Is anyone out there playing GP500?

I bought it a few months ago and it has been on my "other pc games I would play if GPL didn't exist" drawer. The other day after a heavy argument with Chris Amon, after he attempted to overtake on the inside at Masta in Spa on the 30th lap, I decided to give GPL a break for a few days as my sanity was at stake here! Of course I disqualified C.Amon from the race and now he'll be driving a copper for the rest of the season for his insolence! I know it is a bit harsh but I had to make an example of him as my eagle had to be completely rebuilt after the incident. Anyway, after a couple of days without GPL, withdraw symptoms such as shaking hands, voices in my head and uncontrollable urge to compete set in. So I decided I had to race something, since in real life the only sensation of speed I get is from my old banger as I strive to beat the traffic and get to work every morning; So I rooted through my drawer and ended up installing GP500, after concluding that Castrol Superbike wasn't up to the task as far as I am concerned. I wasn't too impressed at first as I expected to just break world records on my first lap. But as it turned out it was slightly more difficult to learn than I thought, so I used the old GPL beginner's rule to just try and keep the thing on the track at first. Once that was done and I had more control of the bike, I was amazed to find myself really enjoying this sim. All the circuits are spot on and the sensation of speed is awesome! I don't know much about racing bikes, but was very surprised at this sim as it seemed very realistic to me. The graphics are great and it runs very smoothly, and I think I am hooked! Tonight I'll be doing 20 laps on each circuit so I can get a better feel of the bikes, but this looks like a long project and it could get in the way of GPL . I am amazed because this is the first sim since GPL that got my interest, and I have bought everything else out there. Not even RC2000 stood the test. Now, if any of you guys are playing it I wouldn't mind some advice on set-ups and driving -oops! riding technique for a beginner. Mauricio.

I've started playing it again & you're right, it is pretty damn neat when you get into it. It's also a great tool for learning proper racing lines which transformed GPL for me. No idea about setup on GP500 though so any links would be appreciated. Cheers Colin

I don't play GP500, it couldn't capture my interest. It looked and played really good, but I found it just to hard, I don't know anything about bikes. But now I play EA Sports Superbike 2000, which is a blast. I put some training options on, which makes driving a little bit easier, and it's a thrill to drive on Assen, Laguna Seca and the Nurnburgring. But driving on Monza hurts, what the hell did they do to that beautiful track from the past, with all those ridiculous chicanes added? Andre

Demo-version, I assume??? Johan

i played demo version a while back and yes, it's for bike sims what gpl is for car sims. I especialy like the feature that you have a separate front and back brake, the fact that you have to position the weight of the rider. It's very detailed and def. had quit some learning curve. It's one on my wihing list, but since i have just litle spare tim right now i stick to the sims i already own but i sue wil buy it soon. I did ride quit some bikes in my life and can tell it's a pretty good sim. Andre

What sort of controls are you using? I've been trying to get into this game, but I can't figure out the best way to control it. Joystick? Wheel? -cough- ...keyboard? -- ----------------------------------- Morgan Vincent Wooten http://members.tripod.com/~morganv/ -----------------------------------

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> Pre-release pirated versions are out there. And in about 2 weeks it > will be in stores. First second my local store calls me and says it's > in I'll be there. It's a sweet sim SBK 2000 is. The best yet. > > Demo-version, I assume??? > > Johan

Or maybe a pre-release beta for reviewing? Not everybody's a pirate... ;-) Bobby

This probably sounds pretty odd, but I found a nice combination that worked for GP500. Take 1 Serial Port wheel with a pedal unit Take 1 USB MS Freestyle Pro Ditch the wheel and use the pedals from the wheel for gas/brakes, in combination with the Freestyle to tilt the bike. I think that they're hard to get hold of now, so a standard joystick works well too. Anything that provides rapid lock-to-lock and is not directly coupled to the gas/brakes does the trick (i.e. I hate having a joystick to control steering on the x-axis and accelerating/braking on the y-axis). Failing that, I think somebody went and produced a very expensive dedicated bike sim controller. I had the webpage somewhere, but I've just lost it... Bobby

No, the full retail version.

Yes, which controller to use in this sim is, as you say a big problem. I have tried the wheel but it just felt like too much effort since there's only 2 tires to get grip from on a bike, as for the keyboard, it is a waste of time as no accuracy can be obtained from it. I ended up using my MS Precision Pro joystick and it didn't take me long to find a configuration I was happy with, and I felt quite comfortable with it in the end. I have also opened it up and attached a small spring to the throttle which makes it even better. But I'll be buying a force feedback joystick this weekend which I think will be just perfect. I was very concerned at first about braking, as the joystick has got throttle (sort of anyway), but the way I see it - and I am very much a beginner, this sim is about spending more time on the throttle, and precise braking doesn't seem to be too much of a problem, so I have front and rear braking in one button. I would definitely have to say that a FF joystick should be the best for this sim. Shame it doesn't support 2 controllers though, I just don't understand why simulators are still nowadays made only to support one controller, but never mind that. Mauricio.

I play it just the same way. Johan