rec.autos.simulators

[ * * * s i g h * * * ]

From the LeMans message board:

http://www.racesimcentral.net/
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

From: Kev
Date: 14 Jan 2000
Time: 05:34:09
Remote Name: 193.122.38.5

Comments
Hi Sparks,

Okay, to answer your questions...

- Will there be replays in the PC version? Could you describe them?
Can they be saved? Are they small?

Yes there are replays in the PC version, but unfortunately you cant
save them.

- In the lower class races, please tell me that the PC version will
not allow slower classes to be faster than faster ones. Please?

The problem is that to many players, the idea of not being able to win
in any of the cars is a foreign one. In order to make the game
accessible and playable, we had to adjust the speeds to make the
player cars competitive.

- Are the setup options more detailed than in the PSX version?

The car set up options are the same as the PlayStation version. This
is something that has split the *** community. Some people say
there should be more options, but many more have said they like the
fact that the set up options are accessible and easy to use. (In
reality, the teams don't really make that many adjustments to the cars
and the ones they do make are so involved, it would be impossible to
include them - eg. "Use Masking Tape to Fix Wing Mirror", "Bash Engine
With Hammer" and so on!)

- Is there a centering/sensitivity/deadzone adjustment for your
controller?

Yes.

- Has it been tested with PC WHEELS?

I don't have any information on this as the testing was done by
Infogrames' QA department, not us.

- Is there a way to NOT have the 'slow down and wait' Need for Speed,
arcade style of AI? This is very important in my opinion. Is there an
option to set this?

Again, this relates to the difficulty and playability of the game. The
AI is designed to make the game an enjoyable experience for the player
and, I don't know about you, but I HATE it when the AI cars zoom off,
never to be seen again...

- Are there any PC specific advanced features, like PIII instruction
support, T&L, 32 bit, 3D sound, etc?

Its all 32 bit and 3D sound is supported... unfortunately, theres no
T&L support as the hardware is so new!

Cheers,

Kev

--
* rrev at mindspring dot com
* http://www.racesimcentral.net/
* http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Reading this, I have the impression they have the technical side covered
(ie. decent controller support, support for a variety of advanced sound,
and they're right about the T&L being relatively new technology) but have
chosen to ignore the needs of our little sim racing community in the areas
affecting gameplay. Judging by the fact that not a lot of people stepped
up to buy GPL, I'm sure our shouts of outrage will not result in a big
dent in their sales, but it would seem there are no developers on this
product with some sense of passion, otherwise the inclusion of switches to
get rid of the catchup AI, a second "advanced setups" menu etc. would have
been a top priority and a no-brainer.  

Let's see... the top selling sim products of the last few years, Nascar 2
and GP2, showed that you could have both an arcade experience and a deep,
immersive sim.  Over a million copies for each tells me that the
possibility to have an over-the-top racing experience does not detract
from sales.  Damn.  Hello?  Is anybody listening?  Seems we're constantly
telling Papyrus they should have added some "dumbing down" switches, while
at the same time telling other companies to stop putting mandatory
training wheels on their products.

Of course, I'm rambling, and mostly "preaching to the converted" here.

Stephen

: [ * * * s i g h * * * ]

: From the LeMans message board:

: http://www.racesimcentral.net/
: http://www.racesimcentral.net/

: From: Kev
: Date: 14 Jan 2000
: Time: 05:34:09
: Remote Name: 193.122.38.5

: Comments
: Hi Sparks,

: Okay, to answer your questions...

: - Will there be replays in the PC version? Could you describe them?
: Can they be saved? Are they small?

: Yes there are replays in the PC version, but unfortunately you cant
: save them.

: - In the lower class races, please tell me that the PC version will
: not allow slower classes to be faster than faster ones. Please?

: The problem is that to many players, the idea of not being able to win
: in any of the cars is a foreign one. In order to make the game
: accessible and playable, we had to adjust the speeds to make the
: player cars competitive.

: - Are the setup options more detailed than in the PSX version?

: The car set up options are the same as the PlayStation version. This
: is something that has split the *** community. Some people say
: there should be more options, but many more have said they like the
: fact that the set up options are accessible and easy to use. (In
: reality, the teams don't really make that many adjustments to the cars
: and the ones they do make are so involved, it would be impossible to
: include them - eg. "Use Masking Tape to Fix Wing Mirror", "Bash Engine
: With Hammer" and so on!)

: - Is there a centering/sensitivity/deadzone adjustment for your
: controller?

: Yes.

: - Has it been tested with PC WHEELS?

: I don't have any information on this as the testing was done by
: Infogrames' QA department, not us.

: - Is there a way to NOT have the 'slow down and wait' Need for Speed,
: arcade style of AI? This is very important in my opinion. Is there an
: option to set this?

: Again, this relates to the difficulty and playability of the game. The
: AI is designed to make the game an enjoyable experience for the player
: and, I don't know about you, but I HATE it when the AI cars zoom off,
: never to be seen again...

: - Are there any PC specific advanced features, like PIII instruction
: support, T&L, 32 bit, 3D sound, etc?

: Its all 32 bit and 3D sound is supported... unfortunately, theres no
: T&L support as the hardware is so new!

: Cheers,

: Kev

: --
: * rrev at mindspring dot com
: * http://www.racesimcentral.net/
: * http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Pure arcade-game development. I feel sorry for the people thinking they will
get the real thing.  Oops another title that is poorly done.  About half a
dozen now since not even a year.

--
-- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard>
-- May the Downforce be with you...

"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise
how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."

I too was looking forward to running this SIM. I guess that now I look
forward to the GAME. Having said that, I suppose 24 hours of *** could
hardly be called that either <G>

MS

<(In reality, the teams don't really make that many adjustments to the cars

Oh man. Oh nooooooooooo.........
oh deeeeaaarrr....(etc)

Matt/

     Actually, one or two excellent sims per year is all that I handle. And
this year there are 3 that comes to mind:
1-WSC
2-Trans-Am
3-GP-3

Joel Willstein

--
Regards,
Bruce Kennewell,
Canberra, Australia.
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