The first thing I found out: I still need a lot of training. :)
But actually I wanted to address a few other topics, especially the
graphics. I'm not sure I prefer the new artwork over the one we know
from Watkins Glen.
Sure, the trees and spectators at the Glen look like cardboard cut
outs when you come too close to them, and the atmosphere was a bit
gloomy at first, especially when you fire up the demo immediately
after playing F1RS.
But I think the photographic look of the trees in the old demo is much
more convincing as long as you stay on the track. I still hope that
"staying on the track" will be the default for me some day, and
"excursions through the gravel" the exception, so I prefer the
"photographic" 2D look over the "painted" 3D trees of the new Monza
demo.
Additionally, the trees in Monza are cloned quite often. This saves
graphics memory, I'm sure, but looking at a row of identical trees
lining the track constantly reminds me of how it was done and that I'm
"just" playing a sim. It also makes it harder for me to find proper
braking points.
There are also a few graphical glitches: Coming out of Parabolica, I
can distinctly see a huge Ferrari billboard in the distance. It is on
the right side of the track, a bit further down the road than the
second tower on the left side. There also seems to be a small building
still further down the road. Once I pass the pits, both items vanish.
Does this also happen on other machines than mine?
Another funny thing happens when you use the arcade view and drive
across the curbstones in T3 (and probably elsewhere). It is some sort
of "Peter Pan" effect: the shadow gets detached from the car and shows
a car that is tilted heavily to the side. Maybe a sign that Papy plans
to include the banking after all? ;)
Finally a few questions for those who play the complete new demo (as
opposed to the new track on the old demo): are there any differences
between the two versions? Or is it just the new track with the same
old engine? And: did we get a new setup for Monza with the track, or
is it the same one we use at the Glen? The Lotus seems to handle just
as always, including the gear ratios, or am I mistaken?
Before I get accused of nit-picking: I enjoy driving at Monza and I'm
happy we have this new track. Thanks to Papy for creating it and to
doktorB for making it available on the net.
--
Wolfgang Preiss \ E-mail copies of replies to this posting are welcome.
Wouldn't you be better off concentrating on the track rather than
admiring the scenery?
Just a thought.
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"That's not car control, that's crisis management"
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