Terminal Reality

discussed in 202 posts, 1996-2007 · overall tone mixed

Monster Truck Madness 1996 CART Precision Racing 1997

Posts per month

How the mood changed

Starts at zero. Every post that spoke well of them moves the line up, every critical post moves it down (weighted −2 to +2).

Key threads

• Angry demand for the CART Precision Racing patch 1997-12-01 · 46 posts
  A poster angrily demanded the CART Precision Racing patch two weeks after release, accusing Microsoft and TRI of shipping an unfinished game. Dean of the CART Team replied that the patch was always slated for December and that a TRI build was due that week; he also confirmed gamma correction in the patch and blamed Riva 128 flicker on drivers. Others told the poster to be patient or return the game, and he eventually apologised to the group; side chatter covered Vancouver weather and the Mercedes elk test.
• Eagle Woman's CPR review prompts Microsoft rep to quit r.a.s. 1997-12-09 · 239 posts
  Alison (Eagle Woman) posted a critical review of CART Precision Racing, and Microsoft's Dean (CART Team) disputed it, arguing many problems were specific to her system. After a post claiming Microsoft no longer listened to criticism, Dean announced he was leaving the newsgroup like other sim publishers. The thread erupted into a long fight over whether critics had driven him away or he had overreacted, with personal attacks lasting until late December.
• Debate over Dean's letter about the CPR patch 1997-12-14 · 26 posts
  David Fisher shared a letter from Microsoft's Dean about the CART Precision Racing patch and those who had helped shape it. Bart Brown found its tone immature for a Microsoft simulations general manager, while others found it reasonable. Discussion moved to why the patch came so quickly and whether CPR and F1RS had avoided each other's markets at Christmas.
• CPR beta patch testers under a no-comment request 1997-12-17 · 35 posts
  Players asked about frame rates with the CART Precision Racing beta patch, but testers said Microsoft had asked them not to comment publicly. Some buyers argued they had a right to know since they paid for an unfinished game, and others debated whether inexperience excused the release state.
• CPR patch verdict turns into GP2 versus F1RS argument 1998-01-15 · 119 posts
  Asked whether the CART Precision Racing patch fixed the AI, several replied it did not and they had deleted the game. The thread turned into a long, heated argument between Greg Cisko, who said F1RS made GP2 obsolete, and Randy Magruder, John Wallace and Richard Walker, who preferred aspects of GP2's driving feel and menus. Later posts covered Microsoft's statements about further CPR support.
• CPR given away with Firestone tyres, flame war follows 1998-03-16 · 60 posts
  Posters mocked Firestone giving away CART Precision Racing with new tyres, and listed the game's flaws when a newcomer asked why it was disliked. Discussion of Microsoft's Monster Truck Madness 2 and Terminal Reality's move to G.O.D. followed. The thread degenerated into personal attacks and email threats between Mike and Bart Brown, with complaints to ISPs.
• Leaked Glide DLL for CART Precision Racing 1998-03-31 · 41 posts
  Operation 3Dfx posted a DLL that enabled a Glide mode in CART Precision Racing, apparently removed from the release. Users reported better frame rates, and Joe McGinn said Glide was faster though it used only D3D-equivalent features. Beta tester David Fisher said the site had no right to post it, while others accused Microsoft of withholding Glide for political reasons.
• Snapshot of current open-wheel racing sims 2000-03-01 · 20 posts
  A newcomer asked which open-wheel sims were relevant. Most recommended GPL as still the best for physics, with F1 2000 and Grand Prix 3 expected soon, and IndyCar Racing II for CART. David Fisher's advice to skip GPL drew ridicule.
• CART Precision Racing frame rates and driving model debated 1997-11-02 · 32 posts
  A fan of the CPR demo complained of 12–15 fps with a 3Dfx card in cockpit view. Randy Magruder and John Wallace debated wheelspin, grip and how realistic CPR's tyre model was compared with ICR2. The CART team said the game had no AI-avoidance steering, though contact with the front wheels could affect steering, and they would look for a possible drafting bug; Jim Sokoloff noted that Papyrus models tyre grip as an ellipse, not a circle.
• Reaction to Eagle Woman's revised CPR review 1997-12-17 · 44 posts
  Alison (Eagle Woman) posted a revised, more balanced CART Precision Racing review and apologised for the tone of her first one. Some praised her, while Byron Forbes and Ronald Stoehr said she had been bullied and that the original was accurate given the AI and frame rate problems. Randy Magruder and others argued a complete review must cover strengths as well, and Alison said she stood by the content.
• Adrenaline Vault reviewer defends CART Precision Racing review 1997-11-19 · 31 posts
  The Adrenaline Vault's CART Precision Racing reviewer posted to defend his favourable review, and John Wallace called it overgenerous. Discussion moved to Papyrus's 3D strategy, with John Wallace reporting that 3Dfx support was coming for NASCAR 2, SODA and Grand Prix Legends but not ICR2. Posters argued over whether Sierra's sale of Rendition cards had delayed 3Dfx support.
• Microsoft details the CART Precision Racing patch contents 1997-12-08 · 105 posts
  Dean of Microsoft's CART Team listed the CART Precision Racing patch fixes: improved AI, 25-50% frame rate gains for all users, controller null zone, pit lane auto-pilot, gamma controls, larger steering ratio and better default setups, and said a new demo would follow. He explained that a native Glide version had been benchmarked but gave little benefit, sparking a long Direct3D-versus-Glide argument with 3Dfx owners. Later posts became a Voodoo versus Riva 128 hardware debate.
• Papyrus CART sim news sparks Papyrus versus Microsoft debate 1998-01-09 · 30 posts
  Alison asked whether reports of a new Papyrus CART sim for 1999 were true, and Ken confirmed an official announcement. A critic said Papyrus kept rehashing engines without curbs or rain, while Dave Henrie noted the new sims would use the Grand Prix Legends engine. Randy Magruder argued Papyrus had made only incremental advances since ICR1 and that CPR was more ambitious, which others disputed.
• The Pits' CPR review sparks 3Dfx versus Riva war 1998-01-18 · 110 posts
  A link to The Pits' top-rated CART Precision Racing review led to criticism of its recommendation of the Stealth II over 3Dfx. The thread became a long, heated argument between Greg Cisko and Randy Magruder over 3Dfx versus Riva 128 and Direct3D, including Longbow 2 support and Riva's market share. Joe McGinn and others backed 3Dfx while some Riva owners reported problems.
• Final verdicts on CART Precision Racing 1998-01-15 · 24 posts
  A veteran racer gave his final negative take on CART Precision Racing, and Alison recommended F1 Racing Simulation instead. An argument followed over whether her changing reviews showed outside influence or honest reassessment. Remaining bugs were listed and a high rating from The Pits was noted.

Busiest threads

• Angry demand for the CART Precision Racing patch (5 posts about it)
• Why I think CPR SUCKS BAD!!!!! (4 posts about it)
• CPR - Track Editor (4 posts about it)
• Eagle Woman's CPR review prompts Microsoft rep to quit r.a.s. (4 posts about it)
• Debate over Dean's letter about the CPR patch (4 posts about it)
• CPR beta patch testers under a no-comment request (4 posts about it)
• CPR patch verdict turns into GP2 versus F1RS argument (4 posts about it)
• CPR given away with Firestone tyres, flame war follows (4 posts about it)
• Leaked Glide DLL for CART Precision Racing (4 posts about it)
• INTERESTING QUESTION ABOUT CPR & 3DFX PATCH (4 posts about it)
• What's fun Driving online ??? (3 posts about it)
• Snapshot of current open-wheel racing sims (3 posts about it)
• Cart Precision Race (3 posts about it)
• CART Precision Racing frame rates and driving model debated (3 posts about it)
• Dean, Make Alison and Revved happy (3 posts about it)

Sentiment by year

Who talked about them most

John · 13 John Wallace · 12 David G Fisher · 10 Barton Brown · 8 Randy Magruder · 7 Byron Forbes · 7 ymenard · 6 CART Te · 6 Randy BO · 5 Trevor Thomas · 5 Michael E. Carver · 4 Alison Hine · 4 Joe McGinn · 4 Jason L'Hirondell · 4 Mike McCloske · 4 Mikes Design · 4 Marc · 4 Getz · 3 Richard Walker · 3 Alis · 3

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