Is the NROS being killed off?

I tried to go to http://www.ten.net today and found that they have changed their name to pogo.com. There are no racing sims mentioned there, just board and card games. Could this indicate the death of the NROS? I know that a guide or two frequents this ng and thought perhaps they could shed some light on what's happening. I'm still waiting on a reply from TEN to the e-mail I sent them. Cheers, Chris

From T.g.s.n. --------------------------------------- Howdy Racers, The recent name change of TEN to pogo.com seems to have caused some confusion in this newsgroup. Some people on this NG have contacted our director of corporate communications, Garth Chouteau today concerning this issue and some of his comments were either misconstrued or quoted out of context. The name change to pogo.com is primarily a way to launch our family games site and differentiate it from the pay-for-play, *** games. Currently, we have not decided what we are going to do with the pay-to-play or NROS side of the business. When there is anything to announce in regards to the future of the NROS or the pay-to-play games in general, we will then make that announcement. Until such a time, it is racing as usual. -Don Walters NROS Operations Mngr. ---------------------------------------- -- -- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard> -- May the Downforce be with you... "People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."

Given that N3 will offer tcp/ip support, superior graphics, sound, and physics, and FREE multiplayer how can NROS survive? I've read that a P166 acting as a dedicated server with a fast connection can host a full field of 19 cars in GPL. Given this, why won't that same server be a capable host of 25-30 drivers for a less CPU intensive game like N3 (assuming N3 supports a dedicated server)? I hope this is the case since my second PC is a 166 on a cable modem raring to go as an N3 server. -- Joe Marques

P166? I highly doubt that. GPL is VERY cpu intensive. Haven't seen any mention of a dedicated server mode for N3, would be a nice plus though. > Given that N3 will offer tcp/ip support, superior graphics, sound, and > physics, and FREE multiplayer how can NROS survive? I've read that a P166 > acting as a dedicated server with a fast connection can host a full field of > 19 cars in GPL. Given this, why won't that same server be a capable host of > 25-30 drivers for a less CPU intensive game like N3 (assuming N3 supports a > dedicated server)? I hope this is the case since my second PC is a 166 on a

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> cable modem raring to go as an N3 server. > -- > Joe Marques > > I tried to go to http://www.ten.net today and found that they have > > changed their name to pogo.com. There are no racing sims mentioned > > there, just board and card games. Could this indicate the death of the > > NROS? I know that a guide or two frequents this ng and thought perhaps > > they could shed some light on what's happening. I'm still waiting on a > > reply from TEN to the e-mail I sent them. > > Cheers, > > Chris

I actually read the dedicated server thing at VROC. I was surprised that a P166 was considered adequate for a FULL FIELD. Who know's I'll just have to try it. -- Joe Marques > P166? I highly doubt that. GPL is VERY cpu intensive. Haven't seen any > mention of a dedicated server mode for N3, would be a nice plus though. > > Given that N3 will offer tcp/ip support, superior graphics, sound, and > > physics, and FREE multiplayer how can NROS survive? I've read that a P166 > > acting as a dedicated server with a fast connection can host a full field > of > > 19 cars in GPL. Given this, why won't that same server be a capable host > of > > 25-30 drivers for a less CPU intensive game like N3 (assuming N3 supports > a > > dedicated server)? I hope this is the case since my second PC is a 166 on > a > > cable modem raring to go as an N3 server. > > -- > > Joe Marques > > > I tried to go to http://www.ten.net today and found that they have > > > changed their name to pogo.com. There are no racing sims mentioned > > > there, just board and card games. Could this indicate the death of the > > > NROS? I know that a guide or two frequents this ng and thought perhaps > > > they could shed some light on what's happening. I'm still waiting on a > > > reply from TEN to the e-mail I sent them. > > > Cheers, > > > Chris

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> P166? I highly doubt that. GPL is VERY cpu intensive. Haven't seen any > mention of a dedicated server mode for N3, would be a nice plus though. > > Given that N3 will offer tcp/ip support, superior graphics, sound, and > > physics, and FREE multiplayer how can NROS survive? I've read that a P166 > > acting as a dedicated server with a fast connection can host a full field > of > > 19 cars in GPL. Given this, why won't that same server be a capable host > of > > 25-30 drivers for a less CPU intensive game like N3 (assuming N3 supports > a > > dedicated server)? I hope this is the case since my second PC is a 166 on > a > > cable modem raring to go as an N3 server. > > -- > > Joe Marques > > > I tried to go to http://www.ten.net today and found that they have > > > changed their name to pogo.com. There are no racing sims mentioned > > > there, just board and card games. Could this indicate the death of the > > > NROS? I know that a guide or two frequents this ng and thought perhaps > > > they could shed some light on what's happening. I'm still waiting on a > > > reply from TEN to the e-mail I sent them. > > > Cheers, > > > Chris

I have heard the same thing somewhere; if you have a dedicated server and reduce the details to the bare minimum, it's possible to run races on a P166. Can't remember where I read this. Philster

I run a P. 150 with 32 megs of ram and a very old 1 meg video card for a dedicated server. Out of the races with full fields I have yet to hear a complaint. So, a P. 166 is very generalized. I can assume that a 133 might even be able to do it. I have been struggling with my 133 lap top PCMCI<sp?> card. it's a Xercom ii (Network and modem). If I ever get it to work, I'll have that set up for a dedicated server instead of sitting in a case collecting dust. Mike

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> I actually read the dedicated server thing at VROC. I was surprised that a > P166 was considered adequate for a FULL FIELD. Who know's I'll just have to > try it. > -- > Joe Marques > > P166? I highly doubt that. GPL is VERY cpu intensive. Haven't seen any > > mention of a dedicated server mode for N3, would be a nice plus though. > > > Given that N3 will offer tcp/ip support, superior graphics, sound, and > > > physics, and FREE multiplayer how can NROS survive? I've read that a > P166 > > > acting as a dedicated server with a fast connection can host a full > field > > of > > > 19 cars in GPL. Given this, why won't that same server be a capable > host > > of > > > 25-30 drivers for a less CPU intensive game like N3 (assuming N3 > supports > > a > > > dedicated server)? I hope this is the case since my second PC is a 166 > on > > a > > > cable modem raring to go as an N3 server. > > > -- > > > Joe Marques > > > > I tried to go to http://www.ten.net today and found that they have > > > > changed their name to pogo.com. There are no racing sims mentioned > > > > there, just board and card games. Could this indicate the death of the > > > > NROS? I know that a guide or two frequents this ng and thought perhaps > > > > they could shed some light on what's happening. I'm still waiting on a > > > > reply from TEN to the e-mail I sent them. > > > > Cheers, > > > > Chris

-- ========================================= Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing? ========================================= Racing online with the help of...... Race Communications Association http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html Holodyne Engineering Mystic Music (have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

it's not a mater of reducing the details to a bare minimum for a "dedicated" server. As a dedicated server, the server doesn't show the race at all, it shows TV snow. plus, it doesn't record the replays. All it does is setup a server to connect to. The person who owns the Dedicated server can't use that computer for racing. If he wants to race he either has to stop being a Dedicated server or use another computer. A regular server is different though. (regular vs. dedicated) -- ========================================= Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing? ========================================= Racing online with the help of...... Race Communications Association http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html Holodyne Engineering Mystic Music (have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

I wouldn't mess with detail settings on a dedicated server as it doesn't produce graphics or reads control input from the user. It only shifts TCP/IP packets around.... that's why it's called dedicated. Jan. -----

>Given that N3 will offer tcp/ip support, superior graphics, sound, and >physics, and FREE multiplayer how can NROS survive? I've read that a P166 >acting as a dedicated server with a fast connection can host a full field of >19 cars in GPL. Given this, why won't that same server be a capable host of >25-30 drivers for a less CPU intensive game like N3 (assuming N3 supports a >dedicated server)? I hope this is the case since my second PC is a 166 on a >cable modem raring to go as an N3 server. >-- >Joe Marques If N3 does in fact have a dedicated server mode, one would hope that the need for graphics is minimal in that mode. The drawback however is server upload and download bandwidth. 25-30 drivers would probably consume approximately 500kbs in each direction. Based on Hawaii, a Pentium 90 or so probably has the horsepower to be a host...

Humbug, A DSL line of 384k/384k up/download on a dedicated server can run a full field of 43 Live/Real Drivers with NO problem. With a field of 20, 2 live, 18 ai, non-dedicated, the machine STILL has to perform tracking of the AI, relay that information to the other live system, and all this can be done with a connection speed of 2400 baud with NO warping, NO problems. Papyrus would be a fool not to include this feature in N3. It wouldn't make since not too!

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>>Given that N3 will offer tcp/ip support, superior graphics, sound, and >>physics, and FREE multiplayer how can NROS survive? I've read that a P166 >>acting as a dedicated server with a fast connection can host a full field >of >>19 cars in GPL. Given this, why won't that same server be a capable host >of >>25-30 drivers for a less CPU intensive game like N3 (assuming N3 supports a >>dedicated server)? I hope this is the case since my second PC is a 166 on >a >>cable modem raring to go as an N3 server. >>-- >>Joe Marques >If N3 does in fact have a dedicated server mode, one would hope that the >need for graphics is minimal in that mode. >The drawback however is server upload and download bandwidth. >25-30 drivers would probably consume approximately 500kbs in each direction. >Based on Hawaii, a Pentium 90 or so probably has the horsepower to be a >host...

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>From T.g.s.n. >--------------------------------------- >Howdy Racers, >The recent name change of TEN to pogo.com seems to have caused some >confusion in this newsgroup. Some people on this NG have contacted our >director of corporate communications, Garth Chouteau today concerning >this issue and some of his comments were either misconstrued or quoted >out of context. >The name change to pogo.com is primarily a way to launch our family >games site and differentiate it from the pay-for-play, *** games. >Currently, we have not decided what we are going to do with the >pay-to-play or NROS side of the business. When there is anything to >announce in regards to the future of the NROS or the pay-to-play games >in general, we will then make that announcement. Until such a time, it >is racing as usual. >-Don Walters >NROS Operations Mngr. >----------------------------------------

So basically what your looking at is if N3 kicks off as good as GPL in regards to online racing via internet, and how many customers you loose because of it.

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>Humbug, A DSL line of 384k/384k up/download on a dedicated server can >run a full field of 43 Live/Real Drivers with NO problem. With a >field of 20, 2 live, 18 ai, non-dedicated, the machine STILL has to >perform tracking of the AI, relay that information to the other live >system, and all this can be done with a connection speed of 2400 baud >with NO warping, NO problems. Papyrus would be a fool not to include >this feature in N3. It wouldn't make since not too!

NO WAY 43 live guys can go warp free on only a DSL line. Just wont happen. N3 without dedicated servers is gonna suck compared to what we already have now with TEN/NROS. The other guy said that if GPL could host 16 with a certain type of connection that Nascar could at least get 20+ guys which is also a bunch of BS. If anything N3 will get less cars per connection type than gpl because of the different type of racing. For anyone that doesn't believe me, just go set up a GPL oval race. You won't get as many cars on one of those ovals with an equal amount of visualized warping vs a road course. The reason.... The racing is so much closer. If we don't recieve some type of dedicated service, I am gonna just vomit. First it was no gpl physics, now no NROS. I guess they really are trying to kill it off :( Bill / Amish on TEN

We're going to need to see more real results to know how well NASCAR Racing 3 will run with cable and DSL hosts. My guess is the quality of packet switching will limit the number of connections before the bandwidth limit for the line is approached. I think the theoretical max is in the 20-some-odd users on a 300-some-odd K baud connection - but I'll be surprised if many consumer "300+ K baud" connections can consistently support 600 packets a second. For a server system, you'll probably want to have more than the minimum mhZ, since Windows is running in the background. The game server itself doesn't need a whole lot of horsepower ... but the server does need real-time OS support, and the responsiveness of Win-95 for real-time support gets much better with reserve resources. Once N3 ships we'll be watching closely to see how it runs in the "real world" with a matching server. ( Until then, I won't reply to email or comment further ). Charlie Heath > >Given that N3 will offer tcp/ip support, superior graphics, sound, and > >physics, and FREE multiplayer how can NROS survive? I've read that a P166 > >acting as a dedicated server with a fast connection can host a full field > of > >19 cars in GPL. Given this, why won't that same server be a capable host > of > >25-30 drivers for a less CPU intensive game like N3 (assuming N3 supports a > >dedicated server)? I hope this is the case since my second PC is a 166 on

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> a > >cable modem raring to go as an N3 server. > >-- > >Joe Marques > If N3 does in fact have a dedicated server mode, one would hope that the > need for graphics is minimal in that mode. > The drawback however is server upload and download bandwidth. > 25-30 drivers would probably consume approximately 500kbs in each

direction. > Based on Hawaii, a Pentium 90 or so probably has the horsepower to be a > host...

Not Really Bill, If TEN will get with the program and support Nascar3 then I doubt TEN will DIE. However if they Milk Nascar2 any more now that Nascar 3 is coming out, Then as a Internet gamer I hope TEN Dies for being out of touch with the customer.

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>Humbug, A DSL line of 384k/384k up/download on a dedicated server can >run a full field of 43 Live/Real Drivers with NO problem. With a >field of 20, 2 live, 18 ai, non-dedicated, the machine STILL has to >perform tracking of the AI, relay that information to the other live >system, and all this can be done with a connection speed of 2400 baud >with NO warping, NO problems. Papyrus would be a fool not to include >this feature in N3. It wouldn't make since not too!

In the example you give (2 live races) you are using only 1/19th the bandwidth as you would for 20 people. The number of AI is not significant in terms of bandwidth. I also assume you meant a 24000 baud connection. Multiplay 19 clients by that 24000 and you see where the problem becomes. AI doesn't use up bandwidth, live racers do.

>If we don't recieve some type of dedicated service, I am gonna just vomit. >First it was no gpl physics, now no NROS. I guess they really are trying to >kill it off :( >Bill / Amish on TEN Bill the glass is half full, not half empty :) And we have the ability to fill it...

>I actually read the dedicated server thing at VROC. I was surprised that a >P166 was considered adequate for a FULL FIELD. Who know's I'll just have to >try it. >-- >Joe Marques The dedicated host doesn't need to compute AI, or draw 3d animated screens

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> I wouldn't mess with detail settings on a dedicated server as it doesn't > produce graphics or reads control input from the user. It only shifts > TCP/IP packets around.... that's why it's called dedicated. > Jan. > ----- > <snip> > > I have heard the same thing somewhere; if you have a dedicated server > > and reduce the details to the bare minimum, it's possible to run races > > on a P166. Can't remember where I read this. > > Philster

Shows how ignorant I am. I like to race so as long as someone can provide a decent server, I will use it. Philster

>We're going to need to see more real results to know how well NASCAR Racing >3 will run with cable and DSL hosts. <snip> >Once N3 ships we'll be watching closely to see how it runs in the "real >world" with a matching server. ( Until then, I won't reply to email or >comment further ). >Charlie Heath Dejavu.. I've seen this message cut and pasted to another newsgroup. I have hunted for this "original" copy to see if the information that was pasted was complete, and what it was in reference to. Seems Earthlink's newsgroups had this message in the DLO. Thank you for the information, and I can only imagine the amount of requests you must receive.