Psygnosis F1 for Playstation is out!

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> > I happened to see it in my local Walden Software... looked damn good > > too. Detail looked amazing, compared to GP2 in VGA. I don't have a > > playstation, but at $200, it is between 10 and 20 times cheaper than > > getting a new computer to play GP2 in SVGA! Is it out yet, or coming > > out, for PC? > > More questions: > > Anybody know if there are known hardware hacks to get a t2 wheel to > > operate on a playstation? Racing won't be any fun on a playstation > > without a wheel. Also, how (or does) one save setups/races/etc. on a > > playstation? Are there a lot of extras stuff (memory, etc.) that one > > needs to buy with a playstation? > > Any ideas, please post in this thread. > I have had the game for a couple of days (Playstation), and it is very > good I think. The feeling is the best I have experienced in a racing > game. It is possible to save some settings and after every race in a > championship, if you have a memory card. (I don't now the price of the > memory card, but its affordable). > I don't know if you can use a wheel, but it is possible to use analog > joysticks or "gamepads". > The problem with games on the Sony Playstation is often the lack of > possiblites to adjust and setup stuff. There is very few possibilites in > this game to adjust the car. One can adjust the downforce only. But it > is great fun! > /Anders

I heard somewhere that this new sim was coming out for the PC, is this correct and if it is does it run in SVGA? Does it feel like a true car model? Any info would be appreciated! - David G.

> <being a Playstation owner, thought I'd ***in :)> > Then I would *strongly* urge you to get a Playstation. Many > games on it that are only rivalled by the fastest of Pentiums. :) The speed of the Playstation seems to rival a fast pentium proccessor because you are in (basically) a VGA mode (your watchin a TV, not a SVGA monitor). Example: If youve ever seen GP2 in VGA, you will see the incredible speed it runs, almost too fast than "real" time. I personally havent seen the new F1 sim but I have know that the performance of the latest pentium proccessor can calculate many times faster. If you are a true SIM fanatic, I urge you to test this game before buying A Playstation. The latest Pentium chips on the market are designed to configure thousands of calculations in a milisecond and this is why we can come close to get the true model of a F1 car in the latest SIMS. -David Gary

I happened to see it in my local Walden Software... looked damn good too. Detail looked amazing, compared to GP2 in VGA. I don't have a playstation, but at $200, it is between 10 and 20 times cheaper than getting a new computer to play GP2 in SVGA! Is it out yet, or coming out, for PC? More questions: Anybody know if there are known hardware hacks to get a t2 wheel to operate on a playstation? Racing won't be any fun on a playstation without a wheel. Also, how (or does) one save setups/races/etc. on a playstation? Are there a lot of extras stuff (memory, etc.) that one needs to buy with a playstation? Any ideas, please post in this thread.

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> I happened to see it in my local Walden Software... looked damn good > too. Detail looked amazing, compared to GP2 in VGA. I don't have a > playstation, but at $200, it is between 10 and 20 times cheaper than > getting a new computer to play GP2 in SVGA! Is it out yet, or coming > out, for PC? > More questions: > Anybody know if there are known hardware hacks to get a t2 wheel to > operate on a playstation? Racing won't be any fun on a playstation > without a wheel. Also, how (or does) one save setups/races/etc. on a > playstation? Are there a lot of extras stuff (memory, etc.) that one > needs to buy with a playstation? > Any ideas, please post in this thread.

I have had the game for a couple of days (Playstation), and it is very good I think. The feeling is the best I have experienced in a racing game. It is possible to save some settings and after every race in a championship, if you have a memory card. (I don't now the price of the memory card, but its affordable). I don't know if you can use a wheel, but it is possible to use analog joysticks or "gamepads". The problem with games on the Sony Playstation is often the lack of possiblites to adjust and setup stuff. There is very few possibilites in this game to adjust the car. One can adjust the downforce only. But it is great fun! /Anders

>I happened to see it in my local Walden Software... looked damn good >too. Detail looked amazing, compared to GP2 in VGA. I don't have a >playstation, but at $200, it is between 10 and 20 times cheaper than >getting a new computer to play GP2 in SVGA! Is it out yet, or coming >out, for PC? I have Gp2 and Formula One for the Playstation, and also the Mad Catz wheel & pedals for the Playstation. Formula One will be out for the PC early next year and will have full Rendition/Direct3D support and will be in SVGA. I'm loving every minute of F1 on the Playstation, particularly since my GP2 runs so slowly by comparison in SVGA mode and its too chunky in VGA mode. I'm simmering with anger over Microprose's failure to address Rendition support with any kind of announcement. GP2 needs Rendition support worse than any game I've played! The Mad Catz wheel for the Playstation costs only a little more than a Playstation game. You can get them for as little as $59. Formula One will likely set you back $49-$59. As far as setups, races, etc, the setups are nowhere near as complex in F1 as in GP2. All you can set is overall downforce and slicks or wets. You do have full rain race support with great flumes of water and dark, dreary fogginess, along with a glowing red orb-light on the back of each car. As a simulation engine, this one doesn't come close to GP2, but the circuits are more accurate to the real thing (For instance, in Brazil, the final turn onto the front straight is banked in real life and in F1, not so in GP2. The chicanes in Hockenheim are off camber and have elevation changes moreso in real life and F1 than GP2, etc) and you can replay an entire race with much better camera angles than Gp2. But again, if you're a stickler for full simulation features, F1 might leave you flat as the # of setup options is miniscule compared to Gp2. I love 'em both....but graphically, I wish I had a Rendition enabled GP2. Randy

<being a Playstation owner, thought I'd ***in :)> :But before I go to the store, is the Playstation going to be around :for awhile? Definitely. It's currently the most widely owned *** console. :This new Nintendo 64 thing seems inpressive (but looks :like a kid's toy [not an ***'s toy!])... The N64 is definitely geared towards a younger audience, but there are more than a few ***s who've bought them. (They sold 350,000 units during the first 3 days of its launch :)). That aside, the N64 will only have a handful of games available for it during the next few months, while the Playstation already has dozens upon dozens. The N64 is a bit more powerful (or 32 bits more, to be precise), but the Playstation uses Compact Discs instead of cartridges, giving it the ability to hold more and higher quality video and audio at a lower cost per game (by $10-$20 in many cases). :Playstation still got a :future? Of the major gamestation, playstation seems to have the most :"PC-like" look to the games. But then, what do I know; I own only an :old 486 PC. Then I would *strongly* urge you to get a Playstation. Many games on it that are only rivalled by the fastest of Pentiums. :) :Oh, and what about an extra memory cartridge- do I need it? If so, how :much mem? Be sure to buy one mem card (that's all I've really needed to this day)...should just cost around $25. :Anyway, having that F1 sim/game might make it worth owning a :Playstation anyway. And how about the Andretti racing thing? That :almost got me to the store, but I never heard anything plus or minus :about it. Andretti Racing isn't bad....many people swear by it. But if you're looking for another racer to get with F1, you should get Wipeout XL. It is, without a doubt, the best anti-gravity sled racer you'll ever see. :) Seriously, it's a must-buy just like F1. :It certainly doesn't look up to Psygnosis' F1. True, not quite in the same league. :Thanks again. Hope that helps...have fun! Bear Bear

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> > <being a Playstation owner, thought I'd ***in :)> > > Then I would *strongly* urge you to get a Playstation. Many > > games on it that are only rivalled by the fastest of Pentiums. :) > The speed of the Playstation seems to rival a fast pentium proccessor > because you are > in (basically) a VGA mode (your watchin a TV, not a SVGA monitor).

With a good TV (SCART enabled) the resolution and number of colors is enough. You can not only look at the processor when comparing machines. Sony P.S has lots of hardware support for graphics processing which you have to take in account. Check a Sony P.S FAQ and compare with a PC. Yes, you should. It is not a very advanced SIM, it is more a driving game. But it's a very good driving game!

>Yo Randy, >You may have sold a Playstation. Thanks for the indepth reply... >But before I go to the store, is the Playstation going to be around >for awhile? Playstation is here to stay - I recently saw info on the 64bit version coming out in 97 and it was impressive. PSX is a safe investment. Game (quality games) are abundant and F1 is a good enough reason to buy it alone - not to mention WipeOut XL - the other racing game out last week. This new Nintendo 64 thing seems inpressive (but looks Games for PC and PSX are easily ported between the two systems so chances of getting a game on either system is good. You will always get a crisper image on the PC (provided the game is SVGA) but the PSX is built to handle hi-res graphic quickly. When the SVGA version of F1 hits the PC it will be as slow as GP2. Yes - in fact you may as well buy two (the unit has 2 slots) - they are only $14-19 each and will save you a lifetime of writing down humongous passwords to resume your games. Andretti is cool and okay (it has a***pit w/ instruments for all the complainers of F1 which doesn't have one). It is more arcadish than F1 although F1 does have an arcade mode - the Grand Prix sim mode is hard as hell and while F1 cannot touch the setup options that GP2 for the PC offers - its is still the best racing sim available for a home console at this time. The tracks are flawlessly rendered and the cars are detailed - you can read the lettering on the tires as you pass your opponents. The commentary is amazing - you hear the guy calling out YOUR name and all the others as you drive, pass and smash into other drivers. It's almost like driving the car and watching the race on TV at the same time. PLUS you can REPLAY the entire race - something GP2 cannot even come close to.

<< Yo Randy, You may have sold a Playstation. Thanks for the indepth reply... But before I go to the store, is the Playstation going to be around for awhile?>> Oh yeah. As of a month or so ago, there are over 7 million Playstations in use worldwide. Sony has shut down its San Diego manufacturing facility and put all its manufacturing back in Japan, but they are ramping up production to 700,000 units a month -- um. yeah I think its going to be around for awhile! like a kid's toy [not an ***'s toy!])... >> Basically the Nintendo 64 offers all the stuff we're drooling over in the Rendition and Voodoo boards in an affordable game console. The problem is that it doesn't have a lot of memory, not much permanent storage and darn little room to store a game on in a cartridge, so they are very limited in the sound and graphics department from a digital standpoint, so its better for more 'virtual' games than it is for rugged realistic sims like Formula 1. much mem?>> There are memory cards available for ~20 a pop which are for saving games on. You can save 15 slots on a card, and games can take any # of slots to save (usually 1-3). That's the only extra 'memory' you'd need to buy, and in many cases you don't need it, but its still adviseable for instance if you were going to run an entire full length season -- saving would be nice huh? <G> Playstation anyway. And how about the Andretti racing thing? That almost got me to the store, but I never heard anything plus or minus about it. It certainly doesn't look up to Psygnosis' F1.>> Andretti is a very nice little IndyCar racer with very believable physics but has over exaggerated grip and horsepower, phenomenal player boost (as compared to the computer cars) and the races are much shorter, with a maximum of 12 laps. On the other hand, tire wear and fuel usage are done nicely, also scaled down into the # of laps you're running, and you have more car setup options in Andretti, as well as a very nice***pit view, excellent brake locking effects & graphics, great oversteer/understeer handling, picture-in-picture rear-view mirror, replay of the last several seconds of racing, even with an analog controller (F1 doesn't with analog), VCR style controls to run the replay (F1 doesn't), more spectacular crashes, and various other little nice touches. But its physics model was exaggerated to make gameplay easier, so I would take sim points off and point it at about a 6 or 7 on the Arcade->Sim scale, whereas F1 would be a solid 9. Randy

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>> I happened to see it in my local Walden Software... looked damn good >> too. Detail looked amazing, compared to GP2 in VGA. I don't have a >> playstation, but at $200, it is between 10 and 20 times cheaper than >> getting a new computer to play GP2 in SVGA! Is it out yet, or coming >> out, for PC? >> More questions: >> Anybody know if there are known hardware hacks to get a t2 wheel to >> operate on a playstation? Racing won't be any fun on a playstation >> without a wheel. Also, how (or does) one save setups/races/etc. on a >> playstation? Are there a lot of extras stuff (memory, etc.) that one >> needs to buy with a playstation? >> Any ideas, please post in this thread. >I have had the game for a couple of days (Playstation), and it is very >good I think. The feeling is the best I have experienced in a racing >game. It is possible to save some settings and after every race in a >championship, if you have a memory card. (I don't now the price of the >memory card, but its affordable). >I don't know if you can use a wheel, but it is possible to use analog >joysticks or "gamepads". >The problem with games on the Sony Playstation is often the lack of >possiblites to adjust and setup stuff. There is very few possibilites in >this game to adjust the car. One can adjust the downforce only. But it >is great fun! >/Anders

There is a Mad Katz steering wheel & pedals for the Playstation that is pretty good. Not very tough but responsive. Need For Speed= is a terrific game with it. It includes buttons on the wheel which would be great for shifting in F1. Tim

SVGA) but the PSX is built to handle hi-res graphic quickly. When the SVGA version of F1 hits the PC it will be as slow as GP2. >> Sorry, but that is very far from true. First of all, its well known that Crammond didn't optimize GP2 particularly well. SVGA doesn't have to as slow as GP2. (When I was using my S3 based board I ran a utility called S3SPDUP, which enabled linear frame buffering in VESA --something I guess Geoff was unaware of). Secondly, there is no support for Direct3D, or any hardware 3D acceleration in GP2. With the emergence of Rendition based boards from Sierra, Creative Labs and Intergraph and the Direct3D standard, there's no reason why a game should run slowly in SVGA anymore -- hardware acceleration is there. I have a Rendition board and my frame rates with ICR2 for Rendition, Rendition Quake and Win95's Monster Truck Madness are all quite nice in hi-res SVGA, AND I get texture filtering, anti-aliasing, etc. Microprose, according to MPS US Tech Support, is working on a patch which will optimize for Rendition, and that ought to give this game a real shot in the arm. Randy

Yo Randy, You may have sold a Playstation. Thanks for the indepth reply... But before I go to the store, is the Playstation going to be around for awhile? This new Nintendo 64 thing seems inpressive (but looks like a kid's toy [not an ***'s toy!])... Playstation still got a future? Of the major gamestation, playstation seems to have the most "PC-like" look to the games. But then, what do I know; I own only an old 486 PC. Oh, and what about an extra memory cartridge- do I need it? If so, how much mem? Anyway, having that F1 sim/game might make it worth owning a Playstation anyway. And how about the Andretti racing thing? That almost got me to the store, but I never heard anything plus or minus about it. It certainly doesn't look up to Psygnosis' F1. Thanks again.

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>>I happened to see it in my local Walden Software... looked damn good >>too. Detail looked amazing, compared to GP2 in VGA. I don't have a >>playstation, but at $200, it is between 10 and 20 times cheaper than >>getting a new computer to play GP2 in SVGA! Is it out yet, or coming >>out, for PC? >I have Gp2 and Formula One for the Playstation, and also the Mad Catz >wheel & pedals for the Playstation. Formula One will be out for the >PC early next year and will have full Rendition/Direct3D support and >will be in SVGA. I'm loving every minute of F1 on the Playstation, >particularly since my GP2 runs so slowly by comparison in SVGA mode >and its too chunky in VGA mode. I'm simmering with anger over >Microprose's failure to address Rendition support with any kind of >announcement. GP2 needs Rendition support worse than any game I've >played! >>More questions: >>Anybody know if there are known hardware hacks to get a t2 wheel to >>operate on a playstation? Racing won't be any fun on a playstation >>without a wheel. Also, how (or does) one save setups/races/etc. on a >>playstation? Are there a lot of extras stuff (memory, etc.) that one >>needs to buy with a playstation? >The Mad Catz wheel for the Playstation costs only a little more than a >Playstation game. You can get them for as little as $59. Formula One >will likely set you back $49-$59. >As far as setups, races, etc, the setups are nowhere near as complex >in F1 as in GP2. All you can set is overall downforce and slicks or >wets. You do have full rain race support with great flumes of water >and dark, dreary fogginess, along with a glowing red orb-light on the >back of each car. As a simulation engine, this one doesn't come close >to GP2, but the circuits are more accurate to the real thing (For >instance, in Brazil, the final turn onto the front straight is banked >in real life and in F1, not so in GP2. The chicanes in Hockenheim are >off camber and have elevation changes moreso in real life and F1 than >GP2, etc) and you can replay an entire race with much better camera >angles than Gp2. But again, if you're a stickler for full simulation >features, F1 might leave you flat as the # of setup options is >miniscule compared to Gp2. I love 'em both....but graphically, I wish >I had a Rendition enabled GP2. >Randy

Even though hardware accelerators are out there - game companies have to program for the lowest common denominator they want to market to. I can just see it now - walking into EB and having 8 version of NASCAR 2 on the shelf - one ATI Accelerators; one for Diamond 3D; one for Orchid...so on and so on...

>the same time. PLUS you can REPLAY the entire race - something GP2 cannot even >come close to. As long as you use a digital controller to drive with (ie NO REPLAY if you use an analog controller - Mad Catz or NegCon). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This space intentionally left blank

to program for the lowest common denominator they want to market to. >> That's true, but its also irrelevant if they support the most popular accelerators. The real long term direction is Direct3D, where you have just ONE .EXE that calls Direct3D, which is the layer between a common API and the underlying hardware. All of these new accelerator boards are supporting Direct3D, and it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that writing the code ONCE is better than writing several hardware-specific versions of it. For the time being, the lowest common denominator (VESA) will still be supported. However, that will not stop companies from getting together with Rendition, 3DFX etc and doing custom versions until Direct3D really hits its stride. If you don't believe me go to the web pages of Rendition, Intergraph, Creative Labs, etc and look at the game release lists. 2 on the shelf - one ATI Accelerators; one for Diamond 3D; one for Orchid...so on and so on... >> They would all be on the same CD...so your point is moot. Randy

<< As long as you use a digital controller to drive with (ie NO REPLAY if you use an analog controller - Mad Catz or NegCon).>> True -- thankfully the digital pad control is actually the best I've seen in a racing game. I still prefer the Mad Catz, but sometimes I want to see that replay. Its a horrible tradeoff due to the limited memory in the Playstation, but GP2's replay is still an abysmal failure in my view -- having to save on a lap by lap basis is not my idea of fun. Randy

I would love to see a Voodoo based version of GP2, but we all know thats never going to happen. What chance have we for updates and additions, when the game is NOT even finished in its retail form? On a different note, I tried Sierras Indycar 2 for Windows95 last night in search of forfillment. None found, the games graphics are so dated compared to GP2, I just dont know how you lot love it so much. They have really got to try again next year, and perhaps with the use of Direct3D or other hardware devices, can finally get nice graphics, to go along with its good game play. (Network too would be nice) I really think the market is there for the taking, there are a lot of pissed off Gp2 owners out there, who would change camp, for additional features like weather, network etc. All points IMHO. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Parkstone Motor Company, Southend on Sea, Essex United Kingdom. -----------------------------------------------------------------

We already have that in the Rendition Ready version of ICR2 that comes with the Intergraph Reactor and Sierra Screamin'3D accelerator cards. The graphics are so improved over regular version that one could almost justify calling it ICR3 =) -- Emory University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Nascar Setups Page: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~ebusch/

> The N64 is definitely geared towards a younger audience, but >there are more than a few ***s who've bought them. (They sold >350,000 units during the first 3 days of its launch :)). That aside, >the N64 will only have a handful of games available for it during the >next few months, while the Playstation already has dozens upon dozens. >The N64 is a bit more powerful (or 32 bits more, to be precise), Uh, did you forget the Silicon Graphics co-processor?? Face it, the N64 is a major jump ahead. Semiconductor International had an interview with some guy from SG and he said five years ago this system would have had enough power to be CLASSIFIED. Cheaper games?? Yeah right. Just wait until the N64 gobbles up the market share, then the 'standard' price will be in the mid-$70 US per game. This has happened before. Plus the annoyance of optics, that slow CDROM drive, etc. Memory cards, since SONY was too cheap to throw in a outrageously expensive fifty-cent 64K memory chip....nice idea there. Like what?? Williams Arcade?? Descent? Both are TONS slower than my old 486 DX/4 100...kind of pathetic since the resolution is so bad on TVs. ANY IBM port will be too slow. Even Demolition Derby has slow-downs. Ever notice that Playstation games cost a lot more than PC games?? Why is that??? The box???

Thanks to Randy, Anders, Bear, and others for supplying good information on the Sony Playstation/Psygnosis F1 topics. I went ahead and got one! I figured it was 1/10 the price of a computer (and after all, the only reason I need a fast computer is for my games!)... and I do love it so far. Despite my complaints and concerns below! F1 is really a must for anybody who is serious about their racing (esp. F1) ***/simming. F1 by Psygnosis has spectacualr graphics. No denying that. And as a sim, it isn't really *bad*, but it isn't GP2. If I could figure out if there is an option to have mirrors, I'd be a happier about it's simming. Half of racing is keeping the guys behind you! And if you have to press a button to look back, that isn't realistic at all. In GP2, my (and probably your) peripheral vision monitors the mirrors all the time, and I use that view to judge how hard to be running my tires, how wide I should take a turn, speed going in versus speed coming out of a turn... NO MIRRORS IN PSYGNOSIS F1!!!? Please, tell me I'm wrong! Second gripe: replays: how the hell do I view a replay! I keep seeing that this is a feature, but the replay option is always unchoosable in my menu. I have only done Single Player Single Races so far. Any tips? And about these freaky memory cartidges- I need a run down on just what they are all about. First off, what does the cartridge package mean, "don't repeatedly save and delete on the same slot"- do these things (memory cartridges) wear out?! Sounded a little like "don't keep writing to the same RAM address" to me. What gives here? Thanks for any illuminating thoughts. Secondly, It appears that part of the Playstation culture (or maybe it is just psygnosis') is to not really document a product. It is clear there are a lot of things to this F1 game/sim that need some clarification (like replays, game saving, etc.). Have any FAQs been put together yet? A quick check on the net got me nothing. I bought the Mad Catz wheel- it is surprisingly good. Maybe it won't last forever, but it is adequate. All in all, I am very glad I bought F1, and the Playstation. Blows away my 486dx4 when I play GP2 on it! Now, is there ever a chance GP2 will come out for playstation!?!? I don't see why it couldn't work on it, at least in a 30FPS VGA mode. I race at *12* on my 486! Last and certainly not least- IS there an option to turn off Satriani/Vai/etc in the menus? In everything?! I am not putting down the musicians, but I can't take much more of "Juice" or whatever these songs are. Yes, I already figured out how to get them off while racing, but even in the menus, it can get tiresome. Thanks again, guys.

You answered your OWN question about replays and didn't even know it. IF you are using the MAD CATZ (or any other ANAOLG control device) the replay feature is disabled - don't ask me why - it just is. Try playing a game with the standard controll and you will be offered a replay when the race is over! No mirrors in this game - The over the shoulder view works ONLY if you are on a straightaway - nothing worse than looking behind you then looking forward to find yourself hurtling towards the wall at 160mhp. There is no extensive docs because there is no extensive features. Everything you need to know is obvious and laid out in the 3-4 menus provided on screen. The digital HUD display brightness controls were hard to find but once you do its easy to change in the future. A fuel gauge is the only thing I can think of that would make this game any better. Rear mirrors would be nice but at the PSX screen resolution anything you saw in them would be just blobs of pixels. Sorry about your replays - I almost got the MAD CATZ until I found that it ate up the replays - those are one of the best features of the game - especially on the RAINY tracks.

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>Thanks to Randy, Anders, Bear, and others for supplying good >information on the Sony Playstation/Psygnosis F1 topics. I went ahead >and got one! I figured it was 1/10 the price of a computer (and after >all, the only reason I need a fast computer is for my games!)... and I >do love it so far. Despite my complaints and concerns below! F1 is >really a must for anybody who is serious about their racing (esp. F1) >***/simming. >F1 by Psygnosis has spectacualr graphics. No denying that. And as a >sim, it isn't really *bad*, but it isn't GP2. If I could figure out if >there is an option to have mirrors, I'd be a happier about it's >simming. Half of racing is keeping the guys behind you! And if you >have to press a button to look back, that isn't realistic at all. In >GP2, my (and probably your) peripheral vision monitors the mirrors all >the time, and I use that view to judge how hard to be running my >tires, how wide I should take a turn, speed going in versus speed >coming out of a turn... NO MIRRORS IN PSYGNOSIS F1!!!? Please, tell me >I'm wrong! >Second gripe: replays: how the hell do I view a replay! I keep seeing >that this is a feature, but the replay option is always unchoosable in >my menu. I have only done Single Player Single Races so far. Any tips? >And about these freaky memory cartidges- I need a run down on just >what they are all about. First off, what does the cartridge package >mean, "don't repeatedly save and delete on the same slot"- do these >things (memory cartridges) wear out?! Sounded a little like "don't >keep writing to the same RAM address" to me. What gives here? Thanks >for any illuminating thoughts. >Secondly, It appears that part of the Playstation culture (or maybe it >is just psygnosis') is to not really document a product. It is clear >there are a lot of things to this F1 game/sim that need some >clarification (like replays, game saving, etc.). Have any FAQs been >put together yet? A quick check on the net got me nothing. >I bought the Mad Catz wheel- it is surprisingly good. Maybe it won't >last forever, but it is adequate. >All in all, I am very glad I bought F1, and the Playstation. Blows >away my 486dx4 when I play GP2 on it! Now, is there ever a chance GP2 >will come out for playstation!?!? I don't see why it couldn't work on >it, at least in a 30FPS VGA mode. I race at *12* on my 486! >Last and certainly not least- IS there an option to turn off >Satriani/Vai/etc in the menus? In everything?! I am not putting down >the musicians, but I can't take much more of "Juice" or whatever these >songs are. Yes, I already figured out how to get them off while >racing, but even in the menus, it can get tiresome. >Thanks again, guys.

>You answered your OWN question about replays and didn't even know it. >IF you are using the MAD CATZ (or any other ANAOLG control device) the replay >feature is disabled - don't ask me why - it just is. Try playing a game with >the standard controll and you will be offered a replay when the race is over! This is bizarre. I believe you, though. Maybe the analog control requires some memory that otherwise would have been available for replay. The game claims it supports Mad Catz (etc.)- I don't remember reading that it only conditionally supports them. How did you find out? Not having replays is sort of lousy. But then, it wouldn't really matter too much if there were just mirrors ;> Not too much fun hurtling in to the car next to you you never saw creeping up, either. Not having mirrors is pretty serious. Well, I think there are several cryptic features of the game. And I think, for example, that a good description of the pit stop options would be useful. And how fuel, tires, downforce, etc., affect driving on different tracks. I just disagree with you on this point- I think there could be a lot more description of what affects what in their model. That would be OK- in GP2, at VGA in low mirror detail, that is all I get too- but it doubles the usefullness of GP2. Well, I'm still glad I got the Mad Catz. Racing games and sims just don't feel complete to me without something to steer and pedals. Psygnosis' F1 certainly is a fun piece of eye candy. It really gives a great sense of actually being on a track, amidst a crowd, and each track really has a distinct "local flavor" and feel. But I am not sure there is the same potential for learning and skill improvement in my racing that I get from GP2. In GP2, I really feel like I am working on aspects of driving and aproaching the tracks- in F1, I feel more like I am being entertained with a sort of in-car camera view propelled by a marshmallowy driving model. I think it is going to make a lot of people, expecially F1 fans, *very* happy- but serious simmers are going to have a bit of a decision to make whether or not it is worth it. Particularly if they don't have a playstation to start with. The analogy that occured to me, (since I own several flight sims)was that GP2 is like Microsoft's classic flight simulator (5.x?) as F1 is to say, Looking Glass' "Flight Unlimited."In a lot of ways, the latter is far more fun, but when you really want to work on flying skills, MSFS is more complete. Thanks for the response

BTW, I *did* finally find a good FAQ for Psygnosis' F1. Here is the address: http://www.vidgames.com/ps/hints/formulaonefaq.html Sort of a luxurious feature companies can rely on these days- they don't have to write manuals, since user write FAQs. And Psygnosis certainly didn't write much in their... CD cover/manual. Great game, though- worth my buying the playstation for!

> >We already have that in the Rendition Ready version of ICR2 that comes > >with the Intergraph Reactor and Sierra Screamin'3D accelerator cards. > >The graphics are so improved over regular version that one could almost > >justify calling it ICR3 =) > Does that include improved graphics on all the tracks? I doubt it. Your point being ...? Even the non-optimized tracks look gorgeous to the new and improved tracks. Speaking of improved graphics, does anybody know if Nascar2 has hi-color grpahics on ALL the tracks, or just on the tracks that have been 'redone'? -- Henrikki (Hena) Hakkanen Tel. +358-(9)0-345 5538 ------- The best way to accelerate a Mac is 9.81 m/s2 -------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are mine and does not necessarily reflect those of my employer!

> >No mirrors in this game - The over the shoulder view works ONLY if you are on a > >straightaway - nothing worse than looking behind you then looking forward to > >find yourself hurtling towards the wall at 160mhp. Mirrors would be nice. I agree. I miss some instruments that give me more control over fuel left, rpm and that kind of stuff. Be careful with your rear wing. It is very time consuming to change during races! Yes. As said before and as you very well describe bellow, the game is more a driving experience than a sim, the adjustments possible is, however, very important. True! /Anders

> >IF you are using the MAD CATZ (or any other ANAOLG control device) the replay > >feature is disabled - don't ask me why - it just is. Try playing a game with > >the standard controll and you will be offered a replay when the race is over! > This is bizarre... <groan>! :-) Sarah from Bizarre Creations explained this a while ago - replays work by storing the control inputs, and then "recreating" the race by replaying the controls (GP2 does it the same way, but apparently buggily which is why you can get random reality changes). The analogue NegCon or Mad Katz controller data takes up more space than the digital joypad data, and the PlayStation doesn't have enough memory to store the data for the whole race, hence no replay. - Strobe.

Hey guys- How do you save your progress in a championship race? I thought I'd saved it, but I hadn't, first race was wasted.