Volume 1: Q&A
Welcome, to volume 1 edition of MAGIC Thursday. NSR Watches new weekly interview with an actual beta tester working on EA NASCAR SimRacing.
this is a Q & A with RTW Stringer and James Hawkins in his words
"Let me say this...If any part of this is altered in any way it will be known. I do plan on posting this to several different league admins. Also an origional will be posted into our members section. I have gone through a lot of work to get the support of EA on this venture and James and I have spent a lot of time discussing the best answer to each question."
enjoyNSR Watch: How often are you currently testing NSR, and what build number are you compared to the last patched version.
Although I was not a part of the Alpha-Beta Team I do know for fact that they tested nearly every evening into the wee hours of the night. 2am was pretty typical if not later. The people that made up this Team pretty much put their life on hold. I know that the last several weeks before the game went off to print that James spent many nights at the office trying to get as much accomplished as possible. I have heard from several sources of mine at EA that the guys developing a game often pull 16 hour days for the entire development and initial testing stage of a game.
Currently as Beta Testers, we are set up to test once a week officially. We are also encouraged to test in groups or privately at any time to further discover any potential issues that may not have come to light during an official Thursday testing session. At this time due to recoding of some of the more difficult rules..ie...the lucky dog rule. Personal feeling from me on this rules and coding issues is that it could be considered the NASCAR rule with the greatest possibility of variants. The current patch out to the public is 1025. Our last testing session we worked on build 1029. But please keep one thing in mind. A lot of times variables and coding have been changed but reissued under the same build number. One of the main reasons for this is because often times when we have a new build to test we have to uninstal our previous testing version and reinstal the game clean plus the public patch. At that time a new build is installed.
NSR Watch: What is the general feeling among the beta testers? Are they optomistic on the way EA is handling things?
I cannot speak for other testers. I personally hold high hopes for this game. I am not afraid to ask James questions, even on a daily basis. Although what I ask may not have an answer. He always tries to be as open and honest as EA allows him without him jeopardizing his position with EA. If I was to guess a general feeling among testers I would have to say hopeful but slightly frustrated. As harder issues are being recoded, it takes longer and longer to perform the initial run of the build in-house to ensure that what they have corrected has not affected something else. Along comes Wednesday, we all look for an email from James on whether or not we are testing a new build. As the day goes on I am sure that we all get a little antsy and start emailing James with testing questions.
NSR Watch: Has James Hawkins been showing up for the test sessions, and if so what is his attitude?
James has always to my knowledge shown up for the testing session of each build. He comes in with good spirits and participates in multiple different ways. He will get in a car and race with us and he will sit in spectator mode as to see the whole field and instruct us on what he wants us to do. He has even gone as far as to give each driver a specific instruction and it's up to us to make sure we do exactly as he says. When it gets to a point like that he is looking to perfectly recreate an issue and then work on variables that he instructs us to create.
NSR Watch:In your opinion do you believe that this game will be patched by the beginning of the 2006 NASCAR Season?
My understanding is that EA are looking at ways to best serve the NSR community for the longer term and are concerned that they do not compound the frustrations already being felt by prematurely releasing further updates to or about the game. I also understand that EA is working on a longer term plan for NASCAR simulations and that they intend to confirm that plan when all of the components are in place.
NSR Watch: What kind of bugs are you finding and has EA made
much progress since the last patch?
This is by no means a complete list!
We have added the ability to disable Disqualification. This has been widely requested and is now possible via the GDB. We have added this and the other new GDB abilities in regard to rules so as to allow leagues to customize the rules to their own liking. The GDB file is cross checked between the server and clients.
Disqualification will be disabled by default with the release of the next patch as per feedback.
In the event that a player loses connection, race order will remain in sync and remove players that lose connection from the order correctly.
If you have a stop/go to serve, in the event that you only have 1 lap left to serve the penalty and a caution period is triggered, you will be granted an extra lap to serve your penalty when the race resumes.
This resolves the issue where players may end up in a position that they could never serve a penalty.
Also another thing that I have seen is that if the car spins in front of you...you slow down to pace speed and it relocates you to the next car in front of you. No having to slam on brakes to get below a certain speed. I suspect the game recognizes that you are slowing down.
Well we tested again last night. Recreated several pit and caution situations. One of the things that a lot of people have been noticing was that if someone went into the pit under green and someone brought out the caution it would start creating havoc. The replays of the races are going to be examined by the programmers.
One situation was a car entering the pit...caution comes out but the car in the pit does not stop but just runs pit speed and comes back out. You all know as well as I do that a butt load of cars are coming back to the line real fast. Well in an attempt to safely slow yourself down you don't really notice that car coming on the track and BOOM. You're ahead of the car you should be following. The norm of the game today would result in a DQ almost certainly. We I was observing last night that the car would come off pit road and join the back...if the game told you that you were ahead of the car you are supposed to be following. Well if that car does not get the in the short amount of time it has it will start relocating him. It was pretty neat. We tested that situation several different times with different variables. Through different reaction times entered into the game I think that the programmers will have something solid to work with. They are already building a new beta build.
Oh and since I did not mention it before. We were running Bristol.
Several ideas were tosses into the works and some very good suggestions that James may be able to use.
The greatest and best things that I have seen so far are the ack of DQ's due to the better relocation ways it uses. Meaning the time it takes to readjust your position to say the next person is well below the time till DQ.
NSR Watch: Rumors are EA Tiburon is busy with other projects and has less resources on NSR, would make since as they have already made the bulk of the profit on this sim. Any insite on what you think about this?
Rumors are rumors. Take it as that. I don't work at Tiburon HQ so I really don't know who is working on what. I do know that NSR is the priority of James. I hope to one day have a more detailed answer to this question. When I do I will pass it along.
thank you RTW Stringer for taking the time to work with EA and get these questions answered. These questions were submitted by NSR Watch and answered by RTW Stinger with EA's approval .
finally something on this gay site worth reading
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:14 PM
I will admit that this is a good article...one that finally does not include the word spoof! I have run with Stringer in testing and he is a stand-up guy. He is not an EA songbird and he is shooting straight from the hip. Faceless, I hope you understand that NSR was not just a release to get $40 a pop and say screw the race community. I understand that right now, it certainly seems that way, but this goes a lot deeper than that. I think that is the point I have been trying to express all along. If it makes you feel better to blast people over a meer $40, then more power to you!
Posted by
Anonymous |
9:04 PM
I will believe all this when I see a patch. We heard from the start that NSR was great and had potential, but it never materialized. Where is Bob Stanley? He dropped off the face of the earth after he staked his reputation on NSR. If EA wants us to come back to NSR, release a patch now and let us know that there are still buts that need to be fixed. The community will judge it from there. For me and most of the sim community, we are still racing NR2003 and hoping the stock car mod for rfactor will be great. As for EA, I and most of the community will never buy another EA product unless EA starts to show some consideration to the sim racing community. Come on EA, release the patch now as is and we will understand that there are still bugs. If not, just release the exclusive rights to NASCAR so some competent developer can create a true NASCAR sim.
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:26 AM
The info in this article is at least a month possibly two months old. I was chatting in the Teamspeak arena at CGW during a test night (two months ago) and one of the complaints I heard was that Hawkins in fact HAS been M.I.A. on many occasions from testing, whereby the test never happened. Additionally, the last test build I heard them using was 1034...
As much as I've carried water for NSR, I've came to the same conclusion as everyone else... NSR is DOA. As far as rfactor is concerned, don't kid yourself about it for a second. Its loaded with bugs and anything NASCAR about it is a complete pipedream. It is coded as a roadcourse game and expecting rules/AI/flag triggers to work flawlessly (can you say "Lucky Dog?") simply won't be a reality with this game, despite what the rfactor fanboys might be shovelling. At best you'll see a "stock car" mod with pre-2003 rules. Essentially NASCAR Thunder with a graphics update. Oh joy!
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:13 PM
Oh, forgot to mention... Rfactor Stock cars? Plan on no visible pitcrews or spotter... Good luck.
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:15 PM
where as I thought I made perfect clarity when I said...."James has always to my knowledge shown up for the testing session of each build"
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:47 PM
Well I guess your "knowledge" is wrong. Nothing personal, but I have to agree, having you as a go-between is pretty pointless. At this juncture, Hawkins himself needs to engage the community if he and EA want any type of credibility. Of course, all he has shown through his actions at this point is cowardice. And getting second-hand, two-month old info from you, Stringer, once again reinforces the fact that NSR is not a priority for Hawkins or EA.
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:59 PM
Well I guess your "knowledge" is wrong. Nothing personal, but I have to agree, having you as a go-between is pretty pointless. At this juncture, Hawkins himself needs to engage the community if he and EA want any type of credibility. Of course, all he has shown through his actions at this point is cowardice. And getting second-hand, two-month old info from you, Stringer, once again reinforces the fact that NSR is not a priority for Hawkins or EA.
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:00 PM
Double post, sorry.
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:00 PM
First of all...its not second hand...I wrote every word. So its first hand. Second of all...lets make it even more SIMPLE...James has SHOWN UP for ever NEW build. I have my facts straight. If you would go back and look at posts for the last couple of months refering to info and updates...they are ALL from me.
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:09 PM
First hand. So you say. I know for a fact that fix list is AT LEAST two months old. I'd tell you who I've heard it from but I wouldn't want to compromise their NDA's.
Again, HAWKINS needs to engage the community. Not a self-appointed lackey. Even that punk Ed Martin did so on the old NASCAR HEAT board.
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:17 PM
ok well you have it your way...but the community knows who has been keeping them updated...i will agree as far as 2 months as to what is been answered in question number 5. I know...I am the one that posted it. I am the one trying to do my part. I am the one taking a proactive role to help inform the community. I like to try to stay positive. But you know...if you feel the need to try to discredit anything I say then go for it. Be my guest. I will respond to anything you want. you can even email me
stringer@teamrtw.com
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:46 PM
Like I said earlier, nothing personal. Hawkins needs to engage us, not you. As far as emailing you, not necessary. I have my sources too. ;-)
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:51 PM
ok nothing personal...never was...but what is be so wrong in me speaking for him. He knows I do. would everything I said be any different if it actualy was in a post with his name on it? I tell him what I want to say and he approves it. I ask him 14 billion questions. I probably bug him more then ANYONE.
Posted by
Anonymous |
4:00 PM
now i support nsr in every way but it just that hawkins needs to atleast be in the Cgw ts where we can listen to him say y there is a delay in the second patch i know he is probley busy and does not have time to catch up on his testing of nsr and showing up for tests, I MEAN COME ON HE WORKS FOR THE BIGGEST GAMING COMPANY IN AMARICA eletronic arts, you know electronic arts started out as 2 guys trying to make games for pc YES THEY STARTED MAKING GAME FOR PC THEY WERE THE FIRST COMPANY IN HISTORY TO MAKE GAMES FOR PC
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:50 PM
You can't even spell the name of the country you live in, and no i think Atari was the first company.
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:16 PM
Where's Waldo? More like where's Hawkins. How about a ts Q&A again. Man I'd pay to be there.
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:00 PM
Another Q & A on TS...hmmmm....I will talk with James and see if something can be arranged. I will promise nothing. But I will see what I can do. I do have a private TS and Ventrilo
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:19 AM
I see Moparbob is just ecstatic that he found a new unmonitored place to act like a fuckin dildo. Dude, go get laid or something, you obviously need it. Of course you don't need it as much as the queer camel fucker that created this website...........
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:59 PM
"queer camel fucker"
not queer, not a beastial, a fucker...depends on who you ask..EA would probably think so.
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:00 PM
IM NOT GAY!
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:34 PM
dfasdfdd FUCK YOU BASTERD __I_ SIT AND SPIN MOTHA FUCKA
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:48 PM
Those talking crap about how rFactor can't do stock cars don't know what their talking about. The spotter system is there, it just needs sound files. (rfactor uses the updated version of the NSR engine). The only thing it may lack is the "lucky dog" rule, which I can live without. Talladega and Atlanta tracks have already been converted from NSR, the physics are 95% complete and now their working on the car models. Also full course yellows and rolling starts have already been hammered out. The garage has also been revamped to provide every stock car tweak that NSR or NR2003 has. You can find information and pics in the USPits forum.
I've been racing rFactor online since it came out. I haven't seen any major bugs at all. It's rock solid and will make an excellent platform for stock cars.
Posted by
Anonymous |
9:49 AM
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Posted by
Anonymous |
6:39 PM
I am gay, a fucker and suck my dads cock! I can't type right so I have to go Fadfipvdsna'voi eabrniopgbvoiaegv
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:56 AM
this site is still full of shit, its redicolus. Listen up dumb ass fucktards: if u dont wanna play nsr, simply put it away and dont play it, dont act like such a fucking moron and sit here and constantly bitch over nothing. What a bunch of fucking ass fucking holes.
Posted by
Anonymous |
12:54 PM
Im sorry for posting the comments, and I didnt know that was even a website, i just didnt know. However, it aint gonna chabge my opinions on you guys, or how I feel about nsr (I like it)
Posted by
Anonymous |
1:55 PM
I SAY GIVE THE PATCH SOME TIME AT BH then come to blogshit and complain
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:44 PM
OH AND IM A SPOILED, i jack off in my spare time and i am a white rapper who can't even keep a beat
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:45 PM
HEY IM A GAY FUCKER WHO THINKS THAT NASCAR RACING SEASON IS the greatist thing to happen to sim racing oh am gay becase i have to hang arond with a 13 year old QUEER CAMEL FUCKER
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:50 PM
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Posted by
Anonymous |
2:51 PM
I AM A POPUS JERK WHO LIKES TO BOOT PEOPLE FOR DRIVING evne if ist there first time
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:53 PM
DAMN STRAIGHT KEVIN AND FLAMEHEAD U TELL EM!!!!
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:56 AM
omg vckr your dumb they were me cuz flame head said im gay under my name so i gave some sweet revenge, revenge is a dish best served cold
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:37 PM
Is this what NSR is all about? A bunch of name calling? Come on guys...Nascar fans are better then this. Is this not what its all about. NASCAR....FANS....people like you and me who want to try to live in the big boys shoes.
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:47 PM
SHUT THE FUCK UP STRINGER!
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:22 PM
your too much racerboy....ill see you on the track one day. remember that. you know...you wonder why you are banned from so many league servers, and I have not banned you after I have been asked by so many of my members. Maybe after that comment I will grant the request next time I am asked.
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:44 PM
Dumbasses...were testing on Wed night this week.
Posted by
Anonymous |
4:04 PM
so what did james say about a ts q and a again?
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:26 PM
How pathetic, he blammes me, post all ou want about, I KNOW it isn't true, AFTER ALL I HAPPEN TO OWN A LEAGUE BITCH!
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:27 AM
ok your a little spoiled brat who thinks that your recrod is going to be great will guess what IS GONNE BR A FREAKING LIME WIRE DOWNLOAD ONLY BITCH!
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:52 PM
IM RICH BIATCH
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:24 AM
Hey teenyboppers, please go bitch somewhere else and save yourselves further embarrassment. And while you are at it, pray that Mommy & Daddy do not take away your internet privileges or your cell phone. Nice vocabulary too...we need more white rappers in the world. No wonder the world has gone to shit.
Go finish your social studies homework or something, or if you are old enough...go get a part time job.
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:10 PM
kevin is a liar and says he did not rip the files of the modified model from drt WELL GUES WHAT THANKS TO YOU I GOT MY ASS BANED FORM DRT
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:39 PM
children...hush it...your forgeting the point of the whole comment section here. If your comments have nothing to say about the Q & A post then go duke it out in the forums or something. And before either one of you go and post some remark or comment...I dont care what you say. so save your breath. I support NSR. Plain and Simple.
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:42 PM
......................................................................MY DICK IS 58 INCHES LONG!
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:53 PM