Papyrus Design Group

discussed in 20,438 posts, 1993-2014 · overall tone mixed

Indianapolis 500: The Simulation 1989 IndyCar Racing 1993 NASCAR Racing 1994 IndyCar Racing II 1995 NASCAR Racing 2 1996 NASCAR Racing Online Series (NROS) 1997 Grand Prix Legends 1998 Papyrus Racing Online (VROC) 1998 NASCAR Legends 1999 NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition 1999 NASCAR Racing 3 1999 NASCAR Racing 4 2001 NASCAR Racing 2002 Season 2002 NASCAR Racing 2003 Season 2003

Posts per month

How the mood changed

Starts at zero. Every post that spoke well of them moves the line up, every critical post moves it down (weighted −2 to +2).

Press releases

Key threads

• NASCAR Racing 4 player banned from Papyrus online servers 2001-08-25 · 291 posts
  B. Hilton complained that Papyrus had permanently banned his NASCAR Racing 4 CD key from Sierra/WON online racing after a report that he intentionally wrecked others, which he said was an honest lapped-car mistake. The huge thread debated whether the ban was fair after one race, whether lapped cars should hold their line, whether Papyrus had any legal right to block a paid-for feature, and how to appeal. Many supported Papyrus's crackdown on wreckers while others called for warnings or temporary suspensions, and Hilton said complaints had been made to the Better Business Bureau.
• ICR2 patch delay sparks long argument and Papyrus replies 1996-06-22 · 116 posts
  A long and abusive thread argued over the eight-month wait for the IndyCar Racing II patch, with complaints about the yellow-flag bug and accusations that resources had been diverted to NASCAR 2 and the Win95 version. Rick Genter stated the patch was in Sierra QA and expected around that Thursday. Later posts discussed the planned CD exchange for the Win95/DOS/Mac version and urged Ed Martin not to be driven away by the hostility.
• Delay of the NASCAR Racing 2 3Dfx patch 1998-01-20 · 172 posts
  A poster asked why Papyrus's promised 3Dfx patch for NASCAR Racing 2 was taking so long. Joe McGinn quoted a December Papyrus email promising a release date, and others said 3Dfx had done the port with Sierra holding it back. The thread grew into a 172-post argument about Papyrus's communication, Rendition versus 3Dfx and patch quality.
• Eric Busch's hands-on report of Grand Prix Legends 1997-11-22 · 75 posts
  After visiting Papyrus, Eric Busch reported that Grand Prix Legends was amazing and ground-breaking, ran smoothly in Rendition mode on a P200, and had far better graphics than NASCAR 2. He criticised CART Precision Racing in comparison, sparking accusations of bias. The thread also argued over whether 3Dfx or Papyrus was producing the NASCAR 2 Glide patch, and noted that Papyrus would sponsor a Toyota Atlantic car.
• Mass thank-you to GPL's creators and add-on makers 1999-12-13 · 142 posts
  John Moore started a thread thanking Papyrus and the volunteers who kept Grand Prix Legends alive with patches, tracks, utilities and VROC servers. Well over a hundred posters added their thanks and stories of how GPL changed their hobby, naming Randy Cassidy, David Kaemmer, Alison Hine and others. Some regretted that the game had sold poorly, and the thread continued into March 2000.
• Papyrus's Rich Yasi interviewed about NASCAR Racing 2003 2002-10-28 · 173 posts
  Steve Smith linked an interview with Papyrus's Rich Yasi about NASCAR Racing 2003, which promised manufacturer-specific car models, visible pit crews, solar glare and a new physics model, and cited 200,000 GPL sales. Readers speculated about Papyrus's post-NASCAR direction, with Smith arguing consoles were likely, and debated whether sim development could still be viable. The long thread also covered paid online services like TEN and car control techniques.
• Papyrus announces Busch Grand National add-on for NASCAR 2 1997-05-28 · 137 posts
  Papyrus producer Matt Marsala announced a fall add-on for NASCAR Racing 2 based on the Busch Grand National series, with 10–13 tracks, up to 30 drivers and a Busch calendar. He confirmed that the engine could not support separate physics for Grand National cars, so the pack would add only tracks, cars and a calendar. Many welcomed the short tracks, but Barton Brown and others attacked Papyrus over unfixed AI and patch problems, and the long thread descended into bickering.
• GPL lacks TNT support; Papyrus releases beta OpenGL drivers 1998-10-12 · 125 posts
  A question about running GPL on an nVidia TNT card started a long argument over Papyrus supporting only 3dfx Glide and Rendition rather than Direct3D or OpenGL. Critics called it a business mistake and complained the box misstated requirements, while defenders said buyers should choose hardware for their software and that D3D was poor during development. The debate ended when Papyrus posted beta OpenGL drivers for GPL, and Eric Busch of Papyrus said the patch had been in the works and they would look at Permedia2 issues.
• Users demand more ICR2 patches; Papyrus explains IndyCar exit 1997-03-03 · 56 posts
  A user demanded that Papyrus finish IndyCar Racing II with further patches and features. Posters pointed out that CART had signed an exclusive license with Sony, and Papyrus's Jim Sokoloff explained that the IndyCar license had never been very profitable and that Papyrus judged other projects more profitable and interesting, with no plans for ICR2 updates; Charlie Heath denied that Sierra had blocked patches. The thread became a broader debate about Papyrus's priorities after the Sierra acquisition and the effect of the CART/IRL split.
• Will Grand Prix Legends sell to the mass market? 1998-09-25 · 125 posts
  A poster asked whether GPL would sell beyond the hardcore. Opinions ranged from bestseller to Marc Nelson's estimate of 20,000-60,000 units, with concerns about difficulty, limited advertising and a crowded release window alongside Monaco GP and Colin McRae Rally. Zonker said Europe's day-one shipment was 200,000 units, posters cited UK review scores of 90-93%, and early buyers in the US reported stores sold out or back-ordered.
• Early Grand Prix Legends video and 1967 authenticity 1998-01-28 · 137 posts
  After an early Grand Prix Legends AVI, a poster asked for more detail, and others said it was a pre-release clip. Eric Busch, who had played a build, said trackside detail and 3D trees were present. Long discussion followed on whether the cars and tracks represented 1967 or 1968, the Gold Leaf Lotus livery, Rouen replacing Le Mans, the lack of a paint kit, and weather.
• Future of Papyrus NASCAR sims and Papyrus versus ISI physics 2003-11-03 · 86 posts
  Rich worried about rumours that EA might take over NASCAR sims on PC and asked whether NR2003 would remain the best ever. Posters debated Papyrus's physics against ISI's engine used in EA's titles, with Jason Moyer and Ashley McConnell explaining the difference between Papyrus's surface-based track model and polygon-based track collision. Others noted Doug Arnao had tuned EA's car parameters, and the thread later drifted into car talk and insults.
• Papyrus responds over the late NASCAR 2 3Dfx patch 1998-02-02 · 116 posts
  Joe McGinn demanded to know where the NASCAR Racing 2 3Dfx patch promised for early 1998 was. Papyrus's Adam Levesque explained the no-win situation over release dates and gave a status update, which was widely welcomed. Former Papyrus staff Jim Sokoloff and Steven Traver explained why patches carry support costs, while the thread became heated over Nosferatu's abusive posts.
• Debate over selling an ICR2-to-NASCAR 2 track converter 1997-05-13 · 100 posts
  David Noonan's plan to charge for his IndyCar Racing II to NASCAR 2 track converter split the group. Some called for a boycott and claimed it infringed Papyrus's or track owners' rights, while others argued he was selling only his own code and deserved payment; Noonan said he had received abusive e-mails. Jim Sokoloff pointed out that software licences typically forbid reverse engineering, and the long thread degenerated into arguments about what makes someone an artist.
• Heated debate over NASCAR Thunder 2003's merits 2002-10-19 · 109 posts
  A joke post calling NASCAR Thunder 2003 rubbish prompted Phillip Malphrus to defend it as decent, and Alan Bernardo accused the group of dismissing anything not made by Papyrus. Detailed criticism followed on track accuracy, controller feel and the missing track editor and road courses, while Bill Bollinger attacked NR2002's drafting and damage models. EldredP and others lamented the tribal tone of the arguments.

Busiest threads

• NASCAR Racing 4 player banned from Papyrus online servers (72 posts about it)
• ICR2 patch delay sparks long argument and Papyrus replies (47 posts about it)
• Delay of the NASCAR Racing 2 3Dfx patch (46 posts about it)
• Eric Busch's hands-on report of Grand Prix Legends (42 posts about it)
• Mass thank-you to GPL's creators and add-on makers (41 posts about it)
• Papyrus's Rich Yasi interviewed about NASCAR Racing 2003 (38 posts about it)
• Papyrus announces Busch Grand National add-on for NASCAR 2 (36 posts about it)
• GPL lacks TNT support; Papyrus releases beta OpenGL drivers (36 posts about it)
• Users demand more ICR2 patches; Papyrus explains IndyCar exit (35 posts about it)
• Will Grand Prix Legends sell to the mass market? (34 posts about it)
• Early Grand Prix Legends video and 1967 authenticity (33 posts about it)
• Future of Papyrus NASCAR sims and Papyrus versus ISI physics (32 posts about it)
• Papyrus responds over the late NASCAR 2 3Dfx patch (31 posts about it)
• Debate over selling an ICR2-to-NASCAR 2 track converter (29 posts about it)
• Heated debate over NASCAR Thunder 2003's merits (27 posts about it)

Sentiment by year

Who talked about them most

ymenard · 847 Michael E. Carver · 596 Dave Henrie · 571 Jim Sokolo · 336 John Wallace · 202 jason moyer · 193 David G Fisher · 178 Eric Busch · 165 Bruce Kennewell · 160 John Simmons · 148 Larry · 144 Marc Collins · 143 RickGent · 141 Byron Forbes · 136 David Spark · 127 Steve Smith · 124 Jeff Vincent · 120 Goy Larsen · 119 Don Wilshe · 110 Joe McGinn · 105

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