Racing Sim Thread, Part II

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:36 am

Here's one upcoming rFactor mod that I think I'll skip -- Soap Box Derby racing:

http://www.virtualr.net/thinking-out-of ... racing-it/

I'm not sure why Madcowie, the creator of this mod, is held in such reverence in the rFactor world. I've tried his ORR and ORR 2 mods and off-road tracks, and they're nothing special. The guy tries hard, but the rFactor engine simply doesn't re-create the physics of racing on dirt very well at all.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:17 pm

Another video of upcoming historic Touringcar and GT mod for rFactor from Historix:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VV3rp1pD2I

Man, the attention to detail in this mod is apparent. Can't wait for this one!

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:14 am

This CTDP 2006 F1 mod looks nuts. Incredible attention to detail in terms of physics and setups, too:

http://www.virtualr.net/f1-2006-by-ctdp-previews/

Take care,
PK

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:44 pm

F1 1988 0.9 - Released

Carrera.4 has released the first version of his F1 1988 mod. The mod brings the exciting turbo-era of Formula One to rFactor, featuring scratch-made cars, real-feel compatible physics and sounds. The mod features 21 of 29 cars of the 1988 season, carrera.4 will be adding the missing six with the 1.0 release.

http://www.virtualr.net/

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:45 pm

DChaps wrote:F1 1988 0.9 - Released
Carrera.4 has released the first version of his F1 1988 mod. The mod brings the exciting turbo-era of Formula One to rFactor, featuring scratch-made cars, real-feel compatible physics and sounds. The mod features 21 of 29 cars of the 1988 season, carrera.4 will be adding the missing six with the 1.0 release.
http://www.virtualr.net/

Funka-f*ckin-delic! Know what I'm going to drive late night this weekend!

Thanks, Don.

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:26 pm

Ditto. One reservation, though - I guess online, anyone not driving a McLaren Honda can forget it? Still, worth a look. Further down the VirtualR page, I quite like the look of the still-distant DTM Touring Car Legends mod too.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:07 pm

Cant get it working damn it. Someone install it and let me know how it goes.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:11 pm

Jimmy, it took me three goes to find a mirror that would download the full thing for me but I'm booting up rFactor in a minute or two - I wanted to get some more of carrera4's 1988 tracks before I started, since I only had Spa and Paul Ricard before, so I've no idea if my install has worked yet. Shall let you know in a few.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:22 pm

OK, the install worked fine. No idea about the AI because all I did was test for a while, but everything else was alright.

The car models are fairly simple by rFactor standards but nicely done and easy to recognise. My inner 7 year old likes that the driver helmets are all there, so that I can be Nigel Mansell or Derek Warwick if I want to be. The cockpits are fairly basic but car-specific (the view from a McLaren is of a thoroughbred racing machine, the view from a Coloni is of the inside of a bathtub with a wheel attached to it), and a quick look at the cockpit of a 1988 F1 racer would reveal that they weren't especially cluttered in any case.

The sound...as the mod maker says, it's all the same sound file, and it's too high-revving for the cars. You can hear a turbo in the non-turbos too, but maybe that's better than not hearing a turbo in the turbos, I don't know.

The default setups (I lack the time and inclination to change anything) have nutty amounts of downforce - Eau Rouge at Spa 1988 is flat in the McLaren, but even a Honda turbo doesn't have the punch to get into top gear down the long back straight. Consequently, there's tons of grip and it's nigh-on impossible to lose it exiting a corner, though you can still spin on the way into a turn. Maybe that'll be changed for the 1.0 release, but now straight out of the box it's easy to drive and the cars can be pitched around without too much trouble - not exactly waving the flag for realism, but I'm having fun with it and having never played a game with 1988 cars in, I'll get some mileage out of the new car models too.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:13 pm

I know its a pain but how did you install it ? Was it the same file as DC posted ? If so tell me how if not it doesnt realy matter.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:21 pm

Jimmydeicide wrote:I know its a pain but how did you install it ? Was it the same file as DC posted ? If so tell me how if not it doesnt realy matter.

Yes mate, got it from the same place. I had to try a few different mirrors from the RapidShare site - I can't remember which one eventually downloaded. All I did then was extract the downloaded files to my main rFactor directory. I put them there thinking I'd have to move the GameData and rfm files to the right places, but everything went to the right folder straight away without me doing any more.

Edit: Jimmy, if you're still having trouble there are a couple more download links here, don't know if they'll make any difference or not:

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... arrera%2E4

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:00 am

Well bugger me that was easy, is that how you do all those mods that come like that ? I always put the files were they needed to go , oh well maybe fabcar works like that aswell.

Thanks Adam done, and im Mansell

but maybe you would be a better choice to carry the number 5 car than me.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:10 pm

The install is almost too easy, Jimmy - I honestly thought I'd got it wrong until I looked and saw everything had spirited itself into the right folder. It's the only mod I've ever seen do that without an installer as well.

Speaking of Mansell as we were, I had a run against the AI at Silverstone 1988 tonight. Bodged qualifying and started last of 10 in the Ferrari, but a mix of a good start and some weird AI swerving had me leading into turn one. I then spent the entire first lap with Red 5 ducking and weaving around in my mirrors, and it could almost have been Nigel himself at the controls. He was this way and that, trying moves everywhere and eventually got me around the outside through the Bridge chicane at the end of the lap. I got him back almost immediately and then screwed it up with an accidental chop that put us both out, but that lap was all kinds of fun. I reckon this one's already a keeper

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:26 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Speaking of Mansell as we were, I had a run against the AI at Silverstone 1988 tonight. Bodged qualifying and started last of 10 in the Ferrari, but a mix of a good start and some weird AI swerving had me leading into turn one. I then spent the entire first lap with Red 5 ducking and weaving around in my mirrors, and it could almost have been Nigel himself at the controls. He was this way and that, trying moves everywhere and eventually got me around the outside through the Bridge chicane at the end of the lap. I got him back almost immediately and then screwed it up with an accidental chop that put us both out, but that lap was all kinds of fun. I reckon this one's already a keeper

OK, after reading that description, I'm downloading this f*cker tonight!

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:46 pm

I'm suddenly worried you'll hate it...

Should be fine, though. The AI is a bit sluggish off the line but generally solid, the handling is predictable with plenty of grip though it's not easy on the limit (I do a lot of spinning, but I always know exactly why I spun, and it's always been my fault so far), and I'm enjoying it. I wish it sounded different, and hopefully for 1.0 it will, but I'm happy to overlook that for now.

I tried the Rallycross Group B mod, just to see it for myself. I've kept it because it captures the only era of rallycross I've ever really known about, but I can't race them either. I can barely hotlap in the bloody things, in fact. Not at all entertaining to me, and a big let down.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:18 pm

GB_Simo wrote:I tried the Rallycross Group B mod, just to see it for myself. I've kept it because it captures the only era of rallycross I've ever really known about, but I can't race them either. I can barely hotlap in the bloody things, in fact. Not at all entertaining to me, and a big let down.

Exactly. I'm a rally zealot, as it has become my favorite form of motorsport. And I love all forms of the discipline, whether traditional stage rally, desert rally raids or rallycross.

So I was really stoked for this mod, and it was a massive disappointment. I know Group B cars had ridiculous power -- hell, the FIA banned them for 1987 after the death of Toivonen in 1986 and deaths of other drivers in seasons before that. Still, I find it hard to believe that Group B cars had as little grip as depicted in this mod.

Bummer.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:32 pm

Anyone ever try Helmet View for rFactor? Looks pretty cool in these screens.

Take care,
PK

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:55 pm

Helmet view?

Is that for all the mods...or just one?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:22 pm

pigpen81 wrote:Helmet view?

Is that for all the mods...or just one?

Piggy:

It appears it works for all mods:

http://simscreens.blogspot.com/2007/11/ ... actor.html

Definitely has that First Person Football from NFL 2K5 vibe to it. I'm intrigued, but I'm also scared of f*cking up my rFactor install.

Anyone want to be a guinea pig?

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:24 pm

Here's the Helmet View plug-in with Gilles Villeneuve's Ferrari around Monaco in the Grand Prix 1979 mod:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENhD3Fllre4

I love the forward and backward movement of the camera to simulate the forces of braking, acceleration and gear changes. Mega!

Take care,
PK

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:39 pm

That looks wicked...where do we get the plug-in?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:42 pm

Sorry, in my excitement I forgot to post the link!

Everything you need is posted in this blog entry:

http://simscreens.blogspot.com/search?q=helmet+view

Take care,
PK

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:35 pm

They have that for GP4 its nice but not worth even messing with IMO ,especially if your worried it may mess up your install.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:47 pm

Jimmydeicide wrote:They have that for GP4 its nice but not worth even messing with IMO ,especially if your worried it may mess up your install.

Appreciate the advice, matey. I have so many mods and extra tracks installed in my rFactor folder that it would take me hours to rebuild everything.

Take care,
PK

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:58 pm

pk500 wrote:...........
Appreciate the advice, matey. I have so many mods and extra tracks installed in my rFactor folder that it would take me hours to rebuild everything.

That is where I am now. I had to completely reformat my hardrive and re-install XP Pro SP2, but the good news is that I will be back up and running by Wed. night for poker night.

Between GPL, rFactor, NR2003, GTR2, GTL, Richard Burns, and Rally Trophy, I have a long time until I have it all back up and running, but it is also a good way to clean out all the old stuff.