rec.autos.simulators

by **Janne Niemin** » Sun, 14 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Has someone noticed that in ICR2 there is something wrong with the
original skill values of AI cars? Usually the car that takes the lead
starts to lap one or even two seconds quicker laps than the rest of the
field. Also the back of the field drives incredibly slowly. The same
problems are with Earl Ma's drivers2.txt, too
I have tested the effect of the skill values a lot and noticed that
traction has the strongest effect on the racing speed of the AI cars.
So if you want your opponents to drive closer to each other without
20-30 second gaps, it's good to set higher minimum tractions for the
top drivers (about 450 instead of 375/400). Traction values lower than
250 make the driver too slow, I think that's the minimum for the back
of the field.
The drag-value is strange. The bigger the numbers the slower the
opponent is in qualifying. But in the race itself a high drag value
makes the driver faster. Thats why Hiro and the other slow driver can
have so good oval races.
Change the values and test! I have gad a lot of more realistic races
and results this way.

-Jussi-

by **Josh Beauli** » Mon, 15 Jan 1996 04:00:00

>Subject: Indycar II drivers2.txt
>Date: 13 Jan 1996 20:00:34 GMT
>Has someone noticed that in ICR2 there is something wrong with the
>original skill values of AI cars? Usually the car that takes the lead
>starts to lap one or even two seconds quicker laps than the rest of the
>field. Also the back of the field drives incredibly slowly. The same
>problems are with Earl Ma's drivers2.txt, too
>I have tested the effect of the skill values a lot and noticed that
>traction has the strongest effect on the racing speed of the AI cars.
>So if you want your opponents to drive closer to each other without
>20-30 second gaps, it's good to set higher minimum tractions for the
>top drivers (about 450 instead of 375/400). Traction values lower than
>250 make the driver too slow, I think that's the minimum for the back
>of the field.
>The drag-value is strange. The bigger the numbers the slower the
>opponent is in qualifying. But in the race itself a high drag value
>makes the driver faster. Thats why Hiro and the other slow driver can
>have so good oval races.
>Change the values and test! I have gad a lot of more realistic races
>and results this way.
> -Jussi-

I disaggree. I feel that the default numbers are generally pretty good for
the faster drivers and the slower cars were running too fast. In my
drivers2.txt file, I have the slower cars with grip and power between 200 and
a max of 450-490. This closely assimilates real IndyCar competition, as the
slower cars are often down 15-20 laps at the end of 200-lap 1-mile oval race
(but then again they can finish 4th like Salazar at Indy). As for the drag,
its only affect takes place in qualifying (absolutely no effect in the race).
Aggression dictates whether or not (and how soon) an opponent will move aside
when challenged.

Josh Beaulieu