RACE 360

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 1:59 pm

Zeppo wrote:So, if people are intersted n an MLR series league, I think we should go ahead and jump into the WTCC cars for a six race series starting Monday. I'll put together a schedule of tracks to run, with maybe one of the 'death wall' street circuits (just one for this series). I'd love to get through this series and then move on to other cars once everyone's opened them up.

Please post the schedule and cars we will be running asap. If we are going to run PRO I am going to need lots of practice before raceday.

johnvon314 · Post by **johnvon314** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:22 pm

JackB1 wrote:
johnvon314 wrote:Because I refuse to post this in the "inadequate" thread...

Race Pro now $36.99 at Amazon.

I might be able to get it for nothing by the time my 360 is repaired.

John
thats only $3 less than retail, but you will probably pay more with shipping.

Amazon does offer free shipping (as do several sites) for orders over $25. Factor in no sales tax, and it's worth the few extra days to ship it.

John

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:33 pm

Please post the schedule and cars we will be running asap. If we are going to run PRO I am going to need lots of practice before raceday.

Jack I'll post a list sometime on Saturday.

I'm not sure what to do if more than 11 besides myself want in. First come, while it would work well with this game's setup, doesn't feel right for a league series. I'm stumped.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:37 pm

Zeppo wrote:
Please post the schedule and cars we will be running asap. If we are going to run PRO I am going to need lots of practice before raceday.
Jack I'll post a list sometime on Saturday.

I'm not sure what to do if more than 11 besides myself want in. First come, while it would work well with this game's setup, doesn't feel right for a league series. I'm stumped.

We have to run pro or we might as well be playing Grid or GT.

Fshguy · Post by **Fshguy** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:29 pm

Add me to the list

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:14 pm

MS and Simbin confirm a RACE Pro patch for the 360 is in the works, mainly addressing the multiplayer disconnect issues:

http://www.virtualr.net/race-pro-first-patch-announced/

Take care,
PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:18 pm

I used to run a Dirt Track Racing League that had a lot of people in it.

You'd have "Qualifier" races where the top X would move on to the main, and then a last chance race for the remaining spots. So if you had 16 people, you might have 2 quals of 8 each, with the top 4 moving on.

Then the remaining 8 race for the last 4 spots as a "last chance". The quals and shorter races were shorter distances...say, 10 laps if the race was 30, etc.

It really worked out well. Just throwing it out there for you

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:44 pm

TCrouch wrote:I used to run a Dirt Track Racing League that had a lot of people in it.

You'd have "Qualifier" races where the top X would move on to the main, and then a last chance race for the remaining spots. So if you had 16 people, you might have 2 quals of 8 each, with the top 4 moving on.

Then the remaining 8 race for the last 4 spots as a "last chance". The quals and shorter races were shorter distances...say, 10 laps if the race was 30, etc.

It really worked out well. Just throwing it out there for you

I know that I may be cutting my own throat but that sounds good to me.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:07 pm

TCrouch wrote:I used to run a Dirt Track Racing League that had a lot of people in it.

You'd have "Qualifier" races where the top X would move on to the main, and then a last chance race for the remaining spots. So if you had 16 people, you might have 2 quals of 8 each, with the top 4 moving on.

Then the remaining 8 race for the last 4 spots as a "last chance". The quals and shorter races were shorter distances...say, 10 laps if the race was 30, etc.

It really worked out well. Just throwing it out there for you

I love the system, but time is the limiting factor. My MLR format should take about one hour, maybe an hour ten, from start to finish. I cling to the practice time like a hungry leech, too, and think it's a key element to the whole thing.

So, I don't think the qualifying races could be done in the same night without making the whole process ninety minutes or more.

In the old days, we used to seed the top eight from the previous race into the next week's race, and then have a separate qualifying race of the same MLR format on the Wednesday to determine the final four spots. At the start we had eighteen or twenty guys participating, but as it settled in, those quali races became musical chairs for five or six guys to determine the four who got into the main event, filled out with some of the eight already seeded in.

I have no idea how many want to participate nor who can actually show up Monday nights at 10:30 est, so the whole thing may be moot.

So far, I know:

CP Zeppo
TCrouch
MixDJ1
Fshguy
XXXIV
JackB1
Naples39
Spooky 157

That's all I know of so far. I'm sure Adam Simpson would want in, but he may not be able to make it each week. Heck, I may not make it each week, either.

Spooky, as far as what cars to use, that is one thing I don't like about the online setup; you can't see what cars everyone is driving in the lobby, and you can't change your car once you've joined the room, so it's possible a bunch of the same liveries could be out there, which obviously isn't the best thing. On the other hand, I don't want people to be forced to stick to one car or other for the whole series. Someone may try the Alpha one race, and decide to try a BMW the next time, and that's a good thing. So I don't know what to do.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:29 pm

Zeppo wrote:I'm sure Adam Simpson would want in, but he may not be able to make it each week.

Was I too good or not good enough to be called by my GT? Or do I not want to know?

Right on all counts, mate - I'd like to be involved but I can't commit to the schedule.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:52 pm

If you'll have me Zep I'd like to be a part of the weekly races. Are you going to have a set schedule of races so we know which tracks to practice on during the week?

My GT is "MacMan858" for those that don't have it.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:09 pm

macsomjrr wrote:If you'll have me Zep I'd like to be a part of the weekly races.

Why so serious?

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 1:35 pm

Good think about the patch. I had this packed up and ready to head back to the store tonight, but now I'll wait and see what they come up with.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:26 pm

The six race WTCC Series will be run at the following circuits:

Laguna Seca

Brno

Brands Hatch

Valencia

Road America

Zandvoort

We will run 19 laps at Laguna Seca on Monday. We'll do everything on Pro setting. It will be the good old MLR format, with mandatory pit stop (may be unnecessary anyway due to fuel), practice from 10:30 est to 10:50 immediately followed by qualifying, and then a five minute break to go to the bathroom or stretch your legs, grab a smoke, whatever. The race should start at about 11pm.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:33 pm

Sweet....Cyas there.

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:59 pm

I can be there Monday night also.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:08 pm

DChaps wrote:I will be interested to see what your experience is with the MS Wheel and FFB once you have it setup. I have no FFB no matter what settings I change, and it is very frustrating. There is definitely a problem, but no one seems to have found the magic bullet. Here is what I am hoping to do this weekend:

I've had my Wheel setup for a week now, and I do get force feedback, but I didn't get it with the wheel seen as controller 1. The method that I use that seems to yield the best results is this:

1.) sign in with a standard controller assigned as controller 1 (using my default XBox Live profile).

2.) start Race Pro from the Dashboard using controller 1

3.) at the main Race Pro menu, sign out of my XBox Live profile with controller 1.

4.) turn my Microsoft steering wheel on.

5.) sign in to my XBox Live profile using the wheel (which is now identified by the XBox as controller 2

6.) from the mini-dashboard panel that I used to sign in with the wheel, select the option "Play Race Pro", which should be at the bottom of the menu you just used to sign in with.

I will say that I have unquestionably gotten force-feedback when I use this method, every time I've tried it. It's certainly not up to the level of feedback, in terms of both strength and handling feedback as Forza 2, but it's certainly better than nothing, which is what I get when the wheel is identified as controller 1.

1) Version of MS Wheel - WRW01
2) Hard Drive Install or running from disc - hard drive
3) In Game Controller Settings :

Sensitivity - 90%
Region 1, 2 and 3 all at "0"
Speed sensitive steering - 25%
Steering deadzone - 0%
Global Lock - 18.5%

4) System Settings for Controller Sensitivity - Medium, but I need to try High.
5) Did you get the game from Gamestop/EB (with code inside) - Yes
6) Xbox 360 Version - Elite (6/17/2008)
7) How FFB drivers were installed originally - this I can't recall

I'm reasonably satisfied with the immersion and control I get with these settings, although I'll admit that it could be a lot better. I played Forza 2 again last night just to remind myself of how much more the force feedback could do in Race Pro. I wish Race Pro would allow for finer gradients in the deadzone control for steering. I would do much better with a 2 or 3% deadzone, for example. 5% just feels too sloppy and 0% creates a zig-zag tendency at times.

I'm hopeful that the "second" patch will address this, but they need to get the multiplayer patch done ASAP! I was in a room last night that started with 3 people, and I could see the overall game lag with the addition of each person beyond 6. By the time the 10th player joined the room, it was like I was driving underwater. When the 11th player joined, the room went belly-up.

FifaInspected · Post by **FifaInspected** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:40 pm

Zep,

Please add me to the list of those interested.

thanks

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 8:33 pm

Thanks for setting this up Zeppo. Looking forward to Monday.

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:11 am

mixdj1 wrote:Thanks for setting this up Zeppo. Looking forward to Monday.

Seriously, thanks Zeppo!

I had probably THE best racing experience I have ever had in a racing game last night at Laguna Seca. It was a 5 car race, WTCC's on semi-pro. What made the race so exciting was that we were all identical skill levels so for 5 laps it was neck and neck until the very end. A bunch of lead changes, the last lap was hectic and closely fought.

This is a fantastic game. So glad I picked it up

:):)

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:21 am

J_Cauthen wrote: I've had my Wheel setup for a week now, and I do get force feedback, but I didn't get it with the wheel seen as controller 1. The method that I use that seems to yield the best results is this:

1.) sign in with a standard controller assigned as controller 1 (using my default XBox Live profile).

2.) start Race Pro from the Dashboard using controller 1

3.) at the main Race Pro menu, sign out of my XBox Live profile with controller 1.

4.) turn my Microsoft steering wheel on.

5.) sign in to my XBox Live profile using the wheel (which is now identified by the XBox as controller 2

6.) from the mini-dashboard panel that I used to sign in with the wheel, select the option "Play Race Pro", which should be at the bottom of the menu you just used to sign in with.

Thanks man, I really appreciate the info! I am giving it one last shot now.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:14 pm

This game really came alive for me once I got to the GTs. The career mod difficulty is ramping up slowly, but I'm having a great time learning how far I can push the various GT cars. Racing back from a big deficit after an off-track excursion is a hell of a lot of fun too.

I haven't enjoyed a racing game this much since Codemaster's epic TOCA 2/Indycar 05 combo in Spring/Summer 2004.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:20 pm

Dave wrote:I haven't enjoyed a racing game this much since Codemaster's epic TOCA 2/Indycar 05 combo in Spring/Summer 2004.

Damn, that was already 5 years ago? That does not seem possible it's been that long already.

As for Race Pro: still getting Lost Connection to host on every Live attempt. Still unable to get FF to work with the wheel. Not smart enough to give up yet.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:07 pm

DChaps wrote:Damn, that was already 5 years ago? That does not seem possible it's been that long already.

I had to look it up and couldn't believe it either.

Race Pro might finally be my TOCA 2 replacement (never got into 3 like I should have), so I can stop hoping and wishing for it to be added to the backwards compatible list (which is seemingly dead).

At least Indycar 2005 is playable on the 360, I don't see anyone making another Indycar game any time soon.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:21 am

So I finally switched to manual gear shifting, and everything is much better. The biggest problem I was having with rear wheel drive cars was snap oversteer on turn entry, not exit, and this problem is completely gone without the auto gearbox. This is pretty odd to me, that automatic gears would be the source of my problems spinning, but there it is. I also have a much better sense of the car in corners overall with the manual shifts, so pretty much it's finally 'clicked.' I'm by no means quick, and still too sloppy from lap to lap, but I feel much more competitive and comfortable around the track.

Most games I'll start in auto and switch eventually to manual, but I can't remember a game where that switch made such a big difference for me.