Re: Old hand takes on GPL

On Tue 18 Jul 2000 01:10:19pm, Jon Beckett wrote: <snip> >So - after buying the system I had to buy GPL. It wasn't a choice - >it was calling to me from the software store shelf like the voice in >"Field of Dreams"...<snip> Like the rest of us, then... except for the rounders bit. :-) >First few laps were done at my brother's house. With all assistance >switched off<snip> Good one. Personally I never use driver aids in a sim, from day one. It makes me utterly useless at first, but it's better in the long run. >Once I got it up and running, the first few laps were spent either >losing the car under braking, getting scared while drifting at >150mph, or going straight to the scene of the accident at the last >corner of Monza. Hooray! Someone else who finds the Parabolica a pain! Try braking at the start of the dark stripe, so you're off the brakes when you turn in (unless you're good enough to trailbrake, that is). >After screwing my thinking head on, I got the Ferrari down into the >1:36 bracket around Monza, then downloaded the Eagle setups from the >net - which immediately brought a successions of 1:31's - driving >with a joystick too (Logitech steering wheel is next week). Can't come soon enough. I rarely get below 1:31 with a stick - a FF wheel later, and it's 1:28 time. >At this point I thought... hmmm... I'll try a race with a field of >20. Practice saw me 3rd on the grid for my first ever race. I of >course got my first race start hopelessly wrong, and Hill, Clarke et >al went past like I was standing still (which I was). Everyone gets starts wrong. I get it right by accident about one time in ten, then forget how I did it... >Heading into the third corner about 6th, some idiot punted me from >behind, causing the biggest pile-up ever seen by the human eye. If >drivers could have come out of the cockpits in bits, they would >have. White car, was it sir? Yes, we're looking for that gentleman in connection with a number of other moving traffic offences :-) <snip> drafting <snip> Slipstreaming. the word is "slipstreaming". We don't have to speak American in this game, you know (except when reading the almost-incomprehensible name-dropping in "Four Wheel Drift"...) <snip> >obviously a wheel >and pedals will bring the missing speed to get under 1:30 straight >away. Hah! One piece of advice here, good sir - don't assume *anything* about GPL. Saying "if I do such and such, I'll be quicker straight away" is asking for trouble. Having said that, I expect you'll be back in a few weeks, telling us all how easy it is to do 7:50 at the Ring... -- David. (GPLRank handicap: +8.85) "After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll, really." (Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

I haven't had so much fun since the cat died :-) After playing GP2 rather too much than is good for your health back in the 90's, I've not touched PC games for the last three years - I baulked at the cost of the machines to stay "current". However - with the imminent release of GP3, I've bitten the bullet and bought a new all-singing, all-dancing system... and I'll even admit it's been bought just for GP3. So - after buying the system I had to buy GPL. It wasn't a choice - it was calling to me from the software store shelf like the voice in "Field of Dreams"... First few laps were done at my brother's house. With all assistance switched off we laughed our way around monza's run-off areas with gusto - power slide here, tank slapper there, doughnut over there, wheel in a tree, three spectators dead, upside down in the bails... Following that I went home and installed on the GP3 machine (aka "The Beast"). Oh how I laughed. Not. Tip for people owning Matrox G400 Max cards - you need the v.6 Beta driver from their site before you can play GPL with DirectX. Once I got it up and running, the first few laps were spent either losing the car under braking, getting scared while drifting at 150mph, or going straight to the scene of the accident at the last corner of Monza. After screwing my thinking head on, I got the Ferrari down into the 1:36 bracket around Monza, then downloaded the Eagle setups from the net - which immediately brought a successions of 1:31's - driving with a joystick too (Logitech steering wheel is next week). At this point I thought... hmmm... I'll try a race with a field of 20. Practice saw me 3rd on the grid for my first ever race. I of course got my first race start hopelessly wrong, and Hill, Clarke et al went past like I was standing still (which I was). Heading into the third corner about 6th, some idiot punted me from behind, causing the biggest pile-up ever seen by the human eye. If drivers could have come out of the cockpits in bits, they would have. Okay... so I'm not ready to race just yet. Doing a quick lap on my own is not enough to be able to race. Several races starting from the back of the field saw me diving for the inside, drafting and punting people off with the best of them :-) Last night saw me grabbing the Lotus (which I had read was seriously quick yet unmentionably evil), and delving into it's setup to wrestle it around the track. After playing around with the various options, I ended up throwing the car around nearly under 1:31 - obviously a wheel and pedals will bring the missing speed to get under 1:30 straight away. My one observation about trying to drive GPL with a joystick is it's very difficult to get on the brakes without affecting steering - and because of having to feed the throttle and brakes so accurately, you tend to steer when you don't intend to. A steering wheel will bring a world of control not possible with a joystick. Anyway... onwards and upwards! (or should that be "throught the barrier and into the crowd again?") Jon Beckett <[email hidden]> Editor of the Thought Cafe www.thoughtcafe.co.uk Jonathan Beckett, Senior Developer Nutek Services Ltd. [email hidden] http://www.absplannner2000.co.uk

"Jon Beckett" <[email hidden]> wrote > Heading into the third corner about 6th, some idiot punted me from > behind, causing the biggest pile-up ever seen by the human eye. If > drivers could have come out of the cockpits in bits, they would have. Ah I see you discovered the magic powers of Surtees. We need to create a site where people can upload their "dumb Surtees move of the week" replays ;-P. Congratulations on your purchase of GPL. May the ForceFeedback be with you! (wow btw can you see the potential of such slogan for a wheel company? Catchy, pop-reference, $$$). I'll copyright it ;) -- Fran�ois M�nard <ymenard> -- May the Downforce be with you... -- http://www.WeRace.net -- People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world.

John Beckett wrote: Heading into the third corner about 6th, some idiot punted me from behind, causing the biggest pile-up ever seen by the human eye. If drivers could have come out of the cockpits in bits, they would have. If it was a white car which rammed you that was John Surtees. Obviously he's branching out from his usual hunting ground of Parabolica. Cheers Phil ----------------------------------------------------------- Got questions? Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

On Tue, 18 Jul 2000 12:31:10 GMT, "ymenard" <[email hidden]> wrote: >Ah I see you discovered the magic powers of Surtees. We need to create a >site where people can upload their "dumb Surtees move of the week" replays >;-P. What's the URL? I've got one ready!

A wonderful post! Please keep us updated on your efforts. J. P. Hovercraft Jon Beckett wrote:

Quoted text (71 lines)

> I haven't had so much fun since the cat died :-) > > After playing GP2 rather too much than is good for your health back in > the 90's, I've not touched PC games for the last three years - I > baulked at the cost of the machines to stay "current". However - with > the imminent release of GP3, I've bitten the bullet and bought a new > all-singing, all-dancing system... and I'll even admit it's been > bought just for GP3. > > So - after buying the system I had to buy GPL. It wasn't a choice - it > was calling to me from the software store shelf like the voice in > "Field of Dreams"... > > First few laps were done at my brother's house. With all assistance > switched off we laughed our way around monza's run-off areas with > gusto - power slide here, tank slapper there, doughnut over there, > wheel in a tree, three spectators dead, upside down in the bails... > > Following that I went home and installed on the GP3 machine (aka "The > Beast"). Oh how I laughed. Not. Tip for people owning Matrox G400 Max > cards - you need the v.6 Beta driver from their site before you can > play GPL with DirectX. > > Once I got it up and running, the first few laps were spent either > losing the car under braking, getting scared while drifting at 150mph, > or going straight to the scene of the accident at the last corner of > Monza. > > After screwing my thinking head on, I got the Ferrari down into the > 1:36 bracket around Monza, then downloaded the Eagle setups from the > net - which immediately brought a successions of 1:31's - driving with > a joystick too (Logitech steering wheel is next week). > > At this point I thought... hmmm... I'll try a race with a field of 20. > Practice saw me 3rd on the grid for my first ever race. I of course > got my first race start hopelessly wrong, and Hill, Clarke et al went > past like I was standing still (which I was). > > Heading into the third corner about 6th, some idiot punted me from > behind, causing the biggest pile-up ever seen by the human eye. If > drivers could have come out of the cockpits in bits, they would have. > > Okay... so I'm not ready to race just yet. Doing a quick lap on my own > is not enough to be able to race. Several races starting from the back > of the field saw me diving for the inside, drafting and punting people > off with the best of them :-) > > Last night saw me grabbing the Lotus (which I had read was seriously > quick yet unmentionably evil), and delving into it's setup to wrestle > it around the track. After playing around with the various options, I > ended up throwing the car around nearly under 1:31 - obviously a wheel > and pedals will bring the missing speed to get under 1:30 straight > away. > > My one observation about trying to drive GPL with a joystick is it's > very difficult to get on the brakes without affecting steering - and > because of having to feed the throttle and brakes so accurately, you > tend to steer when you don't intend to. A steering wheel will bring a > world of control not possible with a joystick. > > Anyway... onwards and upwards! (or should that be "throught the > barrier and into the crowd again?") > > Jon Beckett <[email hidden]> > Editor of the Thought Cafe > www.thoughtcafe.co.uk > > Jonathan Beckett, Senior Developer > Nutek Services Ltd. > [email hidden] > http://www.absplannner2000.co.uk

Jon Beckett <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... >A steering wheel will bring a world of control not possible with ajoystick. Bear in mind its much easier to catch it with a joystick though when it all goes wrong Can't stand driving with one myself though. -- Cheers, Robin Lord - Trance DJ & Sim Racer. http://www.oppositelock.co.uk N�rburgring and Grand Prix Legends

In article <[email hidden]>, Jon Beckett <[email hidden]> writes <snip>

Quoted text (7 lines)

> >My one observation about trying to drive GPL with a joystick is it's >very difficult to get on the brakes without affecting steering - and >because of having to feed the throttle and brakes so accurately, you >tend to steer when you don't intend to. A steering wheel will bring a >world of control not possible with a joystick. >

Fun post. :) And just for that here's a tip for joystick driving which may help until you get that wheel. If you haven't already done so, then move the linearity slider about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to the right (towards non- linear). It should definitely help with steering & braking/accelerating at the same time. <snip> -- Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) No person's opinions can be said to be more correct than another's, because each is the sole judge of his or her own experience.

On Tue, 18 Jul 2000 18:41:20 +0100, "Robin Lord" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted text (9 lines)

>Jon Beckett <[email hidden]> wrote in message >news:[email hidden]... >>A steering wheel will bring a world of control not possible with a >joystick. > >Bear in mind its much easier to catch it with a joystick though when it all >goes wrong > >Can't stand driving with one myself though.

And Woeger doesn't seem to have many problems driving with a joystick too :) Ande

He could be *so* much better with a wheel though <vbg> -- -Ace- (GPLRank +1.83) Andre Warringa <[email hidden]> wrote: > And Woeger doesn't seem to have many problems driving with a joystick > too :) > > Ande

On Wed 19 Jul 2000 07:41:14am, Tony StewartNo20 wrote: >I can Help ya out there send your surtees disasters and i will post >the replays.<snip> Good idea. One tip, though - try saying "Well" less often... :-) -- David. (GPLRank handicap: +2.68) "After all, a mere thousand yards - such a harmless little knoll, really." (Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh)

Your essay is very discouraging to those of us with more than our fair share of klutziness (reading the other GPL posts on this board, I think there were two of us at last count...) From several years with N1,2,3, etc., I thought I was a something if a simm-whizz -- NOT! I've worked (well, I'll admit I've enjoyed it mostly) for six-solid months to get your GPL times... I usually just read this board, cuz everybody talks about lapping Spa in the 3-teens. I'm truly happy when I can put three consecutive 3:30s together. But, hey, somebody has to be Surtees' bait... I'll watch for your taillights to go by. SGT Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

In article <8l24sk$m71$[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted text (9 lines)

> Jon Beckett <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > >A steering wheel will bring a world of control not possible with a > joystick. > > Bear in mind its much easier to catch it with a joystick though when it all > goes wrong > > Can't stand driving with one myself though.

I use a small joystick for GPL - it's easier to apply rapid opposite lock, but harder to brake and steer at the same time. I've tried a wheel though and although I find it easier for steering, I can't get on with the pedals - there is no feedback and it's hard to find the braking lock up point. - Michael

On Wed, 19 Jul 2000 07:07 +0100 (BST), [email hidden] (Andrew MacPherson) wrote: >The only way to use a joystick is to have pedals as well, steer with the >stick, pedal with the pedals. Good job I cycle a fair bit then :-) Should reduce my laptimes. Jonathan Beckett, Senior Developer Nutek Services Ltd. [email hidden] http://www.absplannner2000.co.uk

I can Help ya out there send your surtees disasters and i will post the replays. Im not done all the way with the internal layout. :-) ------------------------------------ Primary -http://www.stas.net/simworld2000 mirror - http://swtwok.00game.com

Jon, welcome to the Wonderful World of GPL and thanks so much for a totally entertaining essay on your first adventures! :-) Your life has been irrevocably-changed, you know. -- Regards, Bruce Kennewell, Canberra, Australia. --------------------------- Jon Beckett <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > I haven't had so much fun since the cat died :-) > > After playing GP2 rather too much than is good for your health back in > the 90's, I've not touched PC games for the last three years - I > baulked at the cost of the machines to stay "current". However - with > the imminent release of GP3, I've bitten the bullet and bought a new > all-singing, all-dancing system... and I'll even admit it's been > bought just for GP3. > > So - after buying the system I had to buy GPL. It wasn't a choice - it > was calling to me from the software store shelf like the voice in > "Field of Dreams"... > > First few laps were done at my brother's house. With all assistance > switched off we laughed our way around monza's run-off areas with > gusto - power slide here, tank slapper there, doughnut over there, > wheel in a tree, three spectators dead, upside down in the bails... > > Following that I went home and installed on the GP3 machine (aka "The > Beast"). Oh how I laughed. Not. Tip for people owning Matrox G400 Max > cards - you need the v.6 Beta driver from their site before you can > play GPL with DirectX. > > Once I got it up and running, the first few laps were spent either > losing the car under braking, getting scared while drifting at 150mph, > or going straight to the scene of the accident at the last corner of > Monza. > > After screwing my thinking head on, I got the Ferrari down into the > 1:36 bracket around Monza, then downloaded the Eagle setups from the > net - which immediately brought a successions of 1:31's - driving with > a joystick too (Logitech steering wheel is next week). > > At this point I thought... hmmm... I'll try a race with a field of 20. > Practice saw me 3rd on the grid for my first ever race. I of course > got my first race start hopelessly wrong, and Hill, Clarke et al went > past like I was standing still (which I was). > > Heading into the third corner about 6th, some idiot punted me from > behind, causing the biggest pile-up ever seen by the human eye. If > drivers could have come out of the cockpits in bits, they would have. > > Okay... so I'm not ready to race just yet. Doing a quick lap on my own > is not enough to be able to race. Several races starting from the back > of the field saw me diving for the inside, drafting and punting people > off with the best of them :-) > > Last night saw me grabbing the Lotus (which I had read was seriously > quick yet unmentionably evil), and delving into it's setup to wrestle > it around the track. After playing around with the various options, I > ended up throwing the car around nearly under 1:31 - obviously a wheel > and pedals will bring the missing speed to get under 1:30 straight > away. > > My one observation about trying to drive GPL with a joystick is it's > very difficult to get on the brakes without affecting steering - and > because of having to feed the throttle and brakes so accurately, you > tend to steer when you don't intend to. A steering wheel will bring a > world of control not possible with a joystick. > > Anyway... onwards and upwards! (or should that be "throught the > barrier and into the crowd again?") > > Jon Beckett <[email hidden]> > Editor of the Thought Cafe > www.thoughtcafe.co.uk > > Jonathan Beckett, Senior Developer > Nutek Services Ltd. > [email hidden] > http://www.absplannner2000.co.uk

> My one observation about trying to drive GPL with a joystick > is it's very difficult to get on the brakes without affecting > steering When the demo came out over two years ago I drove with a joystick for about, er... 18 hours, then it was straight off to PC World for an F1Sim :-> The only way to use a joystick is to have pedals as well, steer with the stick, pedal with the pedals. Andrew McP

Jon Beckett wrote: > > I haven't had so much fun since the cat died :-) You can read some pretty sick stuff into that =P > So - after buying the system I had to buy GPL. It wasn't a choice - it > was calling to me from the software store shelf like the voice in > "Field of Dreams"... You 'built' it...you just had to make it come too =) > First few laps were done at my brother's house. With all assistance > switched off we laughed our way around monza's run-off areas with > gusto - power slide here, tank slapper there, doughnut over there, > wheel in a tree, three spectators dead, upside down in the bails... Now all you need to do is go get the Pantsring and try stratosphere launches, and then have fun trying to make your car catch fire (hint: full fuel load works best =) > Following that I went home and installed on the GP3 machine (aka "The > Beast"). Oh how I laughed. Not. Tip for people owning Matrox G400 Max > cards - you need the v.6 Beta driver from their site before you can > play GPL with DirectX. Wonder if I'll need that for the G200 as well...no biggie as I'm using a Voodoo2 but would like to see what the G200 can do. > Heading into the third corner about 6th, some idiot punted me from > behind, causing the biggest pile-up ever seen by the human eye. If > drivers could have come out of the cockpits in bits, they would have. Was it white? Welcome to the world of getting punted by John Surtees...it's a horrible reality of GPL =) > Last night saw me grabbing the Lotus (which I had read was seriously > quick yet unmentionably evil), and delving into it's setup to wrestle > it around the track. After playing around with the various options, I > ended up throwing the car around nearly under 1:31 - obviously a wheel > and pedals will bring the missing speed to get under 1:30 straight > away. Good lord...you'll be climbing up GPLRank in no time!!!! > Anyway... onwards and upwards! (or should that be "throught the > barrier and into the crowd again?") Leaning towards latter =) Kirk Lane [email hidden]