I think that is harsh, this definitely looks more like something that would exist in real life and I like that of a simulator. I didn't enjoy the original AS2 chicane so much anyway. The only change that I would need to be convinced of is the corner at the far end of the GP circuit, it doesn't look like it fits with the rest of the circuit. But as you said, it's hard to say without driving it.
The current AS2 second chicane tempts you in two wide, only to throw you out onto the grass if you're still two wide at the apex, followed by the armco if you're driving AS2R and over a huge grassy jump after that. The alterations we see in the remodelled chicane should stop that happening so often. The first chicane has its problems too with people being far too brazen, so I like the look of these calming measures.
The far hairpin on the GP/GT/North circuit becoming two separate apexes needs a drive before we can determine whether the original flow of the circuit is changed to the point where it impacts the enjoyment of the lap. Either way, you're right, it doesn't appear to fit the rest of the track.
The different coloured tarmac is a nice touch, you can see other interesting changes to the corkscrew section and the GP/GT entry into the corkscrew section to slow cars down as well as the final sweeper which is tighter akin to the infield at Westhill. GP/GT T1 is also a huge change, to make it much more like the Monza parabolica except with less run-off before you meet a tyre wall after the apex. Looking forward to driving it.
We can't try them yet!
You may also receive some repair bills from people crashing in the right hander after the bridge in KY3...
More seriously though, I'm looking forward to trying those changes, and wondering how things will turn out for Aston layouts coming from the Club or Grand Touring configurations and turning left back to the north (Cadet or North reversed configs, leading to the climbing chicane), since it's now a tighter left into a right and a very tight left.
Is it actual character or is it just a nostalgic bias you're expressing? Better to first test rather than making assumptions without actually driving the revised versions beforehand.
I see what you're getting at, but it's the former.
When you drive the to-be double apex corner before the twisty section, you'll notice it's a bit awkward to hit right with its camber, radius and elevation change, the new version kinda looks a bit boring compared to that.
Similar with the AS2 chicane which especially in reverse direction is a corner that i feel is a nice challenge.
However i think the goal of eliminating 'close your eyes and pray' corners is a good one, however iconic the FE chicanes are i'm looking forward to them getting some of that treatment, hotlapping FE2 is truly a miserable experience.
Anyway, even if these particular changes might not be to my taste, i still look forward to driving these updated tracks and agree that any judgment is better saved until then
This is really awesome, thanks for the update info.
My deep hope is that with improved environments you would make as many official configurations as possible. Official configurations (e.g so1-so25) are always better than open layout tracks.
And my last wish, please include Old Westhill as extra content, no matter how bad graphics it has compared to new ones. We all love it, and when it comes as extra content, it is always a bonus to every one in our community.
Let's hope it will affect them, time to have LFS competing again modern titles with crazy budgets on graphics ! Optimization is indeed a key LFS is holding, but it is not going to work if the target spec is "run full 4K 90Hz with a Celeron Coppermine without even needing a graphic board".
there's a difference between having a game run and hoping extreme results from a trash pc.
as for performance, shouldn't impact too much. I've read somewhere that LFS was converted to DX11 around 2020 for graphics update. The difference between DX9 and 11 performance wise isn't really anything critical. (unless you're running a 2010 pentium on integrated graphics, at this point, even a gt710 or gt1030 would help benefit with performance, yes, even on a pentium or celeron)
The bar of whats being called a trash computer will be different at the time of release. Half the gaming world freaked out about the system requirements of Far Cry 2 in 2008. You can now play it on mobile phone. I recommend to focus on real problems not artificial ones.