SODA more Realistic than GP2/F1RS/N2/ICR2?

Some quick comments about my admittedly limited ammount of seat time with Soda. Many folks have complained about the "canned" spin routines in GP2 and F1RS. Soda has no "Canned" spins. Others have lamented on the lack of a vertical axis in N2 or ICR2. (ie. cars don't get airborne or flip in wrecks) Soda can roll, bounce, and flip. Catching spins is mostly impossible in ICR2, and only marginally successful in N2\GP2 but in Soda you can hang the back end out way past your horizontal plane and still haul it back in...(not easily done, but do-able) There is a small group of users looking for a good American Dirt track sim because they know that the fastest way to turn left is to turn right, well in Soda on a long sweeper, I was counter-steering like a true outlaw. So does this make Soda more "real" than these other sims? Only if I ignore the 60mph faceplants I did several times when I came up short trying to jump a 3 carwidth gap....heheh dave henrie

This game is a blast!! Once you've practiced enought and get the hang of driving these cars at least... I've become fairly decent (but by no means perfect) with the buggy, and have driven the 4x4 a bit, but boy that 2x4 Truck is a pain to drive. Designing your own tracks is cool as well. I just wish the graphics were better, and maybe they included some REAL SODA tracks and drivers... Maybe in SODA 2? Brian Short > Some quick comments about my admittedly limited ammount of seat time > with Soda.

>Maybe in SODA 2? Since they canceled the SODA 3dfx patch, I'm not sure SODA 2 seems very likely at this point. Joe

It even occured to me that a lot of the 'exciting' new features to be in GPL have already appeared in SODA - perhaps papyrus will have seen how well (or not so well) some of these features have worked and try to use them in GPL. Also, on cliffs of fear I managed to get a lap time of 1:08ish (with the buggy) and thought wow I sure was goin quick there, Ill have a look at this worldwide ranking thing...... oh dear...... even 50th place lap time is under 1:04. never mind, just have to practice some more. Steve

SNIP! Some good comments you have there, the demo looked promising *but* was very very slow on my non Rendition system. I decided to wait until the promised 3dfx patch to purchase the release version. No 3dfx patch meant that Papyrus got no $ from me, I hope they realize that they screwed the pooch on a promising game like this, probably lots of other 3dfx owners were looking forward to the vaporware patch to go pick this one up until it got cancelled. The worst part is we pretty much told them this when they had the demo out, I guess they didn't care or Sierra didn't allow them to spend the money on the labor for the patch. Really I wish that I could have been able to experience Soda in its full glory, the driving mode on the demo seemed excellent, but it is not worth pulling out my Millineum video card and buy a Rend card just for one sim. Hope Papy and Sierra learned from this mistake. (I own all other Papy simulations they ever produced.) Cheers. --John -- *kludger AT zipcon DOT com* | ICQ #7522564 contact me at: Seattle, Washington USA. | http://wwp.mirabilis.com/7522564

I wonder if the problems they have had with the N2 3dfx patch in any way influenced their decission. Rather than spend months debugging a Soda patch, I'm guessing they decided that thier manpower was better served working on issues relating to NROS and GPL and it's offspring. So Unfortunately, I think Soda is kaput! Still, since I only paid $13 bucks, I think I got a heck of a deal. dave henrie

You could be right, I'm looking forward to N2 3dfx myself (TPTCC in 3dfx will be great!) Yeah difinitely for that price Soda sounds like a very good bargain, especially if you have the right software to run it in accelerated mode. Cheers. --John -- *kludger AT zipcon DOT com* | ICQ #7522564 contact me at: Seattle, Washington USA. | http://wwp.mirabilis.com/7522564

I'm with you, John. I felt the same way. I finally broke down and bought it for $15, anyway. I would have gladly paid $50 for the 3DFX version. I waited on it due to the announcement that it was coming. I think this sim would have been very well recieved with better 3D support. In my opinion, Sierra cut this one off at the knees. I don't know all the politics behind the release, but venturing a guess that it was Sierras descision (not Papyrus) seems safe, given the bufoonary and lack of vision they exhibit with Red Baron 2 and Pro Pilot. I think if I worked for Software Allies, I'd be mighty pissed off. -- http://www.users.fast.net/~fusion1 (dirt bikes, rat bikes, rental car abuse...)

> Others have lamented on the lack of a vertical axis in N2 or ICR2. > (ie. cars don't get airborne or flip in wrecks) An article I read concerning the upcoming N3 mentioned that the verticle axis would be modeled, in addition to more chassis parts modeled (springs separate from shocks, sway bar and track bar adjustments, etc.) and a 3D ***pit, instead of a 2D overlay. I can't wait. --PLS

Hello and Excuse me, Where is the world wide ranking? Please let me know. Thank you. Y.Minami

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>I'm with you, John. I felt the same way. I finally broke down and >bought it for $15, anyway. >I would have gladly paid $50 for the 3DFX version. I waited on it due >to the announcement that it was coming. >I think this sim would have been very well recieved with better 3D >support. In my opinion, Sierra cut this one off at the knees. >I don't know all the politics behind the release, but venturing a >guess that it was Sierras descision (not Papyrus) seems safe, given >the bufoonary and lack of vision they exhibit with Red Baron 2 and Pro >Pilot. >I think if I worked for Software Allies, I'd be mighty pissed off.

Actually you make a very good point, I don't think I've seen a 3dfx title from Sierra yet, at least I can't think of one... actually I think FPS Skiing is Sierra's only 3dfx title, I too am still waiting for the promised 3dfx patch for Red Baron 2, won't purchase until they release it, even though Red Baron original is one of my favorite all time flight-sims. Too bad Papyrus got bought out by Sierra, it seems like Sierra is still WAY behind all the other Games companies except maybe Sega in waking up and giving 3dfx or even D3D some support. Axiously awaiting N2 3dfx and GPL with 3dfx. Yeah Software Allies is probably pretty unhappy about the situation, but maybe they can take the SODA engine, add real 3d support and use it to make another dirt sim with a good driving model but go with another publisher besides Papyrus/Sierra. Maybe they can make a dirt motorcross sim, Paris to Dakar sim, Baja 1000... any of those would be terrific. Cheers. --John -- *kludger AT zipcon DOT com* | ICQ #7522564 contact me at: Seattle, Washington USA. | http://wwp.mirabilis.com/7522564

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> I'm with you, John. I felt the same way. I finally broke down and > bought it for $15, anyway. > I would have gladly paid $50 for the 3DFX version. I waited on it due > to the announcement that it was coming. > I think this sim would have been very well recieved with better 3D > support. In my opinion, Sierra cut this one off at the knees. > I don't know all the politics behind the release, but venturing a > guess that it was Sierras descision (not Papyrus) seems safe, given > the bufoonary and lack of vision they exhibit with Red Baron 2 and Pro > Pilot. > I think if I worked for Software Allies, I'd be mighty pissed off.

I said pretty much the same thing when the 3Dfx patch was cancelled, having been totally bummed by the announcement. Don't these guys realize that they might have sold more than a few thousand copies with the (much larger than Rendition) 3Dfx market waiting for this game? For that matter, why not D3D? I really think that Sierra's marketing crew should be replaced. -- Neil Yeatman Ajax, Ontario, CANADA

After you install Soda, there are several options in the START menu. In the main group of Soda menu's like full screen or window or uninstall there is a World records option. But you first need to be connected to the net. This is like a mini browser that operates outside of the game. Dave Henrie Rank # 17 for 2wheel drive trucks at the Dragons' (something) track... > Hello and Excuse me, Where is the world wide ranking? Please let me know. > Thank you. > Y.Minami

A good place to go for N3 features would be any GPL web site. The GPL engine will be the basis for N3. I've seen GPL screenshots with only front wheel locked up...that would be a first I believe... dave henrie

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> > Others have lamented on the lack of a vertical axis in N2 or ICR2. > > (ie. cars don't get airborne or flip in wrecks) > An article I read concerning the upcoming N3 mentioned that the verticle > axis would be modeled, in addition to more chassis parts modeled (springs > separate from shocks, sway bar and track bar adjustments, etc.) and a 3D >***pit, instead of a 2D overlay. I can't wait. > --PLS

Hello Dave. Thank you. I missed it. because I'm installing SODA into my D drive. and After reinstalling Windows95 in C drive, I'm not starting SODA from windows START menu.but short cut. I don't want to reinstall user made tracks once more. (lazy? :)) Y.Minami

Maybe a stupid question (I'm new to this group), but what the heck is SODA? I understand GP2, F1RS, N2 & ICR2....... Brian ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? I Seek You #: 280700 ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

SODA stands for Shortcourse Offroad Drivers Association. Basically it is a dirt off road sim with Buggies or Pickups. the kind of rigs that run the Baja 1000. It's a Papyrus sim but coded by Software Allies. It has Rendition 3d acceleration only. The Mall shops (babbages and Software etc.) are selling it for $12.99us. Seeya! dave Henrie

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> Maybe a stupid question (I'm new to this group), but what the heck is > SODA? > I understand GP2, F1RS, N2 & ICR2....... > Brian > ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo > I Seek You #: 280700 > ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo