F1 Newbie, Best Intro Game

I recently purchased a Logitech Wingman Force wheel and have been playing Ubi's F1 RS quite a bit. This is the first F1 game I've played and although I enjoy it, I'm wondering if there's a better game out there to introduce me to the sport. In particular, I'd like a game that would offer a little more help in how to configure the car, maybe some onscreen help for braking points and suggested speeds through the courses, etc... Anyone have any suggestions? Whether the game is an arcade game or a sim doesn't really concern me, I just want something to get me going so I can move on to the true sims. I've read conflicting reports on Psygnosis's new game, and I'm a little hesitant to sink any money into it. I'd like to think they'd release a few patches to bring it up to speed, but who knows. Psygnosis seems to be concentrating on their console games (PSX) and leaving all else to whither away. I've played the current rec.autos.simulators darling, GPL, but I don't enjoy it all that much. It appears to be a game that can be appreciated by hard core fans with a strong knowledge of today's sport, but not so much for me. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

Sorry, that should be the Eidos F1 game and not Psygnosis. Which means my ranting over lack of support by Psygnosis for anything but the PSX is entirely irrelevant. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't.

On Fri, 16 Jul 1999 03:02:18 GMT, There are only a few F1 sim choices available. Why not download the Eidos Official F1 Racing demo and try it for yourself? It sounds like precisely what you are looking for. The demo is small at 8MB or so, and is available nearly anywhere. Try www.avault.com -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

On Fri, 16 Jul 1999 04:24:57 GMT,

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>On Fri, 16 Jul 1999 03:02:18 GMT, >>> I've read conflicting reports on Psygnosis's new game, and I'm a little >>> hesitant to sink any money into it. I'd like to think they'd release a few >>> patches to bring it up to speed, but who knows. Psygnosis seems to be >>> concentrating on their console games (PSX) and leaving all else to whither >>> away. >>Sorry, that should be the Eidos F1 game and not Psygnosis. Which means my >>ranting over lack of support by Psygnosis for anything but the PSX is >>entirely irrelevant. >There are only a few F1 sim choices available. Why not download the >Eidos Official F1 Racing demo and try it for yourself? It sounds like >precisely what you are looking for. >The demo is small at 8MB or so, and is available nearly >anywhere. Try www.avault.com

One other thing. A very accurate review of OF1R is available at: http://www.digitalsports.com/dsports/pc4/official_formula1/review.html -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

All you want is in Grand Prix 2. Don't think it is too old: todays computers can run it well, and last week I saw it was back in the shop (in Holland) for dfl 30,- ($ 15). The only thing you'll miss is modern 3D graphics. Bart Westra

On Fri, 16 Jul 1999 07:10:33 +0200,

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>> I recently purchased a Logitech Wingman Force wheel and have been playing >> Ubi's F1 RS quite a bit. This is the first F1 game I've played and >although >> I enjoy it, I'm wondering if there's a better game out there to introduce >me >> to the sport. >All you want is in Grand Prix 2. >The only thing >you'll miss is modern 3D graphics. >Bart Westra

Bart, will GP2 work with his Logitech FF wheel? What if he has a PCI soundcard? -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

Will GP2 just flat out not work with PCI soundcard? Is that why it locks up computer no matter what I do at sound setup? I've tried it MANY times. I have a SB Live Value. Yes, I know the settings for the card in DOS emulation, but the computer freezes every time. TIA Lightning Leroy

On 16 Jul 1999 07:32:49 GMT, I have an MX-300 PCI soundcard / Voodoo3 and GP2 was giving strange lockups on my system too. I finally uninstalled it and moved on.. -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

Well, it's not F1, but, for getting eased into simracing, I'd say TOCA2. Colin McRae Rally was also good, but has/had a couple of DirectX issues. Next step F1RS (Ubisoft) or MGPRS 2 and, finally, GPL. Jan. ------ New motto: "Keep yer foot in it at T1" >I recently purchased a Logitech Wingman Force wheel and have been playing >Ubi's F1 RS quite a bit<snip>

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> On 16 Jul 1999 07:32:49 GMT, > >>Bart, will GP2 work with his Logitech FF wheel? What if he has a > >>PCI soundcard? > >Will GP2 just flat out not work with PCI soundcard? Is that why it locks

up > >computer no matter what I do at sound setup? I've tried it MANY times. I have a > >SB Live Value. > >Yes, I know the settings for the card in DOS emulation, but the computer > >freezes every time. > I have an MX-300 PCI soundcard / Voodoo3 and GP2 was giving > strange lockups on my system too. I finally uninstalled it and moved on.. I also have an mx-300 with SLIed voodoo2s. I have no problems with lockups. Motherboard is Abit BH6, 128 meg and 450 P3. Wheel is FF Logitech. Regards, Harry

>There are only a few F1 sim choices available. Why not download the >Eidos Official F1 Racing demo and try it for yourself? It sounds like >precisely what you are looking for. Because... That demo completely sucks. When you turn you do not turn with the front tires, you rotate about the center axis of your chassis! That is total BS and from what I read this is not improved in the game. Otherwise I may have checked it out. -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

>I also have an mx-300 with SLIed voodoo2s. I have no problems with lockups. >Motherboard is Abit BH6, 128 meg and 450 P3. Wheel is FF Logitech. Yeah? Do you run GP2 on this rig? -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

>Bart, will GP2 work with his Logitech FF wheel? What if he has a >PCI soundcard? Yes!!! Since the wheel works in ICR2 it should work in GP2. The PCI soundcard should work fine in DOS (my Ensoniq AudioPCI does), all that is required is good drivers. -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

The three best games (in my opinion anyway) that I have at the moment and that I play continuously are Psygnosis Formula1 97, Newman Haas Racing and TOCA 2. Most of the other racing games I have played suck. Altough I wouldnt mind having Grand Touring or Colin McRea Rally, as I have heard good things about them two. Maybe when I get som cash Paul... >On Fri, 16 Jul 1999 03:02:18 GMT, >>> I've read conflicting reports on Psygnosis's new game, and I'm a little >>> hesitant to sink any money into it. I'd like to think they'd release a few >>> patches to bring it up to speed, but who knows. Psygnosis seems to be >>> concentrating on their console games (PSX) and leaving all else to whither

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>>> away. >>Sorry, that should be the Eidos F1 game and not Psygnosis. Which means my >>ranting over lack of support by Psygnosis for anything but the PSX is >>entirely irrelevant. >There are only a few F1 sim choices available. Why not download the >Eidos Official F1 Racing demo and try it for yourself? It sounds like >precisely what you are looking for. >The demo is small at 8MB or so, and is available nearly >anywhere. Try www.avault.com >-- >* rrevved at mindspring dot com >* unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. >* http://www.cabal.net >* http://www.sputum.com

On Fri, 16 Jul 1999 07:48:05 -0500,

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>>There are only a few F1 sim choices available. Why not download the >>Eidos Official F1 Racing demo and try it for yourself? It sounds like >>precisely what you are looking for. >Because... That demo completely sucks. When you turn you do not >turn with the front tires, you rotate about the center axis of your chassis! >That is total BS and from what I read this is not improved in the game. >Otherwise I may have checked it out.

So, you don't think he should download the 7MB demo and see for himself? BTW, have you checked out Randy MacGruder's review? I think he is dead-on as to what is good about it and what isn't. http://www.digitalsports.com/dsports/pc4/official_formula1/review.html For me, OF1R is big fun. -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

: Because... That demo completely sucks. When you turn you do not : turn with the front tires, you rotate about the center axis of your chassis! : That is total BS and from what I read this is not improved in the game. : Otherwise I may have checked it out. Last time I checked, ICR2 was also a "car on a stick" simulation, and no seems to mind. Most people still think it's a worthy product. Stephen

: On Fri, 16 Jul 1999 07:48:05 -0500, :>>There are only a few F1 sim choices available. Why not download the :>>Eidos Official F1 Racing demo and try it for yourself? It sounds like :>>precisely what you are looking for. :> :> :>Because... That demo completely sucks. When you turn you do not :>turn with the front tires, you rotate about the center axis of your chassis! :>That is total BS and from what I read this is not improved in the game. :>Otherwise I may have checked it out. : So, you don't think he should download the 7MB demo and see for himself? : BTW, have you checked out Randy MacGruder's review? I think he is : dead-on as to what is good about it and what isn't. : http://www.digitalsports.com/dsports/pc4/official_formula1/review.html : For me, OF1R is big fun. : -- : * rrevved at mindspring dot com : * unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. : * http://www.cabal.net : * http://www.sputum.com

On 16 Jul 1999 13:59:30 GMT,

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>: Because... That demo completely sucks. When you turn you do not >: turn with the front tires, you rotate about the center axis of your chassis! >: That is total BS and from what I read this is not improved in the game. >: Otherwise I may have checked it out. >Last time I checked, ICR2 was also a "car on a stick" simulation, and no >seems to mind. Most people still think it's a worthy product.

And I -really- love ICR2, and count it as one of my top 2 or 3 sims of all time. I must dig those stick-cars.. hehe.. Note to Greg: C'mon, man! ... OF1R is a good middle of the road sim/game that looks good, drives O.K., -flies- on any hardware thrown at it, and is fun as hell... :) -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

>So, you don't think he should download the 7MB demo and see for himself? Nope I think the demo totally blows. When you turn a corner you car rotates like a propeller around the center of the chassis. No way with that. Yes I did (read it all) and even emailed him to ask some other questions. Mainly about the FF effects which were not mentioned and the propeller effect I described. Cool no problem. I just think the demo sucked and is not even worth a look. After all you did ask if I thought he should download the demo :-) -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

>And I -really- love ICR2, and count it as one of my top 2 or 3 sims >of all time. I must dig those stick-cars.. hehe.. Car on a stick??? At the time I thought ICR2 was very tough. Now after playing F1RS and SCGT so much I find that ICR2 is lame. But in a good way :-) For instance you almost have no penalty when you go into the grass. F1RS with it's grass slowdown forces you to be a better driver and stay one the track. I figure the people whining about the grass slowdown sucked anyway :-) All right already :-) Question: Does the real game drive like the demo? Do you know what I mean about the way the car turns in the corners? When the demo was released there was big talk about it. -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

Are you serious?! I'd throw out F1'97 and NH Racing. Particularly since they are controller hostile and have an 'auto-braking' feature that stinks (with any controller, start going ,and then let off the gas and watch your car screech to a halt by itself), and the track accuracy is abysmal. They got elevation changes and tracks very wrong. (NH Racing is the primary critter here). TOCA 2 is fun, no doubt, but I can't stomach trying to play the Psygnosis or NH games, although I liked F1 '97 on the Playstation. Randy

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>The three best games (in my opinion anyway) that I have at the moment and >that I play continuously are Psygnosis Formula1 97, Newman Haas Racing and >TOCA 2. >Most of the other racing games I have played suck. Altough I wouldnt mind >having Grand Touring or Colin McRea Rally, as I have heard good things about >them two. >Maybe when I get som cash >Paul... >>On Fri, 16 Jul 1999 03:02:18 GMT, >>>> I've read conflicting reports on Psygnosis's new game, and I'm a little >>>> hesitant to sink any money into it. I'd like to think they'd release a >few >>>> patches to bring it up to speed, but who knows. Psygnosis seems to be >>>> concentrating on their console games (PSX) and leaving all else to >whither >>>> away. >>>Sorry, that should be the Eidos F1 game and not Psygnosis. Which means my >>>ranting over lack of support by Psygnosis for anything but the PSX is >>>entirely irrelevant. >>There are only a few F1 sim choices available. Why not download the >>Eidos Official F1 Racing demo and try it for yourself? It sounds like >>precisely what you are looking for. >>The demo is small at 8MB or so, and is available nearly >>anywhere. Try www.avault.com >>-- >>* rrevved at mindspring dot com >>* unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. >>* http://www.cabal.net >>* http://www.sputum.com

Randy Magruder http://members.home.com/rmagruder

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>Car on a stick??? At the time I thought ICR2 was very tough. >Now after playing F1RS and SCGT so much I find that ICR2 >is lame. But in a good way :-) For instance you almost have >no penalty when you go into the grass. F1RS with it's grass >slowdown forces you to be a better driver and stay one the >track. I figure the people whining about the grass slowdown >sucked anyway :-)

Now, now Greg...I hate it because it's unrealistic. I've been to several races and there is no sudden slowdown when you put a wheel off. If you're going to push the limit of the car, you often do it. Watch Michael Schumacher qualifying sometime and you'll see when he's really going for it he's going to kick up some dust here and there using every bit of the track and a little bit more. I'm sure you wouldn't argue that he sucks, and I'm sure you'd agree that dumping his speed by 10-20 mph immediately is hardly realistic. Pushing the envelope is what racing is all about. Getting predictable difficulty in controlling the car when going off road is important, but sudden speed dumps are lame. Anyway, the problem I'm having now that my FF is in working order is that the game seems to freeze up when using it, but only in the menu screens...wonder why. Randy Randy Magruder http://members.home.com/rmagruder

On Fri, 16 Jul 1999 20:30:53 -0500, Yes, to some degree it does. It will have you on the edge of your seat, though, and it is fun, IMO.. I would place the driving feel and modeling at about the TOCA2 level. Not as good as Viper, not as good as SCGT, better than F1RS/MGPRS, and far, far better than NFS*. I would place the overall coolness of the pop-up tv screens, sound etc. far above the others, and the replays surpass -any- sim/game to date. I like it for the -overall- package, not just the driving model. If that was all that was important, I could just erase everything except GPL.. :) -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m. * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

>Now, now Greg...I hate it because it's unrealistic. I've been to OK. But I just never thought it destroyed the playability of the game like some people. Maybe I am not driving hard enough :-) GPL 1.1 freezes up or OF1? -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com