At 8:00am this morning i updated manually both CD2 and CD4 License files

Target times were 1:44.40 for the Big GTRs and 0.53.00 for the Mini GTR's

There are now

319 Full License (All GTR's), please use CD2 or CD4
1454 Big GTR License holders, Please use CD2
610 Mini GTR License holders, Please use CD4

You can check your license on our website home page.

Thanks Birder

On to CD2 for me then tonight then! At the back of the grid

Quote from morcs :

At the back of the grid

I'll be fighting you all the way for that position

Just tried the CD3 server what a cracking car/track combo very enjoyable

Thanks very much for restricting mid-race joins on CD3. Already a much cleaner atmosphere due to that. Shame the votes don't work, but I guess that's why people should race on CD4 some *HINT HINT HINT!!!*

Thanks for being flexible with your servers, CD people

Grmbl, was just racing on CD1 - until my license is sorted out, did plenty of laps below target time - running 1st, and just as I enter the final lap the server goes down Only for about 10 secs or so, then everyone could join again. I don't win races that often or that easily so yeah... I was fairly pissed off by this I know stuff like that happens but damn it why must it happen when I'm about to win a race? Just needed to get it off my chest

they updated to a later X patch that just came out obsolum. Would have been nice if we got some warning but oh well. least you know you got it in you now . Hopefully race you very soon fella! your good fun and clean to boot!.

Quote from obsolum :

Grmbl, was just racing on CD1 - until my license is sorted out, did plenty of laps below target time - running 1st, and just as I enter the final lap the server goes down Only for about 10 secs or so, then everyone could join again. I don't win races that often or that easily so yeah... I was fairly pissed off by this I know stuff like that happens but damn it why must it happen when I'm about to win a race? Just needed to get it off my chest

Sorry but 500Servers updated the servers to X2 as soon as they became aware of the problem with X

I will be upgrading the license files over the weekend

first of all i must say a exellent well done to the CD guys!

i have been playing on CD 3 for the past few days now and narrowing my lap times down to mid 51's. i just tried to find the CD 4 server but could not find it? is it down or what?
also, the only thing that annoys me about cd 3 is the people who dont know how to deal with a blue flag ......
i went to pass someone as i was in the lead ..... honking my horn ... following him down a straight nearing a corner .... he slams on. i run into the back of him and write my car off :bump:
has happened a few times today, but like i said its all brilliant fun trying to wined your way from the back to the front.

many thanks guys

At 11.00am on 23rd June 2007 all license file have been updated

Target times now 1:44.40 for the Big GTR's on AS3 and 0.53.00 for the small GTR's on AS1

Check you license on our website homepage

A License allows you on all servers
B License allows you drive the Big GTRs (FZR, XRR, FXR)
C License allows you drive the small GTRs (UFR, XFR)

Good, I'll join CD2 later today and see if I can keep up. Although I've heard ppl on CD1 complain that there's hardly ever anyone in CD2 anymore? I went in there last night and there were 4 ppl on.

I've been thinking... Would it help if for example the really fast drivers - ie. the ones that consistently lap below 1:44 and get fastest laps of 1:42 or even 1:41 - get kicked off CD1 with perhaps a message saying to please join CD2? Since the majority of drivers on CD1 haven't yet reached the target, they never have a chance of actually competing for the top positions when there's a bunch of really fast drivers on. It kinda takes the fun out of it, I think

I don't think it would be very hard to implement? For example, someone who runs 3 or 4 laps (out of a 10 lap race) below 1:44 gets kicked off the server. That way he won't be able to win that race anymore, and maybe he'll be more likely to join CD2. And a guy that runs one lap of 1:42 or 1:41:?? gets kicked as well because he's obviously fast enough to compete on CD2.

It's like those Counter-Strike servers for beginners they used to have on UK2.Net. If your frags would go above 11, or the difference between your frags and your deaths was more than 6 you would get a temporary ban. A "XXX was banned to protect beginners" message would then appear

Just an idea.

I knew someone was going to suggest it sooner or later, and Birder already mentioned it earlier on. I don't really know how to word my reply, I've rewritten it a few times already

- Slow drivers are not really a problem as such, on a full server I expect every car I come across to be dangerous until proven otherwise.

- There is a difference between slow drivers and dangerously slow drivers. You may surely disagree here, but imo there is a limit to how slow one can drive and not become a liability. For example, 1:44.40 is a relatively clean lap, maybe a bit of under/oversteer here and there, brake points are not perfected, and the chicane is the only real hazard. That's no problem, but add another 4+ seconds to that per lap, each lap, and the driver either spins out every lap or essentially comes to a halt more than once.

- There is a difference between slow or fast drivers and careless drivers. The former make fairly obvious attempts to follow racing etiquette and use common sense, the latter do not. Common sense isn't really based on lap times imo. Regardless of whether one averages 1:45.0 or 1:41.0 it should be a given to obey blue flags (or go find out what they are when getting told off, and then obey them), not reverse down the front straight to get to the pits, not re-join into the path of other cars etc.

- Quick drivers can be nice too, share sets and tips if asked politely. They should be used as an asset, instead of segregating them from slower (read: less experienced) drivers. Ultimately, this point boils down to this: how are slow and inexperienced drivers supposed to improve, without picking up bad habits, if there are no fast, experienced drivers to contrast themselves to?

- If there was one suggestion I'd make with regards to the CD servers it would be to police the behaviour of the faster drivers a bit more aggressively. By that I mean cut down on the blue flag spam, even by CD members, and encourage patience and positiveness instead of telling people off, as well as not tolerating some of the attitude fast drivers come up with after been taken off the track. However, because I don't like to tell people how to run their own servers I'm not actually suggesting anything of the sort.

- The CS analogy fails a bit imo, because über-fraggers won't give newbies a chance, ruining their gameplay experience, whereas in LFS one can have great races even in the middle or back of the pack.

Good points, but I thought the original idea was to give the consistently fast and clean drivers a bonehead-free server to exercise their talents on.

Hanging around the CD1 and 3 servers to "help" the inexperienced with setups and such is a noble idea, but good setups are easy to find, and for driving tips it's a no brainer to ride as a spectator via in-car view with the hot shoes in the rare instance they actually bother to use the CD2 and 3 servers.

Which leads me to agreeing with obsolum: Once you earn your CD2 and/or 4 license, you should be kicked off of 1 and 3. It's for your benefit, after all.

And if they wanted to do that they'd go on CD2 without being forced, yes? Maybe they have some other reason apart from clean races for staying on CD1.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hang around CD1 to help people. I hang around because it's the only non-ss/cruise/drift server that's consistently full. Benefit depends on what I'm looking for, does it not?. If I had to choose from a full CD1 and a 5-manned CD2 I'd still go with CD1 because it's more fun to drive with that many people.

Bottom line for me is a bit selfish though, I suppose, unless the server has people in the double digits in it, I probably won't even join. If I get kicked out of CD1 and there's not 15 people on CD2, I guess that's the end of GTRs for a while for me. Someone will probably say I'm a part of the reason CD2 is empty, and they'd be right, but I play LFS to have fun. Fun is driving with many, many people. I cba to wait for ages to get 15+ people to race with me.

Oh, and, as noble as suggesting that fast drivers be kicked elsewhere for their own benefit is, I agree with myself

To each his own, but the point remains, if the option to race on CD1 and 3 was taken away once they becomed licensed, more people would be on 2 and 4. That's if they still want to race on a CD server.

The problem now is that most of them think as you do. They want to stay where the action is, on 1 and 3. It's a Catch 22 situation. There is more action on 1 and 3 because very few licensed drivers go to 2 and 4 as they should.

Limit them to 2 and 4 upon getting licensed, and you'll have plenty of competition. Unless, as I said before, for some reason they get bullheaded and don't like being confined to a particular server, and decide to boycott CD altogether. Which would make it easier for birder, because then he could shut down 2 and 4. May as well anyway, since so many are too narrow minded to take advantage of the great opportunity that is given them.

As for 15+ car races, who are we kidding here? This is road racing. I've seen a 3 car race at best. And one of those usually winds up getting dumped at the next corner. No, more often than not, those 15+ cars are strung out all over the track. Unless you get your jollies from lapping backmarkers, I fail to see how you can be "racing" that many cars. In NASCAR style, yes. Road racing, no. Road racing more often than not, is an extended qualifying session. I'm not knocking it, I love it. But I'm not fooling my self into thinking it's pack of cars racing together either. I mean if I'm running second, I'm only aware of the cars running 1st and 3rd. I'm oblivious to the others unless they get in the way becuase they are too slow. Which, of course, I wouldn't have to deal with if I were licensed and had the opportunity to go to a better server.

As a spectator, full fields provide great comedy. I'll use chase view from behind the last competitor on the grid, just to watch the mayhem that unfolds at the start.

Well, this is getting off-topic now, but I get to race most people on the grid anyway because when I join at the back of the grid I have to race and pass most people to get to where to leaders are. Then, once I've managed to get that far and win once, I don't stay there. Instead I start from the back again That gives plenty of opportunity to race lots of different people, and sometimes I have good battles trying to get past people who defend well, even if they aren't aliens.

If you're oblivious to anyone but the guy in front of you and the one behind you, especially in a race with a forced pit stop, your racecraft needs a bit of work Nah, jk, but seriously though keep an eye on the perfect pit window and when other racers pit as well and it becomes a more tactical race too.

C'mon now. Let's admit the real reason most don't go over to 2 and 4. It's because they know everyone there will be as good as or better than they are. On 1 and 3, they're used to running in the top 5. If they all move to 2 and 4, they might have to settle for, shudder, being outside of the top 10.

Ohh, the shame :o Do note that if everyone's closely matched all you'll end up with is half a lap of fighting for position and the rest of the 10 laps looking at the same guy's rear bumper with little or no passing.

Quote from HEAVYSET :

C'mon now. Let's admit the real reason most don't go over to 2 and 4. It's because they know everyone there will be as good as or better than they are. On 1 and 3, they're used to running in the top 5. If they all move to 2 and 4, they might have to settle for, shudder, being outside of the top 10.

Finally, that's what I wanted to hear It's not a matter of the faster drivers being a danger to the slower ones or any of the other points NotAnIllusion mentioned, really. I just get the feeling that all the really fast guys are looking for some easy wins, maybe to improve their LFSW stats a bit. The somewhat slower people who are running laps between 1:44 and 1:45 - and maybe once or twice a race a lap below target - would like to have a fair chance at a podium finish, too. At least I know I do It doesn't really bother me if there's just one or two guys that consistently lap 1:43 or 1:42, but sometimes I really get the impression that all the "pro's" are like "Hmm, I feel like winning some easy races, better join CD1".

It's like Heavyset said, restrict the licensed drivers to servers 2 and 4 and there'll be more people on. Hell, CD2 is the exact same combo so what possible reason could a licensed driver have to refuse to join there, other than that he doesn't want to settle for a place outside of the top 5 or 10?

Quote from obsolum :

It's like Heavyset said, restrict the licensed drivers to servers 2 and 4 and there'll be more people on. Hell, CD2 is the exact same combo so what possible reason could a licensed driver have to refuse to join there, other than that he doesn't want to settle for a place outside of the top 5 or 10?

The reason I don't join there is that it's empty most of the time. It's more fun to race with 32 people than to do hotlaps without no-one else joining. I don't think that many people are there just for the stats.
So the real reason why no-one joins CD2 or CD4 is because no-one else joins there. It's a vicious cycle.

Quote from obsolum :

Finally, that's what I wanted to hear It's not a matter of the faster drivers being a danger to the slower ones or any of the other points NotAnIllusion mentioned, really. I just get the feeling that all the really fast guys are looking for some easy wins, maybe to improve their LFSW stats a bit. The somewhat slower people who are running laps between 1:44 and 1:45 - and maybe once or twice a race a lap below target - would like to have a fair chance at a podium finish, too. At least I know I do It doesn't really bother me if there's just one or two guys that consistently lap 1:43 or 1:42, but sometimes I really get the impression that all the "pro's" are like "Hmm, I feel like winning some easy races, better join CD1".

It's like Heavyset said, restrict the licensed drivers to servers 2 and 4 and there'll be more people on. Hell, CD2 is the exact same combo so what possible reason could a licensed driver have to refuse to join there, other than that he doesn't want to settle for a place outside of the top 5 or 10?

It wouldn't change a thing though. It depends entirely on how you define fast and slow. All you'll end up having is the guy doing borderline licence times having easy wins against slower people, and don't tell me there aren't any who are in the 46-48 or slower bracket because there are. If this thread refers to the half-aliens who actually do dominate the wins (FZR drivers like Enzo and the like) and drive sub 42s all the time, and I think it does, the cut off should then somewhere in the 42s, not any slower than that. This is based on the following:

41s = v. fast
42s = fast
43s = competitive
44s = ok
up to 46 = slow and
upwards of 46 = too slow

The idea behind the licence system is not to create elitist servers. If there was a way to filter drivers based on attitude I am sure we would use it as the licence is just an idea to offer cleaner racing. The time of 1:44.4 is just a guess at where once you have passed it you can probably lap fairly consistently. If you start causing trouble on CD2 (or CD4) it is easier for the admins as it is likely to be caused by attitude as you will have proved a reasonable level of driving for this combo.

Remember the current system is just a temporary one and will be replaced once the intended system has been rewritten for patch X. Don't worry too much about the current system or how it can be improved because it won't be with us forever.

Maxim

Mmm i gotta be honest, I'm a full licensed driver on CD servers but i usually join CD3 as well. It's not just because there racers there but i find it rather enjoying to race as well. This afternoon we had such good races with a couple of people there. Now i would like to join CD4 as well but that MRT in that server is kinda disturbing because if i search for FWD cars it does NOT show CD4 server because of the MRT. If i see anyone racing there i'll surely join.

Keep up the good work CD and don't let some 'retarded comments' discourage you

Quote from battle :

If i see anyone racing there i'll surely join.

Haha! A common thought. It's like the old "What was first, the chicken or the egg?" argument. I can picture a hundred licensed drivers all sitting there thinking, "I'll join if someone else does." :Kick_Can_

Just joking. You all have your reasons, and I respect that.

First and foremost i would just like to say hello everyone as i just purchased the game and ill tell ya its a blast i must agree with birder i my self was going to race just today and ironicly there was a server message while waiting on the tree that says us common sense in T1 well as soon as i topped the hill there it was a mass mess of cars tangled up in the sand trap and i was laughing pretty hard whilst i carefully made my way through the tangle got to second turn was gearing down and about 50 meters infront of me here we go again a mangled mess of cars so i had to hit brakes a little harder this time looked in rearview and sure enough about 4 car lengths behind me here come three cars who i guess did not see the mayhem or the break lights so i get slammed into the car infront of me and put us both out of commision so out of 40 something cars theres probably only 23 left in the race so i can understand the other servers being setup for some drivers that have been in these races and can handle the mayhem and get the times so as a noob myself i appreciate the way the server is run i can see where the admin trouble could come about so i give it to you fellas you really have your hands tied i hope to get in sooner or later maybe when there arent so many cars and give it a whirl at getting my time in and a licesense so i hope to see you all soon thanks for having all of us drivers on your servers