Ed: Feasible Nascar 2/NRL Request

I have been playing Nascar since it first came out and one of the things that has always bugged me is driving around the track under cautions. This may sound petty to many but I think there should be an autopilot option for Nascar 2. It gets very tiresome driving 60 around a long track for 3-4 laps while the computer could simply do it for you. This would provide drivers with a chance to run to the restroom or the fridge while the computer takes their car around during the caution. Might sound strange but I know I would love the option. NOW, for the the real use for this option. Several folks complain about idiots wrecking them during the pace lap or during the cautions on Hawaii. If an autopilot was available then this would never happen. Everyone's car would be paced by the computer until it was time to restart or take the initial green flag. The exact details of when the players would regain control of their cars would have to be ironed out but a simple warning message saying you will have control of your car in 5 seconds would suffice. Then everyone would be lined up evenly (i.e. no jumping the start or swerving into others) when the race started. Surely it wouldn't be difficult to simply switch the cars to computer control like they are with the normal AI during cautions. Is this feasible? Thanks for listening. Kelby Cody Nass96

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> I have been playing Nascar since it first came out and one of the things > that has always bugged me is driving around the track under cautions. > This may sound petty to many but I think there should be an autopilot > option for Nascar 2. It gets very tiresome driving 60 around a long track > for 3-4 laps while the computer could simply do it for you. This would > provide drivers with a chance to run to the restroom or the fridge while the > computer takes their car around during the caution. Might sound strange

Doesn't not sound strange to me... Excellent idea JFD

Absolutley! This would be a great option! -- Lannie Schafroth

Good point Kelby, an "Autopilot" does seem to be a good idea. But, this is an OPTION, you should be able to turn it off or on. Yes, it would help Hawaii difficulties, wouldn't it? Mark --------------- Cheers! Mark Fields R & J Racing NASS '96 Visit the R & J Racing WWW Site in August! http://www.git.net/rjracing/ Mark's Index Page http://www.skn.net/~twburgess Mark's NASCAR Racing/Indycar Racing II Sim Page http://www.skn.net/~twburgess/nasicr R & J Racing's NASCAR Shop http://www.skn.net/~jdavis R & J Racing's NASCAR Garage http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1128/ Winston Cup Online http://www.winstoncuponline.com NASCAR Supernet http://www.winstoncuponline.com/supernet.html Coming soon! ??http://www.rjracing.com?? --------------

Sorry, I'm trying to make it smaller, how about this? New Signature below: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Cheers! Mark Fields R & J Racing NASS '96 Driver Web Sites: http://www.git.net/rjracing - R & J Racing's World Wide Web Site http://www.skn.net/~twburgess - Mark's Index Page http://www.skn.net/~jdavis - R & J Racing's NASCAR Shop http://www.skn.net/~twburgess/nasicr - NASCAR Racing/Indycar II Sim Page http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1128 - R & J Racing's NASCAR Garage http://www.rjracing.com - Coming Soon!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Do you realize your signature makes your message 43 lines longer???? <sigh> -- Kenneth http://www.rocket.git.net http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/6224/index.html #Speed on us.undernet.org, IRC _______ _______ ______ __ __ ______ _______ / ____ / / ___ / / ____// / / / / ____/ /___ __/ / / // / / / / / / / / _/ / / /____ / / / /___// / / / / / / / __ / ____/ / / | ___ \ / /__ / / / /____ / / \ \/____ / / |_| \__\_____/ /______/_/ \_\___/ // > >I have been playing Nascar since it first came out and one of the things > >that has always bugged me is driving around the track under cautions. > >This may sound petty to many but I think there should be an autopilot > >option for Nascar 2. It gets very tiresome driving 60 around a long track > >for 3-4 laps while the computer could simply do it for you. This would > >provide drivers with a chance to run to the restroom or the fridge while the > >computer takes their car around during the caution. Might sound strange > >but I know I would love the option. > >NOW, for the the real use for this option. Several folks complain about > >idiots wrecking them during the pace lap or during the cautions on Hawaii. > >If an autopilot was available then this would never happen. Everyone's car > >would be paced by the computer until it was time to restart or take the > >initial green flag. The exact details of when the players would regain > >control of their cars would have to be ironed out but a simple warning > >message saying you will have control of your car in 5 seconds would suffice. > >Then everyone would be lined up evenly (i.e. no jumping the start or > >swerving into others) when the race started. Surely it wouldn't be > >difficult to simply switch the cars to computer control like they are with > >the normal AI during cautions. Is this feasible? Thanks for listening. > >Kelby Cody > >Nass96 > Good point Kelby, an "Autopilot" does seem to be a good idea. But, this is an > OPTION, you should be able to turn it off or on. > Yes, it would help Hawaii difficulties, wouldn't it? > Mark > --------------- > Cheers! > Mark Fields > R & J Racing > NASS '96 > Visit the R & J Racing WWW Site in August! > http://www.git.net/rjracing/ > Mark's Index Page > http://www.skn.net/~twburgess > Mark's NASCAR Racing/Indycar Racing II Sim Page > http://www.skn.net/~twburgess/nasicr > R & J Racing's NASCAR Shop > http://www.skn.net/~jdavis > R & J Racing's NASCAR Garage > http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1128/ > Winston Cup Online > http://www.winstoncuponline.com > NASCAR Supernet > http://www.winstoncuponline.com/supernet.html > Coming soon! > ??http://www.rjracing.com?? > --------------

Ed, How about a keyboard template so we drivers won't have to take our eyes off the screen searching for those elusive function keys ? And if it could have an erasable surface, we who change messages on the autochat could write them in and wipe them off ! NRL would benefit since we can't pause the game to look for tiny keys while we swerve into the grass. ...

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>I have been playing Nascar since it first came out and one of the things >that has always bugged me is driving around the track under cautions. >This may sound petty to many but I think there should be an autopilot >option for Nascar 2. It gets very tiresome driving 60 around a long track >for 3-4 laps while the computer could simply do it for you. This would >provide drivers with a chance to run to the restroom or the fridge while >the >computer takes their car around during the caution. Might sound strange >but I know I would love the option. >NOW, for the the real use for this option. Several folks complain about >idiots wrecking them during the pace lap or during the cautions on Hawaii. >If an autopilot was available then this would never happen. Everyone's car >would be paced by the computer until it was time to restart or take the >initial green flag. The exact details of when the players would regain >control of their cars would have to be ironed out but a simple warning >message saying you will have control of your car in 5 seconds would >suffice. >Then everyone would be lined up evenly (i.e. no jumping the start or >swerving into others) when the race started. Surely it wouldn't be >difficult to simply switch the cars to computer control like they are with >the normal AI during cautions. Is this feasible? Thanks for listening. >Kelby Cody >Nass96

If they can't run a pace lap at 90 MPH without running into other cars, how do you expect them to be able to keep from wrecking at 200 MPH? However, having said that, I can think of a use for automated pacing on Hawaii. With AI-races, you can hit the pause key and set up your pit stop. With Hawaii, you do not have this luxury. So, until we can have our own crew chief to handle that part of it, maybe having an automated caution lap would be kind of nice. But not as a crutch for people who can't drive. Dave "davids" Sparks Late Nite League http://www.sequoia-dev.com/Hawaii/latenite.html

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> >Do you realize your signature makes your message 43 lines longer???? <sigh> > Sorry, I'm trying to make it smaller, how about this? > New Signature below: > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > Cheers! > Mark Fields > R & J Racing > NASS '96 Driver > Web Sites: > http://www.git.net/rjracing - R & J Racing's World Wide Web Site > http://www.skn.net/~twburgess - Mark's Index Page > http://www.skn.net/~jdavis - R & J Racing's NASCAR Shop > http://www.skn.net/~twburgess/nasicr - NASCAR Racing/Indycar II Sim Page > http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/1128 - R & J Racing's NASCAR Garage > http://www.rjracing.com - Coming Soon!!

Much better. -- Go USA!

I agree, I hate sitting there driving around 'Dega at about 70 mph...it sucks, an autopilot would be great...especially for Hawaii where some idiots dont know how to be patient. Jodie Swafford Wolfman28

Well, we have considered since the beginning doing some sort of autopilot for pacing under yellow. It is not off the table but it just really doesn't sit well with me. I really hate doing anything which takes control out of the player's hands. Having said that, it could always be an option :). Adam Papyrus

Adam, I understand your reluctance (sp?) but you should consider putting it in as an option. That way everyone could make their own decision. My two ideas were to have an accelorator type button that would take you to the last caution lap after you pit (totally in the player's control) and settings for different caution sensitivities, just so you could get a quick race in if you had 45 minutes or so without 15 minutes of yellow laps. Again, give us the option. There are so many levels of purists, and with me, that will change depending on how much time I have for a session. It would be great to bang out 100 laps at C***te with yellows only on multi-car mishaps and a hot-key to the last caution lap.... Lou

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> Well, we have considered since the beginning doing some sort of autopilot > for pacing under yellow. It is not off the table but it just really > doesn't sit well with me. I really hate doing anything which takes > control out of the player's hands. Having said that, it could always be > an option :). > Adam > Papyrus

I agree with you 100%. This is a sim, not an arcade game. Having said that, I +would+ like to see some type of forced autopilot on the pace lap. That would eliminate pace lap crashes but thats not the real problem. The problem I have is qualifying behind some yahoo that thinks he is going to jump the start by laying back, anticipating the green flag, and be already doing 190 when the flag drops. Since I can't pass him, I a forced to either start a half lap behind everyone or else use the same strategy he is and try to anticipate the flag. Either choice sucks. -- Chuck Stuart - Mesquite TX USA

Hi Adam, PMJI, but my take on this is in agreeance with yours. One of the skills often neglected is driving the race car at slow precise speeds behind a pace car. It may at first seem amusing that I describe that as a skill, but I've seen so much mess under yellows in Hawaii to realise that for sure it is one! I believe that everything in racing requiring ability should be left to the driver, not the computer, and instead of programming a fancy autopilot system, I'd much rather see this development time spent on such things as AI decision making under yellow, double-file restarts, realistic (but minimum length of) caution periods, recovery/tow trucks and of course development of local yellow situations on the road circuits (and black flags for passing under yellow <g>). Mike Laskey.

Adam, Alternatively, have you considered allowing the user the choice of which keyboard keys are assigned to each function? On Hawaii, I find <Ctrl><Fn> to be almost impossible to type without smacking a wall. Brad

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> Adam, I understand your reluctance (sp?) but you should consider putting > it in as an option. That way everyone could make their own decision. My > two ideas were to have an accelorator type button that would take you to > the last caution lap after you pit (totally in the player's control) and > settings for different caution sensitivities, just so you could get a > quick race in if you had 45 minutes or so without 15 minutes of yellow > laps. Again, give us the option. There are so many levels of purists, and > with me, that will change depending on how much time I have for a session. > It would be great to bang out 100 laps at C***te with yellows only on > multi-car mishaps and a hot-key to the last caution lap.... > Lou

Having computer controlled cautions would have really been great in my league race at Pocono Friday night. I just came out of the pits and was ready to go green the rest of the race. I won the pole and led every lap until pitting. The car that was in second before the stop came out right behind me and we went around and caught the field. I was in the outside lane behind the cars that didn't pit and the guy behind me was on the inside behind me. Then, for no reason, the car behind me swerves over and slams me into the wall. I don't know if he did it on purpose or not. My right front was damaged and I lost a wheel. If the computer controlled the cars on pace laps this wouldn't have happened. Dana Bailes DBailes on Hawaii

I think this would be a great addition to the game for the reason being it would keep you out of trouble during cautions. I don't have a problem with running into the side of a car while under caution, but the guys in front of you may slow down suddenly, and I am usually cycling through the standings and run right into the back of them. ADD IT ED !!!!!! Jason As if it were that easy:)

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>Adam, >Alternatively, have you considered allowing the user the choice of >which keyboard keys are assigned to each function? On Hawaii, I find ><Ctrl><Fn> to be almost impossible to type without smacking a wall. >Brad

I've made this request several times. I suggest that the autochat keys be swapped with the graphics details keys. How often do you need to change graphic detail during a race? Dave "davids" Sparks Late Nite League http://www.sequoia-dev.com/Hawaii/latenite.html