Can I get something off my chest?
I'm getting sick of GPL.
It's not that there's anything wrong with the game. It's
just kind of tedious. I ractice and practice until I almost
forget that I'm driving at all. At this point, if I really force
myself to buckle down and concentrate I can beat my
best time. I just go around and around, hoping I won't
make that one little mistake that costs me an extra 1/2
second (or sends me into the wall - what's the difference?)
and 'ruins' my lap. It's like taking a typing test in Highschool.
Is this just one stage of mediocrity or have I simply
discovered that racing is not my bag?
rob.
Player bored with hotlapping in GPL
A player admitted he was tired of endlessly practising laps in GPL. Most replies said hotlapping was the problem and urged him to race online on VROC against similar-paced drivers, while others suggested GPL simply might not suit him. A side discussion covered the aggressive AI drivers Surtees and Bandini.
Automated summary.
You seem to not be having fun racing. A long time ago I stopped trying to
get hotlaps. Like you said, it is just continually going around hoping you
won't***up this lap or maybe you will hit the brake a little later and
lock them up a little less this time to get that tenth of a second. It
really gets frustrating. I will run a few laps at a track to get down a
baseline and then tweak around but don't try to go farther. I like racing
the AI. They add a fun challenge which can be frustrating at first. It
took me about 40 monza starts to get used to racing with them and not
wrecking. Just say to yourself, don't take unnecessary risks. Try to
follow people around. I find that most of my fastest laps come in a race
either after I learn something or trying to catch someone. Also something
to help you get into the grove is pop in a CD and listen to it while you
drive. Try to get the volumes set where they don't take over each other but
put in some CD like prodigy or something (not the ISP but the group). It
gets me in the groove and though it may sound "arcady" as the people over at
EA would say, it really helps. With the AI just try to have fun and get in
some battles with them in the middle of the pack. At one time I felt the
same way as you. My internet connections sucked so I couldn't race online
so I eventually found out that the AI really was pretty good.
Wow I have written about 10 pages worth of stuff in the past few minutes, I
need to stop.
Jesse..............More below
OH YEAH, go out to the store and get Rainbow6. It is an international swat
team game. Play it and try to learn all that stuff down and then when you
come back to GPL you won't have your mind on it as much and do better.
Another way to bring back the fun to GPL is try out different cars. To get
my 21's at mosport I went and raced every other car at mosport and did the
best I could and learned new things and then when I went back to the lotus
to do some hot laps, the 21's came naturally.
Quoted text (19 lines)
|Can I get something off my chest? | |I'm getting sick of GPL. | |It's not that there's anything wrong with the game. It's |just kind of tedious. I ractice and practice until I almost |forget that I'm driving at all. At this point, if I really force |myself to buckle down and concentrate I can beat my |best time. I just go around and around, hoping I won't |make that one little mistake that costs me an extra 1/2 |second (or sends me into the wall - what's the difference?) |and 'ruins' my lap. It's like taking a typing test in Highschool. | |Is this just one stage of mediocrity or have I simply |discovered that racing is not my bag? | |rob. | |But then again, we aren't getting paid to play GPL.
Quoted text (20 lines)
| |>Can I get something off my chest? |> |>I'm getting sick of GPL. |> |>It's not that there's anything wrong with the game. It's |>just kind of tedious. I ractice and practice until I almost |>forget that I'm driving at all. At this point, if I really force |>myself to buckle down and concentrate I can beat my |>best time. I just go around and around, hoping I won't |>make that one little mistake that costs me an extra 1/2 |>second (or sends me into the wall - what's the difference?) |>and 'ruins' my lap. It's like taking a typing test in Highschool. |> |>Is this just one stage of mediocrity or have I simply |>discovered that racing is not my bag? |> |>rob. |> |Jimi Hendrix said that , at times, he hated the guitar.Quoted text (17 lines)
>Can I get something off my chest? >I'm getting sick of GPL. >It's not that there's anything wrong with the game. It's >just kind of tedious. I ractice and practice until I almost >forget that I'm driving at all. At this point, if I really force >myself to buckle down and concentrate I can beat my >best time. I just go around and around, hoping I won't >make that one little mistake that costs me an extra 1/2 >second (or sends me into the wall - what's the difference?) >and 'ruins' my lap. It's like taking a typing test in Highschool. >Is this just one stage of mediocrity or have I simply >discovered that racing is not my bag? >rob.Have you tried online racing (i.e., using VROC)?
For the first 2 months I had GPL, I was doing the same, always hotlapping
and trying to improve my times. I was hoping to get within a couple seconds
of the fastest hotlappers. Well, I never made it, not even close - I got to
within 3 seconds of the hotlappers on most tracks.
At this point and just after I got my cable modem, I started racing online
with VROC. This was the first time I had ever played a multi-player driving
sim (or any computer game for that matter).
Driving online has really helped me improve my lap times. Trying to stay on
the track and not be a menace to others, driving within my limits, and
learning to recover when putting a wheel or two on the grass (Shift-R's
really hurts your chances of placing well). I also started racing on more
of the tracks (many of which I rarely tried offline) and using other cars in
some VROC 'spec' races (Ferraris/Coventry only, no Lotus', etc.)
My times improved and my lap times at most tracks dropped by a couple of
seconds. However, the hotlappers just kept getting faster and by then, I
was over 4 seconds off their best times at most tracks.
But you know what, it doesn't bother me! I didn't know what I was missing
before I tried online racing. Initially, the idea of racing against real
people (ok, so they're just sitting in front of PCs, just like me) made me
quite nervous, my heart rate was really going on the startline. I'm fast
enough to mix it up in the middle to the back of most packs in VROC races
(where some of the closest racing occurs). Dicing for position, trying to
get a good run out of corners in order to catch the draft of a racer in
front, perhaps having enough to make a clean pass. Trying to stay ahead of
others, keeping a clean line, and yielding when they've got the advantage.
All the while, watching out to the leaders to come around, letting them by
without losing too much time to the driver I'm chasing and the driver
chasing me. I have much more fun racing closely with others and finishing
in the middle of the pack, than I do winning way out front and setting
fastest lap (it does happen every now and then, usually if there's a few
disconnects!).
Ever since then (back in December), I've probably only played GPL offline
about once every two weeks, usually just to tinker with setups. Otherwise,
I'm on VROC, probably about 3-4 times per week (about an hour each time).
So give it a try (if you already haven't) - you might have a lot of fun and
find the experience to be quite different from hotlapping.
Brian
Quoted text (17 lines)
>Can I get something off my chest? >I'm getting sick of GPL. >It's not that there's anything wrong with the game. It's >just kind of tedious. I ractice and practice until I almost >forget that I'm driving at all. At this point, if I really force >myself to buckle down and concentrate I can beat my >best time. I just go around and around, hoping I won't >make that one little mistake that costs me an extra 1/2 >second (or sends me into the wall - what's the difference?) >and 'ruins' my lap. It's like taking a typing test in Highschool. >Is this just one stage of mediocrity or have I simply >discovered that racing is not my bag? >rob.IMO, the AI are better behaving than in any other sim. I've only
played a couple of Novice races at Monza for the kicks, but had some
great moments slicing into tight corners. I remember when Rodriguez
was cruising ahead of me when suddenly into the 2nd Lesmo he just
slowed down unnecessarily much, and I overshot him. For a moment I was
sure we we're going to hit but some miracle (and a lot of
trailbraking) just kept me on the groove and we came out of the corner
in reverse order than we had entered it. The only time I've had an AI
car plow to me from the beind was by Surtees =)
-
"If the meaning of life was printed in a book, someone
would use it to keep the window open."
[snip...]
I reached that point long ago. I wanted to get good at it since I
respected the dynamics of it, but it just isn't fun to play (for me).
GPL is the first realistic sim that I really didn't care for. I admire
the era, and the drivers are heros, but its not what I'm into.
I'm a motorcycle fanatic, and I'm looking forward to checking out the
new superbike game.
For plain old online racing fun, Motocross Madness on The Zone is a
blast! I know that sounds unbelieveable, but it really is.
It hooked me hard.
There is close racing, short races (which makes a bad race livable),
racing instantly available no matter what time you log on.
If you just want to have some fun, snag the demo of MXM and go on the
Zone. There aren't as many people in the free trial room as there are
in the registered version, but you should be able to find a race.
--
http://www.users.fast.net/~fusion1
(dirt bikes, rat bikes, rental car abuse...)
Sounds like you are hotlapping and not racing. Get online and find some
similar paced drivers and I think you will find a different attitude
towards GPL. But, if this is how you feel while racing online with
other human drivers, then maybe you just don't have racing in your ***
and should find a job on the otherside of the pit wall <G>.
% Can I get something off my chest?
% I'm getting sick of GPL.
% It's not that there's anything wrong with the game. It's
% just kind of tedious. I ractice and practice until I almost
% forget that I'm driving at all. At this point, if I really force
% myself to buckle down and concentrate I can beat my
% best time. I just go around and around, hoping I won't
% make that one little mistake that costs me an extra 1/2
% second (or sends me into the wall - what's the difference?)
% and 'ruins' my lap. It's like taking a typing test in Highschool.
% Is this just one stage of mediocrity or have I simply
% discovered that racing is not my bag?
% rob.
--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
one word .... VROC
(well ok so its four :)
-lindsay
I stay as far away from John Surtees as possible! That AI car is insane!
Every time that he's behind me, WHACK! I'm upside down in the grass on fire!
I just pull out of line and raise my hand before a braking spot if he's behind
me
Dan Belcher
Team Racing Unlimited
Hehe thats so true of Surtees!!I also notice that whenever Lorenzo
Bandini gets behind me,I am gonna have a *** of a time trying to
prevent him from passing.He seems to be super aggresive amd is always
sticking his nose in the inside.I looked at the driver AI ini.file and
dont see what parameter makes him drive like this since all the top
guys have the same aggresion ranking.
As for racing not being in your ***.Its crazy but you have to look
at GPL as if your a professional race car driver.It so closley mimics
real life that you get complelty frustrated and lose interest if you
cant compete with the AI.So race online and practice with people your
of your own caliber.I found that after all the practice ive done in
GPL,it has gotten much more fun to race.I am thinking of strategys and
lines that I couldnt do before.
I find that a large cup of coffee and some heavy metal music right
before I get to my business of professional racing,helps me to drive
much more aggressively.Be careful though or youll find you cant get
into racing without caffeine anymore.:))))
Skeeter
But don't some get paid to play it?
Quoted text (13 lines)
| |Nobody ever got paid to learn guitar. | |>But then again, we aren't getting paid to play GPL. |> | |>|>rob. |>|> |>|Jimi Hendrix said that , at times, he hated the guitar. |> |> | |May it's a case of a racing simulation of the calibre of GPL not being
your bag. I am not being insulting but perhaps you would enjoy
something a little less "accurate".
--
Regards,
Bruce.
----------
HMRC Web site address is:-
http://www2.tpg.com.au/users/brucek/hmrc/index.htm
----------
Quoted text (17 lines)
> Can I get something off my chest? > I'm getting sick of GPL. > It's not that there's anything wrong with the game. It's > just kind of tedious. I ractice and practice until I almost > forget that I'm driving at all. At this point, if I really force > myself to buckle down and concentrate I can beat my > best time. I just go around and around, hoping I won't > make that one little mistake that costs me an extra 1/2 > second (or sends me into the wall - what's the difference?) > and 'ruins' my lap. It's like taking a typing test in Highschool. > Is this just one stage of mediocrity or have I simply > discovered that racing is not my bag? > rob.Nobody ever got paid to learn guitar.
>But then again, we aren't getting paid to play GPL.
>|>rob.
>|>
>|Jimi Hendrix said that , at times, he hated the guitar.
>Is this just one stage of mediocrity or have I simply
>discovered that racing is not my bag?
No, you've discovered that hotlapping is not your bag, and you're
probably quite right IMO. Get online and hook up with some events on
VROC, then you'll be _racing_ - there's a world of difference.
The e***ment is when no mistake means an incredible win against
respected opposition, to slow down means a second place only, and a
mistake means piling into the wall and last. Then it's exciting.
Cheers!
John
On Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:11:40 +1100, Bruce Kennewell
Hehe that one's funny...
A. Renault
Quoted text (7 lines)
>Why do you raise your hand? >> I just pull out of line and raise my hand before a braking spot if he's behind >> meYes of course I know what you mean, but you get paid "after" the frustration
of trying to get it to do something somebody will pay you for :)
I like compairing guitar to gpl though, easy to learn hard to master.
ilmore.
>But don't some get paid to play it?
|either after I learn something or trying to catch someone. Also something
|to help you get into the grove is pop in a CD and listen to it while you
|drive. Try to get the volumes set where they don't take over each other but
|put in some CD like prodigy or something (not the ISP but the group). It
|gets me in the groove and though it may sound "arcady" as the people over at
|EA would say, it really helps. With the AI just try to have fun and get in
Yeah, I never did better in Quake Deathmatches than when I had some Brahms
in the cd.
Although, I haven't tried it in GPL yet.
Mikey
Amen, brother.
Mikey
|Yes of course I know what you mean, but you get paid "after" the frustration
Quoted text (12 lines)
|of trying to get it to do something somebody will pay you for :) | |I like compairing guitar to gpl though, easy to learn hard to master. | |ilmore. | | |>But don't some get paid to play it? |> | | |Why do you raise your hand?
> I just pull out of line and raise my hand before a braking spot if he's behind
> me
--
Regards,
Bruce.
----------
HMRC Web site address is:-
http://www2.tpg.com.au/users/brucek/hmrc/index.htm
----------
You have just discovered the challenge of not only simulations but real
racing. The concentration required for a perfect lap is the goal. if you
can achieve it and get bored at the same time I envy you.
Quoted text (17 lines)
> Can I get something off my chest? > I'm getting sick of GPL. > It's not that there's anything wrong with the game. It's > just kind of tedious. I ractice and practice until I almost > forget that I'm driving at all. At this point, if I really force > myself to buckle down and concentrate I can beat my > best time. I just go around and around, hoping I won't > make that one little mistake that costs me an extra 1/2 > second (or sends me into the wall - what's the difference?) > and 'ruins' my lap. It's like taking a typing test in Highschool. > Is this just one stage of mediocrity or have I simply > discovered that racing is not my bag? > rob.>Can I get something off my chest?
>> I'm getting sick of GPL.
>> It's not that there's anything wrong with the game. It's
>> just kind of tedious.
To say that GPL is not entertaining you is not necessarily to say that "racing
is not in your ***." There are plenty of other racing sims that might turn
you on, like NASCAR 99.
You have to remember that GPL involves racing cantankerous, 32-year-old
machines in an environment that ceased to exist long ago. If you were running
flight sims, you would find it much for frustrating to control an unstable old
biplane than you would today's Cessna.
The key is, that era of racing has to MEAN something to you to enjoy GPL. Those
of us who are into F1's "Golden Age" would be more willing to put up with GPL's
difficulty, and would run the sim just for the experience. Improving laps and
winning are GREAT, but I run GPL for two main reasons:
(1) Reliving something that fascinates me, this time from the driver's seat
(2) Having an F1 sim that's not obsolete every time Bernie Ecclestone or Monza
decide to make a radical change.
If you haven't already punted on GPL, you might enjoy it more after reading up
on Clark, Hill, the 1967 F1 season, etc. If none of this interests you, you
would be justified in finding a racing sim that better hits your hot spot.
Hope this helps,
Trey Behan
Hi Rob,
I agree with everyone saying "hotlapping isn't so much fun". I have
only tried a handful of races with the AI. All the rest of my GPL time
is on VROC (http://gpl.gamestats.com/vroc). Use those setups you built
and get racing online :-D
If you have a combined axis gas/brake controller, try my Eagle setups --
they may not be the fastest, but work well for me.
Jason.
--------
Jason Monds
"My other car is a Ferrari"
http://members.home.net/gpl.mondsj/gpl - For my combined gas/brake
setups
(Please remove 'no extra spork' when replying)
Quoted text (7 lines)
> Can I get something off my chest? > I'm getting sick of GPL. > I [p]ractice and practice until I almost > forget that I'm driving at all. > rob.> Hehe thats so true of Surtees!!I also notice that whenever Lorenzo
> Bandini gets behind me,I am gonna have a *** of a time trying to
> prevent him from passing.He seems to be super aggresive amd is always
> sticking his nose in the inside.I looked at the driver AI ini.file and
> dont see what parameter makes him drive like this since all the top
> guys have the same aggresion ranking.
I've noticed this of Bandini too! Amon and Bandini are usually really
close in lap times, but you can definitely see the difference in their
driving styles. I recently had the two of them right behind me at
Mosport. Bandini had no problem passing me, but I was able to keep Amon
at bay for the whole race. Whether Papyrus got the personalities right,
I don't know, but it's very cool that there are discernible differences
in the AI driving styles.
Dave Ewing
