A few words about the N3 preview from the author

This was posted to the TEN newsgroup as well. With all the rampant speculation going on, I thought I'd post a few remarks here to potentially clear somethings up. Since this was an early alpha, I didn't mention a lot of features because of incomplete implementation, or because I plain forgot. When I said it is an updated version of N2, that doesn't mean it's similar to the N2/NR1999 upgrade. It's simply an evolutionary, not revolutionary, product- think MS Flight Simulator. The full Windows and DirectX compatability is a huge step itself, and there are others. Another big issue seems to be seperate adjustment of the shocks and springs. In this build, and I suspect in the final build, this isn't supported. It was going to be in the GPL- based version, but not this one. And a word about Papy dropping the GPL engine for N3: Have any of you who have a big problem with this ever try running GPL with 19 opponents and max detail? I don't think theres a PC extant that can get max frames when the cars are bunched up at the start. Now add another 23 cars, and run at Talladega where they stay in a pack all the time, and envision the resulting hardware requirement. It simply can't be done in a way that would satisfy even a small portion of the market. The outcry over frame rates would be louder than the one over TEN connections. Force feedback is implemented in the alpha, and feels pretty good, but a bit muted- I think there's still work to be done on it, but it's pretty neat to feel a tire go down when it happens. All in all, I hope that clears some things up. Any questions can be directed to me by e-mail, or post it here. I'll do my best to answer. -- Scott Moore Sports *** Network [link lost in import: /***.com] Hoosier6 Sim Racing Stuff [link lost in import]

Hoosier 6 schrieb: Hmm, there wasn't a "big" outcry when N1 or ICR1 were released. Everybody tried to run a full field in those sims and couldn't find a PC to do it without watching a slideshow. So what's different today? We would just reduce the cars visible up front and behind us, and enjoy the physics engine of GPL...? The same was true for almost any sim I remember (GP2,F1RS,F4,...) 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!

>without watching a slideshow. So what's different today? We would just >reduce the cars visible up front and behind us, and enjoy the physics >engine of GPL...? The problem is that the physics engine of GPL takes up a large amount of CPU cycles, regardless of whether you can see tha cars or not...

It doesnt matter if you have them visible or not, just if the physics are having to calculate everything going on by each AI car. THAT is what will take up all the CPU power >Hoosier 6 schrieb: >snip >> And a word about Papy dropping the GPL engine for N3: Have any of you who >> have a big problem with this ever try running GPL with 19 opponents and max >> detail? I don't think theres a PC extant that can get max frames when the >> cars are bunched up at the start. Now add another 23 cars, and run at >> Talladega where they stay in a pack all the time, and envision the resulting

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>> hardware requirement. It simply can't be done in a way that would satisfy >> even a small portion of the market. The outcry over frame rates would be >> louder than the one over TEN connections. >Hmm, there wasn't a "big" outcry when N1 or ICR1 were released. Everybody >tried to run a full field in those sims and couldn't find a PC to do it >without watching a slideshow. So what's different today? We would just >reduce the cars visible up front and behind us, and enjoy the physics >engine of GPL...? >The same was true for almost any sim I remember (GP2,F1RS,F4,...) >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!

David Scavo schrieb: > >without watching a slideshow. So what's different today? We would just > >reduce the cars visible up front and behind us, and enjoy the physics > >engine of GPL...? > The problem is that the physics engine of GPL takes up a large amount > of CPU cycles, regardless of whether you can see tha cars or not... Hmm, was that already stated by a knowledgable person that the AI cars are using the same physic calculations as our car? I doubt that very much. When I look at some things the AI is doing in replays, it's sometimes physics from Mars, rather then Earth... ;^) So if you switch off all but 5 cars ahead of you, revert to a simplistic model for those invisible cars , even as "simplistic" as N2. Who would be worried about that? 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!