TOCA tonight... I can host if needed

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:18 pm

I would like to partake if you have room for a sub 1400 back marker.

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:21 pm

Wow... we have a ton of people. We'll likely need 2 hosts if everyone is around at the same time. I bet will have people coming in and out so we'll probably be ok. See you on tonight!

Current list:

James_E
pk500
hugo (CP Zeppo)
B00M
sportdan
leebo33
mixdj1
fshguy
Tcrouch
JackB1
Spooky
BBRebozo <---------- 12
dbdynsty
Gman33

ruiz00tx · Post by **ruiz00tx** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:55 pm

I don't know if I will get online tonight or not (Rockets/Lakers game) but my Gamertag is "ruiz00tx". I'll add some of your tags to my list as well.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 6:30 pm

James_E wrote:JackB, just add me, Gamertag "JamesE" to your friends list.

When I log on, I'll start sending out invites to whoever is around.

After each race, I check my friends list, and if I have room, I send more invites. So, if you see me on, watch for an invite. It might take a few (10 minutes or more) before I can invite you if we're in the middle of a race, but if there is room I'll invite.

James,
Please look for me, too. It will probably be around 11, but I'd love to hook up with you guys!

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:04 pm

If there is overflow, I can host about 6. Is there a way to tell who is actually racing on a server, and who is actually just logged in and waiting around a lobby? I think it shows a friends status as "playing" regardless of if they are actually on an active host server or not.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:23 pm

guys...just got home(6 EST)...soemtimes it stinks being on the west coast...

I should be around tonight....so if another game gets going I would love to join if there is room.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:26 pm

James:

If you're out there, feel free to play benevolent dictator and split us into two groups.

You can host 12; Don or I can play host to the overflow. Up to you. Maybe we can mix and match after an hour or so.

You know who the studs and newbies are if you want to handicap the groups.

Draw up a list, if you want.

Take care,
PK

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:26 pm

Im well into a 12 pack but if Im still conscious by then Ill seek you guys out.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:32 pm

hey, what tracks/cars do u guys prefer? I want to practice and what we will be racing on later

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:00 pm

Practice the Formula Fords. If you can drive those without wheel spin, you should be pretty decent in anything else.

F308GTB · Post by **F308GTB** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:22 pm

Man, DSPers must be a bunch of old married guys. Friday night. Let's play some TOCA!!! Talk about some wild fun.

If the wife allows, this old fart will probably be on too.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:26 pm

F308GTB wrote:Man, DSPers must be a bunch of old married guys. Friday night. Let's play some TOCA!!! Talk about some wild fun.

If the wife allows, this old fart will probably be on too.

We cant all be 17 can we?

Neckthai · Post by **Neckthai** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:45 pm

Just got home from the track... I'd like to play for a bit. Maybe I can get an invite to one of the alternate games. Is there a TOCA development series for us sub 1400's?

Neck

jbodin · Post by **jbodin** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 12:09 am

I'd like to join in, too, if possible.

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 1:53 am

Hey guys,

Sorry that Fshguy and I dropped from the session. My Knology cable modem service went to crap in the middle of the race and is currently running below dial-up speeds.

After talking to a support rep they believe something has damaged the line coming to my house and is causing massive missed packets and resends. Hopefully they'll get it straightened out soon.

mixdj1

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 2:18 am

Good racin guys. There's still a bit too much careening through slow corners going on... I apologize for any wrongdoing on my part (such as just going too slow in places and not always being as aware as I should.)

See you all online again soon.

Neckthai · Post by **Neckthai** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 2:59 am

Had fun for the brief period of time I got to race.

My folks came into town and arrived just as the Brands Hatch Indy round was about to begin.

Sucks for me as I actually had a handle on those little cars. Oh well, maybe next time.

Neck

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 3:03 am

was fun finally getting online with you guys and doing some racing in TOCA. I definitley need a lot of practice. I agree, that we all need to take the 1st 1 or or 2 turns easier. Seems like after the 1st couple of turns each race, things settled down. If we could just all hold back a little throught the 1st couple of turns, we'd be allright.

I guess next TOCA night is Mon, right?

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 3:17 am

hey guys, what a blast tonight.

I agree about the turns....there is such a fine line between too slow and too fast and I'm still trying to feel it out.

I think for the most part we did well until that last race at the ring...the first turn was a nightmare for many I beleive.

thnaks again to James for hosting

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 9:46 am

Thanks again, James.

No question that we're still too eager in many turns -- I'm guilty as charged. I'm OK in the first few corners, but I still tend to take too many lunges when I'm really not clear, pushing the other driver high in the turn through contact or not.

I'll work on it ... sorry to those whom I hit. And Zeppo and James, I'm sorry for the race I pulled over to let you cats pass me for the win. But there's no way I'm going to win a race after I nudged Zeppo out of the way for the lead. That's just wrong.

Zeppo, those SEAT Supercopa races with you and Piggy at the end of the night were great. I love those cars -- the closest thing to the BTCC touring cars that were the staple of the first four TOCA games.

Let's race again soon. Tonight?

Take care,
PK

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 10:27 am

Good God. I had absolutely no interest in this game (zero) but since you guys talked about it so much, and since it was staring at me through the case at work, and since it was only $38.86 Canadian, I just had to pick it up.

I wouldn't expect to see me online for awhile though, as I've got about 21 years of sim racing to make up for. I'm gonna go test 'er out now and see just how terrible I am. Hopefully I get nearly as much out of it as you guys have.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 11:21 am

Airdog wrote:Good God. I had absolutely no interest in this game (zero) but since you guys talked about it so much, and since it was staring at me through the case at work, and since it was only $38.86 Canadian, I just had to pick it up.

I wouldn't expect to see me online for awhile though, as I've got about 21 years of sim racing to make up for. I'm gonna go test 'er out now and see just how terrible I am. Hopefully I get nearly as much out of it as you guys have.

I didn't have any interest in the game either. I came back from vacation and everyone was talking about it so I had to take the plunge. I am SO glad I did. I had an opportunity this morning to dive into the career play a little more (I'm about 33% done) and I am really enjoying it. I owned PRD for about a month last year and thought it was OK, but this game totally blows it away.

I think part of the problem for some of us last night is just unfamiliarity with the cars and tracks. There were some tracks last night that I had never seen before or maybe just raced on once. I noticed that I did a lot better in the career mode today racing on tracks that we ran last night. I did notice a huge improvement in the amount of contact in the races from the first night I played compared to last night. I probably initiated contact 4 or 5 times last night and was hit about that many times. That's not *that* bad considering we had some real rookies out there (including me!).

Airdog, I would just jump online as soon as possible. That is the only way to learn. I probably only got to finish (due to the 30 second rule) about a third of the races on my first night, but last night I finished all but a couple and usually finished from 5th to 9th and I have very little console racing experience. There are some real battles in the middle of the pack (I think DChaps passed me at the end 2 or 3 races in a row).

This game is a MUST buy for any video game fan with an Xbox and the XBL play makes it one of my favorite games ever.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 12:55 pm

Great racing guys. That was simply great stuff. 12 guys on the track, it's just amazing. Thanks for hosting James.

I think over time, getting the hang of not running people over will be no problem. I just think it takes a little time, and the understanding that running people over is no good. One thing I love about this game is that I am getting the hang of following cars through turns, slowing down a little earlier to not corn hole the guy, and you'd be surprised how often that turns into a speed advantage a little while after the exit. I still screw up plenty, but I'm getting better! But anyway, for some reason (and I think it's the way the throttle control is handled) I find it easier than in other games to just stay on the tail pipe of a car in front of me, and run the line behind him. I guess a lot of that is getting to know the tracks (one reason I actually like the 'only these tracks for this car' system), but I think it also has a lot to do with throttle control. I have had a great time trying to find good spots to pass, rather than just driving past somebody wherever simply because I am faster. I'm getting much better at hanging back, staying in control behind the guy and either waiting for a big mstake, or getting a good run out of a corner before a long straight. I am still too agressive in many situations, but I am getting better and I think it's just due to getting more used to the game. I don't think in PGR2 that it would be nearly as easy. I know I never got very good at it in that game. I have also noticed I have much more success pasing by getting a faster exit (usually from slowing down earlier than the guy ahead of me) and passing on a straight, than I have trying to dive underneath someone on a corner and out-brake them.

Anyway, I guess I am saying that I love this game online. Racing for position for 5 laps out of 6, trading places back and forth with someone, it's just the best! And I think the racing will get cleaner and better as people get more comfortable with the tracks and the game itself. Heck we had one run where P1-P5 or even P6 were all in contention for the win, for the entire race! It's starting to get really good.

Airdog wrote:Good God. I had absolutely no interest in this game (zero) but since you guys talked about it so much, and since it was staring at me through the case at work, and since it was only $38.86 Canadian, I just had to pick it up.

I wouldn't expect to see me online for awhile though, as I've got about 21 years of sim racing to make up for. I'm gonna go test 'er out now and see just how terrible I am. Hopefully I get nearly as much out of it as you guys have.

If you're not much of a racing game fan, perhaps a little advice if you don't mind:

Try at first to just drive the car as if it were a car; that is try to drive the way you actually would IRL. Don't cram the accelerator through the virtual floor; feather it in and out. Same with the brakes. I think keeping this in mind helps get the hang of making some of the tougher corners.

Terry had a nice post about "how to drive fast" in some other TOCA thread, but as I remember it, the gist of it was: take it easy. Slow down well before you think you need to, and coast through the turn until you feel you can hit the accelerator without spinning out. Then, as you do more laps, that braking point gets later and the accelerator goes down a little earlier. He mentioned it's a lot easier to cruise slowly at first and get faster, than it is if you go too fast, to try to slow down to get a better line.

Oy, I hope this makes sense and doesn't actually hurt! For some reason, in this game, I have a much easier time than in most staying on the 'line' as it is represented in some dark spots on the road. These spots simulate the areas on the track where rubber and such gets deposited from cars turning or braking, and they are very handy for learning how to take the turns; try to stay on the line as much as possible, and you will soon start going faster and faster on the circuit. Remember, slow in, fast out.

If I am being an idiot, someone let me know. If anyone can correct what I am suggesting, or add more and better advice, I would appreciate that as well. Good luck Airdog with the game; I think you will enjoy it.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 2:22 pm

things will only get better as some of us "rookies" get more experience under our belt and learn these tracks better. that was my 1st time on most of those tracks and I will only get better with time. I am glad that you "more experienced" racers are nice enough to "rough it out" with us loose cannons for a while. In the end it will be worth it for all of us. I was just having fun racing against you other "back of the packers" (you know who you are

. It's still fun to compete and try to just beat out a few guys in the back. My main goal now is to beat that 30 second rule or whatever the cutoff is to fininsh the race.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 2:54 pm

I'm so bummed I could not make it last night. Went over to a buddies house and got home late.

Anyone up for playing tonight???