Not really only a GP3 related problem. I seem to be having major
problems with my dual-boot PC (Win98/Win2000).
In Win98SE, any DirectX games/demos cause my machine to stutter. The
games and Win98 are both unusable in this state and only a reboot
will fix it. I have a 1GHz machine with 256MB RAM and a Hercules
Prophet II GTS 32MB, plus CD network card, etc. Thus I can ran GP3 in
software mode no problems but using Hardware mode is a no-go.
However, under Win2000 things are much better. GP3 works fine. The
only tricky bit was to get my split-axis wheel to work (I configured
that as "Two 2-axis, 2 button joysticks on one gameport" and split
axis worked fine apart from something a bit screwy about the
brake-axis calibration "wrapping around" in GP3 but workable).
In Win2000, I have selected Hardware mode and run in 1280x1024 with a
PO jumping between 60% and 100% from cockpit view even at Monaco.
However, the PO goes up above 100% when viewing from a track-camera.
The frame rate is set to 63.9fps using the FPS1.0 utility. It is very
usable and smooth. Lot's of fun to drive!
In Win98, I have scratched all my hair out! I have loaded various
DirectX drivers and display drivers (both from Hercules and nVidia)
and used various combinations without any effect. Even the latest
Detonator 3 drivers have had no effect. I suspect that it may be a
IRQ or DMA problem. Any ideas?
Back to GP3. Wet weather driving is amazing. Sometimes I can get away
with driving on the curbs but most often than not I'm shot into a
spin!
I'm so used to instantaneous gear changes in GP2 that the slowness of
the gear-changes in GP3 (realistic I expect) takes some getting used
to.
I don't think that I like the moving steering wheel...there is a
latency in its movement compared to my real wheel. It's very
disconcerting. I need to switch it off. How? The option is greyed
out.
The AI...I swear that they weave in front of me! I had one that
DELIBERITLY smashed into the side of me! And boy, they don't take any
prisoners when they're behind you and have even a whiff of a chance
to outbrake you! Lot's of collisions! In GP2 I could normally expect
the AI to give me the corner if I had got far enough in front...not
in GP3! I have to use the mirrors a *lot* more now.
All the track scenery is very nice...lots of eye candy. However, it's
all very distracting initially. I'm way too busy looking at the track
now to bother with the scenery!
All in all, not a bad game, EXCEPT that there are lots of bugs and
deficiencies in there. I hope that Hasbro/Micropose look at their QA
as clearly the game is still beta software...it should not have been
allowed on the shelves.
--
Kulvinder Singh Matharu
E-mail : ksmatharu # ieee . org [without the spaces and where #=@]
Website: http://www.matharu.demon.co.uk/
t.i.n.s.t.a.a.f.l.
