rec.autos.simulators

After driving GP3 for the last 4-5 days I came to the conclusion that GP3
may not come close to matching GPL in it's driving/physics model, though,
it's still pretty good ... I'd put it just bellow SCGT driving/physics model
wise (though SCGT with F1 cars would be interesting :-). That still makes it
better than any other F1 game around (can't comment on F1 2000 'cos I don't
have it) in the driving/physics department. The car physics are more like
something you see in the arcades ... 'F355 Callenge' feels very similar to
GP3. You can feel that 'beyond the limit" the car does not behave
realistically, though it still let's you slide it and step it out a bit.
Yes, it is GP2 more of less but the throttle/brake are no longer as digital
as in GP2 and so it improves the whole experience a fair bit. Also, the
snappiness on the limit has been softened a bit so that you can actually
drive the car on the limit. Add to it the virual***it and it gives you a
reasonably nice driving feedback. This is not an 'uber sim' like GPL ...
it's actually good 2 years behind it (more Narcar3 level) .. .and that's it
you forget about all those 'crazy' things that are still in GP3 ... like
game engine that does not run in real time and goes into 'slow-mo', no
replay to speak of, no sound from the other cars (really removes the feeling
of them being there). List goes on ... like the fact that 'hadware
acceleration' really gives you only about 20% improvement in performance.
Anyway, and the last (but not least) thing is the framerate cap of 25!! What
is the idea, 25fps is really bad by todays standards. It is so visibly
'jerky' on my 21" monitor, it's not funny. In a game you need minimum 30fps
for things to appear smooth. preferably at least mid 30s. All Arcade
machines run at 60fps for a good reason ... it's to make things apear
'fluent' and smooth. GPL runs at 36fps and looks silky smooth (GP3 runs like
a dog compared to it). F1RS and MGP both have smooth framerate (must be
30+). Question is, who in their same mind would make a gramerate cap of 25
in a game that is supposed to be a sim - sim is something where framerate is
paramount in order to receive feedback from it. Why not let peopel who can
get better framerate run it with better framerate?! Question is, is there a
way around this. I know that there is a program that looks to change this
figure, though, in game the game looks exacly the same ald jerky as at
25fps. I get the same occupance and it looks the same ... tryed using this
utility to wind it up to 36fps and it always looks the same. Is there a way
to make it run smoother?

ps. I'm running it at the moment at 25fps with 90-120 occupancy.

Regards,
David Mocnay

So you couldn't really use a higher frame rate even if it was available,
which is it btw at www.alphaf1.com/gp3

On Sat, 29 Jul 2000 18:35:39 +1000, "David Mocnay"

It depends on your cpu. With that patch that removes the frame rate
cap I get low 30's on a P3 800. I tested it using Fraps
(www.fraps.com) so if you don't have a P3 800 or there abouts you
won't see much improvement over 25fps unless you turn off some of the
textures. What cpu do you have?
--
Nos

model

While I like SCGT because it is fun, I think the driving model is
just horrible. If GP3 is below that, then there is indeed a problem.

F1 2000 is far above SCGT in the driving department. And since
F1 2000 was made by the same company as SCGT, it is SCGT
with F1 cars. The biggest problem and dissapointment is that
F1 2000 does not run in 3dfx Glide mode like SCGT did.

--

spoke:

I just unzipped it to the GP3 folder and then double clicked on the
executive.

Getting a faster cpu should do it.

--
Nos

Not true. I can run the fps higher ... I just need to swhich some of the eye
candy off. Though, thanks for the link ... will try this util and see if it
does anything.

--

Regards,
David Mocnay

... I'd put it just bellow SCGT driving/physics model

F12000 is SCGT with F1 cars