On Mon, 27 Nov 2000 12:05:02 -0500, Diamondcutter
<[email hidden]> wrote:
I'm like you - I love N3, I consider myself pretty decent at it, but
i'm not sure I can cut it with the guys that probably race for real.
Here in Australia the ASRG (Australian Sim Racing Group) runs "Rookie
Racing" online once a week, N3 on Sundays, GPL on mondays. I've run in
the N3 night a few times, with mixed results (yes, over a 56k
connection and I've had no problems).
I've found that while I am fairly capable of competing with the AI,
the spread of "real" drivers is much wider, and I normally qualify mid
pack. The problem here is i'm back from all the really good guys, and
have almost every time been taken out in or before turn 1. I'm sure
some people are racing with gamepads or keys, judging by the "jerky"
steering that often sends them right into the side of my car as i'm
making what would have been a clean pass.
That all said - it is damn fun! After the inevitable wreck (and i'm
sure for some people that is the highlight), I just buzz around trying
to pass as many cars as possible, regardless of whether they are a few
laps up or down. When you get along side someone, and you know it's a
real person driving, and they are giving you racing room and you don't
want to be the first one to get on the brakes.... now that's cool,
even if you aren't racing for position.
I just use one of the WC cars (Jeff Burton's at the moment), i've seen
people in the default 143 / 83 car. Of course the regulars all have
submitted their nicely painted cars, some of them in team colours
(very impressed by the HRT's, and the Rabbitoh Racing guy - legend!),
and i've downloaded this set which I also use for "scratch" AI races
when I don't feel like running a Championship event.
I don't know where you are living (I assume the US), but i am positive
there would be a similar organisation based over there (of course the
closer the server to you, the better your connection quality will be).
Get into it, try it out, play nice and race fair, and you'll have a
blast. Cruise around all the usual N3 sites, check the links pages,
and you're sure to find a league or club that suits.
>Is there simuntaneous chat? (can I communicate with other drivers
>during the race?)
>
yes, but theres a few issues to consider:
1) it's hard to type while driving. Even harder at 200mph.
2) the text takes up bandwidth - not a huge amount, but the actual sim
needs so much that people with slower connections can take a big hit
if there is alot of unneccessary chatter. However, it's considered
common courtesy to indicate when you are entering/leaving the pits. At
least where i've raced.
>Are there people out there looking for more racers or are the leagues
>all full? How often do you race? How long are the races? Do people
>get disappointed and go back to just racing the AI or is online racing
>addictive?
Like I said i've had mixed results. It's fun, but then I also like
winning. I know that the AI won't deliberately take me out, nor do the
same due to incompetence. But then when I beat the AI, much as i'd
like to think I outraced NASCAR's best, all I beat was a bit of
programming code. And really, it's nice to have a race and then chat
afterwards. I like to think of it as all going back to the clubhouse
afterwards and sinking a few beers while we joke about each others
inability to negotiate T1 at Gateway. All in all, it's pretty cool.
DG
