rec.autos.simulators

I am still about a month away from upgrading from my P-3 600, so I haven't been
able to run F-1 2002 or the GTR mod, but fortunately my Brother just received
his new PC and the Logitech Momo FF setup, which is the first force feedback
eiher of us has had.

To save time, I downloaded the GTR Mod with my cable connection (265 mb in 18
minutes... Cable is GOD!) and also dl'd the 1.2 patch.

I had been telling Tim (my Brother) what everyone had been saying about GTR and
we were both looking forward to something new.

CHEEEEERIST!  We were blown away!

First took out the Lambourgini.  Just awe inspriring.  Fast and loud,
unbelievable sound, the car felt just like I would have imagined.  The force
feedback takes this sim to a new level.  Although it helps on Nascar, the sheer
exhertion it takes to drive the road courses is palpable.  The feel of the
rumble strips, the touch under braking.  Magnificent!

Next to the Viper.  Although a beautiful car, the sound was too tame for what I
expected and the rev range seemed oddly low.  Still a hoot to drive.

Next the Ferrari (sorry can't remember the series, the low h.p. one) again,
just so damn exciting!  High revving, so much more nimble than the Viper and
Lambourgini, a quick and deft touch.  Stunning!

The Porches were terrific!  One after the other, just a joy.  

The only downside, to us, was the sound on the Viper and the Lister and the
view from the***pit of the Marcos, which, by the way, is what I would like
the Viper to sound like.  Loud and racuous!  (of course this would also be the
sound for a nice AC Cobra! :))

All in all, totally immersed us in the experience.  The physics seem spot on,
the smaller quicker cars were so much more nimble than the bigger, heavier,
faster cars.  I don't see that either of us will be moving on to another sim
for a while as we go back and forth with this one.

Like I said, better late than never!

Thanks to the guys who put this together...just truly a work of art, what sim
racing can be when it's done right, by people who care.  Thanks again,
Mike

The Viper sound is right though; it doesn't rev high at all, and on the
track the sound is a dull drone. I've got some in-car recordings from Le
Mans, and it's just that; boring. After all, what can you expect from a
Truck engine :)

I don't remember who said it, but it was something in the lines of "in this
car 6 gears is a waste. It has so much torque 6th gear alone is enough.."

It's an effective weapon though!

/Matt

Sean

The sound of the Viper has been associated with a souped-up UPS truck. But
that is indeed what they sound like.

The quickest car definately. I make a point of driving something else
because everybody drives one.

Takes a while to get a handle on - especially squirly under braking.

I drive the Marcos alot just to listen to it. Going fast in one is a real
challenge.

I started out in the VMS League driving a NGT 360. Originally I wanted to
drive a GT car in the league (because they're the most popular and fastest)
but I was assigned the NGT car instead. I guess it turned out that the NGT
races were more competitive, and it takes some finess to go fast in one (you
need to carry a lot of speed through the corners)

I second that! Excellent job - another case where a couple of guys on their
own time have created a mod that exceeds the original game - sort of like
CounterStrike.

Wait until the 360 Challenge mod comes out - we should have some ultra
competitive racing then!

CFster

I know its a lot of work...but was just dreaming....:))

Mike

   I remember an INcar lap around Spa in an Oreca Viper(probably 1999?)
that seemed very loud and Blattish(think Marcos)...But I have also heard
SCCA incar footage that sounded very much like that in GTR.  My favorite
Viper sound is from the F1 2k1 FIA GT V3 mod(pre patch).  That was much
more Big Block sounding than the current sounds.  
   The NEW Production Viper has a different exhaust because the owners also
had complained how civilized the Snake sounded.  The dual exhausts produced
not a big V10 sound but rather two 5 cylinder exhaust notes.  A new
crossover pipe supposedly puts the bark into the sound.
dave henrie

  Lets see.  F1 2k2 is 9 $$ at Wal Mart in a jewelbox.  GTR is Free.  find
me ANY other title that can compare.  Racer and Sirroco racing come to mind
since they are totally free, but 40 to 50 Bucks for N2k3?(a great title
that still has problems...dollar for dollar tho, it falls short)  
GTR's biggest failings are from it's core sim F1 2k2 base.  The weak
multiplayer, Open wheel damage model, Some graphic bugs(i.e.water spray
inside the***pit) and poor track modeling.
  It may not be your cup of tea...lots of folks are unfamiliar with the
tracks and cars(mainly us Yanks) but the quality of GTR is such that it
surpasses the original F1 2k2.    
   Over-hyped?  Most of the raves came from users not makers.
   Over-rated?  It was the ONLY racing mod to score in a Internet poll
about mods(gamespy?)...comming in third overall against half-life, quake
III and Unreal mods.  And again, the opinions were fellow users not
producers or media hypesters.
    I respectfully disagree with your opinion.  :)
dave henrie  

SB

PS - NR2003's vastly superior multiplayer easily justifies the price premium
for this plodder. Now, if they could get the AI to cuss at you when you chop
'em off...

Steve

    If you can run F1 2k2 then you can run GTR.  It does have a slightly
lower average fps than the F1 sim, but if you leave the hud off and turn
off the mirrors at the start...you should be ok.
dave henrie

My reasons.  Sound: poor.  graphics:  better than average but not stunning.
Physics: poor.

Gave it a shot.  Ran it a few hours ultimately.  Didn't think much of it.  I
suppose my bias of running round tracks has a part in it.  I never heard
about the rule that said you have to agree with the consensus or your a
troll.  Mental note taken.

I'm not sure why, but I have GTR on 4 computers here and it won't run on the
533MHz. F1 2K2 will, but GTR won't. Never did figure out why though.

Bill Berry