Grand Prix Challenge controls

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue May 13, 2003 3:42 pm

Hi all:
 
 Neckthai brought his PS2 and Grand Prix Challenge and WE6 to Indy for the next two weeks, so I finally got a chance to play these two highly-touted games.
 
 WE6 is excellent. Less revolutionary than I expected, as I have played ISS Pro Evolution for the PSX. WE6 is basically just a massive refinement of that game, much better in every way on the pitch. But I didn´t feel a soccer revolution when playing it, just a sense that Konami has a slavish attention to detail and realism in its footie games. Great fun, though.
 
 On the other hand, Grand Prix Challenge was a big letdown. Sure, the game looks nice and is purported to be realistic, but the analog steering control with the PS2 Dual Shock is AWFUL. Felt like I was steering a wheelbarrow or dump truck, not the most precise racing car on the planet.
 
 I guess GPC is designed more for a wheel or digital control in mind. Neck wasn´t sure, but it seems like you can´t use right-stick analog control for gas or brake, either. Using analog buttons to control speed and brakes? That´s 1999 technology.
 
 Either way, the steering control with an analog stick was a joke with this game. Not precise at all. Maybe I would appreciate the supposed brilliance of this game if I played it with a wheel.
 
 I know John C. calls GPC the best racer on the PS2, but I think both Colin McRae Rally 2.0 on the PSX and World of Outlaws on the PS2 are much better games, at least from my lousy first impression of GPC.
 
 Waiting to be pelted by rocks and garbage from GPC devotees ... <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 13-05-2003 12:44 ]

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue May 13, 2003 7:12 pm

SF:
 
 Good point. Well taken. But the control of EA´s F1 console games -- which are utter sh*t overall, is better than GPC with the Dual Shock.
 
 Take care,
 PK

FloridaGators · Post by **FloridaGators** » Tue May 13, 2003 9:04 pm

I don´t have a wheel and without multitap support I´m going to skip GPC.
 
 I got WE 6 by the way. It´s in the mail as we speak. Traded it for NHL 2k3.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Thu May 15, 2003 1:28 am

I´ve had the benefit now of having played GPC with both the Dual Shock and my Logitech Force GP wheel. It is a different game with the wheel. I agree with many of you that it´s too twitchy with the Dual Shock. I frankly couldn´t compete with the DS, even in "Easy" mode, doing well just to finish in the top 20! I can run fairly competitively with the wheel in Medium, however.
 
 I know that steering wheels aren´t a practical option for many of you, and if you´re as bad as I am with a DS in racing games, I couldn´t recommend GPC to you.
 
 PK, this one edges out WoO by a nose, mostly because I prefer F1 racing to sprint cars. In terms of control, and probably AI, WoO is indeed superior. I haven´t had the chance to play CM3, so I can´t speak to that either.
 
 What I miss mostly in GPC is the lack of mirrors. I´m involved in mishaps that wouldn´t have happened had I had a mirror. The AI does seem to be aware of your handicap there and makes some concessions to allow for it. However, these concessions compromise the AI overall. I can live with it for now, but I´d like to see mirrors and at least analog thumbstick control for DS if there´s another edition.
 
 Oh, I should add that I never had the benefit of playing any Konami soccer game on any platform up until this point. Therefore, WE6IE is a new world to me!
 [ This message was edited by: J_Cauthen on 14-05-2003 22:29 ]

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu May 15, 2003 10:30 am

John:
 
 It´s interesting that you found GPC to be twitchy with the Dual Shock. I found the exact opposite -- it was as responsive as a drunk college kid at the end of a frat party. Sluggish as hell.
 
 Take care,
 PK

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Thu May 15, 2003 11:43 am

Heh, I have not even tried it with the DS2. I will hook it up tonight just to see how bad it is.
 
 The control is great with the Logitech wheel. I would say on par with WOO, better than WRC, and not quite as good as GT3.
 
 PS - Make sure you have all the driving aids turned completely off. [ This message was edited by: DChaps on 15-05-2003 08:43 ]

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Thu May 15, 2003 12:23 pm

As a side note, here is what I found posted by a moderator of Codemasters Indycar Series forum regarding wheel support:
 
 "Hi Guys,
 The PS2 version of the game does support steering wheels that plug into the front controller port,with rumble support but unfortunately not USB wheels/ force feedback. The XBox version supports steering wheels as well, and the PC version supports wheels and force feedback."
 
 Grrrrr.........Codemaster is just trying to make me hate them. WTF?!! The ONLY decent console wheel on the market is the Logitech Driving Force for the PS2, and it is used brilliantly in games like GT3, WOO, GPC, and even PRD and to a lessor extent WRC. Of course, it uses the USB port. So the wheel I own, the only really good one out there, is not supported. Geesh.....
 
 Poor wheel support for the PC version of Pro Race Driver with no patch in site, and now this.
 
 Seriously, I have really been trying to give Codemasters the benefit of the doubt recently, but no online play in the PC version of Indycar, no decent wheel support in PS2 Indycar seriers, poor wheel support in PC version of Pro Race Driver. The list goes on and on.
 
 What I really don´t get is why? Particularly when PRD has decent USB wheel support on the PS2.
 
 I was planning on picking up the PS2 version, then the PC version later in June. But with no wheel support, I will probably just wait.
 
 I know you have to make design choices for the masses, and gamepad support should come first and foremost for a console (which sounds like it was not the case with GPC), but if a small developer like Ratbag can pull it off with WOO, why not Codemasters?
 
 Just damn....

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Thu May 15, 2003 2:29 pm

Paul,
 
 I guess "twitchy" is a poor choice for what ailes me about the DS control in GPC. What happens is I zig-zag down the track because I can never find the line. Whether it´s because I´m not allowing time for centering or what, I don´t know... I just can´t hold a line. This phenomenon disappears when I plug my Force GP in however. I just flat suck at controlling cars with analog thumbsticks. I´m one of the few people on the planet who turn better times in on GT3 with the wheel than the dual shock - that should put it in perspective for you <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif"> The only racer I´ve played in which I can do reasonably well with with the thumbsticks is WoO, although a hint of the zig-zagging is still there.
 
 Don,
 
 That´s too bad about Indycar. Suffering from my thumbstick affliction, I can cross that one off my list! It baffles me how they can overlook something so easily supported, and obviously has been in the past!? [ This message was edited by: J_Cauthen on 15-05-2003 11:30 ]

pdc_iccc · Post by **pdc_iccc** » Wed May 21, 2003 1:14 am

PK -
 
 You can use the right stick for gas and brake in GPC - it´s option C in the control section. Did you try the camera view where you can see the top of the driver´s helmet? That view is the only view that I can get rid of the zig-zag feel - it´s not gone, but much better than the chase views for sure.
 
 Have you had a chance to play the Indy game yet while you´ve been out there? I´m looking forward to it.
 
 Paul

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed May 21, 2003 10:40 am

Paul:
 
 Thanks for the tip with GPC.
 
 It´s pathetic, but I STILL haven´t played the damn game yet! Been busy as hell.
 
 The game will officially be launched today at the track with 12 IndyCar Series drivers competing in a tournament. So I hope to hook up with the Codies people and score a PS2 version today. I don´t have a PS2, but Neck brought his to Indy.
 
 Take care,
 PK