive and present in
every form of single seater racing I've ever seen.

M