GP2: feedback from MPS (info inside)

Hi Netters ! I had Jeff's permission to post this Email to the 'Net so here it goes. I hope you'll find it interesting . === cut here === --Hi Support / Gabe ! -- --First of all, I'd like to point out the fact that I do --appreciate your presence on the 'Net; it's good (for --us customers) to know that there is someone who reads --our comments and (sometime) is able to reply directly in a --promptly and competent manner (well, I have to say that you --all lurked on the 'Net before the release date but now the --game has been released and we are all happy now - well, --almost all ;-) . I think the game is pretty GOOD --(I'm playin' with my brother's copy since I haven't received --my original copy from you yet - it comes directly from the --States (I ordered it last November - don't laugh please) so --I have to be patient a little bit more) but I'd like to --suggest a couple of things I'd like to see implemented in --the next version of the game (if there'll be one ;-) . See --below for the complete list.- -- --Secondly, I would appreciate if you could keep us informed --about the GP2 development like you do in the flight-sim --newsgroups for Falcon 4. I cannont track (from memory) the --F4 articles directly to you but having just seen the FAQ --message you've posted in r.a.s, please do the same --for GP2 (at least, tell us if GP2 will be developed a step --further from the above level). -- --Thirdly, please bear with me for this barbarian English ;-- -- --Here are some points I'd like to suggest to the GP2 development team. -- --1. Add weather changes (even if it does not change dynamically). --I know that this feature could take some time to develop but --please keep it in mind when writing the "What's going to be added --to the game.." list. - -1.)This is the second most asked question we have received. -Currently, there are no weather changes. I complained about this -personally. Being developed in the UK, this is a bit odd (knowing the English weather). Does Sir Geoff live in a no-rain, always-sunny isle by chance ;-- ? --2. Improve the car damage modeling; it's hard to damage --your machine even if you crash yourself at 250 Kph. In --particular, I happened to graze the side of the --car against the track walls only to find that this --produced no effect at all on my machine. In a situation --like this, you should have your rear and front tires --ripped off (sp) along with the rear & front suspension. --In addition, when you loose a wheel (or the suspension --itself) and you succeeded in returning to the pit, the --pit crew is able to repair EVERYTHING in less than --10 seconds. This is OK perhaps at rookie / amateur --level but it should turned off at higher level (or --when you have the "No car damage" aid turned off). When --you loose a wheel you should not be able to reach the --pit/box - or better, you should not be able to --race again once you reach the box in conditions like these. --It would be nice to have this parameter customizable at user's needs. - -2.)The crashes are one of the features that originally held up -production of the game in the first place. You are -correct, If I hit the wall at 100Kmh, I shouldn't be on -my way to the pits, but to the hospital...The same -with fixing damage once I return to the pits. It -SHOULD take quite some time to repair major damage. -However, I take into consideration that I am racing -for the Ferrari team, and they ARE pretty quick!! -( is that a good enough excuse??) Ehm ... after seeing what they're doing in the last races I think this is not a good excuse (keep in mind that I live less than 20 Km away from Maranello so imagine the team I'm racing for ! However, it's happy to see that this particular has not been "unnoticed" by the team (let's hope for a patch). --3. Black flag; how does it work ? I've got a black flag --once and the only effect noticed was a temporary reduction --in speed (let's say for 10 seconds or so) but I was able --to finish my race and I did't loose my position. --Could you shed some lights please ? - -3.) You will only receive a stop-and-go penalty in the championship -races, not in non-champ, or quickrace. You will only -be "delayed".average delay ranges from 5 - 15 seconds. -The great part about all of this is that I am a lousy -driver, but a good "rolling roadblock". In allot of cases, -protecting position is as crucial as winning.. - OK, thanks for the clarification. Since I did some quick/non championship races only I was not able to notice it. Thanks again !! --4. I know this is hard to implement but since most of us --customers are using it here it goes anyway; do you plan --to add support for VESA extensions 2.0 or for --VESA device drivers making use of the Linear Frame --Buffer (like UNIVBE 5.1 or SDD 5.2) ? I've tested that --there is a good improvement in frame rate by using --programs directly designed for it so why not taking --advantage by such a driver ? Or better, do you plan --to produce (in the future) a version of GP2 which makes --use of HW 3D accelerator ? - -4.) I haven't heard of any patches/upgrades for 3D compatibility, -however, you are not alone. I have received many e-mails about this. Yup, this should be a great benefit for the game in terms of frame rate and it SHOULD not be too diffcult to implement (notice the SHOULD verb since I'm a poor programmer so details on this subject is pretty obscure to me ;-). Please keep it in mind for the future ! === cut here === OK net guys, please do not flame me for the following point since I only expressed my opinion and I know that this feature is really needed by must of you. === cut here === --5. At the moment, for **me** this is not particularly --important but do you plan to add --network support to the game (IPX/SPX, TCP/IP, Winsock or so) ? - - -5.)This is the most asked question I have received. yes, we truly -suck on this one,because we TOLD everyone it would have it, -but for some reason or another, it wasn't included.. - As I stated in my previous Email, this is not **my** primary concern; however, it would be nice to have a lot of machine connected together for a fully networked game ! --6. It would be nice to add the parade lap to the game --(a realism touch). - -6.)Parade laps,being able to drive into victory circle,standing on a -podium, spraying the crowd with champagne, getting kisses from the -girls(my favorite).All of these I have mentioned to the developers. What about the "raised arm" (sp?) a driver shows to his direct opponent when the latter is not driving correctly (please bear with me but I didn't find better terms to descrive it - in Italy, we use to say "show the umbrella" to the other driver by placing your right hand over the 90 degrees folded left arm elbow ;-) . --7. It would be nice to have the telemetry (sp?) date print --out (HP or IBM printers, just to cover the most used devices) - -7.)All of the data can be printed from the hot lap graph screens. Perhaps I've missed this one. I'll check for it tonite at home ! - - I hope this answers your questions, If not send me another e-mail.. - === cut here === OK, following you can find the last Email answer I received from him, togheter with my last one. === cut here === -Jeff, again many - many - many thanks for your Email . It's nice too -see that our suggestions are considered by the dev team (at least, -it's nice to HOPE it). However, just the last question (and the most -important one, I think); do you plan to release a new version / patch -/ update /call_it_as_you_want for this sim including the suggestions -we customers are providing you with (perhaps with the updated 1996 -cars & tracks) ? Currently, I have not heard of a patch developed for any of the things we have discussed. I have sent e-mail to a couple of the guys in the UK,outlining alot of the suggestions/complaints/thank yous/flames that I have been receiving. Hopefully, I should hear something soon. When i do, I will try to forward you a copy. === cut here === Best, Roberto -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strhold Sistemi EDP Reggio Emilia ITALY --------------------------------------------------------------------- Acca', nisciuno e' fess ! (TOM - the red cat, Silvester's friend) ---------------------------------------------------------------------