GTR release date?

Anybody have any "inside information" as to when we might see GTR on store shelves? Thanks! -Pat

One should hope after they finish it, would hate to see it ruined by rushing for a deadline ... On that note, did anybody catch the comment by David Kaemmer in that GameSpot article that they didn't finish GPL in time and that they chose the wrong era? Sheesh, I think he's being a bit harsh on himself! -- - RubberGoat - gummiged "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" - Dr. Strangelove "Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... Anybody have any "inside information" as to when we might see GTR on store shelves? Thanks! -Pat

"RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message news:G0cQc.9050$[email hidden]... > One should hope after they finish it, would hate to see it ruined byrushing > for a deadline ... On that note, did anybody catch the comment by David > Kaemmer in that GameSpot article that they didn't finish GPL in time and > that they chose the wrong era? > The wrong era? I read it but it was hard to believe.

What era were they supposed to have chosen, did he say or indicate?? Bruce. "RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message news:G0cQc.9050$[email hidden]... > and that they chose the wrong era?

He said something about the cars being too hard to drive because they had too much power and no wings - he didn't say much else on the subject -- - RubberGoat - gummiged "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" - Dr. Strangelove "Bruce Kennewell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41119924$[email hidden]... What era were they supposed to have chosen, did he say or indicate?? Bruce. "RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message news:G0cQc.9050$[email hidden]... > and that they chose the wrong era?

Let it be known that on Thu, 05 Aug 2004 01:33:53 GMT, "Tony Jester" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>"RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message >news:G0cQc.9050$[email hidden]... >> One should hope after they finish it, would hate to see it ruined by >rushing >> for a deadline ... On that note, did anybody catch the comment by David >> Kaemmer in that GameSpot article that they didn't finish GPL in time and >> that they chose the wrong era? >> > >The wrong era? I read it but it was hard to believe. >

Well, if you want to make a commercially successful game, you don't use some of the hardest to drive cars.

> He said something about the cars being too hard to drive because > they had too much power and no wings - he didn't say much else > on the subject Mmm... maybe we can take that as a clue to what he's doing next :-) Andrew McP... clutching at straws again

Interesting comment...and one in which his conclusion (too hard to drive) does not necessarily equate with real life. I say this on the basis of something which came to light within a year of GPL being released, in that a reputable ex-F1 driver, on seeing the simulation, remarked that they were not as much of a handful as is portrayed in GPL. This was further backed up by the fact that the wife of the owner of one of the ex-Tasman Cup 2.5 litre Brabhams said that it was delightful to drive; this after putting in several fast laps at Wakefield Park. Since 1998 there has been further educated comment that the physics of the GPL cars are *not* an accurate representation of the handling of the cars. In essence, they appear to be "too twitchy". Regards, Bruce. "RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message news:n_gQc.9170$[email hidden]... > He said something about the cars being too hard to drive because they had > too much power and no wings - he didn't say much else on the subject

Hmm I wonder how much easier it is in real life... where you can 'feel' . I always seem to do better in a Go-Kart than a Sim purely because I seem to go with the road better -- - RubberGoat - gummiged "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" - Dr. Strangelove "Bruce Kennewell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:4111f9b9$[email hidden]... Interesting comment...and one in which his conclusion (too hard to drive) does not necessarily equate with real life. I say this on the basis of something which came to light within a year of GPL being released, in that a reputable ex-F1 driver, on seeing the simulation, remarked that they were not as much of a handful as is portrayed in GPL. This was further backed up by the fact that the wife of the owner of one of the ex-Tasman Cup 2.5 litre Brabhams said that it was delightful to drive; this after putting in several fast laps at Wakefield Park. Since 1998 there has been further educated comment that the physics of the GPL cars are *not* an accurate representation of the handling of the cars. In essence, they appear to be "too twitchy". Regards, Bruce. "RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message news:n_gQc.9170$[email hidden]... > He said something about the cars being too hard to drive because they had > too much power and no wings - he didn't say much else on the subject

Ya, But to be fair, are you just beating the local "Joyland Park" drivers when you cart, or are you competing against what I would have to call a "Hardened" group of racers? I can beat anyone who has ever sat down at my computer to try it (GPL), but that aint nothing compared to the zealots online ya know... What do I mean by Joyland? Sure, even if I get the slow cart, & the rest of the boyscout troop is there, I can usually pass EVERYONE, but when I was in Memphis, my Gran-Prix time was not as low as the track champion, I was a member of the 44 second club thou... I still have that licence to prove it. The gran Prix cars were not hard to drive, but they were hard to drive "Hard". So I have no doubt that the wife of anyone wouldn't have a blast taking any race car around the track a few laps, but then again I have watched the powderpuff night at the local tracks too, and actuall lap times by 80% of the wife/girlfriend of the drivers was easily 4 or so seconds slower on a 3/8th mile track. RubberGoat wrote:

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> Hmm I wonder how much easier it is in real life... where you can > 'feel' . I always seem to do better in a Go-Kart than a Sim purely > because I seem to go with the road better > > > "RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message > news:n_gQc.9170$[email hidden]... >> He said something about the cars being too hard to drive because >> they had too much power and no wings - he didn't say much else on >> the subject

Pretty standard RAS thread... I ask a question about racing sim (other than GPL) and get exactly one useless answer (GTR will be released... when it's ready) - and 10 posts discussing GPL. Hey, I love GPL as much as the next guy, but I would have expected the thread to go at least 2-3 posts before morphing into GPL only banter. :o) Anyhow, I was asking about the GTR release date because everything I had read a couple of months ago pointed to a late Summer release. We are getting close to what one might consider "late Summer" and I'm not seeing anything mentioned about GTR's release. Also, does anyone know if SimBin will be releasing an updated demo (with AI cars, etc...) when the game is completed? My system (XP2500+, 500mb, Radeon 9600) does ok with the curent demo, but I'm not sure that's an accurate measure of how it will do with the final release. Thanks! Pat

But what did you really think of the GPL demo? ;-) Andi -- Remove only one zero to reply. "Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Pretty standard RAS thread... I ask a question about racing sim > (other than GPL) and get exactly one useless answer (GTR will be > released... when it's ready) - and 10 posts discussing GPL. Hey, I > love GPL as much as the next guy, but I would have expected the thread > to go at least 2-3 posts before morphing into GPL only banter. :o) > > Anyhow, I was asking about the GTR release date because everything I > had read a couple of months ago pointed to a late Summer release. We > are getting close to what one might consider "late Summer" and I'm not > seeing anything mentioned about GTR's release. > > Also, does anyone know if SimBin will be releasing an updated demo > (with AI cars, etc...) when the game is completed? My system > (XP2500+, 500mb, Radeon 9600) does ok with the curent demo, but I'm > not sure that's an accurate measure of how it will do with the final > release. > > Thanks! > Pat

Yep, exactly. Bruce Kennewell <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:4111f9b9$[email hidden]... > Interesting comment...and one in which his conclusion (too hard to drive) > does not necessarily equate with real life. > I say this on the basis of something which came to light within a year of > GPL being released, in that a reputable ex-F1 driver, on seeing the > simulation, remarked that they were not as much of a handful as isportrayed > in GPL. > > This was further backed up by the fact that the wife of the owner of oneof

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> the ex-Tasman Cup 2.5 litre Brabhams said that it was delightful to drive; > this after putting in several fast laps at Wakefield Park. > > Since 1998 there has been further educated comment that the physics of the > GPL cars are *not* an accurate representation of the handling of the cars. > In essence, they appear to be "too twitchy". > > Regards, > Bruce. > > > "RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message > news:n_gQc.9170$[email hidden]... > > He said something about the cars being too hard to drive because they

had > > too much power and no wings - he didn't say much else on the subject > >

PAT, I guess you would have been happier with <insert Crickets Chirping on this thread??> I got to say, you got a few educated guesses, and the time since you posted surely those who you assume knew, had time to post, or not as the case may well be? Hell I wouldnt have realized that we hijacked the thread at all, but like you I really liked what I have seen so far on the GTR demo, yet I also like GPL and other sims. Sheesh I figured I least had something in common based on that <reread SIM'R> but as usuall, we "sim-ers" got off topic waiting for the answer... :) <Insert Steve Martin (from comedy is not pretty album) "WELLL EXXXXCCCCUUUUUUUUUSE, ME!> ROFLMAO. Oh yeah, dont forget I put a smiley in here as Im just ribbin ya... Andi Cole wrote:

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> But what did you really think of the GPL demo? ;-) > > Andi > >> Pretty standard RAS thread... I ask a question about racing sim >> (other than GPL) and get exactly one useless answer (GTR will be >> released... when it's ready) - and 10 posts discussing GPL. Hey, I >> love GPL as much as the next guy, but I would have expected the >> thread to go at least 2-3 posts before morphing into GPL only >> banter. :o) >> >> Anyhow, I was asking about the GTR release date because everything I >> had read a couple of months ago pointed to a late Summer release. We >> are getting close to what one might consider "late Summer" and I'm >> not seeing anything mentioned about GTR's release. >> >> Also, does anyone know if SimBin will be releasing an updated demo >> (with AI cars, etc...) when the game is completed? My system >> (XP2500+, 500mb, Radeon 9600) does ok with the curent demo, but I'm >> not sure that's an accurate measure of how it will do with the final >> release. >> >> Thanks! >> Pat

OK, how about 17th September in Sweden and Norway. http://se.gamesmix.com/ Andi. -- Remove only one zero to reply. "Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Anybody have any "inside information" as to when we might see GTR on store shelves? > > Thanks! > -Pat

[email hidden] (Pat) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>... > Pretty standard RAS thread... I ask a question about racing sim > (other than GPL) and get exactly one useless answer (GTR will be > released... when it's ready) - and 10 posts discussing GPL. Hey, I > love GPL as much as the next guy, but I would have expected the thread > to go at least 2-3 posts before morphing into GPL only banter. :o)[snip] That's because (all together now) - IT'S NO GPL ;)... On rsc forums they've beem throwing around Sept 18th because there are some sites that let you pre-order showing that date. My impression is that it's pretty close to Gold - although the version shown at Spa was 0.95 or something Pretty meaningless - SBDT could be saving 1.0 for the gold version, or RC1, or whatever - this one goes to 11 ;). There does seem to be some machinations going on regarding the Spa24hr license (as separate from the FIA-GT license). Either way I can't wait. I wouldn't worry too much about your rig - I setup the demo on a friend's AMD 1800+, 256mb RAM, on-board sound, Geforce2MX rig and it ran surprisingly better than I expected. HTH, Kendt

[email hidden] (Kendt Eklund) wrote in news:[email hidden]:

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> Either way I can't wait. I wouldn't worry too much about your rig - I > setup the demo on a friend's AMD 1800+, 256mb RAM, on-board sound, > Geforce2MX rig and it ran surprisingly better than I expected. > > HTH, > Kendt >

1 car....empty track...it SHOULd run fairly well. :) dave henrie

"crossbone" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Let it be known that on Thu, 05 Aug 2004 01:33:53 GMT, "Tony Jester" > <[email hidden]> wrote: > > >"RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message > >news:G0cQc.9050$[email hidden]... > >> One should hope after they finish it, would hate to see it ruined by > >rushing > >> for a deadline ... On that note, did anybody catch the comment by David > >> Kaemmer in that GameSpot article that they didn't finish GPL in time

and > >> that they chose the wrong era? > >> > > > >The wrong era? I read it but it was hard to believe. > > > Well, if you want to make a commercially successful game, you don't usesome of > the hardest to drive cars. Right, but if you recall, that was the whole point of why they picked 1967. >

"Tony Jester" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:58gQc.3578$[email hidden]...

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> "RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message > news:G0cQc.9050$[email hidden]... > > One should hope after they finish it, would hate to see it ruined by > rushing > > for a deadline ... On that note, did anybody catch the comment by David > > Kaemmer in that GameSpot article that they didn't finish GPL in time and > > that they chose the wrong era? > > > > The wrong era? I read it but it was hard to believe. >

That's not what Kaemmer said in the interview at all. What he said was: "Unfortunately, we had to change the design of GPL in order to ship it on time, and instead of starting in the equivalent of a Formula Ford, graduating to Formula 2, and only then to a Formula 1 car, we allowed people to jump right in to the F1 car with no training time. It was like putting a novice skier at the top of an iced-over double black diamond and saying, "Have fun!" Needless to say, many people didn't. My regrets are that we didn't postpone shipping until the 3D hardware market settled down a bit and until we had finished the experience ladder design, but I'm pleased that we made it possible to drive on those classic racetracks in some beautiful and exciting racecars." The article's quoted comments on the difficulty of driving a '67 F1, the "like driving on ice" bit, was a period comment from GPL's release time that was eventually superceded by the realization that shortcomings in the tire model were to blame. Heck, even the very first patch had changes to the tire model that were publicly denied until some of the people on this forum made it clear that there HAD been physics changes. Just try driving an unpatched, original install again for a refresher... ;-) Anyway, DK's take was that GPL sales suffered primarily because the 3D issues meant it ran like crap on most computers and because it didn't have what would be in effect, almost a career mode - so that users could learn to drive and race in the F3's and F2's before jumping in the F1's. Nothing at all wrong with the era, either in his mind or for that matter ANY right-minded sort... ;-)

>. My regrets are that we didn't postpone shipping until the 3D hardwaremarket settled down a bit That was the big one for me. I had just bough an STB4400 card and when GPL didn't support D3D into the bottom drawer it went. It stayed there for a couple of years until I found out about the d3d patch. MadDAWG

LOL Dayum your not a true sim'r then are ya? <j/k> You got to decide (less nowadays then you used to BTW) which do I want, awesome GPL/NASCAR? OR awesome other games with mediocre nascar-gpl? Hell, I bought what my favorite games wanted as far as hardware, instead of letting the hardware dictate that game I would enjoy... Hell the only time I even wasted money on new computers was because the new Papy tittle was out and need more than I had bought earlier... I didnt do bleedin edge either, not since NR2... I bought the Rendition cards, because NR series and SODA supported them the best, even though "supposedly not as good for other mainstream games (voodoo was coming on) gamer cards" which in reality, what was a frame or 2 even back then... But I did at one time have the Hercules Rendidtion2 as my main card, with 2 voodoo2's in there (remember they were add on cards that added capabilites to the usally standard 2d cards) but in this case I had awesome NASCAR & SODA, plus MTM and Duke Nukem was nice... to me nothing left to whine about. What I have always noticed lately though, is if I can build a machine that will kick ass for running the papy sim I wanted, it kicked good enough for other games (I remember MTM &MTM2 almost as popular as NR) & shootem ups and stuff that I dont even buy anymore (yeah Im older now too)... MadDAWG wrote:

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>> . My regrets are that we didn't postpone shipping until the 3D >> hardware market settled down a bit > > That was the big one for me. I had just bough an STB4400 card and > when GPL didn't support D3D into the bottom drawer it went. It > stayed there for a couple of years until I found out about the d3d > patch. > > MadDAWG

Dave Henrie <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

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> [email hidden] (Kendt Eklund) wrote in > news:[email hidden]: > > > > Either way I can't wait. I wouldn't worry too much about your rig - I > > setup the demo on a friend's AMD 1800+, 256mb RAM, on-board sound, > > Geforce2MX rig and it ran surprisingly better than I expected. > > > > HTH, > > Kendt > > > 1 car....empty track...it SHOULd run fairly well. :) > > dave henrie

I *know* that :P - I was just surprised it ran at all ;). I did sell him an old GF4Ti4200 I had laying around though - he was blown away by the difference. BTW - He also was running F1C on the rig with the GF2MX, and with things turned down a notch it ran perfectly fine for full-field GPs (without high-sampling physics though). Point being - folks running out to drop top dollar on the latest X800 and 6800 cards would be well advised to take a breath and wait for the game to come out. They'll only be cheaper, and unless your current rig is crap you'll be able to get some enjoyment out of GTR while you wait for reports on what runs the game the best. I certainly wish I'd done that when I got my 9700 Pro ;) - been eyeing the 6800 GT lately, but gotta wait for HL2 and see how performance shakes out. Kendt

The Voodoo5 was good for a lot of games... ;-) Hehe... "Steve Blankenship" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> "Tony Jester" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:58gQc.3578$[email hidden]... > > "RubberGoat" <rubbergoat*NO [email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:G0cQc.9050$[email hidden]... > > > One should hope after they finish it, would hate to see it ruined by > > rushing > > > for a deadline ... On that note, did anybody catch the comment by

David > > > Kaemmer in that GameSpot article that they didn't finish GPL in timeand

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> > > that they chose the wrong era? > > > > > > > The wrong era? I read it but it was hard to believe. > > > > That's not what Kaemmer said in the interview at all. What he said was: > > "Unfortunately, we had to change the design of GPL in order to ship it on > time, and instead of starting in the equivalent of a Formula Ford, > graduating to Formula 2, and only then to a Formula 1 car, we allowed

people > to jump right in to the F1 car with no training time. It was like puttinga > novice skier at the top of an iced-over double black diamond and saying, > "Have fun!" Needless to say, many people didn't. My regrets are that we > didn't postpone shipping until the 3D hardware market settled down a bitand > until we had finished the experience ladder design, but I'm pleased thatwe > made it possible to drive on those classic racetracks in some beautifuland > exciting racecars." > > The article's quoted comments on the difficulty of driving a '67 F1, the > "like driving on ice" bit, was a period comment from GPL's release timethat > was eventually superceded by the realization that shortcomings in the tire > model were to blame. Heck, even the very first patch had changes to the > tire model that were publicly denied until some of the people on thisforum > made it clear that there HAD been physics changes. Just try driving an > unpatched, original install again for a refresher... ;-) > > Anyway, DK's take was that GPL sales suffered primarily because the 3D > issues meant it ran like crap on most computers and because it didn't have > what would be in effect, almost a career mode - so that users could learnto > drive and race in the F3's and F2's before jumping in the F1's. Nothingat > all wrong with the era, either in his mind or for that matter ANY > right-minded sort... ;-) > > > >

Kendt Eklund wrote: > I certainly wish I'd done that when I got my 9700 Pro ;) - been > eyeing the 6800 GT lately, but gotta wait for HL2 and see how > performance shakes out. > > Kendt While slightly off topic, I have a 9800 Pro and can run Doom 3 (which isn't HL2, but I can't imagine HL2 having much higher recommend specs) at 1280x1024, High Quality and average around 30fps. A cow-orker has a 9600 and can run it at 1024x768. You should be happy with your 9700 :) -- Swervo - Do not remove TAG under penalty of law. Unless you want to e-mail me.

Swervo <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

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> Kendt Eklund wrote: > > > I certainly wish I'd done that when I got my 9700 Pro ;) - been > > eyeing the 6800 GT lately, but gotta wait for HL2 and see how > > performance shakes out. > > > > Kendt > > While slightly off topic, I have a 9800 Pro and can run Doom 3 (which > isn't HL2, but I can't imagine HL2 having much higher recommend specs) > at 1280x1024, High Quality and average around 30fps. A cow-orker has a > 9600 and can run it at 1024x768. You should be happy with your 9700 :)

Cool - thanks for the info. How are you liking Doom 3? What I'm reading makes me want to get it, but not til the price comes down a bit. I've got so many old games that I never finished that I can't see needing another if it isn't top-notch. I just finished Giants: Citizen Kabuto - and have Undying, SS2, and both AvP and AvP2 to finish if I want to get scared :)... This gaming box will get a faster processor (running an XP2400+ at 2.4Ghz - 3000+ equiv - now) and more RAM someday, and then I think I'm done til next year. Kendt

DOOM3 is but one word - "awesome". And that's from a 58-year old who cut his teeth on id's Wolfenstein 3D. This game scares the crap out of me to the extent that I can't play it for more than half an hour before having an attack of the vapours! :) Get it....you'll love it. Bruce. "Kendt Eklund" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Cool - thanks for the info. How are you liking Doom 3? What I'm > reading makes me want to get it, but not til the price comes down a > bit. I've got so many old games that I never finished that I can't > see needing another if it isn't top-notch.

Excuse the ignorance but GTR is an add on to F1 2002 (and too big for me to ever download from sunny South Africa), yes? I gather it is now to be released as a stand alone game in its own right? Please confirm. "Andi Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41126ea8$0$27934$[email hidden]...

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> OK, how about 17th September in Sweden and Norway. > > http://se.gamesmix.com/ > > Andi. > > > -- > Remove only one zero to reply. > "Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > Anybody have any "inside information" as to when we might see GTR on

store > shelves? > > > > Thanks! > > -Pat > >

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> Excuse the ignorance but GTR is an add on to F1 2002 (and too big for > me to ever download from sunny South Africa), yes? I gather it is now > to be released as a stand alone game in its own right? Please confirm. > > >

GTR is a completely new product. It is not a F1 2k2 mod or even a mod for F1 C. Simbin, the mod team behind GTR 2002 for F1 2k2 is building it. It is based on a much newer version of the ISI code...beyond F1c and Nascar Thunder 2004. Simbin have added many features to the title that goes beyond any previously released product. It will be available for sale both online via download and in commercial boxes. I don't know of any plans to sell or not to South Africa. GTR is licensed by the FIA for 2003 or 2004 season of the FIA Sportscars.(many of the same cars as in GTR 2002). It 'should' be a big step forward in sim realism...not just a rehash of the old 2k2 mod. dave henrie

Thanks Dave :) I will immediately put it on my wish list. SA is pretty good as far as receiving new games is concerned e.g. Doom 3 will be released in 2 days time, only a couple of weeks behind some countries and I'm sure ahead of many others. Occasionally a game will slip through the cracks e.g. Motoracer3 which is unobtainable here for the PC. :( [Doug sets up surveilance equipment to watch for GTR :)] "Dave Henrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> > > Excuse the ignorance but GTR is an add on to F1 2002 (and too big for > > me to ever download from sunny South Africa), yes? I gather it is now > > to be released as a stand alone game in its own right? Please confirm. > > > > > > > > > GTR is a completely new product. It is not a F1 2k2 mod or even a mod for > F1 C. Simbin, the mod team behind GTR 2002 for F1 2k2 is building it. > It is based on a much newer version of the ISI code...beyond F1c and

Nascar > Thunder 2004. > Simbin have added many features to the title that goes beyond any > previously released product. It will be available for sale both online > via download and in commercial boxes. I don't know of any plans to sellor

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> not to South Africa. > GTR is licensed by the FIA for 2003 or 2004 season of the FIA > Sportscars.(many of the same cars as in GTR 2002). > It 'should' be a big step forward in sim realism...not just a rehash of > the old 2k2 mod. > > dave henrie

Bruce Kennewell wrote:

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> DOOM3 is but one word - "awesome". > And that's from a 58-year old who cut his teeth on id's Wolfenstein 3D. > > This game scares the crap out of me to the extent that I can't play it for > more than half an hour before having an attack of the vapours! :) > > Get it....you'll love it. > > Bruce.

I'm with Bruce on this one, Doom 3 has been getting regular play on my computer since I bought it on the 2nd. The more I play it, the more I realize that it's not super-high polygons that make it look great, in fact, some of the environments are decidedly low poly. It's the absolutely stunning, and I do mean stunning, lighting model and bump-mapping to simulate textures on otherwise flat surfaces. The ways that shadows are cast and how your flashlight reflects of surfaces is still amazing me after a LOT of play time. That being said, Doom 3 is pretty much what id promised: A return to Doom. The storyline, no matter what the reviews say, isn't all that great. It's actually pretty dismal, but the voice acting is very good, so that makes up for it a bit. There's not a lot of varied tasks, most of it is just running and gunning (and more running) through various maps, finding PDA's and unlocking security systems, and blowing away more demons. It's back to an FPS on a base level, which, after getting bored with the likes of Deus Ex and Far Cry, was EXACTLY what I was looking for. I just wanted to blast the heck out of some demons. If you do get it, make sure you upgrade to the 4.9 Catalyst drivers for your card, they definitely seem to work better with doom 3 (in fact, the filename as "Doom3 Hotfix" in it). But, like Bruce said, it's scary. The first night I got it, I got home at about 10:30, turned out all the lights, put on my headphones, and sat down to play. I had to stop a little while later to let my heart rate go down. It's reasonably eerie, especially at night, so they get you all wound up, and then generally go for the cheap startle-scare, but it's an effective tactic. Finally, and I don't think this is a spoiler because all the reviews mention it, Hell is probably the single most impressive sight I've seen in a game, it's really something else. -- Swervo - Do not remove TAG under penalty of law. Unless you want to e-mail me.

I never saw Dirt Track Racing here around Cape Town . . . Powerslide was about the first and last Ratbag game locally. Which area are you in? Ryan