rec.autos.simulators

Hello to all sim racing fan, here we go again for an impression (subjective
& objective) on
the newest F1 sim around from Ubisoft.

First of all i'll describe my own system here ( for preventing false
impression )

MB   : Asustek TX97/E 512k pipeline
RAM : 64Mb edo 60nS
CPU : Intel 200MMX o/c at 225Mhz with big heat sink and 2 extra cooling fan
mounted
         on tower case (one for bringing fresh air, one for exhausting)
VIDEO: Hercules Stingray 128/3D 6Mb ram with latest drivers 1.17 (has Glide
2.43)
            i've o/c slightly with Vrushtweek (ver: 1.13) and my figures
are :
            Dual cycle threshold: 65
            MCLK frequency     : 62
            VG_96 MCLK freq.  : 55
            *** all these parameters are in the green (safe) zone.
Extra info: CPU temperature is: 54 Celcius after hours of playing F1RS
                Motherboard temp :  27 Celcius   "      "       "     "    
    "
Steering/pedal: TSW with gear change paddle
GAMECARD: CH PRODUCT GAMECARD3 (GC3) force set at 13 ( to slow down
                     sensitivity in this sim )

With all these modifications, i have NO CRASH whatsoever with F1RS nor any
applications.

So let's go for my own impression, first of all, i can tell that i've got
NO SLOWDOWN anywhere
with 22 cars in the field, all graphics ON, full detail, and tried at every
circuit. I don't have a FPS
figure, it's not provide in the game (not of what i'm aware of), but it
looks pretty good.

Drivability, i've found while looking for the best "feel", by changing the
gamecard sensitivity,
and by keeping the game (wheel & pedal) sensitivity at 100%, driving feel
is perfect.
I've found out (and that's strange) compared to GP2, the sensitivity menu
works another way,
the lower you go, more likely there will be a "deadspot" in the controls
(i've read that somewhere ??),
actually what it does is, when you decrease the sensitivity, the
progressivness is changed dramatically.
I haven't removed my gamecard, but i presume it would be very difficult to
drive, since the PC is inducing
too much responsiveness (to some extent false reading).

Regarding the slow menus, i didn't found that it was occuring at all,
except: i've done an experiment:
I've changed the desktop from 1024x768 (my default setting), then went down
to 800 x 600, then
640 x 480, at this point, all the menus (access time) really got annoying.
I don't want to confuse
anybody, the game does run in 640 x 480, but my desktop is in 1024 x 768.
Now a question : is
this "slow menus" occurs or behave the same way as i've found ??? Also,
since i'm running a
VOODOO RUSH based card, when it "switches" to the game (from win95), is the
same problem
occurs with VOODOO based card ??

The graphics in the game is astonishing, it's just perfect, never seen any
sims with such high details
so far. The sound although is not so great, but after a while i get use to
it. I love the "echo" at Monaco
and you can hear other cars beeing close to you. If you really pay
attention, at Monaco you can hear
the other cars on the other side of the circuits. I love that. The mirrors
are minuscule, but i guess that's
the way it should be in a real F1 car.

Now the setups (that's my speciality), well compared to GP2, i've found
that using % of spring and
Anti-roll Bar is a bit confusing. The packers (bump ***s) does the same,
it's a % of  a maximum
of 40mm, i haven't noticed that until recently. What i like is changing
tyre compound, and wheel
camber (back to ICR2 days), Ride height can't go under 30mm and compared to
GP2, the numbers
can't be as low. Gear ratio are on a basis of 50 teeth (compared to 64 in
GP2), and what's really good
with the Engine RPM beeing changed, all kind of possibility are feasable.
The dampers use a % again,
so compared to GP2 (using numerical value), it's again a renewal of a long
learning process. The help
regarding all the setups parameters are quite simple to my point of view.
The telemetry is quite different,
what i dislike is the unavailability to view the graphics with reference
point to the circuits. Also where's
the wheelspin graphics ?? I really liked to know if i could go further with
brake ratio changes.
All in all, the setups / telemetry section will be a long relearning
process.

At last, the driving sensation is totally different, locking wheels under
braking are quite easy, you'll
need some practice to master this, same for wheelspin under acceleration.
I've notice that most of
the tracks are way different than GP2, in terms of layout and width, at
least the elevation are better
(i love Eau Rouge at Spa), and Monaco is totally crazy. If you go off the
track (even 1 wheel), be
carefull of spins. If you push too far, even in 3rd gear at the exit of a
corner, you can do a nice 360,
all in smoke, and leaving big trace of *** on the asphalt.

So this sim is a total new experience, I LOVE IT !

With the patch coming up to fix the replay problem, it will be almost
perfect.

Cheers to all for reading this.

SPY's GP2 WEBSITE
http://www.racesimcentral.net/~ericcote/gp2menu.html
Eric Cote in Canada

What I did find frustrating about the setup was that there was no
separation of fast and slow damping. It means another compromise in
setting up the car over bumps and kerbs. The other annoying thing is
that there are no tyre pressures there. Since temperatures are
modelled I would have thought pressures should be also.

Some elevation is good, but some totally wrong. Have you tried
Hungaroring, or especially Suzuka? They are totally flat :(

So far I'm pretty impressed too. It's totally unbelievable in link-up
mode. Even with 8 players networked there is no slowdown whatsoever,
and it's sooooo much fun :)

Cheers!
John

Nice to meet you again John, been a long time since the days of
GP2 setup questions (back to last Sept-Oct 96'), and all the confusion
report on bump and rebound dampers setting (the famous 2/3), i guess
you remember this. Anyhow we all apreciate your contribution with
your friend on all aspect of dampers and corner phase type.

Now we'll have to "translate" all those % of what? for Springs, ARB, etc..

 > >Now the setups (that's my speciality), well compared to GP2, i've found

Totally agree with you John, would have loved to play with tyre pressure,
same  for fast dampers, actually CPR went further with more elaborate
setup parameters, although 3D engine seems better in F1RS, compared
to what i've tried in CPR demo.

You're right corner #5 at Hungary should be an elevation then
you hit a top, then a suddon drop. As for Suzuka, better replay
some races, and i'll see what you mean.

I have Kali, i'm wondering if they are going to add F1RS in their list,
if you have any news on this, would appreciate.Tell me with what kind
of IPX emulator do you use in TCP/IP ?

Take care John, BTW Ubisoft will release a patch (s) for known bugs
I do hope they will correct the LOAD button (un-reachable) to most of us,
i've played with the taskbar height, and it helped a bit, i sincerally
believe
it does interfere with the load button, since the pointer (flag) can't go
lower
since it reach the lower limit. I presume this problem occurs with certain
3DFX cards, and it's ok in DirectX 5.0 (non voodoo cards).

Cheers from cold Canada, Eric

LL&P,
Eric

So Schummy punts others drivers about 1time per year ??

So Rubhino always finish with a car failure ??

So all those Sauber drivers actually block non-Ferrari cars ??

So Ralph Schum. does 1 stupid incident per race ??

Does it also implement FOCA and FIA president tempers ?? (well they don't
really have a temper, they just let the show go on and take the ca$h).

So...

With great respect,
May the downforce be with you,
Good race at the Brickyard,  (-o-)

Fran?ois Mnard, "ymenard" on NROS
Team member, Zombie Entreprise
Sponsored by AWPSS, http://www.awpss.com/

SimRacing director,  AWPSS
Official PR,         AWPSS
Director,            The SimRacing Hall-of-Fame
Co-director,         Light-Speed

- *Excuse me for my poor English(I'm French speaking) * -

Well i haven't done a full season yet, to answer all those questions....
(i'm polite to those drivers fan)

Beeing less polite.. Well Bernie & co have decide not to implement DIRECTLY
TCP/IP internet connection, i think the FIA takes themself too seriously..
Same
for black flag in the sim itself, they (Ubisoft) had to remove it
(according to good
source), So answering this last one > YES!

At least there's the IPX/SPX protocol that can be used for multi players..

See ya at Eau rouge, Eric

[snip!]

Well, the virtual Bernie Ecclestone offered me a million quid to
develop a paint kit to draw the fag adverts back onto the cars...

Ken

PS: If you don't know what I'm talking about, read more about the real
story at
http://www.sporting-life.com/formula1/news/formula1_881082484.html
--


#include <disclaim>

<SNIP>

Eh, no. It's 1996 only.

Cheers!

Remco