My Diaries

A Lurid Tale of Obsession, Depravity, Wits and Attempted Wit

Mon Feb 1, 1999

Winning a lot of the International Prize LM Cars.

Based on mail to Nick.

Well, this weekend I won several of the nifty prize cars, by doing the international series.

The first time I tried the UKversusJapan, with my race modified (Castrolized?) Cerbera, I lost to an absolutely identical-looking Cerbera. This is the first time I have seen the computer generate an identical opponent in a series, although I think occasionally back in my days of Spot Races another red Supra MA70 would show up. But that's not as distinctive as the two-tone racing Cerbera.

Eventually I got my footing, and the Cerbera won a Cerbera. (green). Winning that car is the object of the game, isn't it? It sure seems like it. Before driving it, I think I humiliated myself with the Viper in the Normal Car series. I humiliated myself with several cars in the Normal Car series last weekend. But I remember driving the Cerbera and thinking "this car is on rails"; I think that was partly because of the comparison with the Normal Car series. I managed to get the Viper to third in the Normal Car series, but other attempts (Griffith, Impreza Mitsubishi GTO 4WD) failed miserably. Notice how the Mitsubishi GTO twin turbo series of cars say "276bhp" on the showroom, but "311bhp" after you've bought them? A nice change from the Subarus which seem to lose about 6bhp after you buy them.

I wish there was a series with cars of the same caliber as the Normal Car Series, but which had shorter races. One observation of the Normal Car series which I did make with the Griffith on the Mini Ring was that the cars do not try hard to keep you lapped. (I spun out early and got lapped on lap 4, but got back ahead and the leader stayed behind).

In addition, I wish there was a series of 5 lap races which was not as intense as the Normal Car Series. Doing the Normal Car Series can literally give me a headache.

I used the prize Cerbera, I think, to win the UK versus US series, winning the green Castrol RX7. (Seems ironic, since it's neither American nor English). I brought out the 900hp Skyline to win the Japan vs US series, winning a white Viper with blue stripes. It's good to have a couple of Vipers in your garage. To vipe your vindshield.

I think acceleration burbling, noticeable in all LM cars, and large American cars, may be the game punishing you for not warming up properly before the start. I now think dutifully doing that warm up may be essential to really good license times, etc. I.e. presumably the game punishes you, albeit less dramatically, even with less powerful cars. I did a silver time for B-8, that leaves only B-3 at bronze. I discovered you *can* do a bronze B-3 (Deep Forest Haipin) without brakes, but am not sure how that info relates to doing a really fast time. I think B-3 is the hardest B test both to get silver, and even to get bronze, and I'm not sure that's great game design, since it can make for early discouragement. I suppose it's a relief when the other tests are easier. And you are allowed to take them early, so...

Silly stuff I did included taking the prize Cerbera to put some decent records on the Spot Races. I guess they are easier than the Sunday Cup, in terms of times, but I think the other cars in the Sunday Cup try a little harder to let you win if you are close. The silliest thing was when I took the 900hp Skyline to the High Speed Ring Spot Race, and got the pole even after spinning out on the last corner when qualifying. So I did the race over, and demolished the records nicely. Slightly less silly was taking this thoroughbred racing machine to sweep the FR series. It's fun setting decent track records, but I wish they were accessible without entering the series. Also, the info from other series should be available in all series.

Speaking of letting you win. I took the prize Cerbera to the UK/Japan series, trying to win for a second time. I thought I was going to lose. I forgot where I was on Trial Mountain II and wiped out badly on the tricky sharp left-hander. I never recovered, finishing 6th. I cleaned up okay on SS R5 and HSR. But then I was doing nicely at GVE II, but a little worried about the guy right behind me, who wasn't a contender anyway, so I lost control on the very last hairpin. I didn't spin, but went off into the gravel, and lost 4 positions finishing 5th. So, the series leading RX7 has 22 points to my 21 going into the dreaded SS R11. Even the fact it has so few points is an indication they try to help you win.

Anyway, on R11 I have my usual share of minor disasters for that course. Attempting to go slowly through that awful chicane and getting spun around by a rear-ending computer car (they have impeccable night vision, of course) usually happens at least once. But I keep soldiering on, having learned a reasonable rhythm for the first set of twiddlies after turn 2 (the sharpish one with the red barriers) which allows me to keep picking off the opposition. Now I noticed the RX7 poking around a little near the back of the pack. That's good, I thought. I just need to finish with one car between him and me, and I get two more points and can win the series without even winning the race. I manage to stay calm, and even take second on the finishing straight, and sure enough, I win the series. The RX7 finished 5th in the race.

But I win an identical Cerbera. Not even a purple one. But, being a millionaire now , I don't bother selling the car, but keep it for reference. (I.e. settings). If I win a purple one, I guess I'll sell this second green one. Or maybe I'll just donate it to the Salvation Army. The tax deduction should be worth more than what the TVR dealer will give me.

Probably some weekend I'll take my million and use it to "borrow" the $500K Special Models (ie. test drive them, but not save the game).

Actually, one would think you could take cars for a test-drive without buying them; perhaps to the test centre and to Autumn Mini time trial. (results could be not saved unless you actually own the car). But perhaps that's a North American culture thing. Perhaps in Japan you buy cars without test driving them. Of course, they'd have to decide whether you could test drive cars you didn't have the money for. Actually I did do some test-driving when trying to compare 4wd Normal Cars (in vain, of course), since I didn't want too many in my garage and/or to donate too much to the Auto Dealers' Charity. Way back when I first started playing the game I did one set of several days using a Toyota Corolla Levin which I never saved. After that I bought a Supra MA70 which is apparently one of the good choices. So I guess one does have a test drive option, but it is a hassle.

Pole times for Megaspeed Cup seem to be easier to get as event progresses, so I think required time is somewhere around 51 seconds, versus the 56 which is easy enough to beat in the other direction.

Actually, in several of the series the races seem to get easier as you move through the series, as if they've tuned the game for "come from behind" excitement. A big exception, right now, seems to be the several series which end with SSR11, but it feels like perhaps that track is just difficult to learn, and the competition is not difficult, per se. (Except for their night-vision advantage). Besides, you've often got the series wrapped up by then, anyway.