Are there any real world driving simulators out there

This question may seem a bit off-topic, but this newsgroup is about cars and simulators right? I would like to buy a driving simulator that resembles real world driving as much as possible. Today I'll have my first driving lesson, and I thought that spending a couple of hours a week behind my force feedback steering wheel wouldn't hurt, it may even be a lot of fun..... So, can anyone recommend a good title? regards, Johan Veenstra

> This question may seem a bit off-topic, but this newsgroup is about cars > and simulators right? Absolutely, in fact i'm a bit amazed that professional car simulators aren't discussed at all here. One reason may be that there aren't that many, and a second could be that when people ask about driving simulators they get GPL recommended, not a bad thing, but not everyone want to race 1967 F1. Sierra got something called Drivers Education 99. There was very little info about it on Sierra's web-site about the driving model, but they give the money back if you don't pass for the driving test in USA. If that is because the software is good or the driving test in USA is easy, i don't know... :) A less serious approach is of course Microsoft Midtown Madness, that let you race around in Chicago, but the traffic model in pretty bad. A good game though for fun if you don't have the time to try yet another lap a the Ring. Hope this helps. -- Olav K. Malmin remove spam when replying

I did find a driving simulator, but it's kind of expensive, since it runs on a Silicon Graphics Onyx RE2 and needs a really cool display 'curved screen of 165 by 45 degrees (h x v)'. You can read more about this at: http://www.ppsw.rug.nl/cov/cov_sim.htm Thanks for the info, I'll be looking into this one. And if I decide to buy I'll post a review back to the newsgroup. I wonder if you can use DE '99 in a Midtown Madness mode :-) Johan Veenstra.

>If that is because the >software is good or the driving test in USA is easy, i don't know... :) From what I have read, the driving test here in the USA is VERY easy compared to many European countries. It revolves around remembering lots of little rules rather than actually learning to drive a car or use much in the way of driving skills. When I got my license (about 24 years ago) it consisted of this: Written exam, 10 questions, all taken from a little book you got to study for months ahead of time. I think you needed to get 7 of 10 correct. The questions were relevant stuff like: 1.) What is the maximum distance between houses in a residential district? 2.) What is the minimum following distance for an emergency vehicle such as a fire truck? 3.) What does a flashing red traffic light mean? Pile into vehicle with a couple other 16 year old driver wannabees and an officer from the "Registry of Motor Vehicles" (this is in Massachusetts, other states are different). Remember to buckle your seat belt, adjust your mirrors before checking them and signal when leaving the curb. Throw in some hand signals if it is warm enough to open the window. Drive where the RMV cop tells you to drive, usually down a deserted side street. Make sure you use your turn signals and look in the mirrors a lot. On the deserted side street, parallel park within the required distance from the curb (no other cars nearby). Start away from curb (mirror and signals again) and go a little farther down the deserted side street. Do a "3 point turn", often referred to as "turning around." Pull alongside curb again and "secure vehicle" (shift to park and put on hand brake, shut car off), turn car over to next driver candidate. When everyone has taken their turn, return to Registry building, take eye test and get photo taken. Bingo! You have a drivers license. Later that day: celebrate your new freedom by picking up all your friends in the car you borrowed from your parents, get someone to buy you liquor and go have an accident. ~daxe -----------== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News ==---------- http://www.newsfeeds.com The Largest Usenet Servers in the World! ------== Over 73,000 Newsgroups - Including Dedicated Binaries Servers ==-----

Thank God someone understands me at last!!! Thank you thank you thank you!

I've been playing gpl for quite a while now and I really never did like the 1967 F1 car concept... The only reason I play gpl is because of it's Semi realistic handling, I could care less for 1967 F1 Theme. I would buy a Swamp Buggy Sim or a Lawnmower racing sim if it was realistically Modeled.

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> >One reason may be that there aren't that many, and > > a second could be that when people ask about driving simulators they get > GPL > > recommended, not a bad thing, but not everyone want to race 1967 F1. > Thank God someone understands me at last!!! > Thank you thank you thank you!

I took the theoritical driving test on monday, no problem just learn the little book inside out. Done that. Huh, you have to buckle yout seat belt, I thought that wasn't obligatory in the US. Well it's probably state dependant. Done that. Was a bit trivky the first time. Done that. Done that. I wonder what's more expensive. 1. Get my drivers license over here in the Netherlands 2. Go to America, get my drivers license over there, have a two week holiday, and go back to the Netherlands again. Option number 1. is probably a lot safer. Johan Veenstra.

>Wow you described my drivers test like you were sitting in the back seat . I >am also from Massachusetts and I took my test at the old Beverly registry in >about 1982. Deserted side streets to parallel park and 3 point turn on >without the danger of any traffic . Unfortunately I didn't study the little >blue book because I was 16.5 years old and I knew EVERYTHING so the frist >time I didnt even get past the stupid written exam. Nice to know there's consistency is that sad approach to licensing drivers here in the Commonwealth. At least we all start with the same disadvantage. I aced the written part because I have an annoyingly good memory for useless factoids such as: After stopping to wait in a line of traffic at a stop sign, the first three (3) cars in line may pass through the stop sign without stopping again if there are 300 feet of unobstructed view to either side of the sign. I actually quoted that once and got out of a ticket. :o) ~daxe -----------== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News ==---------- http://www.newsfeeds.com The Largest Usenet Servers in the World! ------== Over 73,000 Newsgroups - Including Dedicated Binaries Servers ==-----

What kind of race setting do you prefer? Johan Veenstra

Wow you described my drivers test like you were sitting in the back seat . I am also from Massachusetts and I took my test at the old Beverly registry in about 1982. Deserted side streets to parallel park and 3 point turn on without the danger of any traffic . Unfortunately I didn't study the little blue book because I was 16.5 years old and I knew EVERYTHING so the frist time I didnt even get past the stupid written exam. > >If that is because the > >software is good or the driving test in USA is easy, i don't know... :) > From what I have read, the driving test here in the USA is VERY easy > compared to many European countries. It revolves around remembering lots of > little rules rather than actually learning to drive a car or use much in the

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> way of driving skills. When I got my license (about 24 years ago) it > consisted of this: > Written exam, 10 questions, all taken from a little book you got to study > for months ahead of time. I think you needed to get 7 of 10 correct. The > questions were relevant stuff like: > 1.) What is the maximum distance between houses in a residential district? > 2.) What is the minimum following distance for an emergency vehicle such

as

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> a fire truck? > 3.) What does a flashing red traffic light mean? > Pile into vehicle with a couple other 16 year old driver wannabees and an > officer from the "Registry of Motor Vehicles" (this is in Massachusetts, > other states are different). > Remember to buckle your seat belt, adjust your mirrors before checking

them > and signal when leaving the curb. Throw in some hand signals if it is warm > enough to open the window. > Drive where the RMV cop tells you to drive, usually down a deserted side > street. Make sure you use your turn signals and look in the mirrors a lot. > On the deserted side street, parallel park within the required distance from > the curb (no other cars nearby). > Start away from curb (mirror and signals again) and go a little farther down

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> the deserted side street. Do a "3 point turn", often referred to as > "turning around." > Pull alongside curb again and "secure vehicle" (shift to park and put on > hand brake, shut car off), turn car over to next driver candidate. > When everyone has taken their turn, return to Registry building, take eye > test and get photo taken. > Bingo! You have a drivers license. > Later that day: celebrate your new freedom by picking up all your friends > in the car you borrowed from your parents, get someone to buy you liquor

and > go have an accident. > ~daxe > -----------== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News ==---------- > http://www.newsfeeds.com The Largest Usenet Servers in the World! > ------== Over 73,000 Newsgroups - Including Dedicated Binaries Servers ==-----

The average cost of getting your license in Germany and Switzerland is about 3000.- once you take the required amount of lessons and tests. 15 years ago in Canada I was one of the few who actually shelled out some cash for an "advanced" driving course, which included skidpad training, for about 300 bucks. Luckily, when I moved to Switzerland they accepted my Ontario license at face value and issued me with a Swiss one. My sister moved to Germany, but because she came from the "wrong" state in the US, she had to go through the German licensing system. Stephen :> Written exam, 10 questions, all taken from a little book you got to study :> for months ahead of time. I think you needed to get 7 of 10 correct. The :> questions were relevant stuff like: : I took the theoritical driving test on monday, no problem just learn the little : book inside out. :> Remember to buckle your seat belt, adjust your mirrors before checking them :> and signal when leaving the curb. Throw in some hand signals if it is warm :> enough to open the window. : Done that. : Huh, you have to buckle yout seat belt, I thought that wasn't obligatory in the US. : Well it's probably state dependant. :> Drive where the RMV cop tells you to drive, usually down a deserted side :> street. Make sure you use your turn signals and look in the mirrors a lot. : Done that. :> On the deserted side street, parallel park within the required distance from :> the curb (no other cars nearby). : Was a bit trivky the first time. :> Start away from curb (mirror and signals again) and go a little farther down :> the deserted side street. Do a "3 point turn", often referred to as :> "turning around." : Done that. :> Pull alongside curb again and "secure vehicle" (shift to park and put on :> hand brake, shut car off), turn car over to next driver candidate. : Done that. : I wonder what's more expensive. : 1. Get my drivers license over here in the Netherlands : 2. Go to America, get my drivers license over there, have a two week holiday, and go : back to the Netherlands again. : Option number 1. is probably a lot safer. : Johan Veenstra.

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> > I would like to buy a driving simulator that resembles real world > > driving as much as possible. Today I'll have my first driving lesson, > > and I thought that spending a couple of hours a week behind my force > > feedback steering wheel wouldn't hurt, it may even be a lot of fun..... > > So, can anyone recommend a good title? > Sierra got something called Drivers Education 99. There was very little

info > about it on Sierra's web-site about the driving model, but they give the money > back if you don't pass for the driving test in USA. If that is because the > software is good or the driving test in USA is easy, i don't know... :) > A less serious approach is of course Microsoft Midtown Madness, that let you > race around in Chicago, but the traffic model in pretty bad. A good game though > for fun if you don't have the time to try yet another lap a the Ring. The February 2000 PC Gamer magazine says that the Skip Barber Racing School title will be available in a few weeks! I know that's not everyday driving (for most), but according to the magazine, there will be thorough instruction on all the driving techniques commonly discussed here, like trail-braking, emergency maneuvers, etc. It sounds and looks as though it might have potential to be good. <remove 7of9 for e-mail replies> -- Bill Jones e-mail addresses: (860) 701-1201 WWW: http://pages.cthome.net/billj

Sierra made a drivers ed education sim 2 years ago. You can get it for 10-15 bucks from any commputer shows. Driving test in America is easy, I took mine during a big winter storm, all I had to do was buckle up, adjust the mirror and start the car.. I didn't even have to move an inch

As a kid on my written test it asked If you are sticking your left hand out the window what are you signaling? a) Turning right b) Turning Left c) Backing up d) Waving at your friends No Shit.........................................

We have a UK version of that question as well e) Your left arm is eight feet long <G> MS

I'm not supposed to drive my VW GTI like that on the street? Whoops! -- Ken's Sig 3.01 "Who is the more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows him?" - Obi-Wan Kenobi Go #43 and #44! volksy (at) yahoo (dot) com > > > I would like to buy a driving simulator that resembles real world > > > driving as much as possible. Today I'll have my first driving lesson, > > > and I thought that spending a couple of hours a week behind my force > > > feedback steering wheel wouldn't hurt, it may even be a lot of fun..... > > > So, can anyone recommend a good title? > > Sierra got something called Drivers Education 99. There was very little > info > > about it on Sierra's web-site about the driving model, but they give the > money > > back if you don't pass for the driving test in USA. If that is because the > > software is good or the driving test in USA is easy, i don't know... :) > > A less serious approach is of course Microsoft Midtown Madness, that let > you > > race around in Chicago, but the traffic model in pretty bad. A good game > though > > for fun if you don't have the time to try yet another lap a the Ring. > The February 2000 PC Gamer magazine says that the Skip Barber Racing School > title will be available in a few weeks! I know that's not everyday driving > (for most), but according to the magazine, there will be thorough > instruction on all the driving techniques commonly discussed here, like > trail-braking, emergency maneuvers, etc. It sounds and looks as though it > might have potential to be good. > <remove 7of9 for e-mail replies> > -- > Bill Jones e-mail addresses: > (860) 701-1201 WWW: http://pages.cthome.net/billj

I have a book called "Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving." It is put out by the Skip Barber Racing School. It is worth reading by anyone who wants to learn proper race driving technique. Here is a listing from Amazon.com for it: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0837602270/o/qid=947228431/sr=... -3621202-5755812 make sure you get all of that URL. If not, just go to Amazon.com and seach for: going faster ~daxe -----------== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News ==---------- http://www.newsfeeds.com The Largest Usenet Servers in the World! ------== Over 73,000 Newsgroups - Including Dedicated Binaries Servers ==-----

: I have a book called "Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving." It : is put out by the Skip Barber Racing School. It is worth reading by anyone : who wants to learn proper race driving technique. Here is a listing from : Amazon.com for it: : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0837602270/o/qid=947228431/sr=... : -3621202-5755812 : make sure you get all of that URL. If not, just go to Amazon.com and seach : for: going faster It's brilliant. I ordered it from amazon.de (Germany) and the price was good - about 45DM and free shipping to Switzerland. People in Europe might want to consider that option. Also check amazon.co.uk to price compare, but the UK amazon charges shipping. It's a fabulous book for developing your racing theory and then putting it to use in a sim... any sim. The simple points about choosing a proper apex will solve a lot of problems and find you a few seconds if you have been doing this wrong. For some reason, I always used to take early apexes in GP2 and ICR2, but not so much in the newer sims. I think the graphics improvements since '96 allow better recognition of turn-in points. Stephen

>The simple points about choosing a proper >apex will solve a lot of problems and find you a few seconds if you have >been doing this wrong. I found this, too, not only in sims but in real life. I am convinced this is the most terrifying moment of driving fast. Everything in your brain and your instincts (mine anyway) is telling you to turn in at any given corner, but you have to stay on it and wait to turn so you will hit the apex right (or late!) and carry that little bit of extra speed through the corner. The way they explain it in the book with simple diagrams is so easy to grasp and makes perfect sense immediately. ~daxe -----------== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News ==---------- http://www.newsfeeds.com The Largest Usenet Servers in the World! ------== Over 73,000 Newsgroups - Including Dedicated Binaries Servers ==-----

I have bought Drivers Ed 99. You might find that the driving lessons part too much aimed at US law and confusing if you are learning to drive in Holland. Drivers Ed does have a 'Free Drive' section which will help getting use to driving in the real world. There is a review of Drivers which is ok. There is a demo version of drivers ed 98 available from the Sierra website, if this has the 'free drive' section it might not be worth buying the full 99 version. Mark Charlesworth Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.