TOCA 2 PC, and Chicane cutting

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:11 am

I fired up the PC version last night, hoping for some online Formula Ford action.

I went into 2 different rooms. In both, without fail, everyone except me cut the chicanes. It's not like they just missed a little bit. It was very evident everyone was just driving straight across the grass with no attempt to turn.

So, I left. Yeah, I lost rating points, but I don't want to race like that.

I know we always say "don't race random peeps" but I figured I might have better luck with the PC version, given that it tends to attract more of a sim racer (or so we thought.) This proved not to be the case in the 2 rooms I joined last night.

I went on to XBL, and hosted an almost full room of DSP racers, and had a blast. However I still want to race the PC version.

So, who is up for some proper racing in the PC version? What day and time? Should we run the patch that lets us race tons of tracks in the FFords?

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:28 am

James, that was a blast last night. You must love this game, to get both versions! Does the PC version have much better graphics? Do u use a wheel with the PC version? I tried the demo and it doesn't seem to look that much better than the xbox version. But I know what you mean about the chicane cutting. Too bad the game developers didn't forsee this and put walls around the chicanes. When I play with strangers I am forced to do as they do or I fall way behind.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 11:08 am

Jack:

I don't think walls around the chicanes are the answer because that's not the answer in real life.

I would prefer to see something like Moto GP 2 where chicane cutters are penalized 10 seconds at the finish and dropped in the final order accordingly.

Agree with you both, though: The constant chicane cutters are annoying.

Take care,
PK

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 11:15 am

jackB: I have a Logitech MOMO FF wheel, and yes, the graphics are WAY better on my PC.

That, plus the "pro-sim" handling model, the inevitable mods coming... make the PC version a gotta-have for me.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:20 pm

Yep, having the PC version and the Xbox version are almost like 2 separate games, each with their own benefits. I love the Xbox version using the S-Controller. Easy to jump into an online game and go have some fun.

The PC version is great for the sim side of me. Like James I can use my MOMO Force Feedback steering controller, bump up the sim level to Pro-Sim, and then take advantage of alll the great new utilities and mods that folks like John Bodin are putting out. Not to mention the PC patch will have mirrors.

Of course it all depends on the specs of your PC, but if you can max out the details, resolution, and AA/AF it is a beautiful looking game.

So far the mods I have added are as follows:

Active Cockpit Camera - shows in the cockpit movement based on inertia and g-forces.

Formula Ford new cockpit view- more realistic than the default cockpit view and gives me a little better sense of my surroundings

Career "Pro-Sim"/laps config - changed the config so that I am running the career mode at "Pro-Sim" level with more laps for racing.

Formula Ford Championship mod - allows you to drive the FF championship at like 30 some odd tracks.

I agree with PK, all they really need to do is implement a time penalty for chicane cutting. I guess the only drawback to that would be that if you were punted off road you would be penalized and then could end up finishing behind someone that you beat legitimately. It would also promote people trying to get back on track quickly and at all costs which could result in more wrecks. I think that will still be a better option than what is happening now. Plus, they could probably program it in to just look at specific sections of the track where there would be penalties. If I go off road outside into the kitty litter on a right hand sweeper, the game would know that is not going to give me any advantage. But cutting the chicanes at Oulton Park is clearly a no-no. All 4 wheels off at those sections of track should result in an immediate time penalty.

ruiz00tx · Post by **ruiz00tx** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:42 pm

Kudos to all in the races JamesE was hosting last night, didn't see any cut throughs or anything. I had fun, look forward to racing again soon. It is a lot more fun racing with familiar people.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:48 pm

Agreed. That session on JamesE's server was awesome.

ruiz, I tried to send you a friend invite, but it kept giving me the "Xbox can't connect to Xbox Live" message. Same with JackB.

Anyway, throw me a friend invite.

My GamerTag is: CP Zeppo

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 12:55 pm

All you bastards denying my entry into the game....I sent invites, got invited back but couldn't enter for some reason.

Bad bad times.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 1:21 pm

Could be worse.

I get invited in, only to have 2 people quit the first race, and then 1 quit every race thereafter. Within 15 minutes, there were only 4 of us left.

If you want to kill a fun session, just invite me. Guaranteed results.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 1:25 pm

Heh, I think it was just bad luck with timing Terry. I definitely wanted to keep racing with you guys.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 1:43 pm

TCrouch wrote:Could be worse.

I get invited in, only to have 2 people quit the first race, and then 1 quit every race thereafter. Within 15 minutes, there were only 4 of us left.

If you want to kill a fun session, just invite me. Guaranteed results.

Terry, I quit and believe me, it had nothing to do with you. In fact I was pleased to see you, but then it just became too frustrating.

Surely you had a fine view of me getting my ass rammed in that 2nd right on Road America. For me, that was the last straw after being repeatedly corn-holed, banged into the dirt, annihilated by drviers coming back onto the track, etc. etc. I had just had enough of that crap and didn't want to deal with it anymore. I was trying (as you surely saw once I not-so-neatly shoved by you off the grid) to take it easy around the first few turns until the traffic settled into some order, but to no avail. All it got me was a front bumper up my ass and a wall in my face. That turn is a toughy for me. I usually brake far too late, and go wide on the downhill. I should know better, and just sit in the back until the mess clears, but I seem to always get good starts, and I fall into the mistaken conception that a good start is a good thing in this game.

I love racing with you Terry, especially in those cars that have low max speeds (like the GT Lights), that make me feel like I can almost keep up! Those DTMs and V8 Supercars are really hard for me to drive, plus I don't really know the circuits well. Still, those classes seem to have the most potential in the end, if only because they are hard to get the hang of, they support many circuits, and setups will surely become seriously effective. But for now, I am really enjoying honing my laps on the shorter circuits.

ruiz00tx · Post by **ruiz00tx** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 1:59 pm

TCrouch,

The only reason I quit was because I had been in there for almost 2 hours by the time you got there. Look forward to racing with all you guys again, I'll resend the friend request CP Zeppo.

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 2:41 pm

Zeppo:

I hope you didn't leave because of me. I know I got into a few tangles last night (don't know if I was in the one you are talking about) but it was never intentional. Maybe we do need to have a sub 1500 group because I'm faster than some but don't have enough skill to keep from losing it on occasion and messing up the 1600+ guys.

mixdj1

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:06 pm

Mix, please.

No one runied the game for me, I just wasn't having any fun, so what's the point? You guys should see the tirades I have written in this space, only to erase them once I actually read what I had written. It is, after all, only a game. Sometimes I have lots of fun, sometimes I don't. It's not the end of the world.

I look forward to racing with all you cats many more times in the future. I would hate for people to segregate into the "good drivers" and "bad drivers" groups. I think that's just ridiculous. If you are aware that you lose control or do something stupid (as I assure you we all do), then you have won the battle. It's the people who seem to be oblivious that really get under my skin.

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:15 pm

Zeppo:

That's cool, I just wanted to make sure. My crappy internet service was giving me fits and I know my lagging had to be frustrating for the rest of the racers. I found out today I'm supposed to have 3000/384 service (currently testing at ~700/~350) so I know something isn't right. Got a tech coming out Saturday and he's not leaving the house until I have something close to my full bandwidth or I'll be calling Bellsouth and switching to their DSL Xtreme. Sorry, got a little sidetracked there but my connection issues are driving me nuts.

mixdj1

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:28 pm

I'm at a 'not fun' stage here too.

It's not fun screwing better drivers because I don't know the breaking points on corners.

It's also not fun to run with random idiots who don't care about ramming or staying on the track.

I'm also screwed because I know learning the tracks will take time, and I simply don't have as much time to game as I used to. I've maybe run about a third as much as many of you.

I'm thinking maybe we really should get a 'lower level' game started, maybe one that runs with the first few series, as well. I know when I run with the big dogs, I'm on tracks I've never seen before.

I can usually host 7. I'll run a session or two of the first few series tonight, at about 11 pm eastern. Well-intentioned sucky drivers only.

ruiz00tx · Post by **ruiz00tx** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 6:55 pm

I think the biggest thing is for people to be patient when entering turns with a lot of traffic. It's better to err on the side of caution, like breaking sooner rather than later, and get out of the turn clean; than to dive right into the turn and be involved in a multiple car pile up.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 8:07 pm

OK, this is driving me willy-nilly, since I'm a motorsports PR writer and editor by trade:

It's <b>braking</b> when refering to stopping the car, fellas, not breaking.

Thanks,
PK

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 8:09 pm

Anal Retentive...PK in a nutshell.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 8:17 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:Anal Retentive...PK in a nutshell.

Guilty as charged, sir.

Or, I could take the FIF! THE FIF! ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, FIF! THERE ARE MANY AMENDMENTS TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, BUT THE GREATEST ONE IS THE FIF!!!! Classic Chappelle bit ...

Out,
PK

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 8:31 pm

I'm the same way with certain things, so I feel your pain man.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 8:38 pm

Duh, bad typo. I know that.

Must have been confused because my braking points are other drivers' breaking points...

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Apr 28, 2004 8:52 pm

webdanzer wrote:Must have been confused because my braking points are other drivers' breaking points...

Hugo/Zeppo comes to mind.