SCGT Adv. Options Editor NEW VERSION (needed :-)

Hi.. I'm the dude who spent WAAYYY too long writing a practical book on Sports Car GT. So I would consider myself a bit of an expert. I race GPL extensively (Current Australian Champion.. but not for too long) and also race in real life (Alfa Romeo - 97/98 and 98/99 Club Champion)... So I would consider myself to be talking from experience :-) After MUCH (and I mean MUCH!!!) experimentation and testing, I have come to the conclusion that the Advance Options Editor needs slight upgrading. What I am referring to is the Physics Model. IMEO (In My Expereinced Opinion), the 'Pure Sim' model is very good, but goes a little too far. Where?? In the cars lateral grip area. I have had many a time when I have got the car sideway, been spinning and practically not slowed down. Also the tire 'slip angles' are a little too exagerated. Locking tires will BARELY slow the car down, where as in real life (I can tell you from bad experiences :-) it slows you down pretty quick but not as much as normal braking. Driving a GTQ or GT3 car with AOE is very good, but take out a GT2 or GT1 car and they move around way too much. Trust me, Ive raced against many Porsche 911 GT2's and even GT3's as well as watching GT1 Lamborghini's and Ferrari's and can safely say, they don't move THAT much... So, what am I saying?? :-) ask myself that a lot... WHO Ever mode and designed the 'ADVANCED OPTIONS EDITOR' for Sports Car GT.. WELL DONE!! It was a move in the right direction.. but I think we need to bring it back a notch and put back in a small amount more grip (lateral and more slip angle). Please buzz me back, James Pickard, SCGT RACE GUIDE Author

Rather instead, SCGT2 with a different publisher than EA. Other things I can think of that need fixed are better support for multiple axis controllers, better support for saving/retaining setups [this is the computer age, you should not have to write them down and reenter them in time after time], no computer control during pitstops, improved AI [the AI is horrid. Moves way too much laterally in sudden movements and has way too much straight line speed in relationship to its cornering ability], physics model still needs work as per Pickard's note, multiplayer support needs a complete rehaul [and no excuses about LAN play being the only feasible multiplayer arena because the LAN play in the game was horrid anyways], and several other things. A lot of this could be fixed by getting a more supportive publisher who was willing to help the game and the game community rather than just churning out products to make a buck or two.

(snip interesting suggestions and commentary re SCGT) . A lot of this could be fixed by getting a more I'm curious to know if you had any particular publisher in mind when you made this suggestion. It seems that just about every publisher I've heard of has been condemned for non support or money grubbing at one time or another. I do admit this isn't a complete survey by any means but just a general impression. David

David, On this newsgroup it's a mortal sin for a publisher to (gasp) actually make money on a sim unless they take the time to be all things to all people. That that's not possible is something they don't want to hear, so they continue to live in some sort of denial. There is no racing sim which hasn't gotten at the same time rave reviews and the immortal "It sucks," yet the publishers are supposed to anticipate everyone's need and attend to it with godlike omniscience. Go figure.

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> (snip interesting suggestions and commentary re SCGT) > . A lot of this could be fixed by getting a more > > supportive publisher who was willing to help the game and the game > community > > rather than just churning out products to make a buck or two. > I'm curious to know if you had any particular publisher in mind when you > made this suggestion. It seems that just about every publisher I've heard of > has been condemned for non support or money grubbing at one time or > another. I do admit this isn't a complete survey by any means but just a > general impression. > David

-- Bob Curtin Worcester Area Strategy & Tactics Exchange http://www.tiac.net/users/ten10ths/ "If God had intended men to join the Army he would have given us green, baggy skin"

Well lets go down the list shall we? :) Eidos, now there is a great company. They will BUY the rights to SCGT 2.0 and release a Knight Rider game.(your black trans am talks!) Sierra/Havas They will license the SCGT property and let it languish while other companies churn out sim after sim EA Sports! John Madden gives the play by play! ("Boom! that Poorsh really took a hit there") Interplay Powerups! If it is a racing game it has to have powerups...and jumps...and ....no wheels-antigrav racers UbiSoft It will rain during the race. What? sometimes drivers save a spin? Microprose They will release the most awe-inspiring true to life, realistic product ever imagined. Oops they already did and to PAY for FALCON 4.0 they have to crank out a bunch of arcade losers. Origin: a) if done by the skunkworks: Fantastic realism excellant multiplay, unfortunately cancelled just before release to concentrate on b) Ultima Nascar where you have to buy your tires, buy your lug nuts, pay the pit crew, round up sponsors, oh and you start off with no money, no home, and no friends. Mirosoft: The absolutely most realistic tracks/cars/and physics...uh for Monster trucks that is.... Who's left?? dave henrie

when >you made this suggestion. It seems that just about every publisher >I've heard of As far as publishers go, you forgot GT Interactive and Wizard Works -- and you'll want to keep your eyes out for Dirt Track Racing, due in stores on November 6th according to my sources. From what I've seen of DTR, GT and WW could turn out to be THE first publisher(s) who are starting to understand sim racers across the spectrum. Keep in mind that Papy is a developer, not a publisher, and while understands sim racers, they also understand the concept of making money hand over*** on multiple rehashed versions of the N2 game engine far too well. -- JB Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Um, nope. Generally they all are going to watch the bottom line like any business, some just do it better than others. Perhaps G.O.D. might be more "sympathetic" to the gamer as a publisher as opposed to perhaps EA.

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> (snip interesting suggestions and commentary re SCGT) > . A lot of this could be fixed by getting a more > > supportive publisher who was willing to help the game and the game > community > > rather than just churning out products to make a buck or two. > I'm curious to know if you had any particular publisher in mind when you > made this suggestion. It seems that just about every publisher I've heard

of > has been condemned for non support or money grubbing at one time or > another. I do admit this isn't a complete survey by any means but just a > general impression. > David

Um, sure Bob. However, the developer and publisher need to pay attention to current trends and what has come before in previous titles. Small items like being able to easily change to***pit view, or being able to save setups based on car/class/track are items that should be there. Those type of small things aren't like asking for a fully realistic physics engine and they aren't particularly hard to design or develop.