CART Precision Racing

Terminal Reality/Microsoft · released 1997 · discussed in 4,214 posts, 1997-2007 · overall tone negative

Posts per month

Timeline

• 1997-06-19 At E3, Microsoft showed CART Precision Racing, and Papyrus privately showed SODA Off-Road Racing and a NASCAR manager game. post post post
• 1997-07-17 Microsoft detailed CART Precision Racing, developed by Terminal Reality with GPS-modelled tracks, Internet Gaming Zone play and force feedback. post post
• 1997-11-01 Microsoft released a trial version of CART Precision Racing with Laguna Seca. Members of the development team answered questions on the group. thread post
• 1997-11-11 CART Precision Racing reached US stores. post post
• 1997-12-04 The CART Precision Racing team released a paintkit for car textures. post post
• 1997-12-08 Microsoft listed the CART Precision Racing patch contents, including AI and frame rate improvements but no native Glide support. thread post
• 1997-12-10 Microsoft's CART Precision Racing representative Dean announced that he was leaving rec.autos.simulators after a dispute over a critical review, and calls to moderate the group followed. thread post thread
• 1998-01-08 Microsoft released the final CART Precision Racing 1.0.1 patch, with AI, frame-rate and grip-model changes. thread post
• 1998-03-15 Microsoft confirmed CART Precision Racing would get no further patches. post post
• 1998-03-31 Operation 3Dfx posted an unofficial Glide DLL for CART Precision Racing that enabled a hidden 3dfx mode. thread post

Key threads

• Eagle Woman's CPR review prompts Microsoft rep to quit r.a.s. 1997-12-09 · 239 posts
  Alison (Eagle Woman) posted a critical review of CART Precision Racing, and Microsoft's Dean (CART Team) disputed it, arguing many problems were specific to her system. After a post claiming Microsoft no longer listened to criticism, Dean announced he was leaving the newsgroup like other sim publishers. The thread erupted into a long fight over whether critics had driven him away or he had overreacted, with personal attacks lasting until late December.
• Defence of CART Precision Racing sparks long flame war 1998-08-17 · 134 posts
  A long-time player wrote that CART Precision Racing was better than its reputation, prompting a 134-post fight. Microsoft beta tester David G. Fisher insisted CPR veterans were top drivers and critics knew nothing of real CART cars, while Randy Magruder and John Wallace detailed specific flaws such as missing rear downforce, imprecise control and wall-contact behaviour. Insults flew on both sides, while others noted Microsoft had dropped support for the title.
• Microsoft details the CART Precision Racing patch contents 1997-12-08 · 105 posts
  Dean of Microsoft's CART Team listed the CART Precision Racing patch fixes: improved AI, 25-50% frame rate gains for all users, controller null zone, pit lane auto-pilot, gamma controls, larger steering ratio and better default setups, and said a new demo would follow. He explained that a native Glide version had been benchmarked but gave little benefit, sparking a long Direct3D-versus-Glide argument with 3Dfx owners. Later posts became a Voodoo versus Riva 128 hardware debate.
• 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.
• Leaked Glide DLL for CART Precision Racing 1998-03-31 · 41 posts
  Operation 3Dfx posted a DLL that enabled a Glide mode in CART Precision Racing, apparently removed from the release. Users reported better frame rates, and Joe McGinn said Glide was faster though it used only D3D-equivalent features. Beta tester David Fisher said the site had no right to post it, while others accused Microsoft of withholding Glide for political reasons.
• Papyrus and Sierra announce new CART sim for 1999 1998-01-08 · 32 posts
  Online Gaming Review reported that Sierra and Papyrus would produce a new CART sim for spring 1999, with Sierra holding the CART licence until July 2003. Fans welcomed the return of Papyrus to CART, though Randy Magruder warned against over-romanticising Papyrus. The thread became a comparison of Papyrus, MS/TRI and Ubisoft, and whether ICR2 had been neglected.
• First reactions to the CART Precision Racing trial version 1997-11-01 · 25 posts
  Users of Microsoft's CART Precision Racing trial complained about low frame rates, short draw distance and too much grip out of slow corners, while others said turning off traction control produced plenty of wheelspin. Dean of the CART team said the physics were based on input from CART drivers such as Mark Blundell and Bobby Rahal, and pointed to keys for adjusting visibility. John Browne, also on the team, explained the Laguna Seca corkscrew handling.
• CPR patch verdict turns into GP2 versus F1RS argument 1998-01-15 · 119 posts
  Asked whether the CART Precision Racing patch fixed the AI, several replied it did not and they had deleted the game. The thread turned into a long, heated argument between Greg Cisko, who said F1RS made GP2 obsolete, and Randy Magruder, John Wallace and Richard Walker, who preferred aspects of GP2's driving feel and menus. Later posts covered Microsoft's statements about further CPR support.
• The Pits' CPR review sparks 3Dfx versus Riva war 1998-01-18 · 110 posts
  A link to The Pits' top-rated CART Precision Racing review led to criticism of its recommendation of the Stealth II over 3Dfx. The thread became a long, heated argument between Greg Cisko and Randy Magruder over 3Dfx versus Riva 128 and Direct3D, including Longbow 2 support and Riva's market share. Joe McGinn and others backed 3Dfx while some Riva owners reported problems.
• CPR patch frame rates and the human eye debate 1998-01-08 · 48 posts
  A former owner said the CART Precision Racing patch still left poor frame rates, while one user claimed 50 fps and was disbelieved. The thread became a long argument over whether the human eye can perceive above 25-30 fps, with most arguing higher frame rates clearly help car control and lap times. Others noted CPR still stuttered loading textures.
• Angry demand for the CART Precision Racing patch 1997-12-01 · 46 posts
  A poster angrily demanded the CART Precision Racing patch two weeks after release, accusing Microsoft and TRI of shipping an unfinished game. Dean of the CART Team replied that the patch was always slated for December and that a TRI build was due that week; he also confirmed gamma correction in the patch and blamed Riva 128 flicker on drivers. Others told the poster to be patient or return the game, and he eventually apologised to the group; side chatter covered Vancouver weather and the Mercedes elk test.
• Reaction to Eagle Woman's revised CPR review 1997-12-17 · 44 posts
  Alison (Eagle Woman) posted a revised, more balanced CART Precision Racing review and apologised for the tone of her first one. Some praised her, while Byron Forbes and Ronald Stoehr said she had been bullied and that the original was accurate given the AI and frame rate problems. Randy Magruder and others argued a complete review must cover strengths as well, and Alison said she stood by the content.
• Do F1 drivers like Montoya learn tracks with sims? 2001-04-02 · 38 posts
  Lutrell wondered which sim Juan Pablo Montoya used to learn Brazil, noting Villeneuve reportedly learned Spa with a sim. Posters cited an interview where Montoya said he used CART Precision Racing and favoured Grand Prix 2, and a track author said a driver used his GP2 Phillip Island track before winning a real championship. Dave Henrie's half-joking conspiracy theory that Verstappen hit Montoya deliberately was widely rejected.
• CPR release debate turns into flaming of ymenard 1997-12-11 · 36 posts
  Marc Collins defended Microsoft's release of CART Precision Racing and Dean's participation in the group. The thread quickly turned to Francois Menard (ymenard), who admitted he had illegally emailed the Indianapolis track add-on to people, and he was then mocked at length over his claims to have created r.a.s. and his psychology studies. A proposal that Microsoft replace version 1.0 CDs got little support.
• Report of a Microsoft CART PC game deal 2003-03-25 · 32 posts
  A poster reported that CART's Chris Pook had hinted at a deal with Microsoft for a new PC CART game. Reactions were wary given Microsoft's CART Precision Racing, though Steve Blankenship noted parts of CPR were advanced. Posters recalled CPR developer Richard Harvey, whose recent death was mentioned, and argued over whether the newsgroup had driven him away.
• CART Precision Racing frame rates and driving model debated 1997-11-02 · 32 posts
  A fan of the CPR demo complained of 12–15 fps with a 3Dfx card in cockpit view. Randy Magruder and John Wallace debated wheelspin, grip and how realistic CPR's tyre model was compared with ICR2. The CART team said the game had no AI-avoidance steering, though contact with the front wheels could affect steering, and they would look for a possible drafting bug; Jim Sokoloff noted that Papyrus models tyre grip as an ellipse, not a circle.
• Adrenaline Vault reviewer defends CART Precision Racing review 1997-11-19 · 31 posts
  The Adrenaline Vault's CART Precision Racing reviewer posted to defend his favourable review, and John Wallace called it overgenerous. Discussion moved to Papyrus's 3D strategy, with John Wallace reporting that 3Dfx support was coming for NASCAR 2, SODA and Grand Prix Legends but not ICR2. Posters argued over whether Sierra's sale of Rendition cards had delayed 3Dfx support.
• Papyrus CART sim news sparks Papyrus versus Microsoft debate 1998-01-09 · 30 posts
  Alison asked whether reports of a new Papyrus CART sim for 1999 were true, and Ken confirmed an official announcement. A critic said Papyrus kept rehashing engines without curbs or rain, while Dave Henrie noted the new sims would use the Grand Prix Legends engine. Randy Magruder argued Papyrus had made only incremental advances since ICR1 and that CPR was more ambitious, which others disputed.
• Plea for civility after Microsoft rep's departure 1997-12-10 · 30 posts
  Randy Magruder blamed abusive posters for driving off Microsoft's CART rep and warned other companies would stay away. Others replied that Dean chose to leave and that criticism of a flawed product was legitimate, while some agreed the tone had become abusive. The thread also revealed that Randy BORL and Randy Magruder were the same person and touched on Mark Blundell's CPR lap times used in promotion.
• Arguing over CART Precision Racing's merits 1998-10-11 · 29 posts
  A defence of Microsoft's CART Precision Racing claimed the group disliked it only because it was a Microsoft product. John Wallace and others countered with specific physics flaws such as grip on grass and wall contact behaviour, while supporters praised its responsiveness compared with ICR2. The exchange grew sarcastic and also touched on GPL's reception and its 3D hardware choices.
• Debate over Dean's letter about the CPR patch 1997-12-14 · 26 posts
  David Fisher shared a letter from Microsoft's Dean about the CART Precision Racing patch and those who had helped shape it. Bart Brown found its tone immature for a Microsoft simulations general manager, while others found it reasonable. Discussion moved to why the patch came so quickly and whether CPR and F1RS had avoided each other's markets at Christmas.
• CART Precision Racing physics praised by beta tester 1997-10-20 · 24 posts
  A CART Precision Racing beta tester said its physics were better than ICR2's and possibly better than NASCAR 2's and GP2's, while others urged caution before comparing it with Grand Prix Legends. The thread turned to NASCAR 2's AI, with complaints that AI cars cut down on the player, defended by others as realistic racing. TPTCC's AI work was praised.
• CART team responds to criticism and favourable reviews 1997-11-14 · 22 posts
  Dean of the CART team said CPR was selling extremely well and pointed to a positive Adrenaline Vault review. Critics such as John Wallace called the reviews uncritical and recommended Randy Magruder's at Digital Sportspage, while others praised the Microsoft team for engaging with the newsgroup and working on a patch. Dean hinted at an upcoming announcement about Monster Truck Madness.
• CART team announces CPR 1.0 upgrade patch 1997-11-08 · 21 posts
  The CART Precision Racing team announced it was working on a patch addressing the top issues raised, and said the game might reach shops earlier than expected. Users listed their wishes, led jokingly by frame-rate improvement repeated many times, along with engine failures, steering fixes and better AI. Posters debated whether CART engines should blow up given their rev limiters.
• CART Precision Racing vs Ubisoft F1 Racing Simulation demos 1997-11-04 · 21 posts
  Several users who tried both demos preferred Ubisoft's F1 Racing Simulation for its smooth 3Dfx frame rate, sense of speed and detail, while a few found its driving model and sounds weak. The F1 demo required a 3Dfx card and did not run on Cyrix or AMD K5 CPUs. The full game was due on 21 November with Direct3D support.
• IndyCar Racing II re-released as CART Racing 1997-09-14 · 20 posts
  Posters discussed Papyrus re-releasing IndyCar Racing II as CART Racing, with DOS, Windows 95 and Rendition versions, a driver's guide by former Car and Driver editor Steve Smith, and a $29.95 price, due mid to late October. Marc Nelson said there would be no new features and that the release signalled Papyrus was not abandoning open-wheel racing. Some saw little reason to buy it, especially with Microsoft's CART Precision Racing coming, and Jim Sokoloff noted that Creative Labs had declined to bundle the ICR2 Rendition version.
• CPR's remaining flaws and a feud over its critics 1998-03-19 · 77 posts
  A poster found the new CART Precision Racing demo smooth and asked what was wrong with the full game. Replies cited frame rate drops with more cars, missing yellow flags, braking and steering issues, while George Sandman defended the game and online racing. The thread became a heated exchange between Byron Forbes and CPR supporters, with side arguments over Microsoft requiring Internet Explorer for the Zone.
• CPR given away with Firestone tyres, flame war follows 1998-03-16 · 60 posts
  Posters mocked Firestone giving away CART Precision Racing with new tyres, and listed the game's flaws when a newcomer asked why it was disliked. Discussion of Microsoft's Monster Truck Madness 2 and Terminal Reality's move to G.O.D. followed. The thread degenerated into personal attacks and email threats between Mike and Bart Brown, with complaints to ISPs.
• CART Precision Racing price cuts and rebates 1998-02-23 · 56 posts
  Posters noted CART Precision Racing selling for $35 with a $20 Microsoft rebate and mocked its fall. David Fisher accused critics of repeating the same complaints, sparking a heated exchange. A CPR track editor download was posted, and the game's UK release on February 20 was reported.
• New PC, CART Precision Racing praise and David G Fisher spat 2002-01-19 · 47 posts
  Mark Jeangerard described a new PC build and praised CART Precision Racing and other non-GPL sims. David G Fisher complained he had taken years of criticism for saying the same thing, which led to personal sniping with Pat Dotson and others. Opinions on CPR remained mixed, with some praising its sense of speed and others criticising its AI and controller feel.
• CPR on 20/20 and the Microsoft antitrust debate 1998-01-31 · 46 posts
  A poster noted a choppy CART Precision Racing clip in a 20/20 segment on Bill Gates. The thread became an off-topic debate about Microsoft bundling Internet Explorer, the Justice Department case and Netscape, with CPR's requirement for Internet Explorer for some features also criticised.
• CPR frame rates spark 3Dfx vs Direct3D argument 1997-11-03 · 40 posts
  Complaints about CPR's frame rate turned into a long debate over whether 3Dfx's Glide was becoming the de facto 3D standard and whether Rendition and Riva cards had caught up under Direct3D. John Browne of the CART team said Rendition had a known driver bug and that video drivers were the manufacturers' responsibility. Posters also argued about how many frames per second the eye can see.
• Defence of CPR online racing draws parody 1998-01-29 · 38 posts
  Daniel Laurin described an exciting online CART Precision Racing race, and others replied with mocking parodies. Jim Getzen and Randy Magruder complained that positive CPR comments were always ridiculed, while Bart Brown and John Wallace defended the replies. Posters also discussed the APEX fan site and a requested patched demo.
• Revisiting CART Precision Racing after GPL 1999-03-23 · 36 posts
  A player found CART Precision Racing fun again after learning car control in GPL. Opinions split sharply on its steering, which some found precise and others unusable with certain wheels, and critics noted the missing full-course yellows and tyre temperature readouts despite its detailed garage.
• CPR beta patch testers under a no-comment request 1997-12-17 · 35 posts
  Players asked about frame rates with the CART Precision Racing beta patch, but testers said Microsoft had asked them not to comment publicly. Some buyers argued they had a right to know since they paid for an unfinished game, and others debated whether inexperience excused the release state.
• Glide vs OpenGL vs Direct3D for CART Precision Racing 1997-11-25 · 27 posts
  A Diamond Viper 330 owner asked whether OpenGL drivers would let him run a 'Glide' version of CPR. Replies explained that Glide is 3Dfx-only while Direct3D and OpenGL are general APIs. Dean of the CART team said CPR already accelerated his card through Direct3D, and the thread became a debate over whether native Glide support or standard APIs should be preferred.
• German copy of CART Precision Racing and its reputation 2000-11-03 · 26 posts
  A user who won a German-language copy of Microsoft's CART Precision Racing asked for an English patch. Responses mostly criticised the game, especially its force feedback and AI, while some praised its setup system and telemetry and compared it with IndyCar Racing II. The thread ended with a discussion of base64-encoded posts in Free Agent.
• Defending CART Precision Racing and racing on the Zone 1997-11-04 · 25 posts
  Posters debated whether CPR's frame rates were acceptable and whether critics simply had badly configured systems. Members of the CART team encouraged people to try the trial and described good multiplayer racing on Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone, though Randy Magruder reported latency spikes. Users also complained that the Zone required Internet Explorer.
• Warning against buying CART Precision Racing 1998-01-04 · 24 posts
  A buyer warned others off CART Precision Racing, citing unresponsive menus and track reloads after every setup change. Others pointed out that test-drive mode avoids reloads and shared the FRAME cheat code for a frame counter and links to fan sites. Opinions split between those who returned the game and those enjoying it, with Alison posting tips to speed up F1RS and CPR.
• Ridicule of a glowing PCME review of CPR 1998-01-15 · 24 posts
  Greg Cisko pointed to a PCME review calling CART Precision Racing a total racing simulation package, and posters mocked it given the game's AI and frame rate problems. Some argued reviews are opinion, while others said they should be factual and suspected reviewers were too generous to advertisers.

Busiest threads

• Eagle Woman's CPR review prompts Microsoft rep to quit r.a.s. (77 posts about it)
• Defence of CART Precision Racing sparks long flame war (48 posts about it)
• CPR's remaining flaws and a feud over its critics (41 posts about it)
• CART Precision Racing price cuts and rebates (31 posts about it)
• Microsoft details the CART Precision Racing patch contents (30 posts about it)
• CPR given away with Firestone tyres, flame war follows (30 posts about it)
• CPR patch verdict turns into GP2 versus F1RS argument (25 posts about it)
• Leaked Glide DLL for CART Precision Racing (25 posts about it)
• CART Precision Racing frame rates and driving model debated (23 posts about it)
• Defence of CPR online racing draws parody (23 posts about it)
• Revisiting CART Precision Racing after GPL (22 posts about it)
• Angry demand for the CART Precision Racing patch (19 posts about it)
• Papyrus CART sim news sparks Papyrus versus Microsoft debate (19 posts about it)
• Frustration with repeated F1RS patches (18 posts about it)
• CPR patch frame rates and the human eye debate (17 posts about it)

Sentiment by year

Each post that discussed the sim was rated from −2 (very negative) to +2 (very positive).

Who talked about it most

Byron Forbes · 155 John Wallace · 150 David G Fisher · 127 ymenard · 89 Randy Magruder · 82 Michael E. Carver · 78 Barton Brown · 75 Greg Cisko · 75 John · 74 Mikes Design · 64 Dave Henrie · 62 CART Te · 53 Ronald Stoehr · 51 Randy BO · 49 Joe McGinn · 35 Jim Getzen · 35 Tony Gaylord · 34 mark jeangerard · 33 Marc Collins · 33 Jeff Vincent · 32

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