CTRA X-System LAUNCH

[Becky Rose]

http://www.raceauthority.com/site_img/head.gif

The much anticipated CTRA X-System has just launched.

Whilst you've all been sunning it up in other servers we've been beavering away making our migration to the latest LFS technologies not just a rehash of our existing system - but something far and beyond even our own imaginations of what might be possible.

I would like to personally thank Sam Hopkinson for his drive on this project, and giving me the motivation to carry on and the whole of the UKCT team for putting up with our endless technical and concept discussions in team speak. Thanks are also due to the army of testers who helped flesh out all[/most] of the bugs before the system went live.

With great trepidation of the thought that it will fall over and be patched no less than 20 times before I get to bed tonight, I can now formally announce that X-Hour has arrived, and the first server is open.

If all goes well then we will be opening 2 more servers tonight, at 2 hourly intervals, and we'll open 2 more tomorrow.

Introducing X-Web
Sam has spent endless days putting together a comprehensive web site that says far more than I will bore you with here, be sure to check it out if the servers fill up and you cant connect. Also once you've been in and set your $password dont forget to check out the MyCTRA section.

www.RaceAuthority.com (http://www.raceauthority.com)

Revamped X-Lookup
Licence lookups have been radically redesigned, they are designed to be printable too (although not from IE5 or 6). Here's what my licence page now looks like: My CTRA Licence (http://www.raceauthority.com/lookup/licenceLookup.php?licence=becky%20rose). You can upload your own images from the web page from within the MyCTRA section. The system will automatically resize and crop the image for you.

The X-System
LFS servers connected to our X-System are currently the most technologically advanced race servers in any sim, anywhere. All the technology behind the new system of course is completely irrelevent, what matters is what it does...

There is so much that is new, so much that I could talk endlessly about, that you'd have finaly managed to connect to a server and seen it for yourself by the time that you finish reading this thread, so i'll stick to talking about some of our key features.

The CTRA is currently the worlds largest sim motorsports licence issuing authority to be modelled on real world racing organisations. Some have pointed out that we dont have a real world licence affiliation, I wont comment on that further at this time, but as a sim racing authority we dwarf everybody and there's a reason for that: It's FREE. (I happen to think it's also the best - but thats a moot point and i'm completely biased of course :) ). There is no signup, no compulsory email registration, and it runs 24/7**

We've looked at all LFS has to offer with our new system, and tried to make use of all of it. We've looked at the problems that besset online play and where possible we have streamlined the process. We sum-up our core system as 'Advanced Race Management' and this encompasses such things as auto race restarting, track cycling and enhanced blue flag notifications for practicing [mid race joining] drivers. Anyone who saw our previous STCC servers will be pleased to see that most of these core features have been enhanced.

We're not a league, but we do have race licencing. Some people call this a carear mode for LFS, but we think of it simply as licencing. Our race licences are hard to attain, and can be lost easily by loosing respect for your fellow racers. To this end we've streamlined the reporting process - which you can now do from within server. We've imposed just one limitation on reporting another driver, you have to wait until the next race begins. If an offence is worth reporting, it's worth skipping a race for. We've done this so that we're not overwhelmed with reports for our MSA experienced marshalls and clerks.

All of our race and single seater servers feature something we call concurrent qualifying. Whilst racing you are also qualifying, with your best lap time being remembered until you change car or leave the server. This means your qualifying position is remembered if you take a break for a couple of races, provided that you stay in the same car. You must finish a race to register your time so dont fear the hotlappers messing up the racing.

Also, we are now introducing to LFS for the first time on a public server true multiclass racing. Cars from different classes can race together on certain servers and are seperated both on the grid (with the faster class infront) and in the final results, with truly independent position and licence scoring.

It doesnt end there either, as we've introduced some new car classes on both the key racing tiers, on the GTR server you will find a new GT2 class - now dont get too excited, we're not allowed to deliver new car models and physics to you ... what we have done is make use of engine restrictions and weight ballast to slow up the 3 big GTR's to the pace of the XFR and UFR in a new class we call GT2. These cars set comparable lap times to each other in our tests, although some circuits suite some cars better than others, we found them hugely entertaining to drive and having cars with such drastically different performance characteristics makes for some challenging and exciting overtaking battles. We run these GT2's alongside the GTR's as one of our multiclass servers.

On our single seater tier we realise that most of the community races the FOX because it is easy, but we didnt want 3 FOX servers. So on the second server we've introduced the Formula Junior. This engine and ballast restricted FO8 serves as an easy to drive introduction to the excillerating FO8. We've had some brilliant racing in FJR's in the beta testing, they're very setup dependant but once you get the car settled down (tip: move the ballast weight to the right) you'll find it steps out just like an FO8 - but is extremely forgiving when it does step out, providing the perfect training tool to move up without frustrating us drivers. These run alongside FOX's on our second tier and are considered a higher class, they run a few seconds a lap faster.

At the top of the single seater tier we have a mixed server of FO8's and BF1's, again using our multi class system. You can't normally always find enough FO8 drivers for a good race, and you cant always find enough BF1 drivers for a good race ... so race together - and change cars as you please - all with fully independent grid and results for when both classes are on track at once.

One of the first things you will notice are our new sector flag indicators which are visible in the centre bottom of the screen. These give a clear indication of any problems on the circuit once you learn how to read them. Each symbol represents a sector of the race track with green indicating a clear sector, yellow indicating 1 yellow flag in that sector, and red indicating that 2 or more cars are crashed in that sector.

These sector flag indicators (SFI) give you more notice of impending accidents and make avoiding getting yourself involved much easier. I've also found that they help me stay alert in longer and more tiring races by giving me fresh information to process.

Finaly i'd like to spare a few paragraphs for our Bump & Jump server (you can imagine the inhouse abbreviation for it :) ). This runs a variety of AutoX layouts, typically ones that involve cars coming into conflict with each other whilst trying to occupy the same piece of race track. The car selection varies every race, and we are open to layout submissions ( no we wont give you art space to grafitti your name in chalk lines - but you can grafitti ours ;) ). We've put some real evil layouts online to start with.

One of the problems with AutoX racing is you never know what position you are in or who is ahead or behind you. Well this is because positions in LFS are calculated by your progress down the route or path of the track, and AutoX doesnt have that. Anyway that's all bye the bye, of course this isn't a problem on the X-System.

X-Future
Well the truth is, we scaled back. In order to deliver these servers and the supporting web site we missed out private messages and group chat channels, yeah right who cares? Well, they will be coming and I think they will prove useful.

More importantly though we also dropped the event system, this aspect of the CTRA is one that I personally believe is going to impact the way we play sim racing when it arrives. For now though we're going to focus on our core product the public servers, and i'm going to go back to making STCC race broadcasts.

In the future however, maybe one that is not too far away, a whole revolution is going to arrive :).

PS: You're all banned.

*not all of our server admins have experience as MSA marshalls/clerks, half do, the others are at least widely experienced sim and real world racers.

**We make no uptime guarantee, UKCT operate 1 server for use with the CTRA in the Blue Square datacentre.

JOIN LINKS FOR SERVERS OPENING FRIDAY:
CTRA Race 1 (lfs://%7CCTRA+Race+1%7C0%7CS1%7C/)
CTRA Race 2 (lfs://%7CCTRA+Race+2%7C0%7CS2%7C/)
CTRA Race 3 (lfs://%7CCTRA+Race+3%7C0%7CS2%7C/)

JOIN LINKS FOR SERVERS OPENING SATURDAY:
CTRA Single Seater 1 (lfs://%7CCTRA+Single+Seater+1%7C0%7CS2%7C/)
CTRA Bump & Jump (lfs://%7CCTRA+Bump+%26+Jump%7C0%7CS1%7C/)

Single Seater 2 & Single Seater 3 to follow.

[robps]

Congratulations :thumb:

[HVS5b]

Brilliant, glad to have it back on the scene.

On behalf of the community, big thanks to all those who out in the time and effort :thumb:

[Gabkicks]

congrats on the launch :) i dont see ther other 2 servers.:shrug:

[The Very End]

This sounds great :D
A LOT of new inventions and stuff on this server that I did not belived was possible for LFS, simply amazing!
I really like the idea with multi-class races, where slower cars starts behind and such, this is something that probally wil contribute very good to Live For Speed.

When I have time, I sure will come racing on one of those servers.

There is only one thing that worries me.
If you do a mistake, lets say you got the best licence, and then you brake late and cause a pilup. Will this mean you will lose your lisence completely, or will the punishment be judged out from every case?

[Spils]

Server 1 is full to the brim and cant get on ive been trying for 15 minutes.
Server 2 and 3 require a password ?

BTW congrats on the new look system, ive missed the whole server so much over the last few weeks :thumb:

[dawesdust_12]

2 and 3 will be with us all shortly.

[DratsaB]

Excellent stuff. Congrats to Becky, Sam and the team.
Its great to finally see some servers making use of the new car balancing features that seemed to have been ignored...'till now.:tilt:

The whole thing sounds very cool, well done to you. :thumb:

[kompa]

compliments on the new system, looks good from the spectators point of view too! the racing looked goood...

a small thing, the system seems to stack specced races on the licence too. i joined once to see how it went and went to spec in a few secs..i have 3 races registered.

[AngeloLedda]

The Bump 'n Jump server is private; I thought it was a Public one ?

[Mp3 Astra]

Amazing! Well done to all involved in the making and testing of these servers... I'll see if I can get in one right now! :D Thank you very much Becky and Sam :)

[Bean0]

The Bump 'n Jump server is private; I thought it was a Public one ?

BJ server opens Saturday (tomorrow) according to Becky's post :)

[Christofire]

The Bump 'n Jump server is private; I thought it was a Public one ?

The Bump and Jump is to be opened tomorrow evening. It's Race Servers 1, 2 and 3 tonight. See the bottom of the first post for the Join links.

[Dark Elite]

Congratulations to you personally, Becky, for your dedication, and to Sam and the team for their hard work to get all this into the servers. I can't quite tell you how excited I am about all these new features, part of me wants to dive in straight away, while part of me wonders how long it'll be before I can use everything you've given us to its best!

I think some mention should go not just for your work, but also your ingenuity - I'll bet there was a fair share of problems that needed a more lateral approach to solving, but more with the ideas you've come up with.

I'm proud to be part of the community, when things like this come out of it :)

So, on behalf of the LXC 'team', congratulations! We'll see you in there :D

PS: You're all banned.Excellent. ;)

Sam

[Becky Rose]

a small thing, the system seems to stack specced races on the licence too. i joined once to see how it went and went to spec in a few secs..i have 3 races registered.
Yah I noticed that, didn't think of it before launch - but I think when the other servers are open it'll be less of a problem.

I might look at it shortly, i've found a minor issue on the $grid screen (with a full server it runs out of buttons and space) so I might try to address that.

@Angelo - BJ server opens tomorrow 20:00 UTC

[Andrei221]

grr it's full..i wanna play lol

[AngeloLedda]

Ah oke :)
Well good job on the servers, hoping to get in soon :d

[MyBoss]

Congrats :D can't race until sunday though :(

[Jadran]

Excellent job !!!
Congratulations :thumb:

[Shotglass]

and i'm going to go back to making STCC race broadcasts.

\o/

and grats on finishing your project ... looks like a huge one

[StableX]

When on race authority site and trying to connect thru the server section, it comes up with an error on server one. When trying to join thru there it asks for a password yet the server is public. Any thoughts?

[Fabri91]

Excellent Job!

*desperatly trying to join *harrr**

[dawesdust_12]

When on race authority site and trying to connect thru the server section, it comes up with an error on server one. When trying to join thru there it asks for a password yet the server is public. Any thoughts?

Only Race 1 is public right now, Race 2 and 3 will be opening over time in a staggered launch.

[Christofire]

Excellent Job!

*desperatly trying to join *harrr**

Fabri - you need to update your sig userbar. Please see the link in my sig for instructions on how to do this. :)

[StableX]

Only Race 1 is public right now, Race 2 and 3 will be opening over time in a staggered launch.

I am trying to connect to the public one!!!! I can thru LFS directly but if I try thru the site it asks for a password !!!!!!!!! For Server 1 from this page....

http://www.raceauthority.com/servers.asp using the link lfs://|CTRA%20Race%201|1|S1|/

[Linsen]

When on race authority site and trying to connect thru the server section, it comes up with an error on server one. When trying to join thru there it asks for a password yet the server is public. Any thoughts?
Same here :shrug:.

[Becky Rose]

Clicking on an LFS join link uses the software LFSJoin, LFSJoin always asks for a password (so admins can use it too). If you leave it blank then you can connect to servers without a password.

[StableX]

Clicking on an LFS join link uses the software LFSJoin, LFSJoin always asks for a password (so admins can use it too). If you leave it blank then you can connect to servers without a password.

thanks Becky, but thats what I usually do. For the CTRA server one though its asking me for a password if I go through that means to connect. Thought I would highlight the issue for you.. No password added at all and checked to make sure a space isnt there too

[Becky Rose]

I've just tried it too, I think it might be something to do with JoinLFS tbh. I suspect it doesnt work well with S1 servers - but I dont know, I didnt write it.

[Linsen]

Clicking on an LFS join link uses the software LFSJoin, LFSJoin always asks for a password (so admins can use it too). If you leave it blank then you can connect to servers without a password.
Well, yes, of course, but in this case LFsjoin says, after I left password blank:

"Password required! Type in the correct password and click 'Join' again"

Afaik this has never happened to me on any other server which didn't require a password. Might still be an LFSjoin issue, though, but I wouldn't know.

Edit: I'm too slow for Becky :).

[Jakg]

Doesn't do this here, Linsen...

[cannonfodder]

Heh, the first server filled up in less than a half hour. I think finding a spot is going to be difficult tonight, even when all 3 servers are running. :D

[LFSn00b]

Where i can change my nationality in MYCTRA site?

[FOGlegsy]

Where i can change my nationality in MYCTRA site?
In game $ctra

[StableX]

I've just tried it too, I think it might be something to do with JoinLFS tbh. I suspect it doesnt work well with S1 servers - but I dont know, I didnt write it.

no worries Becky - just thought you'd want to know :)

[Linsen]

Doesn't do this here, Linsen...
Strange... Well, server is full all the time anyway, so it doesn't affect me right now -- but there was this split second when there was an empty spot...

[ajp71]

Wow great news :)

A couple of things to ask though:

1) Any details on the restrictions placed on GTRs and the FJ? Are they designed to make the cars competitive with the FOX and small GTRs?

2) The sporting rules seem rather small, I understand this is a good thing so people can read and understand it but surely a line on a few things would clear a lot up:

What's the stance on blue flags, hopefully a RL common sense type approach?

What's the stance on yellow flags? It would be really nice if they could finally be respected in LFS.

Probably most importantly a line should be added about blocking rules and weaving, I'm sure when they were written the assumption was that racers would already know them.

Love the site design by the way ;)

[DeadWolfBones]

Sounds very nice, I'll be checking it out soon.

One thing I can't find is where to set/retrieve your MYCTRA password. I can't recall setting mine before, and now I'm unable to login.

[ajp71]

Strange... Well, server is full all the time anyway, so it doesn't affect me right now -- but there was this split second when there was an empty spot...

With the new queueing system that Scawen implemented in patch X you just connect to a full server and it automatically puts you in a queue to join it so you don't have to keep trying :)

[ajp71]

One thing I can't find is where to set/retrieve your MYCTRA password. I can't recall setting mine before, and now I'm unable to login.

On the site it says you set it when you're on the server.

[DeadWolfBones]

Ah, thanks.

[troy]

had some great racing in the last hours, thank you for making all this possible
i hope the high driver standards stay like that, was really a pleasure
you can go in T1 and your 95% sure you will come through without any damage.

love it :)

[cannonfodder]

With the new queueing system that Scawen implemented in patch X you just connect to a full server and it automatically puts you in a queue to join it so you don't have to keep trying :)
Isn't the queue only for when multiple people try to join a non-full server at the same time? When trying to join a full server, I only get the server full message.

[ajp71]

Isn't the queue only for when multiple people try to join a non-full server at the same time? When trying to join a full server, I only get the server full message.

Yeah I think you may be right :)

EDIT- I joined CTRA 2 set my password, minimised LFS to go to the website, entered my details there and when I came back I had lost connection to host. Tried to join again and it's now telling me I need a license and to got to a lower server, I have a gold license and it let me on the server the first time but now it doesn't seem to be recognising me.

[Jakg]

temporarily the apps had a problem and has disabled access to the SQL database to make sure it doesn't corrupt it, but rest asured she's trying to fix it

[Zachary Zoomy]

damnit why does my PC fail on me now!!?

[Becky Rose]

Yup, turns out that SQL has a control code character, \ backslash \, and somebody had that in their player name so when it saved his lap record the SQL system fouled up, my software detects any SQL error and shuts it off all access to it to protect the integrity of the database. With the debug info we where able to track it pretty quick, thankfully - I was actually starting to get a bit panicked and worried that this was going to be another 5am session!

[Becky Rose]

Fixes for the OK button position on $grid and $results will come later, I have seen the problem - for now if you want to OK out of those screen click ? first and you'll go back to help where you can get an OK button. Also SHIFT-I will clear the screen.

[jjones]

Id just like to say to becky great work it looks very impressive:thumb:

[andy29]

The website is beautiful too :D

[ChiliFan]

This far exceeeds my expectations, it's simply amazing. Great work everyone.:thumb:

It's nice to have the servers back for some good pick-up races. Although I did just get involved in a 22 car pile-up.

[Gabkicks]

i went from 7th to 3rd place and i didnt get any pts. :( how long till the openwheeler servers are open?

[Becky Rose]

pts problems where caused by the SQL shutting down, as per details above.
sorry

[Gabkicks]

You all have done something amazing :tilt: the CTRA interface ingame is very professional looking.:thumb:

[jaws99]

I can't wait to check this out tomorrow :)

[Shotglass]

Yup, turns out that SQL has a control code character, \ backslash \, and somebody had that in their player name so when it saved his lap record the SQL system fouled up, my software detects any SQL error and shuts it off all access to it to protect the integrity of the database. With the debug info we where able to track it pretty quick, thankfully - I was actually starting to get a bit panicked and worried that this was going to be another 5am session!

hm so what would happen if someone were to use sql commands as his nick ?

[DeadWolfBones]

Had a go for a half hour or so and I have to say it looks great. Some bugs, obviously, but lots of fun.

I did notice this, though, after leaving the CTRA server and then going to my team server (without exiting LFS):
http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/3250/lolwoopsig0.th.jpg (http://img382.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lolwoopsig0.jpg)

[Becky Rose]

hm so what would happen if someone were to use sql commands as his nick ?
The software closes down the SQL system.

[Shotglass]

*goes to search for current sql exploits* theres gotta be some way to get root rights on the ukct box :p

[Christofire]

*goes to search for current sql exploits* theres gotta be some way to get root rights on the ukct box :p

There you go folks. If you don't get your points then it's Shotglass' fault! :thumb:

[dawesdust_12]

Maybe we're uploading the SQL to the wrong server? :p

[srdsprinter]

It's nice to have the servers back for some good pick-up races. Although I did just get involved in a 22 car pile-up.


You report all of them? :D

Anywho, hope to get a chance to try this out tonight, great job all involved!

[ChiliFan]

You report all of them? :D

Anywho, hope to get a chance to try this out tonight, great job all involved!

LOL, I'll put a replay on YouTube. :D

[Smurfen]

actually quite fun, coming from a drifter :nod::scratchch:tilt:

[dungbeetle]

Managed to get on Server 1 for a wee while this evening and, well, what can I say.

Fan-bloomin'-tastic! :thumb:

Love the slick $ menu interface.

Many thanks to Sam, Becky and the posse for all you guys have done. :)

Just a couple of questions at this point, if I may:

1. Is there a way to stop the results page from popping up straight after I cross the finish line? This makes for some interesting helter-skelter driving while trying to peer through the text to avoid other cars that are coasting to a halt just past the finish. :D

and

2. Sorry, this is a bit of a noob one, but how do I bind a key to $help?

Cheers :)

[GeForz]

...

2. Sorry, this is a bit noob one, but how do I bind a key to $help?

Cheers :)

Options -> Game -> At the top there is a switch between AI names and F1 to F8 keys.

[dawesdust_12]

/me wants a $ok command, so I can navigate various menus while on straight-aways.

[h3adbang3r]

I got caught up in that "whole field" pile up, came close to soiling myself when i saw exactly how many people got a piece of it.

[ajp71]

Options -> Game -> At the top there is a switch between AI names and F1 to F8 keys.

And if you go to controls you can set more binds for alt + and ctrl +

[Breizh]

Someone sneaked an unrestricted FXR onto the GTR/GT2 server.. Lapping high 9s, it should show on the race results records. Have replay.

[ajp71]

Someone sneaked an unrestricted FXR onto the GTR/GT2 server.. Lapping high 9s, it should show on the race results records. Have replay.

If you have a platinum license you're allowed to drive the GTRs in the full form ;)

[Breizh]

Well hell! :razz: hehe

[Becky Rose]

It's true multiclass racing, the grid and results are entirely independent for GT2 and GTR :)

[_--NZ--_[HUN]]

First of all great work Becky, Sam and everyone!
I think I found a little bug. I started from the pole on my first race and according to my CTRA page I have 1 win but this is not true because I didn't win.

[mrodgers]

I can't believe it. I'm so psyched up. I long for some XFG at Blackwood so bad and never see it. Server 1 is set to it.... FULL! AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

Can't wait to join in. I guess I'll be joining the BL with the horrid XRT...

[ajp71]

Server 2 has started randomly kicking people for having too low a license mid-race (when they have the right license), it's like playing Russian roulette ;)

[troy]

Server 2 has started randomly kicking people for having too low a license mid-race (when they have the right license), it's like playing Russian roulette ;)

indeed, it seems like insim restarts also all the time, and commands dont work anymore

something is terribly wrong there ^^

[HVS5b]

indeed, it seems like insim restarts also all the time, and commands dont work anymore

something is terribly wrong there ^^


pity, some good racing there tonight

[Becky Rose]

Server 2 has started randomly kicking people for having too low a license mid-race (when they have the right license), it's like playing Russian roulette ;)
This is being caused by SQL dropping, we are working on the problem still - but just as we've got comprehensive debugging setup on the part of the program that's wrong ... it's stopped crashing, and now we have another problem.

There's a few things we are aware of and working through:

SQL dropping
Replays not saving
OK button on $results and $grid positioned too low on screen
People on slow / distant connections can drop connection at the end of the race (bandwidth exceeded with erroneous result information)

[HVS5b]

Sounds very nice, I'll be checking it out soon.

One thing I can't find is where to set/retrieve your MYCTRA password. I can't recall setting mine before, and now I'm unable to login.


I set my password when I first entered CTRA2 - then went to log in at Raceauthority.com and it fails to recognise me?

Any idea where I am going wrong?

[Becky Rose]

Your password may not have been saved, see post above :)

We appologise for any service disruption whilst we iron out a few teathing problems.

[HVS5b]

Cheers Becky : tried it again a couple of minutes ago and it all seems tickety-boo :thumb:

Nice work by the nightshift team :bowdown:

[FL!P]

Great work, guys! The system is really nice and the UI rocks.

I have a bug report about the site, but I didn't find where you want them sent. So here it is: I uploaded the very same image I use here as avatar, and the attached screenshot shows how it appears on my license. Makes me look like I'm paranoid. ;)

Flip

[HVS5b]

Great work, guys! The system is really nice and the UI rocks.

I have a bug report about the site, but I didn't find where you want them sent. So here it is: I uploaded the very same image I use here as avatar, and the attached screenshot shows how it appears on my license. Makes me look like I'm paranoid. ;)

Flip

Me too. I only get half a Cartman despite the dimensions being well within given parameters.

One for later eh? :schwitz:

[Riders Motion]

You probably haven't used the correct size, I uploaded mine and it works fine :shrug:

(Look my sig)

[HVS5b]

You probably haven't used the correct size, I uploaded mine and it works fine :shrug:

(Look my sig)

113 x 106 pixels is the half shot
Should be fine?

300 x 283 for the original.
Too big, I know (fnarr!)

[Becky Rose]

Can I ask what dimensions the original image was. The software tries to intelligently scale and crop the image and it might be a particular aspect ratio it's struggling with, if I know the original size of your images I can see which bit of code is not coping :) Thanks.

EDIT: I'm too slow... & Thanks. I will add this to the to do list, as non-urgent for now as there's some bigger bloopers to work through first :) hehe...

[FL!P]

Mine is 96 x 96.

Flip

[Mazz4200]

What a little starlet you're turning out to be Becky :)

I've only just come back to LFS after a years break and i hav'nt the faintest idea what all this CTRA licence server stuff is ? But i did read a post of yours about your work problems, so maybe we should rally together and all send you a quid or two by way of thanks for all the hard work you've put into this game to make it even better than it already is. Or at least try to find you a job where you actually get paid !. You any good at housework ? ;)

[Becky Rose]

You any good at housework ?
Not if it involves marriage!

[HVS5b]

Can I ask what dimensions the original image was. The software tries to intelligently scale and crop the image and it might be a particular aspect ratio it's struggling with, if I know the original size of your images I can see which bit of code is not coping :) Thanks.

EDIT: I'm too slow... & Thanks. I will add this to the to do list, as non-urgent for now as there's some bigger bloopers to work through first :) hehe...


Cheers Becky, it's far from priority....just glad to have the ctra sessions back :nod:

Good luck with the rest of yer debloopering :thumb:
(is that a word? if not it should be!)

[The General Lee]

As I said on the server Becky and Sam, great stuff...I love it :lovies3d:

Would be better if Deko wasnt chatting his crap all night :tilt:

[Mazz4200]

LOL i nearly just shat myself.........:x

NO DEFINATELY NOT MARRIAGE :schwitz: (dont wanna do that again in a hurry)

edit Infact best just ignore me, i'll go sit in the corner and stare at the wall :banghead:

[Riders Motion]

As I said on the server Becky and Sam, great stuff...I love it :lovies3d:

Would be better if Deko wasnt chatting his crap all night :tilt:

was fun to test the swearing filter :thumb:

[The General Lee]

When I called myself a C U next Tueday and got kicked but Deko didn't when he called me one...

Go me, finding bugs :smileypul

[joshdifabio]

I've just tried it too, I think it might be something to do with JoinLFS tbh. I suspect it doesnt work well with S1 servers - but I dont know, I didnt write it.

I believe it's because of the |1| in the link, that tells Join2LFS that it's a private server. This value should be set to 0. You can detect whether or not the server is private using pubstats.

[Becky Rose]

Cheers joshdifabio, I didnt know about that - and it makes perfect sense too as we made the various links before launching whilst the servers where private. :) Top bloke. Have a thumbs up smilie :thumb:

[jimmytwohand]

I was actually starting to get a bit panicked and worried that this was going to be another 5am session!
*looks at watch*
Best laid plans and all that, eh? :) Thanks for the hard work!

[dungbeetle]

Options -> Game -> At the top there is a switch between AI names and F1 to F8 keys.

And if you go to controls you can set more binds for alt + and ctrl +

Aaah, of course!! :rolleyes:

Thanks guys. :)

[dungbeetle]

Hi Becky.

Welcome to the insomnia club! :tired: :D

Just a quick one.

Is there a way to stop the results page from popping up immediately after the finishing line? It's a bit tricky trying to peer through the text to avoid other cars that are coasting to a halt just past the finish. :)

[Becky Rose]

No way to avoid the $results i'm affraid :/

I was actually starting to get a bit panicked and worried that this was going to be another 5am session!
Looks at clock... :/

All major bugs fixed I *think*. There *might* be an SQL problem but if it does occur again I do now have much more comprehensive debugging info on it so I should get any problems much easier.

It's been a heck of a night, and I hope you all enjoyed it despite a few restarts of the software.

I do know the OK button dissapears on the results and grid screen, and the picture uploading is a bit narked on the web site - but these I feel are sufficiently minor that I can go to bed soon :)

[dungbeetle]

No way to avoid the $results i'm affraid :/

Oh, OK. Thanks Becky. :)

[Becky Rose]

Just one thing I wanted to mention, the first and last name field are entirely optional - but what we dont want to see is names that are clearly internet-handles, i've just emptied out 4 names which were clearly not actually names in any language, but might have sounded cool amongst a crowd of 14 year old alcopop drinkers :). So please, if filling in the details put something sensible even if not your actual real name :)

Thank you :)

[KanseiDneova]

None of the track layouts are loading for me. :(

Cheers,
Matt.

[Jakg]

113 x 106 pixels is the half shot
Should be fine?

300 x 283 for the original.
Too big, I know (fnarr!)Just fyi the size it resizes to is 180*240, so if it doesn't upload you can fiddle the image in Photoshop yourself

[Viper93]

Wow 4 pages already, I feel so left out =P Entirely my fault =(

[dawesdust_12]

Advice time!... Chris, its easier to see new posts, when the monitor is on, unless being in the Armed Forces gave you some Force to see things that are turned off.

[Vykos69]

Good Job, Becky & Team!

[hariel-HUN-]

Seems like something still troubles with the program. I have platinum license, and it wont let me in to Race 2 and Race 3 servers...:scratchch
BTW...good job, grerat :thumbsup:

[Gaas]

ive been racing this morning and last few races that i drove we didnt get any points :(

everything else seems ok

[ACCAkut]

Am I the only one who can't join onto CTRA2 and 3? I know I'm only licenced for 2, but everytime i try to join it says "Connection lost", nothing else :(

[Smurfen]

What time does the bumpy humpy and single seater servers open? :D

[kamo2000]

In addition to that i can't enter password for webpage and other info on the server..it' just don;t store the data.. and points are not counted in races.

[SpikeyMarcoD]

In addition to that i can't enter password for webpage and other info on the server..it' just don;t store the data.. and points are not counted in races.


There is a a half functional system. Seems not to store any info in database (security shutdown probably) not points not times etc.

[Becky Rose]

The SQL shut down this morning when somebody with an unprocessable character in their player name set a lap record, we've improved the debugging on the SQL stuff so I was able to find it straight away - but I had to wake up first :)

It's all sorted now.

[SMOKE-Prophete]

The best just got even better :)

Less talking, more servers, now ! hehe

I'm not the praising type, but you really rule, thanks !

[niall09]

i dont really know what the story with the names are but would this lad be a proble, his name is all over the shop

http://www.raceauthority.com/lookup/licenceLookup.php?licence=NeoArnold

[kamo2000]

FEw funny things:
- You have competed in: 0 races and driven 147 laps on the CTRA system.

hehe interesting

- i noticed that lfs usus 100% of cpu when on ctra servers only.. not good :/

- also my 120x120 image uploaded is showed badly. I guess it must be 180x240.

[Becky Rose]

We never used to track race entries but we did track laps, so races =0 until you start racing on the new system. There must be 4 cars in race for the race stats to start tracking - but laps & yellows are always tracked (except on Bump & Jump)

CPU usage is nothing to do with me really so I dont know what to suggest there.

We've got a small problem with square/near square avatar uploading I think, I plan to fix it but the priority is low. It might get done today. For now resizing your image first should fix it.

[Jakg]

- i noticed that lfs usus 100% of cpu when on ctra servers only.. not good :/without patronising you, fuller server, more CPU usage, iirc you've got a skt. A Athlon (2800?) with a 9700 Pro, so it's not suprising that you get 100% CPU usage, either way it's not bad provided your CPU doesn't cook

[kamo2000]

without patronising you, fuller server, more CPU usage, iirc you've got a skt. A Athlon (2800?) with a 9700 Pro, so it's not suprising that you get 100% CPU usage, either way it's not bad provided your CPU doesn't cook

Jack i never got 100% usage while on server and lfs minimized. it's 100% only on ctra now. On all others it behaves differently.

Thx Becky for all info . I've upped 180x240 image now

[shadow2kx]

I got the avatar problem too, manual resize work well.

Another bug i've experienced:
I went on Race 2 or 3 (the gtr one) and the program told me that i can't take an FXR or an XRR or an FZR because i must have the bronze license wich i have. I wasn't aware that you need gold license to join. With the UFR and XFR the program told me that i must have a gold license. So i think there is some kind of trouble there.
If somebody can confirme this problem it would be "nice".

Anyway, it's an amazing work wich you've done. Congratulation and good luck for the upcoming event/updates.

[Becky Rose]

I can confirm it, i've seen it in the code and will be fixed in the next update.

You need Gold for GT2, and Platinum for GTR. You can connect to the server and watch with Bronze. :)

[ajp71]

but laps & yellows are always tracked (except on Bump & Jump)

How is the yellow flags determined? Number of laps a race when you cause a yellow? My 52% seems very high if it is.

[BBO@BSR]

Do the servers now have forced cockpit view?
Because everytime I visit the pits (and leave it) or a race starts my view is reset to cockpit view :scratchch

[Becky Rose]

No forced cockpit view, that's an LFS setting (goto Options/Views and click custom)

How is the yellow flags determined? Number of laps a race when you cause a yellow? My 52% seems very high if it is.
The system registers every yellow flag you throw at a maximum rate of 1 per sector. If you have 52%, you are crashing more than you realise. ;)

[obsolum]

Yeah I've been wondering about the Yellow Flag statistics myself. How exactly does it track which driver causes a yellow flag? For instance, suppose I get bumped into from the rear by someone when exiting a fast corner and I spin - maybe even taking someone else with me on the way - thus causing a yellow flag while the guy who bumped into me just continues on his way (had it happen a few times yesterday on CTRA1 http://www.easysmileys.com/img/sad_mad.gif) Technically it wasn't my fault, it's the fault of the guy who bumped into me but the system will blame me for it, right? I know, of course, that there are restrictions on what the system can do without human input but still, if you're on a bad luck streak your yellow flag stats could go up while you're actually not to blame :shrug:

[Becky Rose]

Our yellow flag system does not try to attribute blame, if you are involved in an accident and throw a yellow flag, it counts the yellow. One thing I will say though, is that looking at the statistics and the driving since we started collecting this information, there is a definate pattern that is reflected in the yellow flag %...

Most drivers have the capability to avoid more accidents than they choose too.

Sure not all accidents are you fault, and even some of the cleanest drivers I know have anything up to about 20% yellows. That's a stark contract however to the yellow flag ratio some other drivers have...

[BBO@BSR]

No forced cockpit view, that's an LFS setting (goto Options/Views and click custom)

You are right, thx. :thumb:

I totally forgot to look there because I didn't changed it but "custom" was just turned off.
(Note to myself: Don't let a friend play LFS unattended on my pc again :D)

[shadow2kx]

I agree with you, the Yellow Flag ratio is not realy representatif of the driver skill to not cause crash. I actualy lived situation like you've explain (bieing active actor or just pasive) and there is one thing worst than having no chances to win a race due to a crash is that the person who caused the crash is not penalised at all and you got your ratio of yellow flag goes up. Anyway, it's a good idea but we should not care to much attention to this ratio. I think it will be impossible to tweak it unless the colision detection suport for insim is ready.

[Jakg]

The ratio doesn't mean much, as usually there are very clean drivers (20-odd%), occasionally-dirty drivers (50+%) and really atrociously bad drivers (100%+)

[dungbeetle]

Is the CTRA website not well at the moment, or is it just me?

[Becky Rose]

Looks fine to me. I feel a router reset going on in somebodies dung hill :)

[Jakg]

...what do you mean? It's working fine here...

[ajp71]

Something just seems odd in my stats, it thinks I've done 22 races and 48 laps when the races I did last night were all 3-8 laps. I suppose you could add a couple of mid race joins/pits into that but it still shouldn't be more than a 1:3 ratio. I'm wondering if spectating has an influence on these figures?

[dungbeetle]

Looks fine to me. I feel a router reset going on in somebodies dung hill :)

:D

Yeah. As you can prolly imagine, my router runs on methane and I'm all outa fuel atm.

Back soon with more. :)


EDIT: Thank you. All better now. :)

[Becky Rose]

I'm wondering if spectating has an influence on these figures?
There was a bug for a short while on initial launch where races spectated where being tracked, it was fixed but might have skewed your early stats slightly.

[Breizh]

I don't know if it's been mentionned yet, but you can't join mid-race before lap 2. This works for races but also applies to post-race lap counts..

[The General Lee]

its been mentioned and Becky was trying to fix it last night :)

[alland44]

Nice !, guys and girl :thumb:

[Becky Rose]

I don't know if it's been mentionned yet, but you can't join mid-race before lap 2. This works for races but also applies to post-race lap counts..
Actually it's more likely to have just been where i've restarted the software, it can take a minute to sync - it needs somebody to cross the line in a race in order to let the software know that lap 2 has been exceeded. :)

[Xaid0n]

Had a few races on the XFG/XRG server earlier, I have to say that I love the Menus :D and the website is great also :) Lovely system CTRA :thumb:

[shadow2kx]

But there is something wrong i think. I was just looking at my MyCtra and i saw this:


Wins: 14
Podium: 14


Does this mean that i was 14 times the winner and so 14 times on a podium? Or i've been 14 times first and 14 times in 2nd or 3th place? I've been playing tonight and i did "a lot" of 2nd and 3th places.

Maybe it will be more interesting to display it like on LFSW:


Races won: 57
Second: 70
Third: 51


And maybe add the total number of podiums. Sound more interesting i think. Or i'm totaly wrong?

[Becky Rose]

Wins = 1st, Podium = 1st - 3rd. So podiums are counted when you win (although we store the data seperately for each field) We dont store whether a podium was 2nd or 3rd. Our stats are quite different to LFSW in many ways, to me I figured, well you are either in a trophy position, or you aren't, I guess this is something to do with my own racing mentality:

A win is good, a trophy is ok, anything else is just an entry fee.

[AndroidXP]

I think a yellow flag is raised when a car at a certain position is x% slower than an AI car would be (or something similar), though I'm not sure. However, if that is the case, it would mean if you go slow to avoid an accident, like in a typical T1 situation, YOU raise a yellow flag because you're too slow and considered an obstacle/crashed by LFS. I think especially with a full 32 player grid there are a lot of yellow flags registered which are actually nothing more than a fluke in the yellow flag detection system of LFS.

Whatever, the CTRA team did a very fine job with the X-System - the ingame interface simply rocks, as does the website (though the MyCTRA page looks a bit cluttered) :thumb:

[Gaas]

just wondering how to set ctra sig? it seems mines not working

[shadow2kx]

Wins = 1st, Podium = 1st - 3rd. So podiums are counted when you win (although we store the data seperately for each field) We dont store whether a podium was 2nd or 3rd. Our stats are quite different to LFSW in many ways, to me I figured, well you are either in a trophy position, or you aren't, I guess this is something to do with my own racing mentality:

A win is good, a trophy is ok, anything else is just an entry fee.

Ok, i've well understand now but isn't that wired that the win's count is the same than the podium's count? I was at least +/-5 times 2nd and +/-10 times 3th so if i have understand the result should be 14 wins and +/- 14+5+10 podium wich is not the case.


Edit:
Ok, thankfully to lfsworld i checked my race history of today since my first play on ctra xsystem.
Here is the results: 14 times first, 9 times second and 5 times 3rd.
So the podium count is not 1st - 3rd but 2nd - 3rd.
Now i have my answer :D



@ Gass: use this [ ctra ]gass[ / ctra ] (without spaces)
gass

[dawesdust_12]

Becky, I still time out after every race, due to the results screen being drawn. Very frustrating.

[ChiliFan]

Anyone who was involved in that hilarious whole-field pile-up yesterday, look here. :D

http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?p=494715#post494715

[HVS5b]

Just fyi the size it resizes to is 180*240, so if it doesn't upload you can fiddle the image in Photoshop yourself

Ah, it has to be actual size?

Cheers :)

[geeman1]

I :heart: Race 3 server!

The GT2 class is so greatly balanced. Very different cars, but still very close racing.

[HVS5b]

To Becky et al:

Now I've had a play and investigate the most of the menus and features I can only doff my cap to you all for a great piece of work. :thumb:

Granted there may be teething problems but with such a massive upgrade it's not too surprising.

It's amazing the time and effort taken by fans to create such a structured, organised and most excellent addition to the LFS community, and I for one say, thank you all :D

CTRA, pheonix from the flames :yipee:

[DeKo]

As I said on the server Becky and Sam, great stuff...I love it :lovies3d:

Would be better if Deko wasnt chatting his crap all night :tilt:

Hoi, we were both as bad as each other :)

[Gil07]

The system is really great, well done :)

One question though. Is it supposed to be so that mid-race joins count as a non-finished race, and thus count for your retirements rate?

[Becky Rose]

Hmmm interesting. I'd have to think on that, personally I feel that mid race rejoining is practicing at the expense of racers. We allow it, but as you'll have seen from the blue flag 'in no uncertain terms' you are expected to steer clear. I'll have to think about what to do with races and finishes for mid race joiners.

[DarkTimes]

Counting a mid-race join as DNF sounds a little harsh. When I first join a server I like a few laps mid-race to warm up before starting from the grid, so I don't like the idea of being penalised for that.

[ACCAkut]

I raced a bit on CTRA 1 this afternoon, and had some sort of bug I think.
I know that mid race joiners get messages to let the other racers pass, but not like 20 in 10 sec? I got spammed on SO Classic when I was unable to let the other pass.:shrug:

[FL!P]

Dunno if it has been suggested already, but I'd find it handy if the $results screen appeared when you stopped the car instead of when you cross the finish line.

[Becky Rose]

I've changed the mid race join system to not register the race entry.

[tomylee]

whats the point on the additional "WAVED" ? :shrug::scratchch

[Mako.]

Yes Yes and again, YES!!!!!! Finaly, we have a good autocross system!

I especialy love autoX, and was waiting for someone to do a good job on progressing this aspect of the game, so I can enjoy it both here and IRL on a simmilar level. THANK YOU GUYS!!!!!!:woohoo::rally_dri

[DeKo]

Still eagerly awaiting the S-S servers, what time today will they be up at?

[zeugnimod]

In 47 minutes. :D

[TFalke55]

Problems here... it says "Passengers are not allowed on this server" it kicks me out although (i double checked it twice (four times)) i have no passengers
and sometimes it says "mid race joins are not permitted during first lap"... but it was in lap 5

[Becky Rose]

TFalke55 - its a corrupted set, i'll be notifying Scawen once i've looked at the problem. I believe it's something to do with some old option thats been removed from the game but I need to do some analysis.

The mid race join is because of the software restarting.

[troy]

Problems here... it says "Passengers are not allowed on this server" it kicks me out although (i double checked it twice (four times)) i have no passengers
and sometimes it says "mid race joins are not permitted during first lap"... but it was in lap 5

the passengers thing is related to old setups causing some kind of problems
try it with a different one and it should work :)

for the mid race join becky probably just restarted the software at this moment
so it takes one lap for it to notice there is actually more driven laps then 2

edit: to slow :P

[TFalke55]

the passengers thing is related to old setups causing some kind of problems
try it with a different one and it should work :)

for the mid race join becky probably just restarted the software at this moment
so it takes one lap for it to notice there is actually more driven laps then 2

edit: to slow :P

TFalke55 - its a corrupted set, i'll be notifying Scawen once i've looked at the problem. I believe it's something to do with some old option thats been removed from the game but I need to do some analysis.

The mid race join is because of the software restarting.

thanks you two for quick answering
works now

[dungbeetle]

Hmmm interesting. I'd have to think on that, personally I feel that mid race rejoining is practicing at the expense of racers. We allow it, but as you'll have seen from the blue flag 'in no uncertain terms' you are expected to steer clear. I'll have to think about what to do with races and finishes for mid race joiners.

I usually wait in the pits 'till the last place racer goes by then tag on to the end.

If I start to catch up with last place, I don't pressure, I just ease back a little. If first place catches up with me, I usually pit again in good time before I start getting in the way.

Maybe someting like this could be in the rules, so people can still warm up without affecting the race? :shrug:

[dungbeetle]

Dunno if it has been suggested already, but I'd find it handy if the $results screen appeared when you stopped the car instead of when you cross the finish line.

Exciting isn't it, peering through the text trying hard not to hit anyone! :D

[Rooble]

Yeah have to admit you've done well here Becky, although I find the end of race results page a pain in the arse.

K bye.





Edit: bio is a noob. haha.

[Biohazard]

i think you´ve really done some nice system there :tilt:

couldn´t spot a single thing that would be annoying, guess the ctra servers will be full all day ;).

really nice job :)

[Andrei221]

4 minutes to Single Seater? :D

[shadow2kx]

4 minutes to Single Seater? :D


Racername: Andrei221
Online at: CTRA Single Seater

Seems to be 0 minutes left :p

[Andrei221]

hehe yea..now i am waiting for the bump and jump..that would be fun :) 8 minutes?

[SamH]

8PM UTC.. another... ::checks watch:: ...49 mins :)

[Andrei221]

2 minutes?

[obsolum]

What's the deal with the mid-race join restriction, really? I just spent an entire race trying to join, and it just kept saying "mid-race join not permitted during first lap" or something like that. Even after the bloody race was finished I couldn't join. And it seemed nobody else could either. The other guys just reconnected to the server and that seemed to do the trick. I just left, I was way too annoyed by then to even think about racing properly.

[TFalke55]

little problems with my stats on www.raceauthority.com

look here:
You have competed in: 9 races and driven 209 laps on the CTRA system.

You do not currently hold any lap records.

Wins: 0 0%
Podiums: 0 0%
Finishes: 11 122%
Fastest Laps: 0 0%
Yellows : 65 31%

209 in 9 races are pretty much :D and 11races of 9 races finished :D who 've got a 122% statistic of arrival ;)

[DarkTimes]

What's the deal with the mid-race join restriction, really? I just spent an entire race trying to join, and it just kept saying "mid-race join not permitted during first lap" or something like that. Even after the bloody race was finished I couldn't join. And it seemed nobody else could either. The other guys just reconnected to the server and that seemed to do the trick. I just left, I was way too annoyed by then to even think about racing properly.I had the same problem on the SS server. I just gave up after a while, it would never let me join.

[Becky Rose]

If I have just restarted the software, which has happened a few times especially with the server openings tonight and when we where dealing with teathing problems last night and this morning, the software then thinks there is a race in progress and needs a racing car to register a lap. This is unfortunately, but once the X-System is fully stable it should no longer be a problem.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused by unforseen problems during launch, I stayed up until gone 5am solving them, and was back at it by around 10-11am and am still checking everything now, 12 hours later. I appreciate the restarts are problematical, but trust me - you have the better deal ;).

Anyway, the last server is open now and it had just 1 teathing problem that has now been fixed. We're now in sit back and see mode here, hoping that it all works.

This really has been a massive project, I dont know how many lines of code, it's not so much a case of how big is the source code - and more a case of how many source code files there are.

Most of our problems on launch where caused by player names with control codes in, as a result of japanese or other letter codes rather than latin, then returning SQL valid control codes by pure coincidence, things like the German tendancy to use a comma instead of a dot when uploading fuel values, stuff like that which we didnt expect.

For the most part though we think are we on top of it now, and the system seems to be running ok at the moment. Tonight i'll try to keep my sleep short again, i'll monitor it as much as possible (except during the Grand Prix) and then take an early night Sunday.

[obsolum]

If I have just restarted the software, which has happened a few times especially with the server openings tonight and when we where dealing with teathing problems last night and this morning, the software then thinks there is a race in progress and needs a racing car to register a lap.
Yeah I know, you said that before, but like I said it was like that for an entire race, meaning there was a whole pack of racing cars doing several laps and it still wouldn't let anyone who was in the pits join. Also, I don't think it was because of a software restart because if I'm not mistaken if the software is restarted we see this big message in the server telling us the software was reset, right?

Anyway, I know this is only a minor issue and all in all you guys did a terrific job. I was just pretty annoyed by this, in combination with me not having had the best couple of days and thus already being more irate than usual :shrug:

[DarkTimes]

If I have just restarted the software, which has happened a few times especially with the server openings tonight and when we where dealing with teathing problems last night and this morning, the software then thinks there is a race in progress and needs a racing car to register a lap. This is unfortunately, but once the X-System is fully stable it should no longer be a problem.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused by unforseen problems during launch, I stayed up until gone 5am solving them, and was back at it by around 10-11am and am still checking everything now, 12 hours later. I appreciate the restarts are problematical, but trust me - you have the better deal ;).

Anyway, the last server is open now and it had just 1 teathing problem that has now been fixed. We're now in sit back and see mode here, hoping that it all works.

This really has been a massive project, I dont know how many lines of code, it's not so much a case of how big is the source code - and more a case of how many source code files there are.

Most of our problems on launch where caused by player names with control codes in, as a result of japanese or other letter codes rather than latin, then returning SQL valid control codes by pure coincidence, things like the German tendancy to use a comma instead of a dot when uploading fuel values, stuff like that which we didnt expect.

For the most part though we think are we on top of it now, and the system seems to be running ok at the moment. Tonight i'll try to keep my sleep short again, i'll monitor it as much as possible (except during the Grand Prix) and then take an early night Sunday.
Thanks for all your effort Becks! The whole community appreciates it. From what I saw of the software earlier on it looks very special indeed! I'm looking forward to finally getting that gold licence once all the kinks are worked out! Fantastic stuff! :D

[niall09]

I really only have one preoblem with new servers... the points system. I feel you dont get enough points when you come like 3rd or 4th. I came in the top 5 numerous occasions and the max points i got was 4, and that was for second.

Anyway, i would really like to know how the points system works and are there maximum points given out each race?

[Biohazard]

at least when the servers are full you get a lot more points i think :shrug:

[niall09]

at least when the servers are full you get a lot more points i think :shrug:

not really, each time ive raced, people have been complaining about not being able to join

:shrug:

[ans7812]

I really only have one preoblem with new servers... the points system. I feel you dont get enough points when you come like 3rd or 4th. I came in the top 5 numerous occasions and the max points i got was 4, and that was for second.

Anyway, i would really like to know how the points system works and are there maximum points given out each race?

..and you only get points for being in the top 5 or so. Thats ridiculous in my opinion. How is anyone supposed to progress?

[Biohazard]

sprint tracks?

otherwise... i don´t know...:shrug:

[faster111]

..and you only get points for being in the top 5 or so. Thats ridiculous in my opinion. How is anyone supposed to progress? you need a fast and good skills yes i know its ridiculous.

[obsolum]

Agreed, the new points system is... well... horrible, really. And there doesn't seem to be ANY logic in it whatsoever. Finishing 7th out of 20+ racers after starting last in the XRG with Bronze license doesn't get you any points? Come on! In the old system that would have been like 4 points or more. In the 38 races I've done so far in the new system I think I've scored 2 points :(

Also, the driving standard is a lot higher now than it used to be on the old system. There's a lot of very good racers on all of the time now, which makes it that much harder to finish even in the top 10 on a packed server, let alone the top 5.

[SamH]

Well, quite honestly while we were working on the new system we took a long hard look at *what* a CTRA licence should be. We realised that one of the things people had misunderstood about the system was that it was a rite of passage. This is something it most definitely isn't.

The points balancing favours the winners and close runners up. People lower down aren't earning many points because they're not winning or not close to winning. One of the complaints we received with the old system was that people were progressing to higher servers, not because they were good drivers, but because they'd raced attrociously for a long time. It's something we've very specifically addressed. Again, CTRA licences are not, not, not, a rite of passage. :tilt:

[niall09]

Well, quite honestly while we were working on the new system we took a long hard look at *what* a CTRA licence should be. We realised that one of the things people had misunderstood about the system was that it was a rite of passage. This is something it most definitely isn't.

The points balancing favours the winners and close runners up. People lower down aren't earning many points because they're not winning or not close to winning. One of the complaints we received with the old system was that people were progressing to higher servers, not because they were good drivers, but because they'd raced attrociously for a long time. It's something we've very specifically addressed. Again, CTRA licences are not, not, not, a rite of passage. :tilt:

yes, but why not give more points to the people who do come in the top 5 or 6? :shrug:

[cjb1118]

I've been racing on the servers tonight, and i've got to say, you've made a really great system. There's a few issues but overall it's fine. Well done and thanks.

[SamH]

yes, but why not give more points to the people who do come in the top 5 or 6? :shrug:
Because they're only coming in the top 5 or top 6. For decent points, they need to be in the top 3 or top 4. That's the point.. giving more points to people who aren't able to place in the top 3 or 4 is exactly why we spent several weeks dedicated to finding and relegating people who drove attrociously in the last system, but who drove attrociously a lot.

It's not a rite of passage in the same way as every other motorsport is not a rite of passage. You get your licence by working for it and being good, not just by driving a lot. Scott Speed will never win an F1 championship by turning up to a lot of races.. he'll only do it by winning a lot of them, and/or placing really close to the top.

A lot of bloody fast people have said to me over the last few months that they cut their teeth on STCC/CTRA servers.. striving to make the next licence, bit by bit.. getting better and faster all the time. This is what it's about.. striving to get better, and earning the points to prove it. :tilt:

[StewartFisher]

I'm hugely impressed by the new system...it really is very impressive. Thanks for all your hard work!

I must say that I agree with those who are questioning the point system. Today I won my first race on the new CTRA servers and got 4 points. A little while later someone won a race and got 16 points! The server was full when I won, so I can't quite see how it was only worth 4 points.

[DeKo]

One quick suggestion, is there any chance you could make a join link on the server page on raceauthority.com? Would be really useful.

[SamH]

I'm hugely impressed by the new system...it really is very impressive. Thanks for all your hard work!

I must say that I agree with those who are questioning the point system. Today I won my first race on the new CTRA servers and got 4 points. A little while later someone won a race and got 16 points! The server was full when I won, so I can't quite see how it was only worth 4 points.
Thanks! :)
The guy who got 16 points probably got very close to the lap record during the race. You get more bonus points the closer you get to the lap record :)
One quick suggestion, is there any chance you could make a join link on the server page on raceauthority.com? Would be really useful.
Click on the gauge :)

[DeKo]

Click on the gauge :)
Hadnt noticed that, cheers :) Really have thought of everything.

[STROBE]

Well I managed to survive the carnage to finish in sixth or seventh tonight on a full Singleseater 1 server, and thought I'd have collected at least a few points to get my single seater licence started. But no, nothing, zilch, nada. I can understand 5th/6th place not getting any points in a server with 7 drivers, but to still get not even a point or two after finishing ahead of 12 other drivers? :shrug:

Nonetheless, fantastic system overall, congrats to Becky, Sam, and everyone else involved with it. I think it speaks for itself how much effort has gone into all this, and it's mightily impressive. Beers all round for you all. :thumb:

A few observations so far:

The results screen used to appear immediately after crossing the line, which was annoying. Now it doesn't seem to do that, but I haven't figured out yet what makes it appear and what doesn't. Either way I'd prefer it to be something I choose to call up, never to have it forced upon me. There's already a results summary that Scawen put there, the second, more detailed CTRA one should always be optional.
The B'n'J server is less of a BJ, more of a rough gangbang. Folk were just openly ramming each other out the way whilst I was there. Get a bit sideways into a corner, and wham! half a dozen cars pile into you on full throttle trying to barge through a space that is still filled by a car.
Pre-X, CTRA servers were lightyears ahead of other servers in terms of driving standards and courtesy. I hope it's just a symptom of the launch hype and servers packed with anyone who can get on, but tonight the SS1 server had similar or worse driving standards than the other public servers I've been on the past few weeks.

[ldriver]

that s just brilliant , congrats to all the ctra staff :001_007:

[joshdifabio]

Hmmm, just got autokicked from the single seater 1 server for spectating for too long, "to make room for an active player". Maybe it would be a good idea for the software to only autokick inactive players if a server is full, or at least almost full? The server only had 15 of 27 slots taken.

[Becky Rose]

On the points, there are 4 key factors: Pace; Position; Size of field; Race length. If all are good you will score good points, although the 1st tier will never yield huge rewards, but you can get quite a lot of points when you are both fast relative to your cars record AND place well.

It's a point to realise, the current races are shorter than the old system and this is effecting how points distribution is perceived because longer races yield more points.

In reality the points spread has not changed very much, we've shifted the distribution a little - but not very much. It's almost the same algorythm but with a slight shift toward the top end of the field, but the shorter races means points aren't going so deep down the field because those 1's and 2's are rounding down in relation to the shorter time.

We'll lengthen the races soon, but you still need to earn a CTRA licence - not expect it. As Sam and the site says, it is NOT a rite of passage. Holding a top level CTRA licence should mean something.

Never more so is this true on the single seater licence, here we have a chance to create an all new licence that will mean something.

On the B&J server, it is perfectly within the rules to spin another car - what isnt acceptable is ramming people into barriers or wrecking them. We ellected not to call it banger racing because most of LFS sees the word banger and reads the word wreckfest and starts driving like idiots. It's actually a lot more fun, and usually gives better results, to try to drive properly - but we've no problem with contact on the bump and jump server, that's what the bump part of the name is.

When I was on the B&J server earlier it was being driven properly as far as I could see, and it was a lot of fun.

On driving standards: I've watched a lot of races over the last few days and I have to say I have seen some exceptional driving. Sure accidents happen, they happen on all servers. I even made a few muppet moves myself periodically over the last few days. That happens in racing. I have seen for the most part positions returned and not many arguments - overall i'd say the standard has been high.

However, we have the same drivers that are on every other server, there's no magic, just a reporting system. We do have some reports in queue granted, but we'll deal with them all and unlike before you can call up old reports and check what is happening/has happened with them. You'll even get email notification. We cant cast a magic wand and make human beings into something they are not though - we need help to help you, so we know who to give instruction to.

[mrodgers]

The system registers every yellow flag you throw at a maximum rate of 1 per sector. If you have 52%, you are crashing more than you realise. ;)
Or, you just don't have a setup and spend a race or 2 testing the setup, pulling over off the track for blue flags, etc. I'm at 42% and the tracking started when I got silver and spent an evening trying to setup the freakin drift car (XRT) and couldn't get the back to stay straight. Never caused or had an accident, but would of course, throw up yellows during my waiting exiting pitroad and pulling off for blue flags, etc.

Whoops, I'm on page 3 reading and it's up to page 5......

[Becky Rose]

In real racing it is a requirement to have basic control of the car. When somebody is experimenting with their setup in a real car, they dont gaffa tape a yellow flag to the back of it. Why is this different in LFS?

[mrodgers]

I'm not saying there is no control. I'm saying that you throw yellows up when slowing down or pulling off to let the racers by. That doesn't dictate that one is a poor driver. Quite the opposite in fact, we all want those just "practicing" or working on setup to move off when the racers are approaching.

Now that I've gone through the last pages, I see points brought up. I spectate until the grid is set often, so that I can be put last on start. Last night on several occasions, I moved from 30th to 7th or so in a 10 minute race. No points at all last night. Just because you don't win or place a race, doesn't mean you are a crap driver (as what some of the responses look like when read). I just feel that there should be a bit more places gaining points in a 20-30 car grid. I would say that it possibly had something to do with being a higher class license than the server I was on, but it was all the few gold and above licensed drivers getting all the few points there were.

That's just some constructive criticism and opinions. I am thoroughly impressed with what you guys did here. My hat's off to you folks. Now I must go join the fantastic servers :D

[Becky Rose]

I do hear you, and I understand, not every yellow is valid and many are caused by other drivers and it goes on our stats - that's why it shouldnt ever be used in finite detail to discern a drivers ability - we've used it to highlight drivers we want to watch in the past, >100% ratio and lots of laps is something we want to see, and usually our faith in humanity is cut down when we do.

However we've never made a decision against anyone by the yellow flag ratio, it's just a ratio, a rough guide, and as i've said most of the good drivers i've watched have ratio's under 20% or so. That's not an exclusive club - I think it's something that anyone can aim for and achieve if they want too. There are drivers with 40% ratio's i'd happily go wheel to wheel with and not bat an eyelit. I cant think of any drivers I know who have ratio's around 100% who I dont wince when I pass though...

[Rayo]

Wow!:x

You people are insane, ohhh, Im gonna race every day now! Thank you!:shy:

[Meanie]

Thanks a lot for this!
Now that it has some open wheeler action... i"ll be damned if i wouldn't be a regular! :shy:

Just a quick info tho: (sorry about the tl;dr)

1. Is track change random? I mean totally random or are the tracks randomly chosen from a select pool of tracks?
2. How much time one could expect between track changes?
3. Does it have wind on? Is it random too? Does it show how much wind on the screen before the start of a race?
4. How much time will it pass before you guys make the races a lil bit longer? (I've read somewhere that this would be the case).

Again, thanks a whole lot for this!
Whohoooooo

Just like a player just said on a CTRA server (i went there to get me a password): "This is like S3!"

:):):)

[SamH]

Thanks a lot for this!
Now that it has some open wheeler action... i"ll be damned if i wouldn't be a regular! :shy:

Just a quick info tho: (sorry about the tl;dr)

1. Is track change random? I mean totally random or are the tracks randomly chosen from a select pool of tracks?
It is a pool, as you say. We selected the tracks to suit the cars and the style of competition we want to achieve across each of the servers :)
2. How much time one could expect between track changes?
It's roughly 90 minutes, IIRC. Becky knows this stuff by heart, but she's shattered and gone for the night.
3. Does it have wind on? Is it random too? Does it show how much wind on the screen before the start of a race?
Yes, yes and.. can't remember.. I don't think it tells you, actually. Like real wind, it blows as hard as it blows :)
4. How much time will it pass before you guys make the races a lil bit longer? (I've read somewhere that this would be the case).
Already done :) We've increased the laps tonight and are keeping our eyes on things to see if further adjustments are needed.
Again, thanks a whole lot for this!
Whohoooooo

Just like a player just said on a CTRA server (i went there to get me a password): "This is like S3!"

:):):)
Yowzer! That's a proper compliment! :D We've got nothing on what S3 will bring ;)

[dawesdust_12]

Sam, the wind is actually figured out in the same way that it's figured out in STCC, with a virtual 32 (I think?) sided die, and whatever value is what wind is set at.

[word.]

one quick question: Does it always load the same layout (of objects) or does it load a random layout each track change?

Just now I was racing on FE2 on the race1 server, and it had a mental chicane layout that made lap times much slower.

Other than that, keep up the good work. nice system :thumbsup:

[Place]

Good job as far as I can see so far although theres a lot of confusion about the rb4 bump and jump track where you have head on traffic on what should be two lanes. It seems people who are getting ready to make the last jump drive on their left (should be right) and those who make the first left drive on the left (should be right) which makes it impossible to get a decent lap in if your getting hit every lap.

Endurance mondays will return?

I miss the uf1 :\

[Jakg]

you need a fast and good skills yes i know its ridiculous.
yes, it's ridiculous to expect those drivers to go through to the next server. The bottom line is that you've got to be fast and a good driver to get the next server - people were seeping through to silver who didn't have the skills required, and now they've tried to fix this.

Either way your still getting a good race against people of roughly your own ability

[dungbeetle]

Well, quite honestly while we were working on the new system we took a long hard look at *what* a CTRA licence should be. We realised that one of the things people had misunderstood about the system was that it was a rite of passage. This is something it most definitely isn't.

The points balancing favours the winners and close runners up. People lower down aren't earning many points because they're not winning or not close to winning. One of the complaints we received with the old system was that people were progressing to higher servers, not because they were good drivers, but because they'd raced attrociously for a long time. It's something we've very specifically addressed. Again, CTRA licences are not, not, not, a rite of passage. :tilt:

Hi Sam,

I do understand the 'rite of passage' part. No problem there. You only get a bronze/silver/gold/platinum/titanium license if you meet the required standards in relation to your fellow racers. That's fair enough. :)

However, things can become difficult when entry into to the other CTRA servers is inextricably linked to the licensing system, because it's only in the higher level servers where you can enjoy a wider variety of cars to drive.

I think people are keen to improve their license status, not only to aquire a 'better' license (which of course is nice :)) but also because it enables them to race other combinations within the CTRA system.

Now, if you are only a novice/mediocre driver, at say the copper level, you are in a position where you really do need to score points in order to drive other cars.

At the moment however, this seems a daunting task. As people have already said, it's very hard for that level of driver to score points and two things seem to contribute to this. Firstly, there are now an awful lot of cars on the grid (geat fun though, btw!) which makes getting a clean lap and hence some fast lap time points quite difficult. Secondly, the entry level servers are also populated with silver, gold and platinum drivers which of course makes the task of getting position points much more difficult for the copper and bronze drivers.

Please be aware that this is not a complaint though, it's merely an observation. I appreciate that the idea to start off with easier cars to drive and progress to the harder ones as you improve, is entirely logical. But the unfortunate side effect is that members who lack the ability to reach the higher echelons may never get to enjoy all that the CTRA has to offer.

They may only ever be able to drive the XFG/XRG and the FOX and have no alternative but to go elsewhere to drive the other LFS cars, which would be a great shame because as we all know ...

... the CTRA ROCKS! :nana:

Cheers :)

[Veiti]

I just like to thank your for the new CRT X-System! Great work! :)

[Tweaker]

There is no option for California, USA on the site :D :tilt:

Anyways, I haven't driven LFS for several months now... I have had a long break period from anything related to LFS, and upon starting LFS up this evening, I decided to give this whole system a go while I come back racing again. So far I am really impressed with what you have done, and it is a big step up from any other systems you've had in the past (obviously). Impressions of everyone's driving is rather good... mixed... but still very nice. There is a good combination of fast drivers and slow drivers, and the slow ones are about 90% of the time yielding to blue flags which is also a big plus. Not often do you see such well mannered drivers online, especially under blue flags. There is the occasional accident, but no harm from what I can see. Veiti and I were having a fast race in the single seaters, until he was taken out by some traffic sliding out of control. A shame, but it's not the end of the world.

Fact is, I like what I've experience so far, and should come back and visit soon. Just a shame I lost my grid position because of a silly disconnect when someone lagged out on the server (a lot of other connections were dropped). That meant a lot of people could not rejoin the server in time for the race restart. Which leaves me with only one suggestion. PLEASE make the break times between races a little longer. A heated 15+ lap race in the single-seaters could use a bit longer break and time to chat. It just seems awful quick when another race is about to restart.

I've only tried the FOX so far, will try others another day/night.

:thumb:

[geeman1]

On the B&J server, it is perfectly within the rules to spin another car - what isnt acceptable is ramming people into barriers or wrecking them. We ellected not to call it banger racing because most of LFS sees the word banger and reads the word wreckfest and starts driving like idiots. It's actually a lot more fun, and usually gives better results, to try to drive properly - but we've no problem with contact on the bump and jump server, that's what the bump part of the name is.Last night when I was driving there, there seemed to be a lot of confusion what exactly is considered acceptable. Some people were overreacting to small bumps and nudges and on the other hand some people were doing what could be considered wrecking. I especially disliked when people tried to ram through a tight spot even when it was obvious that they can't get through when we were racing on the Champange layout.

To be honest the rules aren't very clear on what you are allowed to do and what you are not.

[elkdanger]

I've had a quick scan through this thread but I haven't seen this being mentioned, so apologies if it has already, but...

Well, the website looks great and all but it is poorly built. The biggest worry for me is that the output source just doesn't validate in ANY of the W3C HTML standards (INCLUDING the DOCTYPE that has been explicitly set in the code) :( I just mention it because we all know that LFS has a pretty huge user base and from what I understand, CTRA is an important concept that a lot of people will use. The thing is, a small percentage (those with disabilities, especially those using screen-readers) may have problems viewing or even using the site properly.

Also it uses tables for layout, but that's just me being picky :D

Just my 2p really, but it's something to be weary of in the future. Unless you get some users complaining about it I wouldn't worry.

[jimmytwohand]

Is track change random? I mean totally random or are the tracks randomly chosen from a select pool of tracks?
It is a pool, as you say. We selected the tracks to suit the cars and the style of competition we want to achieve across each of the servers.
So am i right in assuming there is no way of knowing when a certain track will appear or is there a schedule or rotation order? I cant find any info on that in my searches.
Being new i dont know many tracks and tend to concentrate on 1 or 2 at a time until i get competitive at them. I dont want to race on tracks i am unfamiliar with as this will cause problems for other drivers, it would be nice to race on those where i have a certain level of competence though.

Do i basically have to learn all the tracks or hope i get lucky in finding a track i know is active?
Is there a list of what tracks may be in the, say, SS1 server pool so i can at least concentrate on those if it is random?

Of course this may be a deliberate feature of the system.

[Jakg]

its random, but there aren't any long tracks, just short and medium tracks.

[jimmytwohand]

Okey dokey. Thanks.

[geeman1]

Last night when I was driving there.Quoting myself is fun :)

Anyway, I just wanted to say that today the rules seemed a bit more formed already. More people seemed to have grasped the difference between wrecking and bumping people now.

[Tweaker]

Well now this is starting to get kinda frustrating while online. UKCT Dan was telling me that there is some connection issues that occur when buttons are being sent or something... and it causes a huge lag spike for certain players. Which is pretty bad considering LFS his very flakey when a player is lagging out and other players get kicked from it. I've lost several lead-lap races from disconnects (3 count now), and many other disconnects in between. It is not my connection, I am 100% positive of that. If what Dan says is true, I'd really like to see that fixed... it is kind of spoiling my momentum (and fun) for my first night :(.

Hope it gets fixed.

[ChiliFan]

Just popping in to say I had great fun on the Bump and Jump server last night, everyone was good humoured and the racing was close. Thanks everyone. :thumb:

[Glenn67]

and it causes a huge lag spike for certain players...

I haven't been on CTRA servers today but I notice just now when looking at the server list that a whole bunch of servers have significantly higher ping than normal for me (almost double :shrug:) so maybe one of the major LFS server providers is having some trouble?

The official LX4 servers seem normal but condogers and ctra are high amoungst a bunch of others.

[Iron]

I was just looking at the top racers list and noticed that I'm not in that list. I have a Gold licence with 4709 points. I guess I should be in between them:

123. 3laurent 7caplain France 4,735 Gold
124. Martin Macjon Germany 4,666 Gold

[Tweaker]

Did you register on the site? You gotta go setup a password and then you'll show up once you type in your profile info.

[Iron]

Yep: You are logged in as Aron (Iron) | Log Out

[Tweaker]

Perhaps you need a 'full' first/last name.

gn

[The Bandit]

When logging on to MyCTRA I can see that my license is gone!

No points and cooper. I have Platinum and 12,596 points....What has happend?

The Bandit

(View another licence
The_Bandit
12,596 POINTS
(platinum)

0.78% towards Titanium)

http://licence.ukct.net/licence.asp?lfsUser=The_Bandit

[celvis]

I had great fun yesterday on all CTRA server, and the new system is very good. Only little complain so far from me is that the result list should be optional. Out of curiosity i wonder how much strain this system puts on the server and the connection.

Greetings to all nice people i raced together yesterday and a hug :grouphug: for everyone involved in the CTRA project, may your enthusiasm never fade away.

[DeadWolfBones]

Well now this is starting to get kinda frustrating while online. UKCT Dan was telling me that there is some connection issues that occur when buttons are being sent or something... and it causes a huge lag spike for certain players. Which is pretty bad considering LFS his very flakey when a player is lagging out and other players get kicked from it. I've lost several lead-lap races from disconnects (3 count now), and many other disconnects in between. It is not my connection, I am 100% positive of that. If what Dan says is true, I'd really like to see that fixed... it is kind of spoiling my momentum (and fun) for my first night :(.

Hope it gets fixed.

I was only on for three races the day it launched, but I did get disconnected after one of the races had ended (but long after the results screen had come up). I know it's not my connection, either.

edit: You get your computer fixed, Tweak?

[SamH]

When logging on to MyCTRA I can see that my license is gone!

No points and cooper. I have Platinum and 12,596 points....What has happend?

The Bandit

(View another licence
The_Bandit
12,596 POINTS
(platinum)

0.78% towards Titanium)

http://licence.ukct.net/licence.asp?lfsUser=The_Bandit
Fixed. Sorry about that. There are a handful of licences that appear not to have migrated correctly to the new database. Your licence now has combined points, old and new :)

[The Bandit]

Super! Thanks

Top job on the new servers

Can't wait to get racing again

The Bandit

[SamH]

Well now this is starting to get kinda frustrating while online. UKCT Dan was telling me that there is some connection issues that occur when buttons are being sent or something... and it causes a huge lag spike for certain players. Which is pretty bad considering LFS his very flakey when a player is lagging out and other players get kicked from it. I've lost several lead-lap races from disconnects (3 count now), and many other disconnects in between. It is not my connection, I am 100% positive of that. If what Dan says is true, I'd really like to see that fixed... it is kind of spoiling my momentum (and fun) for my first night :(.

Hope it gets fixed.
Becky is looking into this and has made some pretty significant changes to compensate for the burst of data being moved already, specifically relating to the end-of-race/results menu. With all due respect to Dan, he's repeating a conversation he's partially heard between Becky and I, he's not up to speed on the data flow of InSim and what he's relaying is far from authoritative. If you want details, the only person who can give them is Becky. I don't understand half of what she says either, and I'm a lot more on the inside track of the X-System's coding.
Perhaps you need a 'full' first/last name.

gn
Quite right :) We're also removing silly names when we see them. :)

[dawesdust_12]

I was only on for three races the day it launched, but I did get disconnected after one of the races had ended (but long after the results screen had come up). I know it's not my connection, either.

edit: You get your computer fixed, Tweak?

It's the buttons at results that kick me always, I've resorted to killing the menu as soon as I finish, then waiting til everyone finishes, and calling $results.

[SamH]

There is no option for California, USA on the site :D :tilt:
Whoah! LOL! Hmm.. I think maybe I dreamed that CA broke off and fell into the Pacific Ocean. Okay, I've put it back in there until it does! :D

[Becky Rose]

Scawen gave us 200 buttons, I used them.

[jegorchangai]

Got banned from CTRA , but dont know why, I was on bump and jump and me and [FUSION]Jack were leading the race then some guy named roxor came and delibrately wrecked him, I said Stupid bitch cause of my anger, then rejoined and Jack and me started talking to him why he wrecked us etc, then I suddenly got banned but for what :shrug:.

Is there some 12 hour ban on swearing once,
Thanks,
Jegor

[Jakg]

I haven't been on CTRA servers today but I notice just now when looking at the server list that a whole bunch of servers have significantly higher ping than normal for me (almost double :shrug:) so maybe one of the major LFS server providers is having some trouble?

The official LX4 servers seem normal but condogers and ctra are high amoungst a bunch of others.CTRA are hosted by UKCT, Conedodgers by 500 Servers (iirc), although afaik one of Franky's servers and the UKCT box are in the same datacentre

[Darkone55]

This system is just bad man...

Today I went racing at FOX / As1r. I immidiatly started in front..? Appeared I had the fastest lap, yea, set in a previous life...

When you crash out in lap one, you can't rejoin. Resulting I have to go through the whole field.. Then I get spammed blue flag and stuff all over the place. I can't even see where I'm going!!

Then I drive the fastest time, so, yay, I think I'll start in front. No way, I got crashed out in the last lap, and my laptime didn't count. I'm saying "well, that's great, my laptime doesn't count because some asshole crashed me out". And I get banned for saying asshole. Maybe it's not polite, but this is just crazy.....

[Viper93]

This system is just bad man...

Today I went racing at FOX / As1r. I immidiatly started in front..? Appeared I had the fastest lap, yea, set in a previous life...

When you crash out in lap one, you can't rejoin. Resulting I have to go through the whole field.. Then I get spammed blue flag and stuff all over the place. I can't even see where I'm going!!

Then I drive the fastest time, so, yay, I think I'll start in front. No way, I got crashed out in the last lap, and my laptime didn't count. I'm saying "well, that's great, my laptime doesn't count because some asshole crashed me out". And I get banned for saying asshole. Maybe it's not polite, but this is just crazy.....

Swearing is not tolerated and IIRC it is in the agreement section when you first join in.

Saying the system is crap because some driver drove you off the road is being immature. All you had to do was report the incident and this person would have been penalized and you could carry on racing.

I am sure a ban from swearing won't last very long, keep the swearing under wraps and use the tools that are available on the system to prevent this type of driving and you will have a great time.

[SamH]

Got banned from CTRA , but dont know why, I was on bump and jump and me and [FUSION]Jack were leading the race then some guy named roxor came and delibrately wrecked him, I said Stupid bitch cause of my anger, then rejoined and Jack and me started talking to him why he wrecked us etc, then I suddenly got banned but for what :shrug:.

Is there some 12 hour ban on swearing once,
Thanks,
Jegor
Not once, several times. You were automagically kicked twice by the system alone, and you obliterated the good mood of the server and you were given a 1 day ban to cool down. Whatever you believe, your behaviour today was not acceptable. Sort it out, please. ReportID# 99.

[Becky Rose]

Today I went racing at FOX / As1r. I immidiatly started in front..? Appeared I had the fastest lap, yea, set in a previous life...
I'm a little uncertain what you mean by this, was there a bug?

When you crash out in lap one, you can't rejoin. Resulting I have to go through the whole field.. Then I get spammed blue flag and stuff all over the place. I can't even see where I'm going!!
You should not, under any circumstances, have gotten involved in the cars that where racing. When you are a mid race joiner you are practicing, all that spam was telling you to get out of the way, from your description you did not do this, it sounds like you are telling us you pressed on regardless. You where in practice mode, in that situation I would find some emptry track and work on my setup or set a qualifying lap for the next race.

Then I drive the fastest time, so, yay, I think I'll start in front. No way, I got crashed out in the last lap, and my laptime didn't count.
Absolutely, we do not approve of hotlapping do or die driving, especially from mid race joiners. To finish first, first you must finish. Now I dont know the details of your accident, but from your description you where in practice mode - I can only imagine the rest without looking at a reply so I wont comment further...

And I get banned for saying asshole. Maybe it's not polite, but this is just crazy.....
The system kicks (not bans) for swearing, this is exactly the kind of behavior that we do not want to see on our servers. If you cant deal with it like an adult then walk away and take 10 minutes to get your dignity back together, try watching the replay in the interim or something, to make sure you havn't acted rashly. Lowering yourself like that means you effect the mood on the server for everyone, and that is why we have a swear filter.

[AlienT.]

WOW! Great job Becky, Sam and the rest of the team.

[Darkone55]

You're right about the swearing, I agreed with it, that's true.

But I tried to drive some kind of race, so I don't have to wait 15 min for a restart. And finding an empty space is just impossible. When I finally seem to have a bit of empty road in front of me, someone appears when I come out of the first corner. The next corner there's still someone who spun, the corner after that people are fighting for places..

If the system would let me join before the 2nd lap, I could have driven away from the front few drivers and have an empty road.. At least for 3 laps or so...

A qualifying lap was what I tried to do, before I got crashed out. I say in this case it's the fault of the system, because I know it wasn't on purpose. But the fact was that it flipped my car and I wasn't able to finish the race, to let my qualifying lap count. In the last lap....

[richy]

Hello, I have been loving these servers again, im slow, i dont get much points. But this is some of the best racing ever!!!

I can't stress how awesome the server setup is, love it to bits! Thank you guys.

Just a little problem that is relating to the above a bit, that I noticed last night. It's the issue with the join on lap 2 message. It needs to be staggered.

As 1st place crosses the line I can leave the pits, stay at pit speed, exit pits straight into the middle of the pack. Joining on lap 2 actually does the opposite. It puts crashes in the middle of the pack. Or just behind them on cold tyres. :D I just wait at the end of the pitlane for all to pass, and let the race get on with it then poodle my way around my outlap taking it easy and not disturbing things. But i'm not sure if everyone is aware of this.

But join on lap 2 definately has potential to cause problems. Maybe, if you could set it so it only lets people out of the pits once Last place has reached lap 2? As it is when 1st place goes it lets people out at the wrong time.

[SamH]

You're right about the swearing, I agreed with it, that's true.

But I tried to drive some kind of race, so I don't have to wait 15 min for a restart. And finding an empty space is just impossible. When I finally seem to have a bit of empty road in front of me, someone appears when I come out of the first corner. The next corner there's still someone who spun, the corner after that people are fighting for places..

If the system would let me join before the 2nd lap, I could have driven away from the front few drivers and have an empty road.. At least for 3 laps or so...

A qualifying lap was what I tried to do, before I got crashed out. I say in this case it's the fault of the system, because I know it wasn't on purpose. But the fact was that it flipped my car and I wasn't able to finish the race, to let my qualifying lap count. In the last lap....
Honestly, the main body of the complaint you have revolves around things we have no control over, and in the race you're describing are pretty rotten luck. But no more than that.

To just explain something really important about our mid-race joining rule, the thing we are very much trying to kill off before it gets started in our servers is the "do or die" T1 bombing mentality that we're ALL familiar with. Perhaps initially it's going to be a bit painful for a good many people when they either bomb or are bombed, but it's something we're determined to see through. The end result *will* be worth it, because everyone who chances T1 will be left behind on the lowest server and will never get further.

[Viper93]

So you are saying that you crashed your car because the system made you? :really:

[Becky Rose]

For those whome the $results bandwidth surge is causing problems, you can now configure your $results to appear as you wish from the $prefs menu. There isn't much there at the moment - but changing your auto-show results setting should solve any problems encountered.

[Rayo]

What´s up with the race lenght? 16 laps in Aston Cadet is too much for the Clubman licence. 10 should be long enough at this level, it sucks to lose all 15 previous laps at the last lap because someone crashed in front of you. Make it less please.