Monaco Grand Prix

Well, just to let people know that Ubi Shop is now making MGP available (the UK version) for direct sale from us. So on our website or by calling 800-ubi-soft and choosing direct sales it is now possible to purchase MGP if you can't wait for the North American release. Thanks. -- Erik Pohjola Software Technical Support Ubi Soft Entertainment 1-800-UBI-SOFT * * * * * * *

When are you going to patch the multitude of problems in this title? Marc

What problems are you having? >When are you going to patch the multitude of problems in this title?

>What problems are you having? >>When are you going to patch the multitude of problems in this title? I'm not the original poster, but I'll list my (few) problems. Most are relatively small. I'm using the UK version. [note, where I list a "name" it is where I've replaced the bogus names with the real drivers. I'm sure they are correct, except where McLaren was switched with Williams. And I recognized it is based on '97] ** Main one is: no sound in replay mode. * I get a periodic clicking noise. On some rapid downshifts, I also get distorted sound. * I have to switch from wavx2 to wavpw. * The sound editor is in French. * I've noticed that if I go to the garage (telemetry?) when in a session (qualifying, others?) that the AI cars get a lot faster. This was when I was in realistic/amateur mode racing at Monza in a single GP. * You need a more consistent way to handicap the AI in amateur mode (and probably Pro). Their times respond differently to whether the session is skipped, accelerated through, or raced. In amateur "skipped" races, Nakano always turns a 1:27+ lap compared to everyone elses 1:31+. * small one: when I quit, the taskbar minimized icon is still there. On about 1 of 3 exits, it leaves an error message. No biggee. * Blue flagging: if the overtaking car is a little slow to respond to the backmarker backing off the racing line, the blue flag disappears and the backmarker races up to speed closing the door. * Blue flagging: In one race, "Hakkinen" had a gearbox problem. A lapped car passed him, but then got the blue flag, backed off, and Hakkinen went by. Resulting in the same series of events. Big recommendations: * Please add a performance editor for the cars AND the drivers' factors. *Team tactics. At least don't have teammates fight for position (unless their names are Prost and Senna!). If the faster one is overtaking, let him pass. Other recommendations: Don't always listen to Renault! The Benettons are too fast in the game! "Wurz" shouldn't be near as good as he is. And what do they have against "M Schmacher"? He's slower than "Irvine", not one of the two fastest. Why can't I select 800x600 with my Voodoo1 (Pure3D)? Do you use z-buffering? If not, shouldn't the V1 be 800x600 capable? My system: 200MMX 64 MB SDRAM Shuttle HOT-569 MB STB LS 128 Canopus Pure 3D (Voodoo1) TB Montego CH Pro Pedals, F16 CS thanks for listening, Dave Masten

On Mon, 16 Nov 1998 15:54:44 -0500, "Ubi Soft Tech Support" >What problems are you having? Can this be for real?? I sent emails to at least 3 different support departments at UBI and you're still asking if there are problems? Okay, for starters, how about a website? I mean one that the majority of customers is able to read...come on the game is out for over a month already (in fact 39 days according to that neat counter thingie). Or what about fixing the following 'bugs' (or whatever you call em): - cc cars qualify up to 4 secs faster than they should when I use the garage option (inevitable of course) - saved game files grow bigger with each save and refuse to load eventually - after successfully reloading such a saved game the setup as well as pit strategy is gone sometimes - no sound in replay - it's not possible to change the location of instruments with the ***pit editor, skylines can't be changed and the sound editor does not work correctly with external sounds (it produces a crack loop), plus it is in french - Suzuka still needs to be tweaked :) Nuff food for thoughts I'd think... -- Tel http://members.xoom.com/Tel33 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a.k.a. Holger Bachert F1RS Cars & Design

Not to mention up to 14 cars are disqualified before the race sometimes. I was running against only 6 others at Melbourne once! Iain

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>On Mon, 16 Nov 1998 15:54:44 -0500, "Ubi Soft Tech Support" >>What problems are you having? >Can this be for real?? I sent emails to at least 3 different support >departments at UBI and you're still asking if there are problems? >Okay, for starters, how about a website? I mean one that the majority >of customers is able to read...come on the game is out for over a >month already (in fact 39 days according to that neat counter >thingie). >Or what about fixing the following 'bugs' (or whatever you call em): >- cc cars qualify up to 4 secs faster than they should when I use the >garage option (inevitable of course) >- saved game files grow bigger with each save and refuse to load >eventually >- after successfully reloading such a saved game the setup as well as >pit strategy is gone sometimes >- no sound in replay >- it's not possible to change the location of instruments with the >cockpit editor, skylines can't be changed and the sound editor does >not work correctly with external sounds (it produces a crack loop), >plus it is in french >- Suzuka still needs to be tweaked :) >Nuff food for thoughts I'd think... >-- >Tel > http://members.xoom.com/Tel33 > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >a.k.a. Holger Bachert F1RS Cars & Design

> What problems are you having? > >When are you going to patch the multitude of problems in this title? I suggest you check out this web page: http://f1racingsim.com/f1rs2/forum.htm In this forum you will find many messages about MGPR2. I've experienced quite a few bugs myself like: 1. If you use the restart option in Time attack you will not be able to save your ghost lap time. 2. Save games with a file size bigger than 200k will crash the computer if you try to load the save game. Save games vary between 191k and 210k (as far as I can tell). I have to play with Windows NT explorer when I'm driving a race. Each time I save I use ALT+TAB and switch to Windows Explorer and check the file size of the save game. If it's bigger than 200k then I must not exit the game. I will have to run one more lap and save again. I repeat this process until I get a filesize that is smaller than 200k. Then I can leave the game and hope to load it again later without the game crashing. 3. The computer cars are almost silent during a race (especially at the start). One of the best things with F1RS was that you could actually hear the other cars. This was something GP2 lacked. In MGPR2 you can almost not hear the AI cars at all. 4. The AI cars are way too fast during qualifying compared to the race. E. g. I was running a Pro race at Melbourne. The best AI car ran at 1.31.0x while I set a fastest lap time of 1.32.5x, but during the race I managed to set a fastest lap time of 1.32.8x while the best computer car set a fastest lap time of 1.35.5x. I'm 1.5s off the best time during the qualifying, but I'm nearly 3s better than them during the race. The AI warm-up lap times were even worse. 1.29.xxx. That's not very realistic. I don't dare think how the computer cars perform at the Expert level. I probably won't even qualify. 5. The AI cars don't behave properly when they are about to be lapped. It looks like you have used the driving style of David Coulthard and Damon Hill and a model. E. g. the AI some times drives a lot slower than they could. They even do that in corners and when I'm just behind them on a straight. The result is I run into them. I guess you have used the Coulthard / Schumacher incident at Spa 1998 as a model. Another example: The AI cars will quite often leave the ideal line when I'm about to pass them. But they will get back on the ideal line just before the corner making it very difficult to overtake them. They are "weaving" just like Damon Hill does when Michael Schumacher is behind him. I think the AI cars should not leave the ideal line on a straight when a faster car is just behind them. And if they decide to leave the ideal line they should not return to the ideal line until they have been passed. They should slow down if they have to in order to make sure the faster car reaches the corner first. I've been put out of the race quite often because of this. I usually catch a back marker at the beginning of a straight and leave the ideal line to overtake, but just when I'm about to lap the backmarker this car leaves the ideal line to causing me to ram it. I've also been taken out of the race by driving on the ideal line when the AI car moves over only to the the AI car ram me at when I reach the corner. This is because the AI car moves back to the ideal line and doesn't slow down. 6. Some times many AI car won't even drive a single lap during qualifying. I had to start one race with only 10 AI cars running. Irvine, H?kkinen, Villeneuve etc. were out of the race before it even began. 7. I would also like to see a performance editor so we can decide ourselves how fast each AI car could drive. Why let the players being able to alter the sound and the graphics of the game, but not the performance of the AI drivers. Besides this I think the game is very good. It's certainly an improvement to F1RS. I've read on the MGPR2 forum at patch was scheduled for the middle of November, but the patch has been delayed until December. So Ubisoft is definitely working on a patch (Ubisoft France?). Regards Borger Borgersen Oslo, Norway

Yes, this is for real; this is coming from North America which hasn't had the program released yet, hence the announcement, and therefore has not been in the loop with problems that have been experienced with the European versions of the game. And thank you and everyone for their input as it will be sent to the people in charge of the North American version and as much will be done to correct problems as possible.

I keep an eye on that site, and direct people to f1racingsim for most things, but it is often better to have a direct enumeration with all the information collated than sifting through a forum when you want to know something. As mentioned before, your comments are very appreciated and I hope will go towards making the North American version of the game as good as possible.

On Tue, 17 Nov 1998 11:08:37 -0500, "Ubi Soft Tech Support" >Yes, this is for real; this is coming from North America which hasn't had >the program released yet, hence the announcement, and therefore has not been >in the loop with problems that have been experienced with the European >versions of the game. Oh boy, I'm slowly getting irritated with you guys... I really don't care whether you're only competent for the Northamerican version or the one from Mars and since you were posting under the general *UBISOFT* tech support sticker that's irrelevant anyway. You asked for bugs, you got some. And no, I don't want them to be sent to some people in charge of a special 'northamerican' version, I want them to be sent to those responsible for the current release. Am I really demanding too much for my money? Think that's what you're paid with too...regardless at which local branch you're employed. -- Tel http://members.xoom.com/Tel33 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a.k.a. Holger Bachert F1RS Cars & Design

>On Tue, 17 Nov 1998 11:08:37 -0500, "Ubi Soft Tech Support" >>Yes, this is for real; this is coming from North America which hasn't had >>the program released yet, hence the announcement, and therefore has not been >>in the loop with problems that have been experienced with the European >>versions of the game. >Oh boy, I'm slowly getting irritated with you guys... I am sorry to hear that, I'm just dealing with the local issue though. Sorry, I should have put North America then, my fault. And as I said, it has been passed on. That, as I explained is not within my area, you would need to direct problems specifically to the European sites in order to get the best effect; which I am sure you have done. As a tech support grunt I don't exactly have a lot of say in what is done and what isn't in case you didn't realize that. Actually that isn't correct, but it also doesn't really matter, I am doing what I can and what I said I would do. I simply don't have the ability to do any more, regardless of my agreement with your statements. Sorry and thanks again.

Wrong. If they'd done that, you'd have Artificial Stupidity cars slamming into your rear despite leaving them a country mile of open road to pass you. ;-) --- Jon Petersson (http://jon.svenskabio.com) Allez Jacques! Hyv? Mika! Vai Pedro! Go Damon! Forza Giancarlo!

Does this mean the US version for MGPR2 will be *different* than the European version? Shouldn't the version you release in North America next year be identical to the *patched* European version that's available at the release time. Is it really possible the US version will fix *other* bugs than the European version. E. g. meaning that you have 2 independent developer teams making patches for MGPR2. I hope I'm wrong here. I would hate to see a bug fixed in the US version, but not being able to benefit from the bugfix myself since I have the European version. I also have a few improvements to suggest: 1. Why not let the computer wave a black flag against you (or the AI players) when you get a penalty (e. g. by driving the wrong way). Now you will only get the penalty message, but you won't ever see the black flag. 2. The computer should also wave a blue flag against me (or the AI players). Use the same method as for the yellow flag. Now I only get a blue flag in the upper right corner (like the black flag in GP2). That's not very realistic. 3. The computer should also show the red flag when a race should be stopped (e. g. when there is a big crash at the start affecting many cars). When you have several broken car *on* the track the race should be red flagged. 4. When you load a setup the computer should show only the setups for the track you are running on as the default. Now you have to first scroll through the list of tracks and select the one you want. The point is the computer ought to know which track you want to select. When you are driving at Monza the obvious choice will be you want to load a setup for Monza. 5. You should have the opportunity to type the exact number of litres of fuel you want when you are making a pitstop or are making a pitstop schedule. You can now only use the + and - keys to alter the fuel load. When I have to make an unscheduled pitstop I lose many seconds because I have use the + and - keys. Just let me type 42 litres. That will take 2 seconds instead of 6-10 seconds. 6. You have forgotten to creative intermediate and monsoon tyres. You can only choose between hard, soft and rain tyres. Having the option to choose intermediate tyres is an important improvement to the game. They are used quite often in real F1 races. Monsoon tyres are used very seldom so you might decide to skip those. I have a hunch intermediate tyres weren't introduced since it will require programming a different driving model than the ones used for hard, soft or rain tyres. MGPR2 is based on F1RS (the software code, that is) and F1RS didn't have intermediate tyres. So maybe we won't see intermediate tyres in the patch 1.01, but you should try to create it for patch 1.05 or even 1.10. You should at least introduce intermediate tyres in F1RS3. :-) 7. I would love to be able to edit the driver skills and personalities programmed into the game. Quite often one of the two drivers in a team is alot faster than the other and that must be because the skills of each driver is set differently. Let the players be able to alter those. Since you are using bogus driver names you won't risk a lawsuit from e. g. Michael Schumacher when you reveal the skill settings. :-) Grand Prix Manager 1&2 had problems with this. They only dared to use terms like very good, excellent and brilliant for the different skill settings of each real life F1 drivers. We all know that's not true. :-) Regards Borger Borgersen Oslo, Norway

things, but it is often better to have a direct enumeration with all the information collated than sifting through a forum when you want to know something.<<< Well can at least we say that UBI is going to have a presence on both boards from now on? It would be nice to have at lease SOME representation and feedback from the publisher. Sometimes it seems that there is just a whole lot of preaching on one's soapbox and nothing ever comes out of it. Alot of people want to see this sim really mature into what it has the potental to become...the best 'modern' F1-Racing Sim. But in order for this to happen, it must be a 2-way street for both sides. :::Stepping off of soapbox::: F1Filter

Is it any surprise developers don't come to r.a.s.? Try to ignore any rude posts. Your presence IS appreciated by others. David G Fisher

You asked...you got... Of course, you are familiar with the Unofficial site as you mention in another reply. People have been discussing (and screaming about) the multitude of problems there for weeks and weeks. Thanks to those who took the time to repeat some of them here. If you truly represent just the N. American operation, then what problems did you think would be enumerated based on your post--the game isn't out here officially yet. The only problems anyone knows about are in the current releases--and as someone else has said, you (UbiSoft N. America) better not be proposing two streams of patches for this title. What possible logic or rationale could there be for that???????????? Marc. >What problems are you having? >>When are you going to patch the multitude of problems in this title?

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> Borger Borgersen wrote... > >5. The AI cars don't behave properly when they are about to be > > lapped.... > <snip> > > The result is I run > > into them. I guess you have used the Coulthard / Schumacher > > incident at Spa 1998 as a model. > Wrong. If they'd done that, you'd have Artificial Stupidity cars slamming > into your rear despite leaving them a country mile of open road to pass you.

Maybe, but you wouldn't be driving 50 km/h slower than all the laps before at this position of the track... ;^) l8er ronny -- Toys'R'Us '99: "So, would you like a hand gun with that action figure, kiddo?" |\ _,,,---,,_ I want to die like my Grandfather, ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ in his sleep. |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-' Not like the people in his car, '---''(_/--' `-'\_) screaming their heads off!

The US version will try to incorporate the latest fixes that are developed for the European versions and so be as bug free (admittedly dangerous words) as possible, but there won't be any independent patches/fixes that would not also become available for the European versions. Also the US version will contain the Game Service which European versions will have to patch to obtain. And thank you for your comments, they will be passed on.

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>>I keep an eye on that site, and direct people to f1racingsim for most >>things, but it is often better to have a direct enumeration with all the >>information collated than sifting through a forum when you want to know >>something. >>>I suggest you check out this web page: >>>http://f1racingsim.com/f1rs2/forum.htm >>As mentioned before, your comments are very appreciated and I hope will go >>towards making the North American version of the game as good as possible. >Does this mean the US version for MGPR2 will be *different* than the >European version? Shouldn't the version you release in North America >next year be identical to the *patched* European version that's available >at the release time. Is it really possible the US version will fix *other* >bugs >than the European version. E. g. meaning that you have 2 independent >developer teams making patches for MGPR2. I hope I'm wrong here. I >would hate to see a bug fixed in the US version, but not being able to >benefit from the bugfix myself since I have the European version.

<snip>

I try to keep an eye on the board, but a lot of my actual commentary is either pre-empted by the people on the board offering what I would offer; or someone on r.a.s. has first hand knowledge of a problem which I haven't experienced (certain hardware configs which I don't have - my system is a straight forward P2-266 with a TNT and an SLI config and a Maxi Sound card); or problems which we have received through email already. In some cases of course, I also don't know the answer...admittedly not the best of situations. But yes, I do try to respond here, it is pseudo official as I have officially been requested to monitor newsgroups, but my postings are probably more casual than they should be. As for the two way street, I agree, unfortunately it always seems that by the time the product is out to receive input it is too late to modify the program since another project has priority etc. This seems to be changing somewhat on the North American front with gamer forums and QA sessions such as those which were held with Speed Busters, hopefully that will continue and show results from such QA sessions. >>>>I keep an eye on that site, and direct people to f1racingsim for most >things, but it is often better to have a direct enumeration with all the >information collated than sifting through a forum when you want to know >something.<<< >Well can at least we say that UBI is going to have a presence on both boards >from now on? It would be nice to have at lease SOME representation and >feedback from the publisher. Sometimes it seems that there is just a whole lot >of preaching on one's soapbox and nothing ever comes out of it. >Alot of people want to see this sim really mature into what it has the potental >to become...the best 'modern' F1-Racing Sim. But in order for this to happen, >it must be a 2-way street for both sides. >:::Stepping off of soapbox::: >F1Filter

I really am not too clear on what you are trying to get across in the this paragraph. I think you mean to say that since the US version isn't out, US people on r.a.s. can't comment on the problems? OK, that's true, but we (meaning other divisions of Ubi Soft's North American office and not us at Tech Support) are also interested in finding out what the sim racers think and want regardless where they are from. And to reiterate, there won't be two lines of patches going.

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>If you truly represent just the N. American operation, then what problems >did you think would be enumerated based on your post--the game isn't out >here officially yet. The only problems anyone knows about are in the >current releases--and as someone else has said, you (UbiSoft N. America) >better not be proposing two streams of patches for this title. What >possible logic or rationale could there be for that???????????? >Marc.

Well it is available here in Canada. At least here in Toronto. I, so far am not impressed with it, the demo anyway. As The Pits F1 "expert" ( yea right ) I suggest you find a copy of F1RS for the truest sense of an F1 simulation. Real drivers, real tracks, and great graphics there is nothing better. Since UBISOFT doesn't have the rights to use the names of the latest drivers (1998) they were unable to offer them in the game. Just my thoughts only and not those of The Pits. Thanks -- Jim Dunphy The Pits http://www.theuspits.com To err is human, to moo is bovine. >I really am not too clear on what you are trying to get across in the this >paragraph. I think you mean to say that since the US version isn't out, US >people on r.a.s. can't comment on the problems? OK, that's true, but we >(meaning other divisions of Ubi Soft's North American office and not us at >Tech Support) are also interested in finding out what the sim racers think >and want regardless where they are from. >And to reiterate, there won't be two lines of patches going. >>If you truly represent just the N. American operation, then what problems >>did you think would be enumerated based on your post--the game isn't out >>here officially yet. The only problems anyone knows about are in the >>current releases--and as someone else has said, you (UbiSoft N. America) >>better not be proposing two streams of patches for this title. What >>possible logic or rationale could there be for that???????????? >>Marc.

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> Well it is available here in Canada. At least here in Toronto. > I, so far am not impressed with it, the demo anyway. As The Pits F1 "expert" > ( yea right ) I suggest you find a copy of F1RS for the truest sense of an > F1 simulation. Real drivers, real tracks, and great graphics there is > nothing better. Since UBISOFT doesn't have the rights to use the names of > the latest drivers (1998) they were unable to offer them in the game. > Just my thoughts only and not those of The Pits.

This is strange, coming from a guy working (?) for The Pits, a major website for modifications of existing racing sims!!! You're telling us, that you are not willing to download a few patches and make it "real" yourself? I support UbiSoft in NOT supporting Bernie with his moneygrabbing, sport- destructing policies. BTW, don't give anything on the demo, that's one part where UbiSoft REALLY likes to***up big time... ;^) l8er ronny -- Toys'R'Us '99: "So, would you like a hand gun with that action figure, kiddo?" |\ _,,,---,,_ I want to die like my Grandfather, ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ in his sleep. |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-' Not like the people in his car, '---''(_/--' `-'\_) screaming their heads off!

The N. American version is not available in Toronto...only the UK/European version. At some point, the US/N. American version will start showing up on regular store shelves. Right now, only a few specialty stores who import British software have the UK version of MGPRS2. >Well it is available here in Canada. At least here in Toronto. >I, so far am not impressed with it, the demo anyway. As The Pits F1 "expert"

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>( yea right ) I suggest you find a copy of F1RS for the truest sense of an >F1 simulation. Real drivers, real tracks, and great graphics there is >nothing better. Since UBISOFT doesn't have the rights to use the names of >the latest drivers (1998) they were unable to offer them in the game. >Just my thoughts only and not those of The Pits. >Thanks >-- >Jim Dunphy >The Pits >http://www.theuspits.com >To err is human, to moo is bovine. >>I really am not too clear on what you are trying to get across in the this >>paragraph. I think you mean to say that since the US version isn't out, US >>people on r.a.s. can't comment on the problems? OK, that's true, but we >>(meaning other divisions of Ubi Soft's North American office and not us at >>Tech Support) are also interested in finding out what the sim racers think >>and want regardless where they are from. >>And to reiterate, there won't be two lines of patches going. >>>If you truly represent just the N. American operation, then what problems >>>did you think would be enumerated based on your post--the game isn't out >>>here officially yet. The only problems anyone knows about are in the >>>current releases--and as someone else has said, you (UbiSoft N. America) >>>better not be proposing two streams of patches for this title. What >>>possible logic or rationale could there be for that???????????? >>>Marc.

If and when a modification is available The Pits will have it available. My point was that I really would like a great, accurate, and TRUE sim. We the GENERAL public shouldn't have to provide patches and fixes to games that should be complete when we buy them. That's all. Aren't you? -- Jim Dunphy The Pits http://www.theuspits.com To err is human, to moo is bovine. >> Well it is available here in Canada. At least here in Toronto. >> I, so far am not impressed with it, the demo anyway. As The Pits F1 "expert" >> ( yea right ) I suggest you find a copy of F1RS for the truest sense of an >> F1 simulation. Real drivers, real tracks, and great graphics there is >> nothing better. Since UBISOFT doesn't have the rights to use the names of >> the latest drivers (1998) they were unable to offer them in the game. >> Just my thoughts only and not those of The Pits. >This is strange, coming from a guy working (?) for The Pits, a major >website >for modifications of existing racing sims!!! You're telling us, that you >are not willing to download a few patches and make it "real" yourself? >I support UbiSoft in NOT supporting Bernie with his moneygrabbing, >sport- >destructing policies. >BTW, don't give anything on the demo, that's one part where UbiSoft >REALLY >likes to***up big time... ;^) >l8er >ronny >-- >Toys'R'Us '99: "So, would you like a hand gun with that action figure, >kiddo?" > |\ _,,,---,,_ I want to die like my Grandfather, > ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ in his sleep. > |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-' Not like the people in his car, > '---''(_/--' `-'\_) screaming their heads off!

> If and when a modification is available The Pits will have it available. > My point was that I really would like a great, accurate, and TRUE sim. We > the GENERAL public shouldn't have to provide patches and fixes to games that > should be complete when we buy them. That's all. Aren't you? No, if the rediculous licensing fees make realistic sims (smaller market?) not profitable, I'm all for giving Schumacher some fantasy name, esp. when it's easy to change. That's all, isn't it? l8er ronny -- How to get rid of censorship in German game releases <http://www.gamesmania.com/german/maniac/freedom/freedom.htm> |\ _,,,---,,_ I want to die like my Grandfather, ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ in his sleep. |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-' Not like the people in his car, '---''(_/--' `-'\_) screaming their heads off!