To clarify my comments on "arguably best" - I have no problem with it being used. It's just when it's used in every single review it completely loses its meaning. I'd rather hear what's so revolutionary about physics in terms of features than read such a meaningless phrase chucked about. If you got behind the secnes and asked developers to comment on certain aspects of their code and then wrote about that, I'd quite happily read the magazine because I actually learn something from it. As it stands, it's just completely lacking substance because all the writers are to obsessed with sitting on the fence. On the other hand, think about Top Gear - everyone loves Top Gear because it's edgy and funny and the presenters aren't afraid to say what they think.

You feel the need to break down my post and take each statement out of context so now I'll do the same.

Quote from shrapnel :

Well, this term has to be used, mainly because if it is not then a massive flame war starts somewhere or other. Probably does anyway.

But what's the point of using it EVERY single time? The statement that Sim X arguably has the most accurate physics of any sim doesn't say anything to begin with and you're taking away any possible implied meaning (saying it because it's very likely true but covering up in case you offend someone) by repeating it in every review.

Quote :

So, hang on, now you know what I know? And what all of our writers know? Perhaps you need a different magazine because the fact is, when we have provided technical articles, they have only received negative feedback from people that don't understand them.

I am glad you feel it necessary to offer insult here, I don't think I would knowingly assume that I know what you know.

Wasn't an insult. If you knew enough on vehichle dynamics to back up a definitive statement on physics you wouldn't be writing magazine articles for AutoSimSport. I can name probably 5 people off the top of my head all in all in sim racing circles (that doesn't include me and there might be more, but I highly doubt the numbers go into double digits) that can make a statement like that - and those are not all necessarily people with whom I have direct contact.

Quote :

Don't you do that anyway? Or does an author having an opinion force you into complying with it?

No, I merely have a problem with the fact that writers don't back up anything they're saying in the articles so it's just the same generic article every time a new sim comes out.

EDIT: What I'm basically saying is because everyone only reads articles about the sim(s) they love, if you slate them, they're gonna get offended and not like your magazine. But rather than writing your articles in such a way that you don't offend anyone yet still give valuable information you guys just write empty articles that don't really say much so there's no way anyone can be offended.

Last edited by axus, Fri 2 Feb 2007, 18:22.

I'm glad you guys are actively taking steps to include LFS into your magazine. However, I could never shake the feeling that you have a bunch of hippies writing all the articles over there. I don't think I've read one article about a new sim that doesn't describe it as having "revolutionary" physics, and describing them as "arguably the most realistic physics of any racing sim to date". "Arguably"? Any sim can be argued to have the most realistic physics so this statement is just dull and shows a writer who's just too damn scared to have an opinion. I also never found out what's so damn revolutionary about these physics when ISI have been selling crapMotor in different disguises for so long now, only adding a new variable every few months or so. Your articles are never technical enough to get anything but a huge yawn from me. Let's face it, none of your writers really know how tyres behave, what a lateral slip curve looks like, what the effects of having a combination of slip ratio and slip angle are, how fluid dynamics work or anything like that. Instead of pretending to and hiding behind language in case you're wrong, why don't you just tell me what's so "revolutionary" about these physics and let me make my own mind up about which sim makes which aspect most accurately? Oh, shit, sorry, that would mean that the writer who has to review the latest rFactor patch (and is secretly a biased fanboy) has to say that it's not really revolutionary.

My dad e-mailed this clip to me earlier... it's just... unbelievable.

Welcome, Geraldine! Thanks for your quick responses whenever I've needed something.

Racing Legends is still going strong... I think a little fairy might have told me something about a virtual wind tunnel based on the car's 3D model creating files to be used by the physics engine in real time (don't quote me on it though, my memory of the description is rather vague). This approach is awesome, IMO, for anything that's just too stressful to do in real time. Provided that the files are still generated through simulation, you don't necessarily lose anything in terms of the physics. Engine simulation, chassis flex and aerodynamics can be modeled really well in this way I think.

Niels - as Todd said, those tests are from aged tyres. Modern tyres are much stiffer and hence peak at lower slip angles/slip ratios.

I will direct him to this thread once he wakes up though .

Get into a league or drive STCC Silver & Gold servers (if you can stand having to drive the FXO for two weeks before getting your gold license). Or take down some contacts on MSN (that you know are clean drivers), give them a shout when you feel like racing and if they do too, go race. I can't stand 90% of public servers either. Most of my online racing over the past few years has been on the South African server, where even the people that aren't so fast will be sure to leave space so I've developed a trust for people and taking that to public servers is a bad idea.

Quote from NotAnIllusion :

"It's a great day" is actually correct, not incorrect. This is because "It's" is context sensitive and in this particular case is an abbreviation of "It is" (i.e. "It is a great day") instead of referring to possession.

Nope - I had it the wrong way around though so thanks for raising the issue. See my original post for sources. "It's" = "It is" or "It has" - it is context sensitive in that respect; "Its" indicates posession to an it much like "his", "hers", "ours", etc. However, you'll rarely (rearly) see "its" being used seeing (seing) as few things belong to an object and even if they do, you don't need to refer to them in that way. However, an example would be:
The plane crashed because its wings fell off.

Quote from Bladerunner :

Scawens code is great - Scawens' code is great

There's more than one Scawen! SWEET!

No, no, you are wrong here.
"Scawen's code is great" implies there is one Scawen and his code is great.
"Scawens' code is great" implies that there are many Scawens and their code is great.

EDIT: The apostrophe's meaning is dependent on what comes after it. If it is an adjective or verb then it would mean " is ". If its a noun, it indicates possession.

Last edited by axus, Sat 20 Jan 2007, 20:20.

I would of done it differently - I would have done it differently.

Its a great day - It's a great day.
["Its" indicates something belonging to an "it", "it's" is a short way of saying "it is" or "it has"]
EDIT: I had the above the wrong way around, sorry.
Sources:
http://www.fred.net/kathy/its.html
http://editingpublishing.suite101.com/blog.cfm/356

My parents car broke down / My parent's car broke down - My parents' car broke down.
Alex's shoes are nice - Alex' shoes are nice
Charles's pretty pink dress looks nice on him - Charles' pretty pink dress looks nice on him.
(no particular Charles in mind... *cough* <.<)

Radiuses - Radii
Octopi - Octopuses
[Technically octopi is acceptable too but octopuses is the form you should be using; English is not Latin.]


EDIT:

His having a bad day - He's having a bad day.
He's car is really kool - His car is really cool.

Last edited by axus, Sat 20 Jan 2007, 20:26.

Android, is this applicable for all logi wheels/drivers?

"Barriers to entry"? Do you mind explaining what you mean by that? Its so damn easy to sign up for a league and there are new ones popping up all the time. There are so many good ones. Many of them even take applications through-out the season assuming free slots. What's more, there are leagues for every type of car that you may ever want to drive. They normally run on a season basis so you might just have to wait a few months before you can join but that's about it. Come now. Get your act together. If all else fails, make your own league! I did that (LXCC) with the help of my team and its been a huge success so far, season 2 should be a complete blast seeing as most of the issues will be ironed out.

No worries, Sam - this is completely out of your control. Thanks for the information.

Quote from danowat :

Maybe this single event will give those that don't have time to participate in a league the opertunuty to race the LX6 in a serious environment in a long(er) race?

Its an interesting idea - maybe we can help each-other out here.
How about a special "one-off race" division of LXCC running single events once a month or so? I know some of the LXCC people will be interested in more racing... we've got a great server now (we tested last night with three people - one from Canada, one from UK and me from SA and we had no problems with warping at all). I've already got a pretty comprehensive rule set which can be adapted for your purposes... Let me know if you're interested - just an idea... not trying to monopolise the LX organised racing or anything . MoE and LFS-GT have a similar thing going and it works great from what I've seen.

(I don't really have time to run something like this myself - I've already got my plate full with two LXCC divisions so it would still be "your thing")

Quote from nikimere :

Jeez!! Did u guys just take EVERY track!?
Black Rev then would still be good, actually all FE reversed tracks i think are better than the normal way round.

Nah, not quite:

Aston North
Aston Grand Prix
Blackwood Rev
Fern Bay Black
Fern Bay Gold Reversed
Kyoto GP Long Rev
South City Long
South City Town Rev
Westhill Rev



For season 2 I'm thinking of these:

Aston Club
Aston Historic Rev
Blackwood
Fern Bay Green Reversed
Fern Bay Club
Kyoto National Reversed
Kyoto GP Long
South City Sprint 1
Westhill

... just to keep the variety going, as much as LFS allows.

Quote from nikimere :

what date? did i miss something

Oh, sorry - from Hyper's post I thought it would be somewhere around the LXCC races. Oops.

As for FE Black, we're also running that in LXCC - Event 9 - 30.01.2007 / 03.02.2007.

Quote from tristancliffe :

If I genuinely feel it was my fault, then yes I will wait for the other person. If I think it was just a racing incident I'll carry on, and discuss it after the race. I don't tend to use sorry binds whilst racing, unless it's a really big cock up.

I do the same pretty much.

Quote from AndroidXP :

Because this is right in the top 10 of "most suggested improvements for LFS, ever".

Make it top 3.

I've got a race on Aston Historic Rev with the LX6 this week (South African event) - its a really sweet combo. IMO Rev is way better. It will definitely be one of the "special endurance" races in LXCC season 2. Dan, have you looked at getting together a second T7R team for LXCC if you like the cars? I would join for some one-off LX6 awesomeness though - but not on that date.

I don't expect it will be One Big Patch. I expect it will be a few biggish ones, in 2-4 month intervals and then beta. I hope S2 final will have (things that we know will be done are marked):

AI improvements, including pitstops (certain)
False starts (certain)
Improved clutch simulation (certain)
Interiors (certain)
Track improvements (certain)
Multiplayer features (certain)
More than 20 racer grids
Improved drivetrain simulation, including differentials and engine as well as support for better sounds
Torsen diffs
Chassis flex, jacking forces
Improved aerodynamics, including better undertray simulation and ground effect
A few more tweaks on the tyres (certain)
Independent suspension settings
More setup options for race cars

That's a pretty tall order. If that was one big patch... then expect it somewhere around November.

Quote from AndroidXP :

"I beta-tested netKar Poo and all I got was this T-shirt"

Please.

Where is "roflTractor is shait."?

Great idea though.

Quote from Becky Rose :

If licenses are shared between servers then the point awards have to be fixed.

Becky, you still don't get what I'm saying. The points aren't global - the points are specific to each server or set of servers. Each server decides - "once you get x points in our system you get a certain qualification". Points for that server or set of servers are tracked on their own little database, much like the current STCC database. Once you get the required points, the qualification (for example STCC gold license) is added to your name in the global database. Then other servers can querry this global database and check if you have the required qualifications to race there.

No, you will not. You get an extra unlock every month if you have less than 2. They build up to a maximum of 2 unlocks. You will be able to unlock LFS again after you reinstall your operating system.