Oh well, I will repeat what I wrote in the LS's thread.
"Holy @!#$, so am I. Sorry for the language, but this is @#$%&E.D.
"The damages are exactly the same as in GP3 2000 (at least I didn't notice any difference), so no improvements in this area."
That is OK, but still it isnt the greatest. Why are they carrying things across from GP3????
"However, they are still using the old "2d" track format seen in all the previos games."
This is SO out of date it isnt funny! It chews up processing power completely, and is frankly awful looking!
"There aren't any new car setup options since GP3 2000."
Groan....... it is getting worse by the minute. You cannot change camber settings, the gear ratios are stuffed, you cant do a final drive ratio either. The wing settings are unrealistic from 1 to 20, you need bigger.
"You cannot change the speed limiter manually and pit exit lights won't work, because penalties aren't implemented."
For @#$%& sake, what is wrong with them? It is so unrealistic driving without speed limiter and exit lights. They are saying that they are trying to recreate the 2001 season in full detail. So they just leave penalties out?
"There won't be any new extra features such safety cars, red flags, jumps starts, penalties, warm-up lap and extra practise before the race, because they don't have any time to implement them.."
Why the @!#$ then dont they hold the game back, so they can improve it???? GP3 was unfinished when it came out, and it looks as though it was going to be the same again. Unrealistic.
"According to Court, GC is doing just fine and has still the passion to continue with future Grand Prix games."
Yeah, cause he doesnt have to do anything. All he does is the bloody physics, which are unchanged.
I am really, really disappointed by this. Why? Because I bought F1 2001 yesterday. It was the best decision I made in my F1 gaming career. Why? Because it has so many 'little things' that add up to make a good game.
- A training mode in two and three seater cars at certain tracks, which is good to learn the game.
- Different carshapes and steering wheels for each team.
- Very good feedback via an LCD display on the steering wheel. You can change your pitstop strategy, change wing values, choose if you want to repair damage at next pit stop, etc. You can get info on each tyre temperature. You can see the certain damage aspects of the car.
- You have a speed limiter in the pits, that you can activate manually. There are pit exit lights. You have lots of radio feedback from the team, which is good.
- The graphics engine is ultra smooth, and you rarely get frame rate drops. You have a wealth of camera options, like T-Cam, and the on track cameras are amazing.
- You have many other car setup options, like changing camber settings for tyres, you have a final drive ratio which you can change, you can even set the ratio for reverse gear! There are seven gears....
- From in the cockpit view, you can see the suspension moving, which is a cool little addition.
- The tracks are very detailed, just as much as Larry's Canada track. There is lots more camber changes in the tracks. The bumps are very realistic. For example, Brazil has always known to be bumpy, and it is. You dont just drive over the bumps, you feel them. And they slow you down.
- The physics are quite good, maybe not as good as GP3's, but still good. In slower corners the cars sometimes suffer from chronic understeer, but that is about it.
- The game modes are quite good, the same as GP3s, plus the driving school. And you Test Days, (practice), you can have the option of having other cars there as well. You drive out of the garage.......
- You can adjust steering lock in the car setup menu, you have all of the flags implemented, you can be disqualifyed for driving carelessly and backwards. There isnt traction control, but there are lots of aids for rookies. You can have steering assistance on low, high or off.
Opposite Lock Assistance, on or off.
Braking point distance, low, high or off.
Stability assistance, low, high or off.
Spin recovery assitance, low, high or off.
Invulnerability, low, high or off.
Shifting assitance, on or off.
Throttle assitance, low, high or off.
Anti-lock braking assitance, low, high or off.
Pit lane assitance, on or off.
Clutch assitance, on or off.
With clutch assitance off, you can stall your car on the grid or anywhere around the track.
I have only been playing it for a day, so I am yet to drive on all the tracks or see all of the features fully. I have to pinch myself, saying is this an EA game? It is, and it is brilliant. And more than brilliant is the GT Mod available, which turns it into a brand new game.
I wont buy GP4, I will buy F1 2002, and I will laugh at you people stuck with 2D tracks, no red flags, no stop/go penalties etc.....
Do YOURSELF a favour. Buy F1 2001, or 2002 when it comes out, and stay away from the GP series because frankly, they dont know how to make games.
Have a nice day.
Rupert."
There, dwell on that for a second.