Racing Sim Thread, Part II

[pk500]

I was pretty lousy at it. The thing is, I've never learned to play racing games with wheels--on just about every xbox racing game I'm considerably faster with the controller than with wheel.

Naples:

I was the same way with console racing games. I never used a wheel. Hell, I never even used manual transmission!

But I dedicated myself to learning how to drive with a wheel and manual transmission when I converted to PC sims in 2006. A bit frustrating at first, but very rewarding once the light turned on in my brain. Well worth your time.

If you dig hot-lapping, I urge you to try Grand Prix Legends. I'm not sure if it works with a 360 controller; maybe someone can illuminate on that.

But there are few thrills more exhilarating in virtual racing than hauling ass around the old Watkins Glen or other classic courses in a 1967 Formula One car -- with no downforce and hard tires -- and keeping it all together in a game with spot-on physics. GPL may have been released in 1997, but it still stands the test of time. Plenty of free mods, tracks and graphical updates available for it.

Plus a group of hardcore GPL racers refuse to let the game die and continue to enhance it. They have developed an All-In-One installer that installs all of the most recent patches and upgrades to the original game, plus a few very cool add-ons, with one or two clicks.

All you need is the original GPL CD or .iso file, which is about 165 MB. It's so small that I could send it to you through a free file-sharing service. GPL is 14 years old, so I don't feel that sheepish about sharing the .ISO. Hell, the company that published it -- Sierra -- is defunct!

The guy who heads iRacing, Dave Kaemmer, is the man behind the coding of GPL. Kaemmer is the godfather of PC sim racing. His resume is ridiculous: Indy 500: The Simulation, Grand Prix Legends, NASCAR Racing series, iRacing. All could be put on the Mount Rushmore of sim racing.

Let me know if you're interested, dude.

[Naples39]

I'm one step ahead of you

All ears though for the best mods. I have a habit of being a track hoarder when the opportunity exists.

[pk500]

I'm one step ahead of you

All ears though for the best mods. I have a habit of being a track hoarder when the opportunity exists.

I've tried all of the GPL mods except for 1966 -- must install that! -- and they're all excellent.

If you're frustrated with the challenging nature of the default 1967 season, switch to 1965. The cars had half the power, and the tires seem a bit more forgiving. But your driving style will need to focus even more on momentum to stay with the leaders, as you can't use the throttle as much to compensate for mistakes in the corners.

1969 is very cool because it's so different from the other GP seasons due to wings. Thundercars are pure fun. Big, heavy, sweaty, nasty Indy cars with plenty of grip.

The new Sports Car 1967 mod is really, really cool. It's an absolute blast to take a Ford GT40 on the old Le Mans track and scream down the Mulsanne straight.

Dude, if you're a track hoarder, you may hate me for giving you this link: http://gpltd.bcsims.com/?menu=Advanced

Your only saving grace is that I think the original GPL limits users to 64 total tracks. But I'm sure some modder has created a workaround!

Feel free to ask questions or offer comments. Enjoy!

[Gurantsu]

Check this GPL video out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roJNaCyXSOY

I still can't figure out how to get it running in widescreen on my rig though.

[pk500]

iRacing Driving School videos are available to all on YouTube, even non-iRacing members. These videos will help all sim racers, PC or console:

http://www.virtualr.net/iracing-com-dri ... available/

[DChaps]

Damn you Paul, because of your GPL revival I am now going through the somewhat painstaking process of re-installing and applying all the updates, mods, etc.. There is now a patch that allows for greater than 64 tracks, more than 60fps, and longer tracks than the Green Hell (necessary for Targa Florio). Anyway Marc, here are some very helpful links that I have found so far if you have not already come across them:

Grand Prix Legends (GPL) Easy Installation Guide v1.2 - Definitely the best starting point
http://www.srworld.eu/contenido-4.6.8/c ... ?idart=329

GPLPS GPL Installer Project
http://gplps.org/wb/pages/projects/gpl-installer.php

GPL Installer Downloads
http://gplps.org/wb/pages/projects/gpl- ... nloads.php

GPL News - ** Nice listing of all GPL recent updates and mods in descending chronologiocal order
http://www.srworld.eu/contenido-4.6.8/c ... p?idart=93

GPL Links
http://gpllinks.org/

GPL Sports Car Mod - *** Even if you don't install the mod, just check out the site it is awesome just from a historical racing perspective
http://www.sportscarlegends.net/

GPL Alternative Track Database
http://gpltd.bcsims.com/

Targa Florio - ** Another very nicely done site and track
http://download.bcsims.com/Targa/

[pk500]

Check this GPL video out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roJNaCyXSOY

I still can't figure out how to get it running in widescreen on my rig though.

Damn, Grant, that mofo can drive. Four-wheel drift everywhere. Nice video!

[pk500]

Targa Florio is a mega experience, Adam. I don't even push for performance; I just like driving the road and observing the sights.

You're right about the Sports Car mod, matey. The read-me file -- a colorful, detailed website and PDF -- reads like a coffee-table book on the 1967 worldwide sports car season. Sublime.

[Gurantsu]

I'm actually going through the installer as listed in the Easy install guide, as my current version was just copied over when I built the new PC. I'm hoping I missed something. I would love to run it at 1920x1080.

Are there any other games that have seen the longevity that GPL has, in any genre? Certainly its a hard core group who still plays, but I can't think of too many other games that are still hard drive "must haves" for fans of their genre. The only other one I can think of is Ultima Online, which a few of my friends were still playing not so long ago.

[DChaps]

....Are there any other games that have seen the longevity that GPL has, in any genre? Certainly its a hard core group who still plays, but I can't think of too many other games that are still hard drive "must haves" for fans of their genre. The only other one I can think of is Ultima Online, which a few of my friends were still playing not so long ago.

Yeah, there can't be too many out there with the longevity of GPL. That being said, I still play the original Starcraft from time to time.

[GB_Simo]

Targa Florio is a mega experience, Adam. I don't even push for performance; I just like driving the road and observing the sights.

You're right about the Sports Car mod, matey. The read-me file -- a colorful, detailed website and PDF -- reads like a coffee-table book on the 1967 worldwide sports car season. Sublime.

Captain Chapman wrote it, matey, but I was silently thinking the same things. Count me among the GPL reinstallers too. I foresee another long, protracted struggle with the good folk at GPLRank - I'm going to get the 'Ring and Spa into negative rank if it kills me...

[Gurantsu]

I finally got GPL running at 1920-1080 on my 27" monitor.

All I can say is holy xxxxing cow! I so have to hook it up to my 42" TV in the living room. Of course, I should probably finish fixing the ceiling first.

One question though. I still can't find where the patch is that lets you install more than 64 tracks. Any help would be appreciated!

[pk500]

One question though. I still can't find where the patch is that lets you install more than 64 tracks. Any help would be appreciated!

Grant:

I know the 1966 mod installs that patch automatically. But I'm not sure if it's applicable to the default game and other mods because I haven't installed the '66 mod yet!

[pk500]

Grant:

Here's the patch for the original 1967 game/cars that lets you run extra tracks:

http://srmz.net/index.php?showtopic=4875

It's built into the All-In-One Installer, so I guess you didn't use that!

[Gurantsu]

I thought I did use that installer!

[Naples39]

Gurantsu,

Still looking to get rid of a driving force pro wheel from way back when?

[Gurantsu]

Actually it's still here if you want it.

[pk500]

Gurantsu,

Still looking to get rid of a driving force pro wheel from way back when?

I see a good addiction forming.

[Naples39]

Gurantsu,

Still looking to get rid of a driving force pro wheel from way back when?

I see a good addiction forming.

I reserve the right to wuss out though.

[DChaps]

The new Sprint car will be in the next iRacing build, most likely sometime next week.

From iRacing Staff Member Greg Hill (1/18/2011 1:20pm EST:

Pre-order w/credit bonus likely to go up tomorrow.

http://members.iracing.com/jforum/posts ... 81003.page

[DChaps]

iRacing Sprint Car Available for Pre-Sale

One of the most fearsome race cars on the planet – the iRacing Sprint Car -- is available for Pre-Sale. What’s more, we’ll throw-in some iRacing credits if you purchase this beast of the bullrings before it is officially released during Week 13.

And make no mistake, with 820 horsepower and 650 lb/ft of torque, the iRacing Sprint Car is one monster of a race car. If you think you can handle it, purchase the iRacing Sprint Car at the regular price of $11.95 before it is officially released during Week 13 and we’ll deposit three iRacing credits in your account before Season 1 begins.

Head on over to the cars page and place your pre order today!

[Naples39]

Well I'm up and running with GPL and a driving force pro (thanks Grant). Unfortunately I am just as bad at it as I expected, so I have to see if/when things click for me.

Was playing a little F1 on 360 and that was pretty enjoyable. Might look into that for PC so I can use the wheel on it too.

[pk500]

Well I'm up and running with GPL and a driving force pro (thanks Grant). Unfortunately I am just as bad at it as I expected, so I have to see if/when things click for me.

Was playing a little F1 on 360 and that was pretty enjoyable. Might look into that for PC so I can use the wheel on it too.

Dude:

Glad you're on track. I strongly recommend the 1965 mod. Those cars are much easier to drive than the standard 1967 cars, as they have less horsepower. They're a very good training ground before climbing to the 1967 cars.

The 1967 cars probably are the toughest of any mod to drive. The 65s have less power, the 69s and Thundercars have wings, and the sports cars are more forgiving. I haven't driven the 66s.

Good luck!

[Naples39]

I take it the standard is assists off (for GPL and everything else for that matter)?

[pk500]

I take it the standard is assists off (for GPL and everything else for that matter)?

Yes, sir.

Small suggestion: Make sure your steering slider is set all the way to the left, to full linearity. GPL was created back in the days before there were really good PC wheels available at a decent price for the hobbyist, so Papyrus assumed that a good chunk of people would drive this game either with a keyboard, gamepad or joystick. So some steering help was built in to the stock settings to compensate for the lack of precision when driving with a stick or pad.

That "help" becomes a hindrance when you're using a quality wheel like your DFP because it delays the inputs from your hands to the car, creating an often-strange disconnect. Moving to full linearity creates a 1-to-1 relationship between your hands and the car.

The "cut sponge ball" trick also helps give you better braking feel with your DFP pedals. Get a dense sponge ball at the local dollar store, slightly smaller than the circumference of a baseball. Cut it in half. Stuff the half in the opening between the back of your brake pedal and the back edge of the pedal travel area, with the rounded side of the half-piece facing the pedal. Friction will hold the half in place, and your pedal will have a stiffer feel while still allowing full travel. It feels more like a real car brake pedal.