The Top Gear Thread

[Delphic Reason]

Sure, and if I had wanted to imply that the development effort required was disproportionate to the amount of fun potential, I would have explicitly said so rather than not saying anything, then bringing it up later as though it was written in black & white.

I think it was quite clear in my first post. No skin off my back that you did not see it so.

With all due respect, unless you do track modelling work yourself, I'll take lessons elsewhere. In the meantime, I can safely say that it would take less resources to model the Top Gear Test Track compared to Spa. I know it's not just the size of the track that matters, but it's also the level of detail around it, of which there is very little.

I don't do it myself. However I do know what goes into modeling a track, utilizing various different methods. It's not hard to learn such things if you take time to research. Not to mention the 1000's of videos online depicting exactly what goes into the process in detail. It's not a big mystery.

and once again, Spa was a broad example of another track that I wish they would have put some of their time into (or Pau, Bathurst, Sepang, among many others). Nothing was said about "Spa" specifically taking the same amount of time as TGTT. Just that it takes a LOT of time to model even something as simple as TGTT. Time, I believe could have been used better elsewhere.

How is the level of excitement over-the-top? People wtch the show, they know the track is in the game, they are eager to play it. What's wrong with that?!

Nothing's wrong with it. I never said there was anything wrong with it. I merely stated that I think people are getting overly-excited about something that isn't all that exciting in practice. It's my opinion. You have every right to your own. I'm not sure why this is making you so heated.

You saying it's boring is like me saying that any stock car that goes less than 100mph is not worth bothering with because it is too slow and boring. Yes, to some it might be, but not all. It's purely a matter of opinion, and while I do respect yours, you seem to think that we are all going to be somehow hugely disappointed.

Exactly, and I have said nothing about it being true for everyone. You assumed so. I think for the vast majority (especially hardcore driving sim enthusiasts) the excitement will dwindle fast once the track has been driven a few times. Like I said before. It's MY opinion.

Not my quote, and I would agree that as a literal statement, it is not warranted. However, I think in this case it is fairly obvious that they don't really mean that literally, they are just excited about driving around the track in GT5.

Who said it was your quote? How do you know how he meant it? You assume much.

It doesn't, and nor should it bother you what I think you thinik!

when have I said anything about your opinion bothering me?

You want to drive the track, it's going to be there for you. Have fun. I make a statement about the majority of people possibly getting bored with the track after a short time, and you seemingly take it personal. No reason to.

You can have your opinion, and I can have mine. The world goes on, I have a cup of tea, and you do whatever it is you do.

a one-on-one challenge is the most likely form of racing to take part at Dunsfold, just like that Tsukuba Wet Races from the Special Conditions Hall.

That seems like a fair bet. That could make the track a bit more exciting than endlessly hot-lapping, as well. The strategy could be interesting. You wouldn't want to get too far ahead of your rival, as that could put them in position to ram you off the track through Chicago.

 

[TokyoDrift]

I think it was quite clear in my first post. No skin off my back that you did not see it so.

It wasn't that clear.

I don't do it myself. However I do know what goes into modeling a track, utilizing various different methods. It's not hard to learn such things if you take time to research. Not to mention the 1000's of videos online depicting exactly what goes into the process in detail. It's not a big mystery.

Ah, the old, "I don't do it myself but I do know how to research things unlike you" approach. Let me reciprocate by saying that a mate of mine is a 3D modeller - not tracks, but 3D objects rendered for inclusion in magazines etc., so he does pretty realistic stuff. He knows a fair bit about the industry, and so I posted him the question about the relative effort of recreating the TGTT versus something like Spa. Needless to say, he was quite confident that the level of effort required to recrate the TGTT would be less than that of Spa.

Now, I never said by how much, I just said it would be less.

and once again, Spa was a broad example of another track that I wish they would have put some of their time into (or Pau, Bathurst, Sepang, among many others). Nothing was said about "Spa" specifically taking the same amount of time as TGTT. Just that it takes a LOT of time to model even something as simple as TGTT. Time, I believe could have been used better elsewhere.

Right, and it's time I believe was well spent.

Nothing's wrong with it. I never said there was anything wrong with it. I merely stated that I think people are getting overly-excited about something that isn't all that exciting in practice. It's my opinion. You have every right to your own. I'm not sure why this is making you so heated.

I never said that you said there was anything wrong with it. You assume too much.

Exactly, and I have said nothing about it being true for everyone. You assumed so. I think for the vast majority (especially hardcore driving sim enthusiasts) the excitement will dwindle fast once the track has been driven a few times. Like I said before. It's MY opinion.

I didn't assume anything. I just replied in response to your original statement that people would find it boring, and because I kinda' disagreed, you felt the need to defend your original position.

A track being "exciting" and "fun" are two different things. The TGTT is going to be exciting the first few times around, just like any other new track would be, but moreso because of the brand associated with it. After that, it's a matter of how much fun it is to drive around. With the TGTT being as it is, it won't be the kind of track you spend all day racing around, but it is there to serve a specific purpose; one I'm sure that will be welcomed by a lot of owners, most of which are not hardcore sim racers.

Who said it was your quote? How do you know how he meant it? You assume much.

When I wrote that, I was going to put in brackets something along the lines of asking you to not say something predictable like, "Who said it was your quote?".

I never said that I thought it was my quote. I know it was not mine, hence I said so. You assume too much.

He came along and said that it will represent weeks and weeks of sun deprivation, meaning weeks and weeks of never leaving the house. If you think he means it literally...

when have I said anything about your opinion bothering me?

Let's take this back a bit... You said to me earlier, "Shouldn't bother you what I think." Prior to you asking that, when have I said anything about your opinion bothering me?

You want to drive the track, it's going to be there for you. Have fun. I make a statement about the majority of people possibly getting bored with the track after a short time, and you seemingly take it personal. No reason to.

I make a statement in response to the majority of people possibly getting bored with the track after a short time, and you also seemingly take it personal. Strange isn't it?

You can have your opinion, and I can have mine. The world goes on, I have a cup of tea, and you do whatever it is you do.

Yep, the word does go on, and I just had a cup of coffee. I hope you enjoyed your cup of tea.

 

[danielwhite74]

And hope like hell the pack doesn't spread out too far. Could you imagine trying to take the Follow-Through at full speed when someone else is slowing down for Chicago? That section of the track is shared, and one pass is a hell of a lot faster than the other.

Pack racing is possible on the Top Gear test track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmxUsGiGp3w

 

[Delphic Reason]

It wasn't that clear.


Ah, the old, "I don't do it myself but I do know how to research things unlike you" approach. Let me reciprocate by saying that a mate of mine is a 3D modeller - not tracks, but 3D objects rendered for inclusion in magazines etc., so he does pretty realistic stuff. He knows a fair bit about the industry, and so I posted him the question about the relative effort of recreating the TGTT versus something like Spa. Needless to say, he was quite confident that the level of effort required to recrate the TGTT would be less than that of Spa.

Now, I never said by how much, I just said it would be less.


Right, and it's time I believe was well spent.


I never said that you said there was anything wrong with it. You assume too much.


I didn't assume anything. I just replied in response to your original statement that people would find it boring, and because I kinda' disagreed, you felt the need to defend your original position.

A track being "exciting" and "fun" are two different things. The TGTT is going to be exciting the first few times around, just like any other new track would be, but moreso because of the brand associated with it. After that, it's a matter of how much fun it is to drive around. With the TGTT being as it is, it won't be the kind of track you spend all day racing around, but it is there to serve a specific purpose; one I'm sure that will be welcomed by a lot of owners, most of which are not hardcore sim racers.


When I wrote that, I was going to put in brackets something along the lines of asking you to not say something predictable like, "Who said it was your quote?".

I never said that I thought it was my quote. I know it was not mine, hence I said so. You assume too much.

He came along and said that it will represent weeks and weeks of sun deprivation, meaning weeks and weeks of never leaving the house. If you think he means it literally...


Let's take this back a bit... You said to me earlier, "Shouldn't bother you what I think." Prior to you asking that, when have I said anything about your opinion bothering me?


I make a statement in response to the majority of people possibly getting bored with the track after a short time, and you also seemingly take it personal. Strange isn't it?

Good Lord... You my friend, are a piece of work.

This has gone on long enough. You have made some decent points in your previous posts, but this is rediculous. You have gone beyond making a point, and now you are just going on and on, and contradicting yourself for no reason. I was clear, and have explained everything such. I have no idea what is making you fly off like this.

By all means if you want to continue arguing semantics, my PM box is always open. Although, if you are just going to argue "opinions" than save your breath. Opinions are not something that leaves room for an argument. Your opinion is not going to change mine, and visa verse. I have not been heated regarding this little debate at all, yet you clearly have (enough exclamation points for one day I think), and then you accuse me of getting heated? You're on your own pal. You're logic on this issue is staggering to say the least.

Top Gear is a great show, and the Top Gear Test Track is part of that. My opinion regarding the over-the-top nature of some members excitement regarding the track remains the same. Your opinion seems just as carved in stone. Nothing wrong with either.

Yep, the word does go on, and I just had a cup of coffee. I hope you enjoyed your cup of tea.

Well thank the Lord for that... My cup of tea was lovely as always.

 

[TokyoDrift]

Good Lord... You my friend, are a piece of work.

This has gone on long enough.

Yep, it sure has. Was it fun for you too?! All I'd add is that I fail to see any contradiction in what I wrote, as I guess you fail to see any in yours.

Well thank the Lord for that... My cup of tea was lovely as always.

Good stuff, I like a nice cup of tea as well. In fact, I may just go and make one right now!

 

[ItsHim]

And that's what one should call exciting? Yeah, right.

Furthermore, I dread all the bragging which will be going on about beating Stig laptimes. I really don't know if I can stand this, it's bad enough as it is already.

 

[GMTN]

Great track, a lot of rare cars have been tested on this course so i'm glad to see that PD understands the significance of the TG track. Should make for some good racing as well, stigs ghost lap is going to be impossible to beat.

 

[speedfreak69]

stigs ghost lap is going to be impossible to beat.

You've got that backwards. It will be relatively easy, if you're a good driver, what with all the g-forces and mortal danger elements missing...

 

[Kryz11]

You've got that backwards. It will be relatively easy, if you're a good driver, what with all the g-forces and mortal danger elements missing...

Agree, heck STIG is NOT the best driver in the world! not to mention Stig uses tires that come with the car, we have PD generic tires.. Also not perfect conditions, many lap times had different temperatures and some even dry. All factors really do change grip. Unless we equip N3, S1 tires, also if GT5 has in game temperature and weather changer, we can replicate the track conditions to simulate the experience.

 

[Shinu]

I think it will be great track to test the car you just bought, and it will be fun if it will be used for drag racing (I think it has pretty long straights).

 

[hugo24]

I think it may finally put a bit of fun in hot lapping as I personally am not a fan of it. Couldn't stand in Prologue the 10 minute hot lap challenge where you couldn't end it before the 10 minutes no matter what time you set.

Would like similar to Top Gear to have a one hot lap and it's over sort challenge.

 

[Raagentreg]

Couldn't stand in Prologue the 10 minute hot lap challenge where you couldn't end it before the 10 minutes no matter what time you set.

You can stop it by pressing start then exit race, you would get the money that your current top laptime would be worth

Sorry for off topic...

 

[NihilismOnToast]

You can stop it by pressing start then exit race, you would get the money that your current top laptime would be worth

Sorry for off topic...

This is one of the fastest ways to earn money in Prologue. Complete a lap in the S class challenge with the Ford GT on High Speed Ring, then quit after the first lap.

Easy money!

</OFFTOPIC>

 

[Dan_]

Holy crap, the track is very wide! I never noticed that before, it might allow easy and clean overtakes.

 

[TokyoDrift]

Holy crap, the track is very wide! I never noticed that before, it might allow easy and clean overtakes.

Yeah, there are plenty of videos on You Tube showing in-car view of the TGTT in games like GTR2 and rFactor. The figure 8 nature of it would make for some interesting 16 car races!

 

[Brock5000]

If they put Stig times in they will probably be either as the time to beat for a gold medal in license tests or as the in-house top time on the test scoreboards.

 

[G.T.Ace]

This is one of the fastest ways to earn money in Prologue. Complete a lap in the S class challenge with the Ford GT on High Speed Ring, then quit after the first lap.

Easy money!

</OFFTOPIC>

It's a cheat though, because you exploit a bug when you do this.

EDIT: Or not, sorry, might have confused there something.

 

[Lemminkainen]

I was watching TG last night (Final episode season 14) when Jeremy was interviewing Seasick Steve. JC said the current Lacetti was getting pretty knackered, and hinted at their being a replacement for it next season.

So, obviously, we now have the real reason why GT5 is taking so long. Sony is waiting for Top Gear to pick a new reasonably-priced car so it can be included in the game!! 💡

 

[Northstar]

I was watching TG last night (Final episode season 14) when Jeremy was interviewing Seasick Steve. JC said the current Lacetti was getting pretty knackered, and hinted at their being a replacement for it next season.

So, obviously, we now have the real reason why GT5 is taking so long. Sony is waiting for Top Gear to pick a new reasonably-priced car so it can be included in the game!! 💡

It was announced awhile ago it will be a Chevrolet Cruze.

 

[Lemminkainen]

It was announced awhile ago it will be a Chevrolet Cruze.

Dang. There goes my theory. That's what I get for watching it on BBCAmerica long after it happens...

 

[TokyoDrift]

If they put Stig times in they will probably be either as the time to beat for a gold medal in license tests or as the in-house top time on the test scoreboards.

Aye, but chances are though, those times The Stig has done are probably quite easily beatable in-game.

 

[eSZee]

You've got that backwards. It will be relatively easy, if you're a good driver, what with all the g-forces and mortal danger elements missing...

Why would Stig have any of those when racing? All he has to fear is going off the tarmac and sliding along on grass. Not much of a mortal danger.

 

[Northstar]

Why would Stig have any of those when racing? All he has to fear is going off the tarmac and sliding along on grass. Not much of a mortal danger.

He is a race car driver(presumably), they are trained to suppress fear but it's always there. Even if there are miles of runoff on every side fear still is a factor.

 

[TokyoDrift]

Why would Stig have any of those when racing? All he has to fear is going off the tarmac and sliding along on grass. Not much of a mortal danger.

Regardless of who you are, thrashing a car around a virtual track is a lot less demanding (both physically and mentally) than thrashing a car around a real track. Play GT5P with the F1 around Suzuka and see how easy it is to beat the real life track record of 1m 31s or so. I'd get nowhere near that in real life.

 

[eSZee]

Regardless of who you are, thrashing a car around a virtual track is a lot less demanding (both physically and mentally) than thrashing a car around a real track. Play GT5P with the F1 around Suzuka and see how easy it is to beat the real life track record of 1m 31s or so. I'd get nowhere near that in real life.

Mental and physical fatigue are "mortal dangers"? We're talking about a 1:20s lap, I don't see fatigue coming into the picture.
I'm not disagreeing that beating stig's laps will be hard, I'm disagreeing with some of the reasons people give as to why it won't be.

 

[TokyoDrift]

I'm not disagreeing that beating stig's laps will be hard, I'm disagreeing with some of the reasons people give as to why it won't be.

It takes 1m 30s to hot lap an F1 car around Suzuka. I'd barely get the car around the track in one piece, let alone in 1m 30s, yet here I am, able to get that time in Prologue. Whatever those reasons are, they are the same reasons why most people will beat Stig's times in-game.

 

[McLaren]

Ignore.

 

[qirex]

If they put Stig times in they will probably be either as the time to beat for a gold medal in license tests or as the in-house top time on the test scoreboards.

If they put entire power lap board it would be great. Even for times in license should be interesting. Lot's of those cars were driven on the edge.