EA's bunk "tech support"

I have some problem's with F1 2002. I have a Radeon 9700 Pro running on XP Pro. I'm having a problem with the car rendering. The polygons that comprise the car are severely misaligned causing holes in the car and obstructions for certain camera views. There are similar problems for trees etc at some tracks (Monza). The trees cut straight across the track. Well I contacted EA's "Tech Support" and they stated that if I re-install the drivers for the card everything should be ok. Needless to say it wasn't. So, I sent them another message asking "Now what?" and this is the reply I recieved. "Response (Box David S.) - 12/09/2002 11:26 AM Well Mike, the Radeon 9700 Pro was not a tested card for this game. F1 2002 came out about 6 months ago or so, and your card just came out on the market. What I am saying is that the card you have has different features than any other card and it has been hard to get games to run correctly with that card. Normally drivers should fix this issue, but since you already downloaded the latest fixes for the card, it is hard to decide on what you need to do next. I am not sure if there is anything more we can do for you. I really only have one more option to give you, and that would be to tweak some settings in the 3D setup and in the game. To start the 3D setup goto Start > Programs > EA Sports > F1 2002 > 3D Setup. Try using the resolution 800 x 600 x 16 bit with 75hz refresh rate. Also turn on Vertical Sync." And with Papy getting out of the race sim market who else is going to be left other than these clowns? Doesn't bode well for the future of the hobby. Mike

"Michael Basden" > "Response (Box David S.) - 12/09/2002 11:26 AM > Well Mike, the Radeon 9700 Pro was not a tested card for this game. F12002 > came out about 6 months ago or so, and your card just came out on the > market. What I am saying is that the card you have has different features > than any other card and it has been hard to get games to run correctlywith > that card. Normally drivers should fix this issue, but since you already > downloaded the latest fixes for the card, it is hard to decide on what you > need to do next. I am not sure if there is anything more we can do foryou. > I really only have one more option to give you, and that would be to tweak > some settings in the 3D setup and in the game. To start the 3D setup goto > Start > Programs > EA Sports > F1 2002 > 3D Setup. Try using theresolution

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> 800 x 600 x 16 bit with 75hz refresh rate. Also turn on Vertical Sync." > > And with Papy getting out of the race sim market who else is going to be > left other than these clowns? Doesn't bode well for the future of the > hobby. > > Mike >

So you bought a piece of hardware that is not supported by an older title. Do you expect every company to rush back into the testing labs everytime a new piece of silicon comes out? Boy we might finally get that 3dfx patch for ICR2 then!!! I think you are being fiscally unreasonable. However, I would tend to go the other way with the advice EA gave you. The 9700 doesn't do fsaa at 16bit correct? I would try High resolutions and 32 bit color. Also make sure your desktop is at least sized as big as the ingame resolution. i.e. if you run f1 2k2 at 16x12x32, don't have your desktop set to 10x7x32 Also if that is still screwed up, try checking that box in 3dsetup for running in a window. I have no idea if that will help, but who knows. dave henrie --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.427 / Virus Database: 240 - Release Date: 12/6/02

On Mon, 09 Dec 2002 23:35:31 GMT, "Michael Basden" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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> >"Response (Box David S.) - 12/09/2002 11:26 AM >Well Mike, the Radeon 9700 Pro was not a tested card for this game. F1 2002 >came out about 6 months ago or so, and your card just came out on the >market. What I am saying is that the card you have has different features >than any other card and it has been hard to get games to run correctly with >that card. Normally drivers should fix this issue, but since you already >downloaded the latest fixes for the card, it is hard to decide on what you >need to do next. I am not sure if there is anything more we can do for you. >I really only have one more option to give you, and that would be to tweak >some settings in the 3D setup and in the game. To start the 3D setup goto >Start > Programs > EA Sports > F1 2002 > 3D Setup. Try using the resolution >800 x 600 x 16 bit with 75hz refresh rate. Also turn on Vertical Sync." > >And with Papy getting out of the race sim market who else is going to be >left other than these clowns? Doesn't bode well for the future of the >hobby. > >Mike

It seems EA isn't doing anything wrong. The tech guy seems nice and tried to do the best he could. They did try to help. I think it might be an ATI problem. See if you can get a more helpful response from them. -- karkrazy AT softhome DOT net http://karkrazy.m4driving.sm

I agree with the other posters. This is an awfully thoughtful response from EA, and its obviously not an EA issue. It's an ATI issue for not putting out compatible drivers, and it's your issue for buying the latest/greatest and assuming everything is just gonna work. just my .02 "Michael Basden" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:7N9J9.57914$[email hidden]:

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> I have some problem's with F1 2002. I have a Radeon 9700 Pro running > on XP Pro. I'm having a problem with the car rendering. The polygons > that comprise the car are severely misaligned causing holes in the car > and obstructions for certain camera views. There are similar problems > for trees etc at some tracks (Monza). The trees cut straight across > the track. Well I contacted EA's "Tech Support" and they stated that > if I re-install the drivers for the card everything should be ok. > Needless to say it wasn't. So, I sent them another message asking "Now > what?" and this is the reply I recieved. > > "Response (Box David S.) - 12/09/2002 11:26 AM > Well Mike, the Radeon 9700 Pro was not a tested card for this game. > F1 2002 came out about 6 months ago or so, and your card just came out > on the market. What I am saying is that the card you have has > different features than any other card and it has been hard to get > games to run correctly with that card. Normally drivers should fix > this issue, but since you already downloaded the latest fixes for the > card, it is hard to decide on what you need to do next. I am not sure > if there is anything more we can do for you. I really only have one > more option to give you, and that would be to tweak some settings in > the 3D setup and in the game. To start the 3D setup goto Start > > Programs > EA Sports > F1 2002 > 3D Setup. Try using the resolution > 800 x 600 x 16 bit with 75hz refresh rate. Also turn on Vertical > Sync." > > And with Papy getting out of the race sim market who else is going to > be left other than these clowns? Doesn't bode well for the future of > the hobby. > > Mike > >

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"Dave Henrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:rqaJ9.296553$NH2.20726@sccrnsc01... > > So you bought a piece of hardware that is not supported by an older > title. Do you expect every company to rush back into the testing labs > everytime a new piece of silicon comes out? Boy we might finally get that > 3dfx patch for ICR2 then!!! > I think you are being fiscally unreasonable. However, I would tend togo > the other way with the advice EA gave you. The 9700 doesn't do fsaa at > 16bit correct? I would try High resolutions and 32 bit color. Also make > sure your desktop is at least sized as big as the ingame resolution. i.e. > if you run f1 2k2 at 16x12x32, don't have your desktop set to 10x7x32Also > if that is still screwed up, try checking that box in 3dsetup for runningin > a window. I have no idea if that will help, but who knows. > dave henrie > After hearing nothing but rave reviews about this card I decided to make the substantial investment and until this happened have been very happy with it. So maybe it is a bit of 'sour grapes' on my part but I just find it hard to believe that EA will support the other Radeon cards (8500, 7500, and "ATI Radeon") but not this one. I mean, how big a departure from the 8500 can the 9700 be? I read the system requirements before buying it, but I thought ATI Radeon meant the cards with Radeon engines. I'll have to look for them to explicitly state support for this card from now on I guess. I'm not about to track product release dates. Anyway, it looks like I might have to break out my old GF2 Ultra if I want to experience GTR2002; albiet with poorer resolution and fewer graphics options enabled. *sigh* Mike

The Radeon 9700 is indeed quite different from the 8500, very different design, as it was co-developed by the former ArtX team that did the chip for the Gamecube. It's not a souped-up 8500. EA is correct and has basicly done all they can. With a newer card like the 9700 Pro, it's the responsability of the card manufacturer to make sure it runs with older games. Actually, I've had problems with the 9700, too. I can't get Rally Master's headlights to work, and the 9700 won't do hardware T&L with Master Rallye. Performance in Rallisport has also been somewhat mediocre. Alot of other older games run fine (Nascar Legends, GPL), and it has no problems with the bigger-name games like Quake 3 or Serious Sam. So, if you want to badger somebody, go to ATI and write a complaint/bug report there. BTW, I don't have F1 2002, yet, but F1 2001 runs fine. So does NASCAR Thunder. I have a hunch that maybe when DX 9 comes out, the drivers for the car will start to mature alot. I hope so, because if they don't, I'm going to be going back to NVidia, permanently. Frankly, the 9700 has more problems with games than my old 8500 ever did, and the GeForce 2 beat them all down (except for problems with VIA chipsets and AGP 4X).

On Tue, 10 Dec 2002 12:41:46 GMT, "Michael Basden" <[email hidden]> wrote something like this: >Radeon") but not this one. I mean, how big a departure from the 8500 can the >9700 be? I read the system requirements before buying it, but I thought ATI Didn't the price tag give any hint that there might be some major differences between those cards...? Ok, when talking about graphics cards, in most cases the biggest difference is the price tag itself... but in this case we are talking about totally different generation cards. Not to mention that drivers are probably not yet optimized for the 9700... BTW, have you tried the ATI Catalyst 2.5 drivers? They were released yesterday. -- - Igor -

I had simular problem. Make sure in bios that video cache == disabled Also installed drivers manually with instuctions from: http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?s=01eed66077269ecf96969c149e4f7436&threadid=33633482 On Mon, 09 Dec 2002 23:35:31 GMT, "Michael Basden" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>I have some problem's with F1 2002. I have a Radeon 9700 Pro running on XP >Pro. I'm having a problem with the car rendering. The polygons that >comprise the car are severely misaligned causing holes in the car and >obstructions for certain camera views. There are similar problems for trees >etc at some tracks (Monza). The trees cut straight across the track. Well I >contacted EA's "Tech Support" and they stated that if I re-install the >drivers for the card everything should be ok. Needless to say it wasn't. >So, I sent them another message asking "Now what?" and this is the reply I >recieved. > >"Response (Box David S.) - 12/09/2002 11:26 AM >Well Mike, the Radeon 9700 Pro was not a tested card for this game. F1 2002 >came out about 6 months ago or so, and your card just came out on the >market. What I am saying is that the card you have has different features >than any other card and it has been hard to get games to run correctly with >that card. Normally drivers should fix this issue, but since you already >downloaded the latest fixes for the card, it is hard to decide on what you >need to do next. I am not sure if there is anything more we can do for you. >I really only have one more option to give you, and that would be to tweak >some settings in the 3D setup and in the game. To start the 3D setup goto >Start > Programs > EA Sports > F1 2002 > 3D Setup. Try using the resolution >800 x 600 x 16 bit with 75hz refresh rate. Also turn on Vertical Sync." > >And with Papy getting out of the race sim market who else is going to be >left other than these clowns? Doesn't bode well for the future of the >hobby. > >Mike >

Hi Mike, I also recently purchased a 9700Pro. I don't suffer the problems you are having. I use the catalyst 2.5's. I do have one minor problem at silverstone with the horizon distorting but othter than that all is great. Mitch "Michael Basden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:eilJ9.350806$[email hidden]...

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> > "Dave Henrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:rqaJ9.296553$NH2.20726@sccrnsc01... > > > > So you bought a piece of hardware that is not supported by an older > > title. Do you expect every company to rush back into the testing labs > > everytime a new piece of silicon comes out? Boy we might finally get

that > > 3dfx patch for ICR2 then!!! > > I think you are being fiscally unreasonable. However, I would tend to > go > > the other way with the advice EA gave you. The 9700 doesn't do fsaa at > > 16bit correct? I would try High resolutions and 32 bit color. Alsomake > > sure your desktop is at least sized as big as the ingame resolution.i.e. > > if you run f1 2k2 at 16x12x32, don't have your desktop set to 10x7x32 > Also > > if that is still screwed up, try checking that box in 3dsetup forrunning > in > > a window. I have no idea if that will help, but who knows. > > dave henrie > > > > After hearing nothing but rave reviews about this card I decided to makethe > substantial investment and until this happened have been very happy withit. > So maybe it is a bit of 'sour grapes' on my part but I just find it hardto > believe that EA will support the other Radeon cards (8500, 7500, and "ATI > Radeon") but not this one. I mean, how big a departure from the 8500 canthe > 9700 be? I read the system requirements before buying it, but I thoughtATI > Radeon meant the cards with Radeon engines. > > I'll have to look for them to explicitly state support for this card from > now on I guess. I'm not about to track product release dates. Anyway, it > looks like I might have to break out my old GF2 Ultra if I want to > experience GTR2002; albiet with poorer resolution and fewer graphicsoptions > enabled. *sigh* > > Mike > >

Hi Mike, I also recently purchased a 9700Pro. I don't suffer the problems you are having. I use the catalyst 2.5's. I do have one minor problem at silverstone with the horizon distorting but othter than that all is great. Mitch "Michael Basden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:eilJ9.350806$[email hidden]...

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> > "Dave Henrie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:rqaJ9.296553$NH2.20726@sccrnsc01... > > > > So you bought a piece of hardware that is not supported by an older > > title. Do you expect every company to rush back into the testing labs > > everytime a new piece of silicon comes out? Boy we might finally get

that > > 3dfx patch for ICR2 then!!! > > I think you are being fiscally unreasonable. However, I would tend to > go > > the other way with the advice EA gave you. The 9700 doesn't do fsaa at > > 16bit correct? I would try High resolutions and 32 bit color. Alsomake > > sure your desktop is at least sized as big as the ingame resolution.i.e. > > if you run f1 2k2 at 16x12x32, don't have your desktop set to 10x7x32 > Also > > if that is still screwed up, try checking that box in 3dsetup forrunning > in > > a window. I have no idea if that will help, but who knows. > > dave henrie > > > > After hearing nothing but rave reviews about this card I decided to makethe > substantial investment and until this happened have been very happy withit. > So maybe it is a bit of 'sour grapes' on my part but I just find it hardto > believe that EA will support the other Radeon cards (8500, 7500, and "ATI > Radeon") but not this one. I mean, how big a departure from the 8500 canthe > 9700 be? I read the system requirements before buying it, but I thoughtATI > Radeon meant the cards with Radeon engines. > > I'll have to look for them to explicitly state support for this card from > now on I guess. I'm not about to track product release dates. Anyway, it > looks like I might have to break out my old GF2 Ultra if I want to > experience GTR2002; albiet with poorer resolution and fewer graphicsoptions > enabled. *sigh* > > Mike > >

LOL lets not cry about compatability! I remember a card called Voodoo that would no longer work in games. I am rather certain that the ATI 9700 after about 6 months of driver refinement and directX9, will be a video card we will all want for the next generation graphics next year. Fortunately by that time the card will be 140.00. Dont feel bad. I bought the Radeon 8500 the day it came out for the top dollar and still am waiting for a good driver. "Michael Basden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:7N9J9.57914$[email hidden]... > I have some problem's with F1 2002. I have a Radeon 9700 Pro running on XP > Pro. I'm having a problem with the car rendering. The polygons that > comprise the car are severely misaligned causing holes in the car and > obstructions for certain camera views. There are similar problems fortrees > etc at some tracks (Monza). The trees cut straight across the track. WellI

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> contacted EA's "Tech Support" and they stated that if I re-install the > drivers for the card everything should be ok. Needless to say it wasn't. > So, I sent them another message asking "Now what?" and this is the reply I > recieved. > > "Response (Box David S.) - 12/09/2002 11:26 AM > Well Mike, the Radeon 9700 Pro was not a tested card for this game. F1

2002 > came out about 6 months ago or so, and your card just came out on the > market. What I am saying is that the card you have has different features > than any other card and it has been hard to get games to run correctlywith > that card. Normally drivers should fix this issue, but since you already > downloaded the latest fixes for the card, it is hard to decide on what you > need to do next. I am not sure if there is anything more we can do foryou. > I really only have one more option to give you, and that would be to tweak > some settings in the 3D setup and in the game. To start the 3D setup goto > Start > Programs > EA Sports > F1 2002 > 3D Setup. Try using theresolution

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> 800 x 600 x 16 bit with 75hz refresh rate. Also turn on Vertical Sync." > > And with Papy getting out of the race sim market who else is going to be > left other than these clowns? Doesn't bode well for the future of the > hobby. > > Mike > >