Hey guys, I finally got my last project (for now) to end. Not quitting... just getting a break... because my girlfriend thinks I've lost my mind when I edit this stuff in the nights.
There are only pay versions of the 2004 full F1 grid. Not anymore. I collected all skins from RaceDepartment ( Eatyoubrocookie, Galee, Valdi Silva) for Kunos F2004 and added helmets and suits from other mods to make them look decent.
Then I started testing and amazingly found out that even Kunos car had physic issues with the newest CSP. It didn't drive so well. So I took the tyre model from VRC 2007 (which is among the best modern driving F1 imho) and adjusted it a little. All issues were gone (cars no longer drive to the gravel at Nurburgring, etc) I tested every track and let AI race full races before I picked up the track. I also like how it drives. It's stable, has plenty of traction but not too much to still keep that danger element of sliding there. Kunos car only has that annoying tyre rubber whine on the corners which I don't like... so if someone have removed that I could put that into the sounds.
About the tracks... for example ACU Interlagos no longer works. When it's time for AI to pit, the cars will crash to the concrete wall before the pitlane entry. I mean they crash like 200 km/h and all die hehe. I took the 1998 version. Yes I know the pit exit is too short but it races beautifully and safely full 20 laps and pits perfect.
Another inaccurate track version is the Monaco 1998. The pitlane is at wrong side and the Sainte Devoite should be open (not having a wall). But it's the only Monaco that will have 100% trouble free, challenging race. I tried every Monaco track and the 1998 is superior. Would you choose nice eyecandy and erratic track or superior racing? I always choose the racing.
All other tracks are accurate. Barcelona has the 2004 layout and the grandest thing is my mate RMI Wood's accurate Spa 2004 which I really enjoy driving. It's one of the best tracks I've driven... VHE Hockenheim is my favorite layout from these 2000's tracks though. I always have amazing races against the AI there. I finally edited that grey MOBIL 1 bottle on top of the building too (in the skin packet).
I also tested the fuel consumption for days. Now the starting fuel for AI (and user) and the maximum fuel is 57 L. This forces the AI to pit once per every 20 lap race. Sometimes AI pits twice and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. But it's like 3 out of 10 times only.
BUT... you can't skip qualifying. Otherwise AI can't calculate how much fuel it needs and it will pit too early (and twice). But why would any sane person skip qualifying in the first place if you're playing a season... but you never know about these hotlappers (who have their own kooky CM presets and then complain that nothing works). Yes... do NOT do any CM presets unless you want to ruin the championship, it's all defined in the JSON files.
Schumacher was totally dominant in the 2004 season and his AI level is 100 and I set him aggression 30 which is pushing it as increased aggression creates erratic behaviour. Barrichello AI level is 97, then followed by Alonso, Montoya, Coulthard, Button etc. User is set for Kimi (I always love to race him hehe) but of course you can change this from the champs file easily.
I'm not a great sim racer but I'm not the worst, either... and I find Schumacher pretty much impossible to beat in most tracks but hey... he SHOULD be impossible to beat in that season because that car was superior.
TV graphics try to mimic the genuine grey/white/black SIEMENS graphics that they used in 2004. Leaderboard has tyre manufacturer "B" or "M", all team information and drivers' numbers.
I also created all correct track sponsors for every single circuit (Bahrain 2004 and Spa 2004 don't need them of course as they're superb 2004 conversions). It was quite a lot of work but fun. Every single banner is not in their 100% correct positions on the circuits (I tried my best) but for sure they're all accurate for 2004.
Yes, this is 100% free thanks to the skin makers, Kunos, Shin, RMI Wood and all other great track makers. Sure it's all skin based but as I said previously, skin based seasons (and grids) give the most realistic results. You're going to miss the individual car sounds but how does that matter when you're controlling only one car at the time, huh?
All downloads again in the video description (so I don't have to edit the links from many times when something gets update).
You can see all car skins at 8:23 in the video. Sure they're not Cimmerian Iter 2008 mod quality but they're ok to me (as I'm not that much into eyecandy... only RACING hehe).
Hope you like it. I'm already playing it (5 races completed and I get my a$$ kicked by Ferraris).
Stay tuned, though I doubt I need to remind you. Peace out.
