N2 and KALI / Participation

I was somewhat disappointed with the lack of participation in the KALI where to race server. Anyone out there know something I don't ? ;) Also noticed that people generally refuse to play with a ping > 500. Descent II, Monster Truck and QUAKE work great for me through the net...Any chance papyrus could optimize the net code for the internet ? These may seem like stupid questions, especially since it seems TEN is becoming the official NASCAR2 "place to be"...To be honest though, I'm not e***d about spending another 30$ a month on TEN, especially when I can play some of the other games via the internet for free. One more thing, I happen to love NASCAR2...Just lookin for a way to play over the net with what I have now. -- August Branchesi (Proud Reactor Owner) ;) Systems Programmer / Apex Marketing Group http://members.visi.net/~muja

Hi August, Give a little time for people to start showing up on the Kali servers, most of us are just getting the game. I just got mine and installed it today and will probably give Kali a shot tonight. As for Ten...Guess I won't be there. I tried Ten and after connecting many times I never got a playable connection. I am very disappointed that Sierra went with a company and didn't set their own server up. (Hey Sierra, take a hint from Westwood, Activision, Blizzard, etc). Anyway, I go by the name Fireblast online, If ya see me I'll race ya. John

>Also noticed that people generally refuse to play with a ping > 500. >Descent II, Monster Truck and QUAKE work great for me through the net...Any >chance papyrus could optimize the net code for the internet ? There is an inherent problem with the type of game that NASCAR is. Quick math: Assume 190 mph (Taladega speeds): In 1 second, you are going to travel about 279 feet. So in that 500 milliseconds of latency, your car will travel about 140 feet (almost 10 car lengths). Typical separation for NASCAR might be measured in single (or fractional) car lengths. In the games you mention, by their very design, you aren't close to another object for a long period of time at high speeds. Thus, while Quake might be playable at a 500 msec latency, NASCAR starts to get ugly at 250 msecs. At the same time, you've gotta take what you can get. Playing against humans at 250 msec latency is still more fun than playing the AI... Papyrus

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>>Also noticed that people generally refuse to play with a ping > 500. >>Descent II, Monster Truck and QUAKE work great for me through the net...Any >>chance papyrus could optimize the net code for the internet ? >There is an inherent problem with the type of game that NASCAR is. Quick >math: Assume 190 mph (Taladega speeds): >In 1 second, you are going to travel about 279 feet. So in that 500 >milliseconds of latency, your car will travel about 140 feet (almost 10 >car lengths). Typical separation for NASCAR might be measured in single >(or fractional) car lengths. >In the games you mention, by their very design, you aren't close to >another object for a long period of time at high speeds. Thus, while >Quake might be playable at a 500 msec latency, NASCAR starts to get ugly >at 250 msecs. >At the same time, you've gotta take what you can get. Playing against >humans at 250 msec latency is still more fun than playing the AI...

Here's an example of what happens: A couple of nights ago I played a Kali race with two guys whose pings were in the mid 400's. My machine is a PPro200 with an ethernet connection, just for reference. The track was Michigan if memory serves. When the green flag dropped, the other players literally disappeared. The spoter sometimes called out if a car was close to me, but the car was never drawn on the screen. The fun really started when a yellow flag came out. The spotter kept giving me instructions on what cars to follow/pass, but since I couldn't see them I was completely lost. I quit the race out of frustration.

<snip> : As for Ten...Guess I won't be there. I tried Ten and after connecting many : times I never got a playable connection. I am very disappointed that Sierra : went with a company and didn't set their own server up. (Hey Sierra, take a : hint from Westwood, Activision, Blizzard, etc). If I remember correctly (and I don't always), Sierra sold their On-Line/Server system. In the process of the sale, they signed an agreement to not get back into that end of the business again. This may not be the exact situation, but something along those lines prevent them from doing such. Therefore, now that Papyrus is part of Sierra. . . -- **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=