GPL-Driving device - newbie

I just purchased GPL(still in transit) and was wondering how important it is to use a wheel and pedals. I planned to use a joystick and assume it will work ok for steering but thought maybe pedals might be important for gas and brake. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Also I know very little about the sim and have never even seen it. So if anyone has any tips for a beginning rookie, that would help. I have experience with racing games like Motorhead, NR99 and TD5. Thanks Robbie

You NEED a wheel and pedals . no question. I originally purchased this sim two years ago and only had a joypad for a games controller.I borrowed a wheel (without pedals),tried the game again and it still didnt hook me. It wasnt until I bought a wheel and pedal combo that the game showed its true brilliance. the main thing with GPL is that it needs plenty of practice and patience to begin to get anything but frustration from the sim. Keep at it and maybe youll begin to lap without coming off the track. I'm still a backmarker, still run the car on the grass more than tarmac but still enjoy it immensley Good luck Semi Robby Robison <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:O$Z2NFbzAHA.296@cpmsnbbsa09... > I just purchased GPL(still in transit) and was wondering how important itis > to use a wheel and pedals. I planned to use a joystick and assume it will > work ok for steering but thought maybe pedals might be important for gasand > brake. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Also I know very little > about the sim and have never even seen it. So if anyone has any tips for a > beginning rookie, that would help. I have experience with racing gameslike > Motorhead, NR99 and TD5. > Thanks > Robbie > >

Ok, tips for a beginner - buy a good steering wheel with pedals, preferably with force-feedback. Make sure the game is running the full 36 fps (ALT-F to display frame rate). Some of the cars are a lot easier for a beginner. You might want to stay away from the Lotus, and try the Coventry (Cooper) first. Again with the tracks, Monza and Silverstone are probably the easiest to start with. Another point - keeping the car on the track can be a struggle in itself, but it's even harder if you don't the track, so watch the replays that come with the game, and study the track map until you always know where you are on the circuit. And don't get frustrated, because everyone crashes to start with. It takes hundreds of laps for your brain to understand what the car is doing and to predict what your control inputs will do to the car. And remember to have fun, which means brake up the training with races or even online races on vroc. "Robby Robison" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:O$Z2NFbzAHA.296@cpmsnbbsa09... > I just purchased GPL(still in transit) and was wondering how important itis > to use a wheel and pedals. I planned to use a joystick and assume it will > work ok for steering but thought maybe pedals might be important for gasand > brake. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Also I know very little > about the sim and have never even seen it. So if anyone has any tips for a > beginning rookie, that would help. I have experience with racing gameslike > Motorhead, NR99 and TD5. > Thanks > Robbie > >

"Robby Robison" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > Also I know very little > about the sim and have never even seen it. So if anyone has any tips for a > beginning rookie, that would help. I have experience with racing gameslike > Motorhead, NR99 and TD5. > Thanks > Robbie > > I'll give myself a plug and point you in the direction of an article I wrote called "A Beginner's Guide to Grand Prix Legends" here: http://www.slottweak.com/gplintro.htm Hopefully you might find it useful. Also check out the GPL forum at http://www.legendscentral.com . It is an extremely active place with many people able to answer questions you may have. Of course you can ask them here as well :) For driving tips you can't beat the Lights Out Racing Guides which have just resurfaced after a long abscence here: http://www.legendscentral.com/LOR/ Cheers Phil PS You will need a wheel :) -- http://www.legendscentral.com http://www.geocities.com/f2_festival GPL Handicaps: F1 -3.60 secs, F2 +115.11 secs

You don't need a wheel. Joystick drivers have held world records in GPL...A wheel will give you more realism but it may be slower for you if you are used to racing with a joystick. Jesse Black "Robby Robison" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:O$Z2NFbzAHA.296@cpmsnbbsa09... > I just purchased GPL(still in transit) and was wondering how important itis > to use a wheel and pedals. I planned to use a joystick and assume it will > work ok for steering but thought maybe pedals might be important for gasand > brake. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Also I know very little > about the sim and have never even seen it. So if anyone has any tips for a > beginning rookie, that would help. I have experience with racing gameslike > Motorhead, NR99 and TD5. > Thanks > Robbie > >

"Robby Robison" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:O$Z2NFbzAHA.296@cpmsnbbsa09... > I just purchased GPL(still in transit) and was wondering howimportant it is > to use a wheel and pedals. I planned to use a joystick and assume itwill > work ok for steering but thought maybe pedals might be important forgas and > brake. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Also I know verylittle > about the sim and have never even seen it. So if anyone has any tipsfor a > beginning rookie, that would help. I have experience with racinggames like > Motorhead, NR99 and TD5. > Thanks > Robbie >How do you intend to control both steering and throttle with a stick? The situation is this - you're sitting stationary on the track, apply full throttle to get going. Start moving forwards, and, as the revs rise, the engine is suddenly producing more power than the rear wheels have traction. So they break away and start coming around. You have to catch this on steering and reduce throttle - simultaneously, smoothly, quickly and precisely. You use this on, say, a 3rd gear bend so that if you're too fast to make the apex you don't dab the brake, as that would unsettle the car. You add throttle and steering lock to kick the back end out a bit more and the slide scrubs your speed and gets you round. In short, in GPL, you need as precise a control of throttle as you do steering. Me, I couldn't attempt it with a stick, even though I used one throughout GP2. That said, there are some aliens capable of all sorts of amazing feats I couldn't attempt, so maybe you'll be one of those - try it and see! Best help at http://simracing.com/alison/gpl/ -- Laurence Wilmer [email hidden] --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 18/04/01

Whatever controller you choose, prepare yourself for a wakeup call. GPL is nothing like arcade racers, even a good one like NFS5. I *strongly* recommend joining vroc-f2, and using FG and FD cars to learn with. Directions are on the front page of the site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vroc-f2 Not that I think you'll listen. The first thing you'll do is jump in a vroc monza pickup race in the lotus and take out the whole field before T1. You'll do that 8 or 10 times before it sinks in that the game has a learning curve. rms [email hidden]

On Wed, 25 Apr 2001 11:59:05 -0600, "Robby Robison" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>I just purchased GPL(still in transit) and was wondering how important it is >to use a wheel and pedals. I planned to use a joystick and assume it will >work ok for steering but thought maybe pedals might be important for gas and >brake. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Also I know very little >about the sim and have never even seen it. So if anyone has any tips for a >beginning rookie, that would help. I have experience with racing games like >Motorhead, NR99 and TD5. >Thanks >Robbie

It depends on how fast you want to go. If you race Monza with a joystick you'll probably be high 1:30s or low 1:40s. The best drivers are in the 1:26 range. Most drivers (with wheels) are in the 1:28-1:31 range. Advice for a rook? Learn Monza or Silverstone first. Silverstone has many straights with right handers so it's pretty easy to learn. Very simple circuit. Monza is good too for a rook. Another flat circuit. You'll want to ace the Lesmo and Parabolica at Monza.

Got out of bed on the wrong side this morning Roger? :0) "Roger Squires" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:9c7f8n$7uee$[email hidden]... > Whatever controller you choose, prepare yourself for a wakeup call. GPLis > nothing like arcade racers, even a good one like NFS5. I *strongly* > recommend joining vroc-f2, and using FG and FD cars to learn with. > Directions are on the front page of the site: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vroc-f2 > > Not that I think you'll listen. The first thing you'll do is jump in avroc > monza pickup race in the lotus and take out the whole field before T1. > You'll do that 8 or 10 times before it sinks in that the game has alearning

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> curve. > > rms > [email hidden] > > >

I was wondering the same thing :) Hey rms, join us on the SpeedCenter servers. We run long races with long practise sessions, which scares off the Monza hotlappers. "Jim L" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:QGIF6.4970$[email hidden]...

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> > Got out of bed on the wrong side this morning Roger? :0) > > > "Roger Squires" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:9c7f8n$7uee$[email hidden]... > > Whatever controller you choose, prepare yourself for a wakeup call. GPL > is > > nothing like arcade racers, even a good one like NFS5. I *strongly* > > recommend joining vroc-f2, and using FG and FD cars to learn with. > > Directions are on the front page of the site: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vroc-f2 > > > > Not that I think you'll listen. The first thing you'll do is jump in a > vroc > > monza pickup race in the lotus and take out the whole field before T1. > > You'll do that 8 or 10 times before it sinks in that the game has a > learning > > curve. > > > > rms > > [email hidden] > > > > > > > >

In article <[email hidden]>, ra300z <[email hidden]> writes:

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>On Wed, 25 Apr 2001 11:59:05 -0600, "Robby Robison" ><[email hidden]> wrote: > >>I just purchased GPL(still in transit) and was wondering how important it is >>to use a wheel and pedals. I planned to use a joystick and assume it will >>work ok for steering but thought maybe pedals might be important for gas and >>brake. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Also I know very little >>about the sim and have never even seen it. So if anyone has any tips for a >>beginning rookie, that would help. I have experience with racing games like >>Motorhead, NR99 and TD5. >>Thanks >>Robbie > >It depends on how fast you want to go. If you race Monza with a >joystick you'll probably be high 1:30s or low 1:40s. The best drivers >are in the 1:26 range. Most drivers (with wheels) are in the >1:28-1:31 range.

Hmm... I can do low 1:28 with my joystick and Woeger probably did sub-1:26.. It's just a matter of what you are used to. >Advice for a rook? Learn Monza or Silverstone first. Silverstone has >many straights with right handers so it's pretty easy to learn. Very >simple circuit. Monza is good too for a rook. Another flat circuit. >You'll want to ace the Lesmo and Parabolica at Monza. Silverstone is easy to drive around, but it's quite hard to get fast at it. Took me some 1000 laps to get to mid 1:27 there ;) If you are used to your stick and already did other racing sims with it, you can do GPL with it, too. But if you plan to buy a wheel sooner or later, then do it now. Switching from stick to wheel isn't easy later on.. Calis >any tips for a beginning rookie Dont give up if it seems to be too hard to learn. It will take some hours/days to get reasonable laptimes (e.g. sub 1:35 at monza) - this is the way it is ;)

In article <BVIF6.255$[email hidden]>, "Rob Adams" <[email hidden]> writes: > Hey rms, join us on the SpeedCenter servers. We run long races with long > practise sessions, which scares off the Monza hotlappers. Especially lately, with the servers running Ring, Ring, and, um, more Ring. Tee hee. :-) Marc

In article <9c7f8n$7uee$[email hidden]>, "Roger Squires" <[email hidden]> writes:

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>Whatever controller you choose, prepare yourself for a wakeup call. GPL is >nothing like arcade racers, even a good one like NFS5. I *strongly* >recommend joining vroc-f2, and using FG and FD cars to learn with. >Directions are on the front page of the site: >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vroc-f2 > >Not that I think you'll listen. The first thing you'll do is jump in a vroc >monza pickup race in the lotus and take out the whole field before T1. >You'll do that 8 or 10 times before it sinks in that the game has a learning >curve.

Well, the fact that he even *asked* shows he's looking to do things without screwing up others... Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +28.67...F2 +151.26... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

In article <O$Z2NFbzAHA.296@cpmsnbbsa09>, Robby Robison <[email hidden]> writes

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>I just purchased GPL(still in transit) and was wondering how important it is >to use a wheel and pedals. I planned to use a joystick and assume it will >work ok for steering but thought maybe pedals might be important for gas >and >brake. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Also I know very little >about the sim and have never even seen it. So if anyone has any tips for a >beginning rookie, that would help. I have experience with racing games like >Motorhead, NR99 and TD5. >Thanks >Robbie > >

Well, seeing as I have just changed over from using a joystick for the past 2 years to using a wheel I feel the most qualified to answer this question and can categorically say 'I'm not sure'. :) Btw, whatever you choose, just get the F1 Lotus out to the Ring without going through those namby pamby tracks, or you'll just be classed as a big wuss. Only Kidding! ;-) On a more serious note, don't listen to me. HTH -- Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington) Remove ALL_STRESS before replying No person's opinions can be said to be more correct than another's, because each is the sole judge of his or her own experience.

In article <9c9k3j$6f6$[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Marc Fraioli) writes:

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>In article <BVIF6.255$[email hidden]>, > "Rob Adams" <[email hidden]> writes: >> Hey rms, join us on the SpeedCenter servers. We run long races with long >> practise sessions, which scares off the Monza hotlappers. > >Especially lately, with the servers running Ring, Ring, and, um, >more Ring. Tee hee. :-) >

hehe... I thought I had a fast lap last night. Felt good, didn't put a wheel too far off - I thought it might have been a new PB(current - 8:38). Time on the board? 8:50.xx... Frak! How can a lap feel so good, but be so slow...? <sigh> Eldred -- Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001 Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett F1 hcp. +28.67...F2 +151.26... Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience... Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

> Frak! How can a lap feel so good, but be so slow...? <sigh> Frak! Anyone remember that for the BBC B? Terrible music but quite chucklesome in a boff-the-monster-with-your-killer-yoyo kind of way.... :0) Jim

> Frak! Anyone remember that for the BBC B? Terrible music but quite > chucklesome in a boff-the-monster-with-your-killer-yoyo kind of way....:0) > > Jim There was a "hacked" version doing the rounds also. You can probably guess what replaced the extending "yoyo". And you can probably guess what it was called ;o) F**k cheers John

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (EldredP) writes: > hehe... I thought I had a fast lap last night. Felt good, didn't put a wheel > too far off - I thought it might have been a new PB(current - 8:38). Time on > the board? 8:50.xx... > Frak! How can a lap feel so good, but be so slow...? <sigh> It is definitely the case that my fastest Ring laps felt slow and conservative, and vice versa. Just because your tires are howling, your wheels are spinning, and your car is sideways, doesn't mean you're going fast. :) Quite the contrary, in fact. Marc