Re: Racing and raging robots

Hi

Beware, there are 3 different AI driver engines in TORCS currently, and they behave differently. I have myself no such problems when racing, to be honest, but I have run more than 20000 laps in various racing simulation games and joined hundreds of online races against human players (not with TORCS obviously). Compared to human opponents or real races the robots in TORCS are really kind, ever watched a GT, ALMS or stock car race?

The robots run exactly the same physics as you on "semi pro", this level adjusts just the grip and damage which is applied. TORCS main purpose is not to rival commercial racing games, if you want such a thing, just go to the shop and buy one. The "unique selling proposition" is that it is easy to play around with it and that it runs on many platforms (so you can quickly build and modify it or the game content). To make this possible it is like it is (small, not many annoying dependencies, compatible).

There are forks of TORCS out there which go in your desired direction, and of course other projects.

Best regards

Bernhard

On Aug 25, 2012, at 09:47 , [email protected] wrote:

> 
> This post shouldn't be misinterpreted as a slight on the ability or
> belittling the hard, unpaid work of the developers, even when coming
> from an outsider who's contributed nothing to the overall product.
> 
> The enjoyability of playing should always matter, and it shouldn't take
> a back seat to other aspects of a game (e.g. graphics, sound, interface,
> features, detail level).
> 
> In the case of TORCS, racing should be fun. Sadly, it's ruined by
> robots, those ruthless, emotionless wrecking balls. They appear more
> suitable for a demolition derby, repeatedly smashing into me, spinning
> me out, wrecking my car at every opportunity and driving away like a
> bunch of hit-and-run cowards. Is that how they were designed/programmed?
> It's really frustrating to race now, and pretty much impossible to
> finish a race longer than a few laps. My driving style (calm and
> cautious/fast and furious) makes no difference. It's like they're all
> conspired to get the poor human out of the way.
> 
> And to make matters worse, their cars seem to have completely different
> physics than mine. If they spin me out, I lose control, hit a wall,
> suffer damage and they drive away. If I try to spin them out, I lose
> control, hit a wall, suffer damage and they drive away. This happens
> over and over again, to the point that my engine overheats and I must
> promptly escape the wreckfest. 
> 
> If you question the accuracy of my observation, you might try parking
> your car in the middle of the track (on the supposed racing line) in a
> race and see them pulling up behind you, ramming into your car like
> bulldozers instead of swerving to get past the obstacle in front of
> them.
> 
> Is there anything left for a non-coder to do, anything to reduce the
> aggression of the robots? Or should I stop fighting a losing battle and
> find some other diversion? 
> 
> -- 
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> 
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