rec.autos.simulators

- Head physics is now part of the kinematics model.  Head physics are not
allowed to affect vehicle physics, I guess to prevent cheats, but the head
movement is generated by the physics model.

- They model fuel sloshing around in the tank!  It's approximated with a
spring/mass/damper system, but still, I have never heard of anyone else
doing that.

- All the NASCAR settings are still evident in the HDV file, so for example
if somebody wanted to make a 60's Trans Am mod with this game they could put
realistic suspensions and settings in.

- How about this line from the hdv file:

HandbrakePressRange=(0.00, 0.05, 1) // disabled for F1 ... intended for
rally-type cars

- Autoshift, traction control, and ABS parameters are now set in the hdv
file and thus moddable.

- Diffs can now have separate power and coast side lock settings, and
something that even GPL didn't have - a preload value.

Seems to me this is the most comprehensive physics modelling available in
any game, and it's generic enough now to accomodate virtually any type of
racing.  I'm very e***d to see what mods and commercial licenses will be
produced using this engine.

That's the most important issue.  It's perhaps not as perfection as the Papy
game engine, but it's ***ing open and you can do about everything with it.
It's what we asked Papy to do for years and years.  They finally got a clue
with NR2003 (the latest patch will enable mod-type addons with different
physics for the trucks and BGN cars).

--
-- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard>
-- http://www.racesimcentral.net/
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Corporation - helping America into the New World...