Viper Racing Scripted?

I recently purchased Viper Racing, installed it and downloaded and installed the patch. I was having lots of fun until tonight. While racing under quick race, simulation, Silverdale, and opponent ai set to normal I realize the race is scripted. After I wrecked I hit restart, and while racing I noticed the blue driver almost losses it at the same location. I then notice that the same two cars get together at the same place forcing one into the grass. I hit restart 3 times with the same result. I then loaded another track and then came back later to Silverdale hoping a new ai may be loaded. No such luck, same thing. This really kills the single player mode for which I purchased the game. This also seems to be in direct contrast to what is posted on the inside cover of the box: "Race against tough computer opponents who are bound by the same rules of physics as you-you'll never be in the same race twice." Unfortunately I am in the EXACT same race twice. Well like I said I am greatly disappointed. Unless there is a fix or explanation (please tell me there is) this game is going back. I have not checked yet but I guess the same thing applies to the career mode. I think Sierra better be more careful with their marketing pitches. If you have any info on this please reply. Thanks. Sondog Sondog

On Mon, 12 Jul 1999 23:07:07 -0400, I have never seen what you describe, and I have played it on and off for over a year. -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

I have witnessed this, but I don't think things are actually "scripted" as you imply. At the start, things DO tend to work the same in instances like this (I think I witnessed it at Dundas first), but once YOU start interacting with the AI cars, they behave like real drivers. What may be happening is that the AI cars' behavior is somewhat "scripted" at the start (you've got to start somewhere, right?). For example, Drive1 may be programmed to be heavy on the throttle, while Driver2 may be programmed as a "heads-up" and aware sort of driver who avoids incidents easily -- this would make Driver1 VERY likely to spin at the start, while Driver2 could easily avoid his spin. Plus, it may always seem to start the same, but the ending always depends on YOU and how you perform. When I think of "scripted" games, I think of Red Baron, or Mechwarrior2, where things happen EXACTLY the same every time, and you can't win unless you make the right moves at the right times. I've played the heck out of Viper Racing for the past 7 months or so, and the AI always seems fresh, and the game has never seemed scripted like the Red Baron or Mechwarrior2 games. Stick with it -- it's a great sim. The career mode is the BEST, and it's VERY challenging, too (I still haven't made it through a winning season at the GT level). -- JB

On Tue, 13 Jul 1999 07:20:28 GMT,

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>>I have never seen what you describe, and I have played >>it on and off for over a year. >I don't think Viper Racing has been out for a year. It was released >around Nov 98 IIRC. >Unless you're a beta tester. >glen

Seems like a year..:) I have had it since the first day it hit the stores. -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

Yeah, it is scripted in the beginning. I've noticed it many times. Quite a disappointment.

I noticed something similar in NFS: High Stakes

While I've not noticed this myself, I can see this repetitive behavior happening... The drivers are probably not "scripted," they simply make the same decisions each time since they apparently start in the exact same positions relative to each other, accelerate exactly the same (in each race), get to the turn at the same time (each race) relative to each other. But like you said, conditions are exactly the same each race until you (introducing a random factor) interact and change the conditions of the race. From that point on, the cars react to you differently each race because, unlike them, you don't drive the race exactly the same each time. Just my thoughts... Robert

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> I have witnessed this, but I don't think things are actually > "scripted" as you imply. At the start, things DO tend to work the > same in instances like this (I think I witnessed it at Dundas first), > but once YOU start interacting with the AI cars, they behave like real > drivers. > What may be happening is that the AI cars' behavior is somewhat > "scripted" at the start (you've got to start somewhere, right?). For > example, Drive1 may be programmed to be heavy on the throttle, while > Driver2 may be programmed as a "heads-up" and aware sort of driver who > avoids incidents easily -- this would make Driver1 VERY likely to spin > at the start, while Driver2 could easily avoid his spin. Plus, it may > always seem to start the same, but the ending always depends on YOU > and how you perform. > When I think of "scripted" games, I think of Red Baron, or > Mechwarrior2, where things happen EXACTLY the same every time, and you > can't win unless you make the right moves at the right times. I've > played the heck out of Viper Racing for the past 7 months or so, and > the AI always seems fresh, and the game has never seemed scripted like > the Red Baron or Mechwarrior2 games. > Stick with it -- it's a great sim. The career mode is the BEST, and > it's VERY challenging, too (I still haven't made it through a winning > season at the GT level). > -- JB > >I recently purchased Viper Racing, installed it and downloaded and

installed > >the patch. I was having lots of fun until tonight. While racing under > >quick race, simulation, Silverdale, and opponent ai set to normal I realize > >the race is scripted. After I wrecked I hit restart, and while racing I > >noticed the blue driver almost losses it at the same location. I then > >notice that the same two cars get together at the same place forcing one > >into the grass. I hit restart 3 times with the same result. I then loaded > >another track and then came back later to Silverdale hoping a new ai may be > >loaded. No such luck, same thing. This really kills the single player mode > >for which I purchased the game. This also seems to be in direct contrast to

Quoted text (7 lines)

> >what is posted on the inside cover of the box: > >"Race against tough computer opponents who are bound by the same rules of > >physics as you-you'll never be in the same race twice." > >Unfortunately I am in the EXACT same race twice. Well like I said I am > >greatly disappointed. Unless there is a fix or explanation (please tell

me > >there is) this game is going back. I have not checked yet but I guess the > >same thing applies to the career mode. I think Sierra better be more > >careful with their marketing pitches. If you have any info on this please > >reply. Thanks. > >Sondog > >Sondog