GPL Questions

Hi, I've been a hard-core flight sim guy for a while, and I was thinking it might be fun to try a bit of online hard-core auto racing. GPL was pointed pointed out to me as being one of the best (from a physics POV) so I dl'd the demo (but I've yet to get it running). A few questions if I might: Is GPL available in the stores? I'm in Ottawa Canada, and I've yet to come across it in the couple of places I thought I'd find it. I've not done a completely exhaustive search yet but it got me wondering. Recommended steering wheels? Perhaps some that aren't too expensive? How would setting up a wheel work with the current flight controllers (TM stick, throttle and rudder pedals) I've got? Do I have to unplug everything and swap? 'Puter wise I've got an Intel Celeron 466MHz with 64MB PC-100 Ram, Abit BE6, Diamond Viper v770 TnT2, 32MB AGP, Creative Soundblaster Live value, Asus 50X CD ROM. Any guesses as to why the demo won't run? When doing the install of the demo it asked about the graphics options and I selected 3dfx (which is how Warbirds 3D is done). When I double click on the app I get a brief appearance of the hourglass and then nothing happens. :-( Well if I can get this running are there any good central places for add-ons and whatnot on the web? Thanks for any and all help. David -wabb- Bilenkey

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] wrote: > Hi, > > I've been a hard-core flight sim guy for a while, and I was thinkingit > might be fun to try a bit of online hard-core auto racing. GPL was > pointed pointed out to me as being one of the best (from a physicsPOV) > so I dl'd the demo (but I've yet to get it running). A few questionsif > I might: > > Is GPL available in the stores? I'm in Ottawa Canada, and I've yet to > come across it in the couple of places I thought I'd find it. I've not > done a completely exhaustive search yet but it got me wondering. > It is generally not available any longer in most stores since it came out in September '98. However, there are reports that it is being re- released on the cheap as part of some sort of package. Check with Sierra directly to see about availability. If not, I'm sure that some arrangements could be made :-). > > Recommended steering wheels? Perhaps some that aren't too expensive? > It does support FF wheels with the latest update, but it's arguable as to how much help this really is. A good wheel from Logitech or MS would be in order and should not set you back too much. > How would setting up a wheel work with the current flight controllers > (TM stick, throttle and rudder pedals) I've got? Do I have to unplug > everything and swap? > There are some rudder pedals (C-H?) that can be switched into racecar mode, but you will definitely be happier with a real wheel and pedals. Also, be sure to get pedals that use separate axes for the throttle and brake (this is where racecar pedals differ from flight pedals). The game will work on a shared-axis unit, but you will lose some car control capability. Also, some of the latest units use USB instead of the game port; that might be a nice way to go. > 'Puter wise I've got an Intel Celeron 466MHz with 64MB PC-100 Ram,Abit > BE6, Diamond Viper v770 TnT2, 32MB AGP, Creative Soundblaster Live > value, Asus 50X CD ROM. Any guesses as to why the demo won't run?When > doing the install of the demo it asked about the graphics options andI > selected 3dfx (which is how Warbirds 3D is done). When I double click > on the app I get a brief appearance of the hourglass and then nothing > happens. :-( > Well, it looks like you don't have a 3DFx card! The game runs best if you have a Voodoo card (Voodoo-1, 2, and 3 supported) so that it uses the Glide API. There is a patch of some sort to be able to use OpenGL on non-3DFx cards, but since I've always had the Voodoos I don't know much about this angle. > > Well if I can get this running are there any good central places for > add-ons and whatnot on the web? > Come back when you get it running. There are dozens of sites out there. The main activity for people in this NG is racing on-line. Go to gpl.gamestats.com/vroc and take a look at what's there. You'll also find tons of ready-made car setups for downloading -- very important for a good GPL experience. > Thanks for any and all help. > > David -wabb- Bilenkey > Welcome to the club! Doug Gordon Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Sorry, I know this ain't answering your quesitons, but what's the GPL of the flight sim world? I always wondered :) David Bilenkey wrote:

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> Hi, > > I've been a hard-core flight sim guy for a while, and I was thinking it > might be fun to try a bit of online hard-core auto racing. GPL was > pointed pointed out to me as being one of the best (from a physics POV) > so I dl'd the demo (but I've yet to get it running). A few questions if > I might: > > Is GPL available in the stores? I'm in Ottawa Canada, and I've yet to > come across it in the couple of places I thought I'd find it. I've not > done a completely exhaustive search yet but it got me wondering. > > Recommended steering wheels? Perhaps some that aren't too expensive? > > How would setting up a wheel work with the current flight controllers > (TM stick, throttle and rudder pedals) I've got? Do I have to unplug > everything and swap? > > 'Puter wise I've got an Intel Celeron 466MHz with 64MB PC-100 Ram, Abit > BE6, Diamond Viper v770 TnT2, 32MB AGP, Creative Soundblaster Live > value, Asus 50X CD ROM. Any guesses as to why the demo won't run? When > doing the install of the demo it asked about the graphics options and I > selected 3dfx (which is how Warbirds 3D is done). When I double click > on the app I get a brief appearance of the hourglass and then nothing > happens. :-( > > Well if I can get this running are there any good central places for > add-ons and whatnot on the web? > > Thanks for any and all help. > > David -wabb- Bilenkey

-- Rob Swindells [Rob Swindells Racing] http://swindells.8m.com "Add life to your days, not days to your life." "The greatest substitute for talent is hard work." "Doing it, is better than watching it, is better than simulating it." "I may not be perfect, but parts of me are excellent."

Hi david the demo doesn't work because you don't have a #dfx card...it really is that simple! get the full version, as it is very cheap now, and to use it with your TNT2 get the openGL2 beta patch from www.theuspits.com...and you're away!!!! as for a wheel, the Logitech Formula force seems to be the wheel of choice..i am now on my second......... Hope this helps.. Sudesh David Bilenkey wrote:

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> Hi, > > I've been a hard-core flight sim guy for a while, and I was thinking it > might be fun to try a bit of online hard-core auto racing. GPL was > pointed pointed out to me as being one of the best (from a physics POV) > so I dl'd the demo (but I've yet to get it running). A few questions if > I might: > > Is GPL available in the stores? I'm in Ottawa Canada, and I've yet to > come across it in the couple of places I thought I'd find it. I've not > done a completely exhaustive search yet but it got me wondering. > > Recommended steering wheels? Perhaps some that aren't too expensive? > > How would setting up a wheel work with the current flight controllers > (TM stick, throttle and rudder pedals) I've got? Do I have to unplug > everything and swap? > > 'Puter wise I've got an Intel Celeron 466MHz with 64MB PC-100 Ram, Abit > BE6, Diamond Viper v770 TnT2, 32MB AGP, Creative Soundblaster Live > value, Asus 50X CD ROM. Any guesses as to why the demo won't run? When > doing the install of the demo it asked about the graphics options and I > selected 3dfx (which is how Warbirds 3D is done). When I double click > on the app I get a brief appearance of the hourglass and then nothing > happens. :-( > > Well if I can get this running are there any good central places for > add-ons and whatnot on the web? > > Thanks for any and all help. > > David -wabb- Bilenkey

I would say Janes F-15. Falcon 4 is too... new? (Supports DirectX etc) /petern On Thu, 13 Apr 2000 19:46:06 +0100, robswindells <[email hidden]> wrote: >Sorry, I know this ain't answering your quesitons, but what's the GPL of >the flight sim world? I always wondered :) SNIP

robswindells wrote: > Sorry, I know this ain't answering your quesitons, but what's the GPL of > the flight sim world? I always wondered :) > In my opinion the GPL of the flightsim world (prop sims, WWII stuff) is Warbirds (http://www08.imagiconline.com/warbirds/) although there is a new one out that is getting better called AcesHigh (http://www.hitechcreations.com/) some prefer this but not me. And then the one that's just on the horizon that has many very excited is WWII Online (http://www.wwiionline.com/). WB and AH are both free to download and fly offline or head to head. Then if you like you can get an account and fly in the arenas with upwards of 150 other pilots. If you do get an account mention my name (-wabb-)! :-) Now back to your regularly scheduled NG. :-) -- David Bilenkey [email hidden]

Hello, Here is my thoughts of "GPL of the flight sim world".. Jane's F-15 Yes, it might be a nominate, but not equal. It's restricted 640x480, graphic engine has flaws. I couldn't remember how many times to witness melting mountains in front of my mad-hen. Falcon 4.0 If it runs as it planed. it might be... Too many malfunctions (bugs). What a misery abandoned child. WB and AH Nice references! but it can be said yea only online aspect. Flanker 1.5 Even if with Flanker 2.0, couldn't reach GPL. Poor graphics. Rickety campaigns so you cannot enjoy realistic combat flight sim missions. However, It's AIs are the best in the genre, so you can enjoy only Air to Air missions. My bid is not contemporary, but it is EF2000 in its era (1996-1997). It had polished dynamic campaign and furious good AI, and first generation nice online capability "in its era". GPL is getting in old timer, but it's fine graphics with high resolution, damn enjoyable AI cars makes great "dynamic race"(you cannot expect what happen next) surpasses average "dynamic campaign" in flight sims. Online capability is no need to mention. Thanks VROC developers and great drivers on it! =) Y.Minami

Flanker 1.5. Flanker 2's not quite in the same league, but the original's "hard simulation, no punches pulled to make life easy for you" approach was very impressive... still is. Very good flight model (tight Russian coding designed for 386's originally) and the weapons modelling is still some of the scariest in the business. Flanker didn't sell many copies either. Must be crap :-) Andrew McP

robswindells wrote: > > Sorry, I know this ain't answering your quesitons, but what's the GPL of > the flight sim world? I always wondered :) > A good question. It all depends on which feature of GPL you want to compare it with. If the physics engine detail is important, Fighter Squadron: Screamin' Demons Over Europe still has to be beaten. The implementation of the planes in the original release is less than good, but the new planes and the modifications to the original ones make it a very realistic and immersive flying experience. You can loose a part of the wing, or landing gears, and see them flutter to the ground or bounce over the runway, in exactly the way as it should (it's all calculated by Newtonian physics). Multiplayer is also easy to setup through Activisions matching servers, and is lots of fun, but the AI can give you a tough time, too. If you consider the immersiveness and historical accuracy, MiG Alley is the one to beat. The flight models are superb and demanding (you spin just as easily as in GPL), the AI tough, and overall it feels like piloting one of these old jets and props, and it has a full dynamic campaign. The graphics are perhaps not as crisp as I would like them, but they do keep a good framerate with plenty of planes (say a few ten) up in a fight. A patch was just released that fixes multiplayer, but I have yet to test this. The multiplayer seems to be best best implemented in Jane's F/A-18, and so is the systems modelling. Flight model is also very good, the AI is less demanding (but still not easy) close up than the previous two, yet in a modern jet sim this doesn't matter as much. It's just about what you are looking for, although it seems that Mig Alley is the closest to the overall experience. -Gregor

When I first found GPL I said Wow! GPL is the Warbirds of the Racing sim world. Jim D. robswindells wrote in message <[email hidden]>...

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>Sorry, I know this ain't answering your quesitons, but what's the GPL of >the flight sim world? I always wondered :) > >David Bilenkey wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> I've been a hard-core flight sim guy for a while, and I was thinking it >> might be fun to try a bit of online hard-core auto racing. GPL was >> pointed pointed out to me as being one of the best (from a physics POV) >> so I dl'd the demo (but I've yet to get it running). A few questions if >> I might: >> >> Is GPL available in the stores? I'm in Ottawa Canada, and I've yet to >> come across it in the couple of places I thought I'd find it. I've not >> done a completely exhaustive search yet but it got me wondering. >> >> Recommended steering wheels? Perhaps some that aren't too expensive? >> >> How would setting up a wheel work with the current flight controllers >> (TM stick, throttle and rudder pedals) I've got? Do I have to unplug >> everything and swap? >> >> 'Puter wise I've got an Intel Celeron 466MHz with 64MB PC-100 Ram, Abit >> BE6, Diamond Viper v770 TnT2, 32MB AGP, Creative Soundblaster Live >> value, Asus 50X CD ROM. Any guesses as to why the demo won't run? When >> doing the install of the demo it asked about the graphics options and I >> selected 3dfx (which is how Warbirds 3D is done). When I double click >> on the app I get a brief appearance of the hourglass and then nothing >> happens. :-( >> >> Well if I can get this running are there any good central places for >> add-ons and whatnot on the web? >> >> Thanks for any and all help. >> >> David -wabb- Bilenkey > >-- >Rob Swindells >[Rob Swindells Racing] http://swindells.8m.com >"Add life to your days, not days to your life." >"The greatest substitute for talent is hard work." >"Doing it, is better than watching it, is better than simulating it." >"I may not be perfect, but parts of me are excellent." > >