GPL Beta testing

Just got home from work, saw the email from Sierra about beta-testing being open for GPL, but of course I wasn't one of the first 150. Anyone else around here get on? Ken

I think I did, but can't be sure...Everything seemed to go OK, so I wonder now whether I'll get a beta or a TON of Sierra-SPAM? =P Cheers! Marc > Just got home from work, saw the email from Sierra about beta-testing being > open for GPL, but of course I wasn't one of the first 150. > Anyone else around here get on? > Ken -- Marc J. Nelson The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com * No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *

> Well, it told me I wasn't one of 'em so right off the bat, so you're > probably in. Man, I didn't get on quick enough to get in on the CPR beta > either...wait...that was a GOOD thing <grin> Although I didn't get anything saying I *wasn't* on the beta, I also never saw anything that indicated I *was*. I guess if I am, that I'll see something in my box (which I haven't). Makes no diff to me...I get enough (trusted) inside info on the sim to be confident of its outcome. What I'm dying to try is the online play, which I hear is spectacular! =) Cheers! Marc -- Marc J. Nelson The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com * No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *

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>I think I did, but can't be sure...Everything seemed to go OK, so >I wonder now whether I'll get a beta or a TON of Sierra-SPAM? =P >Cheers! >Marc >> Just got home from work, saw the email from Sierra about beta-testing

being

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>> open for GPL, but of course I wasn't one of the first 150. >> Anyone else around here get on? >> Ken >--

Well, it told me I wasn't one of 'em so right off the bat, so you're probably in. Man, I didn't get on quick enough to get in on the CPR beta either...wait...that was a GOOD thing <grin> Hope this is a "real" beta test, and not like the CPR bit where you basically got the gold version that shipped regardless of what comments were made. We'll see.... Ken

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>Makes no diff to me...I get enough (trusted) inside info on the sim >to be confident of its outcome. What I'm dying to try is the online >play, which I hear is spectacular! =) >Cheers! >Marc

Just hoping if there are some tweaks here and there that could be incorporated they might get in, instead of this being the final version. I'm sure it won't be anything like CPR. About the multiplayer - is this gonna be a "Quake 2" type thing, where it's in the sim and we could get decent-to-pretty-good play with a modem, for free? Or like N2 where it's only on a service that we have to pay extra for? Hoping for the former, ditto for Nascar 3. Wouldn't mind if there's something like NROS, where you can get full-fields and really good performance if you want to pay, but they have a 4-8 player mode with decent performance in the box. Of course good performance w/ full fields for free would be even better :-) Ken

> Just hoping if there are some tweaks here and there that could be > incorporated they might get in, instead of this being the final version. > I'm sure it won't be anything like CPR. Same here...I'm told the artwork's being redone to some extent, mainly to keep everything similar from track to track. As far as the physics, I think they're pretty much finished, and Papy appears to be focusing on multiplay. I don't think there's a service planned, if this is what you mean. The main emphasis seems to be in the connection (either via modem, or over the 'net). Races between 4 are a sure thing, and so far up to 5 are possible (I'm talkin' a solid race, not just the number of bodies connected) provided everyone has a good connection (this all based on an ISDN host)...Cable modems will make things even better, but their cost is a bit high (no pun intended). Certainly many leagues will forming around online racing. Organization and how results are tallied will be an important issue. All I want is to be able to access the car model though. ;) Cheers! Marc -- Marc J. Nelson The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com * No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *

Hmmmmm.....shouldn't the beta testing have been completed months ago since according to Sierra the retail version will be available in Sept..........something doesn't add up here. As for me I say release it now and follow with patches that way we'll have something to *** and complain about 8-)

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>>Makes no diff to me...I get enough (trusted) inside info on the sim >>to be confident of its outcome. What I'm dying to try is the online >>play, which I hear is spectacular! =) >>Cheers! >>Marc >Just hoping if there are some tweaks here and there that could be >incorporated they might get in, instead of this being the final version. >I'm sure it won't be anything like CPR. >About the multiplayer - is this gonna be a "Quake 2" type thing, where it's >in the sim and we could get decent-to-pretty-good play with a modem, for >free? Or like N2 where it's only on a service that we have to pay extra >for? Hoping for the former, ditto for Nascar 3. Wouldn't mind if there's >something like NROS, where you can get full-fields and really good >performance if you want to pay, but they have a 4-8 player mode with decent >performance in the box. Of course good performance w/ full fields for free >would be even better :-) >Ken

David Noe wrote Well here is my 2... Beta testing AND playtesting is started since months... Papyrus have their own testers for the game, called the "core-8" group, and playtester that work at their office. About all except for 1 of the "core-8" testers are real life drivers. Papyrus choose their own testers, well it's maybe not a good word but they have their "clique" and that's good since they are all *** drivers... not gamers... Essentially the beta testing thing people received when they signed on the sierra testing webpage is just IMHO publicity and marketing. It's already near or Gold, and the only point about this is that they can already start on the first patch if nessecary. So it's not beta testing, it's just somehow gamers who race the final product before the release. Yes I said GAMERS... It's the first time I see this from Papyrus, but I don't blame them it's Sierra Sports policy probably to have a second set of testers for the simulator. They will choose GAMERS instead of just monitoring places like r.a.s. and T.g.s.n. to take a little group of 50 people to make the second set of testers... - 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."--

The multiplay is what I'm looking forward to. If it's as good and easy to set up a net race as MTM2, then I'll be happy. From what I hear, Papyrus had to be pushed to concentrate on multiplay by beta testers (ridiculous) but the results are supposed to be very good. I'm glad they were pushed, because sim developers should make online play as much a priority as the physics and graphics engine, and stop looking at it as if it's just an option. Dave DmndDave

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>I don't think there's a service planned, if this is what you mean. The >main emphasis seems to be in the connection (either via modem, or over >the 'net). Races between 4 are a sure thing, and so far up to 5 are >possible >Certainly many leagues will forming around online racing. > >Cheers! >Marc >-- >Marc J. Nelson >The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com >* No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *

>It's the first time I see this from Papyrus, but I don't blame them it's >Sierra Sports policy probably to have a second set of testers for the >simulator. They will choose GAMERS instead of just monitoring places like >r.a.s. and T.g.s.n. to take a little group of 50 people to make the second >set of testers... It's one way to train the support staff before the game is released... Remco

This multiplayer thing needs a standard. I think Quake 2 set one when it allowed superb internet gameplay on a 31,200 modem for no extra fees. If I pay $50 for a game I would expect nothing less. If GPL or Nascar3 offers TCP/IP internet gameplay then it should include nothing less than a full racing field, be it 4,6 or 8 human drivers with the rest of the field computer AI. Although for $50 it should allow a full human field. Paying $20 to $30 to a company like TEN after I already forked out $50 for the game and $20 a month for the internet is crazy. Do they think we're all made of money out here?

Where do you get your information Fran?ois? Just curious. -- mark "You *will* hit what you look at. In that case, try looking at the apex instead of the gravel at your turn in point." F1RS - http://www.nmia.com/~chaser/car/results.htm Remove us here and there to mail me. >Beta testing AND playtesting is started since months... Papyrus have their >own testers for the game, called the "core-8" group, and playtester that >work at their office. About all except for 1 of the "core-8" testers are >real life drivers. Papyrus choose their own testers, well it's maybe not a >good word but they have their "clique" and that's good since they are all >*** drivers... not gamers... >Essentially the beta testing thing people received when they signed on the >sierra testing webpage is just IMHO publicity and marketing. It's already >near or Gold, and the only point about this is that they can already start >on the first patch if nessecary. >So it's not beta testing, it's just somehow gamers who race the final >product before the release. Yes I said GAMERS... >It's the first time I see this from Papyrus, but I don't blame them it's >Sierra Sports policy probably to have a second set of testers for the >simulator. They will choose GAMERS instead of just monitoring places like >r.a.s. and T.g.s.n. to take a little group of 50 people to make the second >set of testers...

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> This multiplayer thing needs a standard. I think Quake 2 set one when it > allowed superb internet gameplay on a 31,200 modem for no extra fees. If I > pay $50 for a game I would expect nothing less. If GPL or Nascar3 offers > TCP/IP internet gameplay then it should include nothing less than a full > racing field, be it 4,6 or 8 human drivers with the rest of the field > computer AI. Although for $50 it should allow a full human field. Paying $20 > to $30 to a company like TEN after I already forked out $50 for the game and > $20 a month for the internet is crazy. Do they think we're all made of money > out here?

Well, if you have never played on TEN with up to 24 other real human beings, I will NEVER race online with ONLY 4-8 other people. Lame in my book --- Note: I only pay 13 bucks a month for my TEN account and overall I think it is a bargin. Bill / Amish on TEN

Yes I did play on TEN for about 3 months and thought it was great. But then I checked my wallet and found I was paying way too much for something that should be available anyway for no extra charge.

Where do you live, last time I checked there wasn't much you could get for free that was as fun as this, or as competative. But I like your train of thought. I think in the future you'll find that it's worth every penny and besides , you only get what you pay for. Just my opinion. Mike Grandy Powered By ECCI driving controls http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/extreme/ Yes I did play on TEN for about 3 months and thought it was great. But then I checked my wallet and found I was paying way too much for something that should be available anyway for no extra charge.

> Yes I did play on TEN for about 3 months and thought it was great. But then > I checked my wallet and found I was paying way too much for something that > should be available anyway for no extra charge. I am actually glad it isnt for free. Keep some of the riff raff away who play nascar mostly for "arcade" action vs "simulation". I hope they continue to have a main pay per play service vs. free. Bill / Amish on TEN

How is $13/month not worth it? That's less than the price of one Movie for you and a date. No popcorn, no drink, and no candy, just a movie. As the very wise Mike Grandy said, "you get what you pay for..." If Papy or someone, even TEN offered GPL service with 24 racers, I'd sign up in a minute. -/- Walk Walker Official HAL Backmarker

> How is $13/month not worth it? That's less than the price of one Movie for > you and a date. No popcorn, no drink, and no candy, just a movie. As the > very wise Mike Grandy said, "you get what you pay for..." Of course, if the movie is out of focus, contacting the management will get it corrected in minutes. If the film breaks in the middle, you get your money back. I do agree that when online racing is working correctly it's worth every last red cent, though. Reliability is the key. -- Rob Heiser

My cable modem is dirt cheap IMO. (Almost as cheap as the second phone line before you consider the ISP charges...) But, it's *just* flaky enough in the connection to the internet that I'm not sure I want to rely on it for a heated GPL race. Sure, it's good enough to do *work* on, but not good enough for games... :-) ---Jim

> My cable modem is dirt cheap IMO. (Almost as cheap as the second phone > line before you consider the ISP charges...) The local thieves 'round here are charging $60 per month for cable. Another line, plus an extra ISP would be cheaper in my area (rual). Had I had the foresight to remain in LA (knowing what I know now about GPL<g>), I could have saved $25 off the top! =P My buddy's connection seems stable enough...Not enough for me to fork- over what they charge here. Cheers! Marc PS: My VV wheel is still rock-solid! =) -- Marc J. Nelson The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com * No animals were harmed in the making of this e-mail *

Since when did r.a.s. need anything as trivial as a reason to initiate ***ing and complaining? I thought that just sprung up naturally :-) Cheers! John