Revised Opinion On Superbike World Championship.

Afte spending considerable time on this game I would like to revise some earlier comments. 1) The front end physics are fine. After trying different cornering techniques I have found the problem to be me loading the front wheel. A few adjustments and voila...less front end slides. Now, if I could just stop highsiding myself! 2) The STB v4400 graphics work better if I go to control panel and turn down the acceleration. The picture is better than the Voodoo2 SLI setup and the frame rate, especially when going under trees with the shadows turned on, is better. However there are still some spiking of the wheels that detracts from the overall picture quality. A few observations, There is a marked difference between all of the bikes. (I must confess I am yet to try the Yamaha because I wouldn't want to be seen riding one even in a game!). The Honda's front end is definately the least grippy but its acceleration is the best. It is also the easiest to flip but is the best for leaving black marks around corners! Its engine sound is also the best with a vey nice high pitched scream down the straights. The Ducati is the easiest to ride. It pulls out of corners brilliantly and seems to have more torque than a tractor. Its engine sound is a nice bassy burble. I have had to turn my subwoofer down! It seems to lack top end speed and on long straights I have to draft the Jap ***to keep up. The Kawasaki seems to be the most nimble. It acceleration sucks and although top speed is impressive it takes a while to get there. The engine sound is really anoying at low speed and sounds like it goes from 4 to 2 to 3 cylinders. High revs engine sound is nice. The Suzuki is good at everything but doesn't seem to excell in any one area. t will probably require less setup fiddling between tracks than the other bikes. Like the rest of the bike the engine sound is a bit boring. I will make comments about the Yamaha after I lock the door and make sure nobody can see me using it. I have managed to get within 1 second of the lap record on four of the tracks and actually beat it at Monza on a Honda. This is with all help turned off. Of all the driver (rider ) aids the acceleration help is the most usefull. It is extremely easy to high side or just slide out with too much throttle. I own over 20 Motor racing games and I must say this is the most fun I have ever had. The learning curve is similar to GPL and the satisfaction of doing a good lap just as rewarding. In the simulation mode it is exactly that, a high quality and accurate simulation of Superbikes. The Action (Arcade) setting is brilliant if you just want to race and the physics and techniques of good riding still apply. I highly recommend this game and look forward to many add ons and tweaks coming from the genera public. I have had a look at he configuration files but they are all in Italian so I have no idea what setting is what!

says... Same question here. This game begs for a controller a don't have. Vamp

Mark. I appreciate your comments on SBK. Tell me about loading/unloading the front end while cornering. I have done quite a few car racing sims, and have ridden on and off road (no on road speeds beginning to approach SBK cornering), but I don't really have much knowledge on racing bike handling. Any tips here are appreciated. I'm having a great time with SBK, but for me it has a learning curve about like Grand Prix Legends (after awhile things just started ot click-esp. when you learn to slide the car around). The SBK tracks take a lot of practice to learn (I do like the colored gates to show the general racing line and braking points-things are happening so fast that the more and bigger cues are better while learning the track). On screen resolution. I guess this sim uses D3D for hardware acceleration. I can't get the screen resolution slider above 640X480, but the graphics certainly look better than 640X480! I'm running Voodoo Banshee-card and I can run up to 1240X786 in glide, not sure what my max is in D3D- will have check it Viper Racing, where I have been able to vary screen resolution in D3D. This is a very complete and well produced sim! Tom Petersen

I agree, this is a great sim, but would be even better if we could find an appropriate controller. A steering wheel just doesnt seem proper, and a gamepad doesn't allow for the subtle moves that a bike allows. I don't have much experience with some of the more advanced flight-sim controllers, but I'd bet that we could find something appropriate from that type of controller.

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>On Mon, 08 Mar 1999 23:01:08 +1000, >>I own over 20 Motor racing games and I must say this is the most fun I >>have ever had. The learning curve is similar to GPL and the satisfaction >>of doing a good lap just as rewarding. >It is very nice!! Hey, what kind of controller are you using? >Thanks.

Would you mind elaborating on these adjustments? I'm not a "setup wizard" kind of guy. Joe

I am using the MS Sidewinder Precision Pro through the USB. Game definately needs a sensitivity and deadzone setting change in the first patch.

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> On Mon, 08 Mar 1999 23:01:08 +1000, > >I own over 20 Motor racing games and I must say this is the most fun I > >have ever had. The learning curve is similar to GPL and the satisfaction > >of doing a good lap just as rewarding. > It is very nice!! Hey, what kind of controller are you using? > Thanks. > -- > // rrevved posts from mindspring dot com

Simple rule is have no brakes on around the corner and start your leaning earlier than you think is needed. Heavier spring settings that reduce fork compression works wonders, especially aroung something like Leguna Seca's corkscrew. Learn the tracks on something easy to ride, like the Duke. It doesn't matter if you are a gear too high with the Duke because it just pulls out of the corners anyway. Being a gear too low is a big problem due to wheelspin with any of the bikes but less so on the Duke. Some of the tracks take ages to learn becuase things hapen too quick such as Leguna Seca. It would of been nice if they let you practice on slower bikes, such as Supersports, that are now part of the SBK World Championship. I hope they bring out a patch with this years bikes. I would love to race the new Aprillia. I would also love to design my own paintjob and leathers.

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> Mark. I appreciate your comments on SBK. Tell me about loading/unloading > the front end while cornering. I have done quite a few car racing sims, > and have ridden on and off road (no on road speeds beginning to approach > SBK cornering), but I don't really have much knowledge on racing bike > handling. Any tips here are appreciated. I'm having a great time with > SBK, but for me it has a learning curve about like Grand Prix Legends > (after awhile things just started ot click-esp. when you learn to slide the > car around). The SBK tracks take a lot of practice to learn (I do like the > colored gates to show the general racing line and braking points-things are > happening so fast that the more and bigger cues are better while learning > the track). > On screen resolution. I guess this sim uses D3D for hardware acceleration. > I can't get the screen resolution slider above 640X480, but the graphics > certainly look better than 640X480! I'm running Voodoo Banshee-card and I > can run up to 1240X786 in glide, not sure what my max is in D3D- will have > check it Viper Racing, where I have been able to vary screen resolution in > D3D. > This is a very complete and well produced sim! > Tom Petersen

MS Precision Pro through USB is the best of the six controller I tried. If ythey allowed a sensitivity adjustment it would be ideal.

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> says... > > It is very nice!! Hey, what kind of controller are you using? > > Thanks. > Same question here. This game begs for a controller a don't have. > Vamp

I picked up a copy of the sim today and I can't wait until I get home. I've given the demo a good beating since it's release last September (I think) and I've been waiting on the full version so I can have a go at Phillip Island. I live in Melbourne, Australia and I've been to the Island heaps o' times and I've always wished there was a sim that had it as one of it's tracks - either cars or bikes. I agree with your comments about the Aprilia. I hope to get one as soon as they hit Australian shores. I used to own an 851 but some *** stole it when I was living in Sydney. Anyway I've loaded SBK on my laptop here at work to give Phillip Is a go and I can't wait to get home. It's virtually spot on!!

I agree. It just doesn't seem right racing with a wheel but yet it's hard to think of anything else. I rigged something up to simulate a motorcycle better but it still doesn't feel the same. -- Tony Wyss, Editor-in-Chief Gamer's Alliance Sports www.ga-sports.com --------------------------------- Gamer's Alliance, Inc Site Relations Coordinator www.gagames.com -------------------------------- "I'm not an athlete, I'm a baseball player" - John Kruk

Hi Mark Were you able to adjust sensitivitly of joystick ? You mentioned that and a few other "problems " with the game that somehow not mentioned here again..........

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| On Mon, 08 Mar 1999 23:01:08 +1000, | | | >I own over 20 Motor racing games and I must say this is the most fun I | >have ever had. The learning curve is similar to GPL and the satisfaction | >of doing a good lap just as rewarding. | | It is very nice!! Hey, what kind of controller are you using? | Thanks. | | -- | // rrevved posts from mindspring dot com |

Ther was a fun game about 8 years ago that had Phillip Island. Motorcycle Gp I think it was called. You could race 125, 250 or 500cc. Team Suzuki also brough out a game around the same time but I could never control the thing. Since we have ahouse on Phillip Island and I attend just about every race meeting there it was interesting to see how the graphics compared to the real thing. The Hayshed is there an the pit lane looks pretty accurate. The only part of the track not true to form is Siberia. Since this is where I spend many a cold day watching bikes I feel a bit upset that the game shows no crowd here at all. Just trees that don't exist. I assume this is so they don;t have to model Bass Straight.

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> >I hope they bring out a patch with this years bikes. I would love to race the > >new Aprillia. > I picked up a copy of the sim today and I can't wait until I get home. > I've given the demo a good beating since it's release last September > (I think) and I've been waiting on the full version so I can have a go > at Phillip Island. I live in Melbourne, Australia and I've been to the > Island heaps o' times and I've always wished there was a sim that had > it as one of it's tracks - either cars or bikes. > I agree with your comments about the Aprilia. I hope to get one as > soon as they hit Australian shores. I used to own an 851 but some > *** stole it when I was living in Sydney. > Anyway I've loaded SBK on my laptop here at work to give Phillip Is a > go and I can't wait to get home. It's virtually spot on!!

Hey Dave... do you realize how DARN similar our names are??? (see bottom for my name and website. -_Dave

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> I agree, this is a great sim, but would be even better if we could > find an appropriate controller. A steering wheel just doesnt seem > proper, and a gamepad doesn't allow for the subtle moves that a bike > allows. I don't have much experience with some of the more advanced > flight-sim controllers, but I'd bet that we could find something > appropriate from that type of controller. > >On Mon, 08 Mar 1999 23:01:08 +1000, > >>I own over 20 Motor racing games and I must say this is the most fun I > >>have ever had. The learning curve is similar to GPL and the satisfaction > >>of doing a good lap just as rewarding. > >It is very nice!! Hey, what kind of controller are you using? > >Thanks.

-- Dave Schwabe The Aussie Toad -- Grand Prix Legends & Brabham site http://users.wi.net/~schwabe

I use my USB free style pro to play this game This way I can 'lean' into the corners by actually leaning :) Its probably not the fastest controller but its a good laff. So who's gonna start the online league ? chris

Toadfosi*... That wasn't you?! Thought you were just having an identity crisis of sorts! Having gone to school with a fellow named Schwab, I'm always leaving the "e" off the end of your name anyway. Glad you cleared that up! See you at the track! Jack *Blatantly stolen, without an ounce of remorse, from Steve Blankenship who originally coined the term.

i'm using MS FF wheel with the shifts on the back flip buttons, situp button assigned to the upper right button(so i can situp while downshifting with the left back button,which reduces a lot the braking distance),and the look behind assigned to the upper left button.It works very well for me. I know using the wheel is something weird but i think that we will hardly ever see a true bike controller, so... Rafael

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> On Mon, 08 Mar 1999 23:01:08 +1000, > >I own over 20 Motor racing games and I must say this is the most fun I > >have ever had. The learning curve is similar to GPL and the satisfaction > >of doing a good lap just as rewarding. > It is very nice!! Hey, what kind of controller are you using? > Thanks. > -- > // rrevved posts from mindspring dot com

I use a MS Joypad on mine and it handles suprisely well. I like being able to accelerate and hit the lean up button to pull a wheel stack in 2-3rd gears over a hill.... awesome effect. PassedYa

Thanks for the riding tips, Mark. I'm now using my MS 3dPro joystick and CHpro pedals and it has made worlds of difference in riding the bikes. Managing two axis with a stick is just too much when you are trying to be smooth and accurate on leaning the bike. The pedals are set on a split axis so I can accelerate and apply brakes together to a degree. I've reduced dropping the bike by 2/3rds now. Having some great dices with the other riders. I think the game is now brilliant for me. Tom Petersen >Simple rule is have > snipped

Can't adjust the sensitivity. On tracks like Monza or the A1 this is not too much of a problem but Leguna Seca and a couple of otheres with very tight 1st gear bends are a pain at the moment. Altering the track and rake of the bike helps a bit.

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> Hi Mark > Were you able to adjust sensitivitly of joystick ? > You mentioned that and a few other "problems " with the game > that somehow not mentioned here again.......... > | On Mon, 08 Mar 1999 23:01:08 +1000, > | > | > | >I own over 20 Motor racing games and I must say this is the most fun I > | >have ever had. The learning curve is similar to GPL and the satisfaction > | >of doing a good lap just as rewarding. > | > | It is very nice!! Hey, what kind of controller are you using? > | Thanks. > | > | -- > | // rrevved posts from mindspring dot com > |

steering wheel may not be proper but i find it just fine. been 3 sec back from SBK record on albacete. DjFIL

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> I agree, this is a great sim, but would be even better if we could > find an appropriate controller. A steering wheel just doesnt seem > proper, and a gamepad doesn't allow for the subtle moves that a bike > allows. I don't have much experience with some of the more advanced > flight-sim controllers, but I'd bet that we could find something > appropriate from that type of controller. > >On Mon, 08 Mar 1999 23:01:08 +1000, > >>I own over 20 Motor racing games and I must say this is the most fun I > >>have ever had. The learning curve is similar to GPL and the satisfaction > >>of doing a good lap just as rewarding. > >It is very nice!! Hey, what kind of controller are you using? > >Thanks.