rec.autos.simulators

Now I know you're already skeptical seeing the words "EA" and "you'll
like it" in a thread title in an autosim group. But this may finally
be the game that brakes EA out of their arcade-only mold.

Now I'm no motorcycle expert, so I'm not tossing around any proven
conclusions or comparisons to other sims. But to me the physics
modeling seemed pretty damn good (in simulation mode). I'm not going
to talk much about the graphics, you've seen how great the demo looks.

If you start up too fast, especially sitting up, the bike will flip
from under you. Slow down to fast it will wobble and, under extreme
braking, the back will rise and flip. The turning and control seems
realistic, and it's very possible to lose the bike in a variety of
interesting (and painful looking!) ways that are indicative, to me, of
a fairly advanced physics model. It doesn't seem canned in any way.

Two examples. One, I'm off on the grass trying to get to the road,
tires spinning. I spin out a bit, just a I catch the concrete while
sliding sideways - and the bike flips over me when the wheels get
purchase. Two, even more interesting, I was heavily braking going
downhill (at the A1-Ring track I think it was called), braking way too
hard. I started to wobble and my back wheel lifted, I was going to
flip. But just in time I eased up on the brakes to let the front wheel
run, and the back wheel dropped again! I was too late for the corner
of course but was able to slide into the sand (i.e., instead of
flipping on concrete). The replay showed an awesome image of the bike
up on it's front wheel, the ass-end wobbling as it rose higher and
higher, and finally dropping before the slide. There's no way they
canned that.

Speaking of hills, they are done very nicely on the tracks that have
them. There's a real good feeling of elevation change.

The***pit mode is well done. (The F2 one - not the one where your
head moves independently of the bike.) I used the F4 (arcade) view for
a while, but found the***pit mode more immersive and with a better
sense of speed, once I got used to it. Once I knew the track I was
able to drive better with in***pit mode too. It has good visual
feedback such as handle bar shakes (for wobble when breaking too hard)
and you can see the chassis rising and falling when under
acceleration/decelleration. The***pit reminds me of GPL's, in that
it very much feels like a dynamic, moving object, not a static bitmap.

There are a whole host of bike setup options which I am not qualified
to review. Seemed to be a lot of choices (e.g., many adjustable parts
to the front and rear suspension).

I couldn't find any menus to enable bike damage. This seems like an
odd omission. The engine will blow out if you rev too high (or
downshift too fast) but crashes don't seem to damage the bike.

There is a weather option (sunny/cloudy/wet) but I didn't have time to
try it.

Anyway, in conclusion I'm buying this one as soon as it comes out. For
those still skeptical, I can only assume EA will release an updated
demo closer to the release date. The sim mode is too good to kept
secret.

Joe

It's a great title.  I got reports by everybody that it's a true simulation
(unfortunately it's available on the warez scene).

I hope they rethink their approach to the market, because many people now
have a really bad name of Electronic Arts with their racing title.  But we
need to understand that EA is only producing both Superbike SBK and Sports
Car GT.

-= Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard/Nas-Frank>
-= NROS Nascar sanctioned Guide http://www.nros.com/
-= SimRacing Online http://www.simracing.com/
-= Official mentally retarded guy of r.a.s.
-= 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 am also impressed with the demo, although it is in arcade mode.
I really hope that the future formule 1 games from EA sports will be as
realistic.

Remco

Any ideas welcome,
JoHS, Norway

Oh yeah, and the setup/sim crowd will LOVE the "telemetry" feature.
You can practice a bunch of laps, adjusting setups, and then compare
any two laps you choose on a graph. You can graph all sorts of
variables - speed, acceleration, and about six or seven others. Youy
can even zoom in on the graph to study the data in detail for a
particular part of the track. IMO this is a huge leap over trying to
setup a vehicle just by feel and lap times, and once seen should
become a standard feature in all serious sims.

Joe

I did but just one lap, near the beginning of me session. I was still
getting a handle on sim-mode control at that point, so it's hard to
say how fun that track is. I spent most of my time at A1-Ring (a
totally awesome track) and a bit at Hockenhiem and one other I can't
recall the name of.

Joe

Well I base my idea of what EA are going to do with F1 on this game so I
hope its as good as it sounds. Pity you didn't have time to try out the
rain, I can imagine balancing a superbike in the wet would be pretty darn
hairy!!! Also did you give it a go at laguna seca? One of my favorite tracks
and I bet its interesting on a bike.

-Berno

I have no idea what company is going to develop the F1 game for EA is. But I
hope with a licence that im sure Mr Ecclestone made them dig deep for theyre
not going to hand it to a bunch of baffoons. EA still does some dev in house
and there are varying contracts the company has with developers so they dont
always just produce and publish. Who is making superbikes? Is it inhouse at
EA sports? Either way at least it shows that they can publish a simulation.

-Berno

They'd probably be a good choice for the F1 game though.

- Michael

Z.

Please remove NOSPAM from my email address when replying.

% >Why do you say that? Is it being programmed by the same company?
% >Remember EA is just the producer of Superbikes.

% I have no idea what company is going to develop the F1 game for EA is. But I
% hope with a licence that im sure Mr Ecclestone made them dig deep for theyre
% not going to hand it to a bunch of baffoons. EA still does some dev in house
% and there are varying contracts the company has with developers so they dont
% always just produce and publish. Who is making superbikes? Is it inhouse at
% EA sports? Either way at least it shows that they can publish a simulation.

Sorry to say, but if the baffoons have deep pockets and those pockets
are lined with big bucks, Bernie will sell his mother's grave.

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

All in sim mode

When going straight and very fast and you instantly hit the brakes on full
max, what happens? The front should tuck immediately and send you and the
bike on a long easy slide.

When entering a turn too hot, can you throw the bike in the turn and loose
the front end before getting to the apex?

Can you do powerslides exiting corners?

What happens when you go in the grass or gravel at a medium speed and try
to turn a bit?

thanks
Destroy

I'm not quit sure what you mean by this. I found the best way to turn
(for me) was to follow a clean line, gradually increasing your lean
and throttle as you approach the apex.

Not as far as I can tell.

You can turn a very little bit, very gently. But anything more than
that and you will slide into a spill. It's like driving on slick ice
(with an over-powered bike). The gravel may be slightly less slippery
than the grass, but still easy to spin out on.

Joe

Er..not cool.

I basicly want to know if you can throw the bike into a turn too fast and tuck
the front end.

Lame. Again, not cool.

At least the game got one thing right.

Looks like this game isnt much of a true sim. Thanks for the input Joe, this
game just doesnt seem to do it right yet. Oh well, here's hoping for AMA
Superbike Racing. Wish I could go to Daytona to check out there computer lan
setup.