Short E3 Update

So far, things are looking slim(at least in number) for pure racing sims being shown at E3. There are plenty of Need for Speed/POD/MotoRacer type arcade racers, but the only true sims I've seen so far have been Nascar 3 and Grand Prix Legends. Nascar 3 seems to be in alpha, but it does have the true 3D***pit and Legends physics model, which is cool. The new***pit really gives a more immersive feel when driving, and of course your view shifts and changes as you drive down on the apron, or scrape the wall. Very similar to the feel you get from the***pit view in SODA. Nascar 3 will have Rendition and 3DFX specific ports and force feedback, but I think that has been common knowledge for awhile. I tried out both Microsoft and Thrustmaster's force feedback steering controllers. Microsoft's feels a little cheap, and the force feedback felt more like the Nintendo 64 rumble pak just vibrating. It did not feel like it was giving me specific feedback based on how I was driving. However, this could have been a function of the game that was being demoed, Need for Speed III. Thrustmaster's Nascar Force GT seemed a little better. That was demoed with Andretti Racing. They said it would be available for Christmas and would retail for around $180, but I think that is what they told me last year. Thrustmaster also has 3 other products coming: 1)Nascar Sprint - economy model (retail $69.99) with paddles for accelerator/brake 2)Nascar Super Sport - not sure where this one falls, the by line said "Uncompromising Performance" and features a stainless steel wheel shaft 3)Nascar Pro Digital - digital/USB version of the Nascar Pro By far the coolest thing I have seen so far is the Nascar Silicon Motor Speedway that was setup at the 3DFX booth. This is the Nascar simulation that started at Mall of America last summer. They had a 2 car setup - mini Nascar's on hydraulics. About 180 degree wrap around screen with fully functioning Nascar gear shift and clutch. The track was C***te and we raced about 4 laps. After the race you receive a printout of your finish position and detailed timing for each lap, including turn 2 and 4 exit speeds, top speeds, etc. It felt very simlar to Nascar 2, but the guy I talked to said it was a propritary engine written specifically for them(not by Papyrus). It was definitley running on 3DFX boards. They have just opened up another one in Chicago, and there are plans for Dallas and LA this year. I need one of these at my house! On the more affordable***pit front, I checked out a $200***pit kit that seemed sturdy, flexible, and looked pretty sleek. I'm sure you could probably build one of these on your own if you were mechanically inclined, but I'm not. Check them out at [link lost in import] Oh yeah, I got to meet Christian Fittipaldi at the Psygnosis Newman-Haas Racing booth. He signed an autograph for my wife(he is her favorite driver). They were showing the Playstation and PC versions of the game, which seemed like a cross between EA's Andretti Racing and Psygnosis F1 Racing - there were some licensed cars and tracks, and some "fantasy". So not really a good thing "sim" wise. In fact, this is the only upcoming CART or IRL Indycar game of any kind being shown for the PC. So it looks like I will still be playing Indycar II(CART Racing) for a little while longer. Good thing we have great sites like The Sim Project keeping that game alive. Anyway, tomorrow I am going to try to check out GT Interactive's Trans AM Racing, and get more info on Nascar 3, Grand Prix Legends, and the rumored Gran Turismo PC conversion. Don Chapman

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>Anyway, tomorrow I am going to try to check out GT Interactive's Trans AM<BR> >Racing, and get more info on Nascar 3, Grand Prix Legends, and the >rumored<BR> >Gran Turismo PC conversion.<BR> ><BR> >Don Chapman<BR> ><BR> ><BR> ></HTML>

Don, Thanks for the report, looking forward to more! Don Hodgdon

Wow! Mucho gracias for the report Don. Looks like some neat items are heading our way for x-mas! =) Looking forward to what you see tomorrow! Cheers! Marc

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> So far, things are looking slim(at least in number) for pure racing sims > being shown at E3. There are plenty of Need for Speed/POD/MotoRacer type > arcade racers, but the only true sims I've seen so far have been Nascar 3 > and Grand Prix Legends. Nascar 3 seems to be in alpha, but it does have the > true 3D***pit and Legends physics model, which is cool. The new***pit > really gives a more immersive feel when driving, and of course your view > shifts and changes as you drive down on the apron, or scrape the wall. Very > similar to the feel you get from the***pit view in SODA. Nascar 3 will > have Rendition and 3DFX specific ports and force feedback, but I think that > has been common knowledge for awhile. > I tried out both Microsoft and Thrustmaster's force feedback steering > controllers. Microsoft's feels a little cheap, and the force feedback felt > more like the Nintendo 64 rumble pak just vibrating. It did not feel like it > was giving me specific feedback based on how I was driving. However, this > could have been a function of the game that was being demoed, Need for Speed > III. > Thrustmaster's Nascar Force GT seemed a little better. That was demoed with > Andretti Racing. They said it would be available for Christmas and would > retail for around $180, but I think that is what they told me last year. > Thrustmaster also has 3 other products coming: > 1)Nascar Sprint - economy model (retail $69.99) with paddles for > accelerator/brake > 2)Nascar Super Sport - not sure where this one falls, the by line said > "Uncompromising Performance" and features a stainless steel wheel shaft > 3)Nascar Pro Digital - digital/USB version of the Nascar Pro > By far the coolest thing I have seen so far is the Nascar Silicon Motor > Speedway that was setup at the 3DFX booth. This is the Nascar simulation > that started at Mall of America last summer. They had a 2 car setup - mini > Nascar's on hydraulics. About 180 degree wrap around screen with fully > functioning Nascar gear shift and clutch. The track was C***te and we > raced about 4 laps. After the race you receive a printout of your finish > position and detailed timing for each lap, including turn 2 and 4 exit > speeds, top speeds, etc. It felt very simlar to Nascar 2, but the guy I > talked to said it was a propritary engine written specifically for them(not > by Papyrus). It was definitley running on 3DFX boards. They have just opened > up another one in Chicago, and there are plans for Dallas and LA this year. > I need one of these at my house! On the more affordable***pit front, I > checked out a $200***pit kit that seemed sturdy, flexible, and looked > pretty sleek. I'm sure you could probably build one of these on your own if > you were mechanically inclined, but I'm not. Check them out at > [link lost in import] > Oh yeah, I got to meet Christian Fittipaldi at the Psygnosis Newman-Haas > Racing booth. He signed an autograph for my wife(he is her favorite driver). > They were showing the Playstation and PC versions of the game, which seemed > like a cross between EA's Andretti Racing and Psygnosis F1 Racing - there > were some licensed cars and tracks, and some "fantasy". So not really a good > thing "sim" wise. In fact, this is the only upcoming CART or IRL Indycar > game of any kind being shown for the PC. So it looks like I will still be > playing Indycar II(CART Racing) for a little while longer. Good thing we > have great sites like > The Sim Project keeping that game alive. > Anyway, tomorrow I am going to try to check out GT Interactive's Trans AM > Racing, and get more info on Nascar 3, Grand Prix Legends, and the rumored > Gran Turismo PC conversion. > Don Chapman

-- Marc J. Nelson Sim Racing News - http://www.simnews.com <remove '_*_' before replying>

Don Chapman wrote <snip snip snip> Wow thanks !! If you read this... could you try to check out the release date of Nascar3 and GP-Legends ?? GPL is near gold, I'm sure, but there is a stupid newssite that said that Nascar3 was delayed until Spring 1999. They don't seem to be a reliable source, since they tell a Playstation version of Nascar3, who is not AFAIK in Papyrus's plans (many many reasons I could tell). Oh, remember... Spy photos of Nascar3 !!!!! P.L.E.A.S.E. ;-) Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard> Good race at the Brickyard, (-o-) Official Mentally retarded guy of r.a.s. Member of the r.a.s. Ego-maniac club Excuse me for my English (I'm French speaking) Excuse me for being provocative (I'm dumb speaking) --"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."--

DPHII escribi en mensaje >>Anyway, tomorrow I am going to try to check out GT Interactive's Trans AM<BR>

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>>Racing, and get more info on Nascar 3, Grand Prix Legends, and the >>rumored<BR> >>Gran Turismo PC conversion.<BR> >><BR> >>Don Chapman<BR> >><BR> >><BR> >></HTML> >Don, >Thanks for the report, looking forward to more! >Don Hodgdon

me too .. Ayrton McKafre

Thanks Mr. Chapman, your valuable post is the fastest and really exciting! I really want to see NASCAR3 3D-cockpit! ... anyway, I read GrandPrixLegend will out around 8 July, Could you confirm this anticipate date? Really thanks. =) Yoshihiko Minami >Anyway, tomorrow I am going to try to check out GT Interactive's Trans AM >Racing, and get more info on Nascar 3, Grand Prix Legends, and the rumored >Gran Turismo PC conversion. >Don Chapman

>I really want to see NASCAR3 3D-cockpit! ... anyway, I read GrandPrixLegend >will out around 8 July, Could you confirm this anticipate date? AFAIK, GPL wont ship until August at the earliest... I could be wrong tho.... Best, Edwin Solheim Check out The Paddock for some great GPL stuff... (http://home.c2i.net/thepaddock)

Thanks for the report, have you seen anything on *** Interactive's Professional Sports Car Racing game? -Sean O'

Thanks kindly, I read that date at Japanese retailer's site. Not only American retailers, but also Japanese ones are hasty too. =) Yoshihiko Minami

I work at Nascar Silicon Motor Speedway in Chicago, we have not yet opened. Opening is anticipated to be some time the week of 6/1. The Grand Opening will be 6/23 with Dale Earnhardt and Michael Watrip appearing. NSMS is the closet simulation to real stock car racing Ive ever seen. After a race you come out sweating. There are currently 2 tracks avail to race, C***te and Richmond, with more slated to be released soon. They also offer leagues and a "Cup" series with a $1000 grand prize. If anyone gets up to the Chicago area, email me for details