reduce steering sensitivity

I note a recurring problem with most driving sims is the over sensitive steering. Does anyone know of some software to correct this problem? Or perhaps,,, some resistors to add on to the joysticks potentiolmeters ? err .....Go over board to solve a problemm??? I am willing to try anything. I do mean anything. How come games company seemed to completely overlook this aspect? regards Leong Singapore

I think that the basic problem is that real cars have more than one turn of the wheel lock-to-lock, and game wheels (at least the ones I've seen) only offer partial rotation. The other problem is that home-game wheels do not (yet) have force feedback to give you a clue as to what the front wheels are doing. Some designers set up a variable steering ratio (slow in the center) in an attempt to work around this, but it is only partially successful. If you ever get to drive an Atari "Hard Drivin'" or "Race Drivin'" in an arcade I think you will agree that we set the steering sensitivity up fairly well -- I remember running tests with different steering ratios about _10_ years ago. Try to find a HD/RD in reasonable repair...they are getting pretty old by now, but there is one in a mall near me. The sit-down-cabinet model has almost 3 turns lock-to-lock, about the same as the sports car we were simulating. Look for my name buried on the credit screen! Best Wishes, -- Doug

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>If you ever get to drive an Atari "Hard Drivin'" or "Race Drivin'" in an >arcade I think you will agree that we set the steering sensitivity up >fairly well -- I remember running tests with different steering ratios >about _10_ years ago. Try to find a HD/RD in reasonable repair...they are >getting pretty old by now, but there is one in a mall near me. The >sit-down-cabinet model has almost 3 turns lock-to-lock, about the same as >the sports car we were simulating. Look for my name buried on the credit >screen!

Yes sir! "Race Drivin" is the most realistic simulated driving experience I've ever had. I don't know about the stunt track but the Autocross simulation is excellent. It's gonna be hard to top that. I love the championship run where you actually race against a ghost of the current champion. Cheap too, I can usually run for quite a while on the AutoX course.

: > I note a recurring problem with most driving sims is the over sensitive : > steering. : > Does anyone know of some software to correct this problem? : > Or perhaps,,, some resistors to add on to the joysticks potentiolmeters ? : > err .....Go over board to solve a problemm??? : > I am willing to try anything. I do mean anything. : > How come games company seemed to completely overlook this aspect? Well Grand Prix II does provide various senstivity settings to adjust for this very purpose. However, I think the problem isn't so much with the program's routines, but with the controller cards. I have found that since I have installed Thrustmaster's ACM game controller my steering and pedal actions have "toned down" quite a bit. What is happening is that most people are using their soundcard joystick interface on fast machines. Since these are not calibrated for the speed of the machine, the readings are usually too "broad". After installing the ACM and calibrating it, my joystick reading range was cut by almost 10% (from 0-1500 to 0-150). This greatly reduced the sensitivity and twitchieness of the steering in all sims. I even noticed that my prior "sensitivity" settings in GP2 prevented me from making some of the turns I used to make. Especially the long sweeping turns. -- **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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|> If you ever get to drive an Atari "Hard Drivin'" or "Race Drivin'" in an |> arcade I think you will agree that we set the steering sensitivity up |> fairly well -- I remember running tests with different steering ratios |> about _10_ years ago. Try to find a HD/RD in reasonable repair...they are |> getting pretty old by now, but there is one in a mall near me. The |> sit-down-cabinet model has almost 3 turns lock-to-lock, about the same as |> the sports car we were simulating. Look for my name buried on the credit |> screen!

I just happened to find and play this just the other week. I remember driving that game all the time! The stunt track was the greatest, although I could never make it through the loop-to-loop. My impressions now were that I was very surprised that the feedback on the wheel was so good for a vintage game such as that. However, it was interesting that while I remember that game seemed so real at the time, compared to the other racing games I had been playing, it played really sloooow. And I guess my skills had improved just by driving the newer games because I was able to complete a circuit including the loop-to-loop on the first try! Anyway, that was one cool game! ...Lance -- IBM Microelectronics ICQ UIN: 216830 Burlington, VT Phone: (802) 769-7104 (tie 446)

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>> I note a recurring problem with most driving sims is the over sensitive >> steering. >> Does anyone know of some software to correct this problem? >> Or perhaps,,, some resistors to add on to the joysticks potentiolmeters ? >> err .....Go over board to solve a problemm??? >> I am willing to try anything. I do mean anything. >> How come games company seemed to completely overlook this aspect? >I think that the basic problem is that real cars have more than one turn of >the wheel lock-to-lock, and game wheels (at least the ones I've seen) >only offer partial rotation. The other problem is that home-game wheels >do not (yet) have force feedback to give you a clue as to what the front >wheels are doing. Some designers set up a variable steering ratio (slow >in the center) in an attempt to work around this, but it is only partially >successful.

I have a CH VP and had the same problem, too sensitive. I built a wheel using a Mercury Lynx wheel from a junkyard and a gear drive to the potentiometer, I have it set up for two turns lock-to- lock and it works very well. The steering stops are adjustable anywhere from 0 (wheel won't turn at all) to about 20 turns (why I would never know, but it is there, hehe) Nascar 1 actually had a better system I thought, Nascar 2 only lets your wheels on the car turn about 12 degrees even with 25 degrees of lock in the setup screen. (try it out, drive in a slow circle in an open place on the track with different settings) I can drive with full wheel lock (30 degrees- nascar1, 25 nascar2) on all of the tracks with no twitchyness. I also used the cruise control buttons for shifting and am in the process of finding the time to put all the keyboard controls onto the "dash". I have all the parts, just need the time.

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>If you ever get to drive an Atari "Hard Drivin'" or "Race Drivin'" in an >arcade I think you will agree that we set the steering sensitivity up >fairly well -- I remember running tests with different steering ratios >about _10_ years ago. Try to find a HD/RD in reasonable repair...they are >getting pretty old by now, but there is one in a mall near me. The >sit-down-cabinet model has almost 3 turns lock-to-lock, about the same as >the sports car we were simulating. Look for my name buried on the credit >screen! >Best Wishes, >-- Doug

I will look around for this arcade game...been awhile since I played any arcade games, but am interested in the rendition of the steering. Will also take the time to read the credits. Have Fun Ralph<Ralphw on Hawaii>Williams

On Wed, 5 Feb 1997 12:52:36 GMT, Doug Milliken

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>If you ever get to drive an Atari "Hard Drivin'" or "Race Drivin'" in an >arcade I think you will agree that we set the steering sensitivity up >fairly well -- I remember running tests with different steering ratios >about _10_ years ago. Try to find a HD/RD in reasonable repair...they are >getting pretty old by now, but there is one in a mall near me. The >sit-down-cabinet model has almost 3 turns lock-to-lock, about the same as >the sports car we were simulating. Look for my name buried on the credit >screen! >Best Wishes, >-- Doug

That was the _best_ game! I just want to say thanks for helping create something so realistic, enjoyable, and rewarding. Where's the sequel? I still occasionally pop into arcades and I haven't seen anything to top it. You's think console makers would look at the success of Nascar Racing, ICR2, GP2, etc, and make a _real_ racing sim. -Scott A Johnson

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> On Wed, 5 Feb 1997 12:52:36 GMT, Doug Milliken > >If you ever get to drive an Atari "Hard Drivin'" or "Race Drivin'" in an > >arcade I think you will agree that we set the steering sensitivity up > >fairly well -- I remember running tests with different steering ratios > >about _10_ years ago. Try to find a HD/RD in reasonable repair...they are > >getting pretty old by now, but there is one in a mall near me. The > >sit-down-cabinet model has almost 3 turns lock-to-lock, about the same as > >the sports car we were simulating. Look for my name buried on the credit > >screen! > >Best Wishes, > >-- Doug

What a great game yes! A sequel would be very appreciate!! Remember the cow :) If not then go to the arcade near you and step on the cow with the car !!!!! There's no "Real" simulator on the market (Maybe...Vette!) so it should be a great idea. Good race at the Brickyard, [===] Go Rubens Barrichello, Jacques Villeneuve, | ! | And all you that thinks that Jacques Villeneuve is |!| from Canada, your right!! He's from St-Jean sur le |o| Richelieu, 30 minutes from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. [--I--] v Fran?ois Mnard "Wasupe LeGrand" Nicolas Mnard "Nien Numb" Nien Numb in the National Star Wars League(X-Wing vs Tie-Fighter league) http://www.dakotacom.net/~strange/ http://www.starwars.com/ Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition,N2,Gp2,Icr2.How can my life be better? May the force be with you, always!! Que la force soit avec toi, jamais!(for you French people) Excuse me for my poor English(I'm French speaking)