Motocycle Racing Sim

Hi, earlier somebody mentioned that it would be too hard to appropriately model the physics of a motocycle. I think they meant that a steering wheel wouldn't feel right, nor would a joystick or keypad. However, what about a joystick like Microsoft's Sidewinder. It allows you to "twist" then stick as well as lean, push and pull. A motocycle sim could be set up as such: stick forward ==> accelerate stick back ==> brake stick left ==> lean left stick right ==> lean right stick rotate right ==> turn right stick rotate left ==> turn left hat switch to look around, and buttons to change gears etc Can you see where i'm going with this? Sure you could lean the stick to the left to take a left hand corner. The bike will lean over, but without the appropriate twist (ie turning of the handle bars) the bike would fall over - just like in real life!!!! I can see this being difficult at first, but once mastered it would be a great feeling of achievement to do a fast lap. Also, using the hat switch to look around would be nice too. The rider could look 'into the corner', and behind etc. Anyways, maybe Geoff will make us one such game!!! thanks, j

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>Hi, earlier somebody mentioned that it would be too hard to appropriately >model the physics of a motocycle. I think they meant that a steering wheel >wouldn't feel right, nor would a joystick or keypad. However, what about a >joystick like Microsoft's Sidewinder. It allows you to "twist" then stick as >well as lean, push and pull. >A motocycle sim could be set up as such: >stick forward ==> accelerate >stick back ==> brake >stick left ==> lean left >stick right ==> lean right >stick rotate right ==> turn right >stick rotate left ==> turn left >hat switch to look around, and buttons to change gears etc >Can you see where i'm going with this? Sure you could lean the stick to the >left to take a left hand corner. The bike will lean over, but without the >appropriate twist (ie turning of the handle bars) the bike would fall over - >just like in real life!!!! I can see this being difficult at first, but once >mastered it would be a great feeling of achievement to do a fast lap.

An EXCELENT idea, I hope someone (maybe the Honda Superbike folks) implements it! I don't see how you can get a truly realistic cycle driving feel with anything less - you NEED analog leaning as well as steering. Joe

in real life you don't turn the bars exept when your going real slow at speed you turn away from the turn a very little so i think a joy stick would be just fine any joy stick. a VFR750 rider

>A motocycle sim could be set up as such: >stick forward ==> accelerate The twisting stick is a good idea, Jason. Only thing is, I *hate* playing driving sims/games that make me hold the stick forward to keep the power on. Don't know if this a just a peeve of mine or not, but it fundamentally links your gas brake and steering. If I'm going to use a joystick for a driving game, it has to have the option of the throttle/brake to be controlled by buttons. I live for riding dirt bikes, and looks-wise, the closest I've seen to the look and feel of being on a bike is MotoRacer. Arcade game or not, if the on bike toggle (F6?)kept your head looking at the track instead of up in the air when you jump/wheelie, it'd be perfect. The look over the bars through the turns is dead on. -- http://www.users.fast.net/~fusion1 (dirt bikes, rat bikes, rental car abuse...)

You DO turn the bars when turning at high speed, you just have to turn them LESS. Try turning a corner by just leaning the bike and see how long you live.......a common sense rider j

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>in real life you don't turn the bars exept when your going real slow at >speed you turn away from the turn a very little so i think a joy stick >would be just fine any joy stick. a VFR750 rider >> Hi, earlier somebody mentioned that it would be too hard to appropriately >> model the physics of a motocycle. I think they meant that a steering >wheel >> wouldn't feel right, nor would a joystick or keypad. However, what about >a >> joystick like Microsoft's Sidewinder. It allows you to "twist" then stick >as >> well as lean, push and pull. >> A motocycle sim could be set up as such: >> stick forward ==> accelerate >> stick back ==> brake >> stick left ==> lean left >> stick right ==> lean right >> stick rotate right ==> turn right >> stick rotate left ==> turn left >> hat switch to look around, and buttons to change gears etc >> Can you see where i'm going with this? Sure you could lean the stick to >the >> left to take a left hand corner. The bike will lean over, but without the >> appropriate twist (ie turning of the handle bars) the bike would fall >over - >> just like in real life!!!! I can see this being difficult at first, but >once >> mastered it would be a great feeling of achievement to do a fast lap. >> Also, using the hat switch to look around would be nice too. The rider >could >> look 'into the corner', and behind etc. >> Anyways, maybe Geoff will make us one such game!!! >> thanks, j