rec.autos.simulators

I understand NFSPU is supposed to be more of an arcade game than a bona fide
sim, and I does provide a nice break from GPL, but I feel that the AI in
Porsche Unleashed leaves something to be desired  (I feel like I'm driving
in a demolition derby!)  Is there a patch/hack available to address this?

Other than that, it's a nice, good-looking game, no GPL-beater IMHO (and I
personally don't see 2 years of progress graphics-wise from GPL to this, but
anyhow..).  The Porsches seem REALLY tail happy (I suppose they are in real
life?), but once you get used to this they handel reasonably enough, and are
quite entertaining.  I don't mind the arcade-ish nature of some of the
tracks, but the AI really gets on my nerves.

All in all, I hope Electronic Arts remembers the Tifosi and releases a
Ferrari version of this game someday, perhaps with an "Evoluzione" mode
(imagine wheeling a 250 GTO or a 360 Modena Challenge car through an
embellished, imaginary Autostrada, or the Fiorano test track).  If NFSPU is
any indication, that would be a beautiful game, indeed!

...Need for Speed:  Prancing Horse (?)

L.S.

: Other than that, it's a nice, good-looking game, no GPL-beater IMHO (and I
: personally don't see 2 years of progress graphics-wise from GPL to this, but
: anyhow..).  The Porsches seem REALLY tail happy (I suppose they are in real
: life?), but once you get used to this they handel reasonably enough, and are
: quite entertaining.  I don't mind the arcade-ish nature of some of the
: tracks, but the AI really gets on my nerves.

  The cars vary I think - the 356s are simply horrible - wallowing
beasts with hideous oversteer on the rare occasions that they get fast
enough to be close to the limit.  The 550 is simply dire handling.  The
early 911 isn't too bad but once you get to the Carrera with the
ducktail on the back it's actually pretty nice and those constant
tail-slides aren't so bad.  That's about as far as I've got in the evo
mode so I've not much experience with the more modern stuff.

: All in all, I hope Electronic Arts remembers the Tifosi and releases a
: Ferrari version of this game someday, perhaps with an "Evoluzione" mode
: (imagine wheeling a 250 GTO or a 360 Modena Challenge car through an
: embellished, imaginary Autostrada, or the Fiorano test track).  If NFSPU is
: any indication, that would be a beautiful game, indeed!

  Hmm...  I'm still jealous of GT2 though because of the variety of
vehicles and real tracks.  I don't like the NFS:PU silly "rally stages"
and the way that street circuits can be driven pretty fast by "bouncing
off the walls".  I simply don't think that any of the tracks in NFS will
do justice to the GT1 (should I ever get one).  Some of the tracks a GT1
surely shouldn't be racing on - like the dirty/sand roads with hills -
not ideal GT1 territory I'd have thought.

  Good game but it could have been a lot better with some small additions.

--
Richard G. Clegg       Only the mind is waving
    Networks and Non-Linear Dynamics Group
      Dept. of Mathematics, Uni. of York
     UPDATED WWW: http://manor.york.ac.uk/

J. Janasov

Actually, for me it went downhill with the Modern cars, as they lost the
"liveliness" (or, if you like, hideous wallowing oversteer) of the older
cars.  You can do a lot with some tweaking of the primitive setup parameters
to dial in the cars the way you would like them.  The 356 Carrera is far
from horrible with a little work (you can buy some parts for it in the
garage as well).  The 550 Spyder is a blast, I think, but that's a personal
opinion.  Anything later than a '67 911s and I can dial out most of the
oversteer with a few small changes.  With some setup changes my times
improved by 20% or more on some tracks.  Part of the challenge (forgetting
the limited physics model) is to build up an older car into a giant-killer.
To go to an online race and whoop some Golden Era ass with a classic car is
quite satisfying (and rare I admit).  It's like winning an online GPL race
with a BRM.

My fastest times on the Monaco circuits are when I drive clean.  My main
complaints with the tracks are that the circuits are all in Monaco, and all
at night, and the road is too wide.  I would also like to see some more 2nd
and 3rd gear corners, but remember the target audience for NFS.  I dug out
my old copy of NFS1 and was thinking how nice it would be to have some of
those narrow open road tracks in NFS:Porsche.

Agreed, so don't take it there!  On the other hand, there is a strange joy
in launching the GT1 off a crest at 250kph, although the program isn't
sophisticated enough to have it flip end for end.

Stephen

http://irlinsider.adnetweb.com/sims/nfspu.htm

This mod makes for MUCH better racing overall -- I now can experience
LOTS of wheel-to-wheel action in NFSPU without that "bumper car" or
"demo derby" effect.  Download the modified files and let me know what
you think.

FYI, to cure the tail-happiness, try adding more rear downforce (90% or
so), a little less front downforce (80% or so), lower the ride height
to about one click from the left, increase the stiffness to about 75%
(halfway to the right), and set the suspension travel to about 25%
(halfway to the left) -- then increase your tire pressure all around to
35 - 45 front and rear.  This basic setup makes all the cars handle
much better -- you can find fine variations that work better for
different cars, but this is a good starting point.  With these
settings, the 550 Spyder is every bit as fun as GPL, in my opinion.

Hope this helps!

-- JB

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Hi Richard - another temporary GPL escapee!

Actually I kinda liked the 356 once it was beefed up to some decent
speed. My biggest gripe was the second variant where you can't see the
road because of the design of the dash - who did that?! That was a
real shock trying to drive the sweeps of Normandie while _guessing_
which way the road was going. Stupid Porsche car designer gits....

Likewise. My "ideal" is still GT2 cars and tracks with GPL style
physics, NFS-PU graphics, and now an "Evolution" mode and perhaps a
few Midtown Madness style cities thrown in for good measure. That
would keep me occupied for a while...!

John

The Speedster I can understand... it was like sitting in a bathtub.  Hint...
look at the tree tops to guess the next corner - it used to work for me when
driving a little quickly in Northern Ontario, and it works in NFS:Porsche.

The GT2 tracks are a step (large) better than the NFS tracks in terms of
circuit design, but they still don't "move" me.  Which I guess is the main
point of the while fantasy vs. real tracks discussion - somehow the racing
heritage of a real track swings the balance in its favour (for me) over even
the best crafted fantasy track.

GPL physics, NFS visuals *and* Midtown Madness traffic density.  Sheesh...
I'd love to see the PC that runs that one.

Stephen

Stephen

S.

Thanks,
Alex