TESTING HELP: Automated Race Events

[SilverArrows77]

Ive been thinking through ways to put the onegp server to better use between rounds and have come up with an automated race schedule that im hoping a few guys looking for some racing can test when they have time.

Basically the server is using a lapper cfg that i have done to create races that start on the hour every hour, and last for around 25min. Before the race, an automated 10min practice session and 15min qual session take place, so people looking for a moderate length race can come and always know that a race will take place on the turn of the hour.

Also on top of this, to allow for uninterrupted racing, the server locks it self with a password at race start. This is then automatically unlocked at the end of max time for race session to allow people to come for next practice and qualifying sessions.

To show this format in a simple way:

Hr:min
--:31 10 min Practice Session begins
--:41 Practice session ends with 2 min warning till qualifying
--:43 15min Qualify begins
--:58 Qualifying ends with 2min warning to Race Start
--:00 Race Start - approx 25min race - Server Locks to new connections
--:27 MAX Race time reached - Server Unlocks for new connections

Format then automatically restarts.

This allows for some moderate length races without having to signup to a league/series - and auto closing the server allows uninterrupted racing. This takes place every hour.

Anyway, i know its not going to be to some peoples liking, but for the rest id love to have some ppl come test it and confirm that it operates as it should. As so far its only been tested offline, with AI running for serveral hours though the format.

Many thanks to any who take the time to try it out - any errors or stuffups, feel free to post here and point them out ;)

EDIT* oh , i should probably add - the server name is www.onegp.net - current track and car is AS3 with BF1 (17laps with pitstop)

[wOoOzZy]

What the F david blaine?

Seriously though, nice work.:thumb:

[SilverArrows77]

lol - changed it to two races every hour now - on the hour, and on the half hour - with auto qual sessions before each race :) (thought maybe two races an hour would be better)

Ive come from playing other racing games in past, where during a race the server is always closed - meaning you dont have people connecting asking for setups or complaining about wanting to restart etc. This way it closes like this in LFS for race, so ppl can actually race without interruptions from non racers - but then opens again after race and allows ppl to connect and qualify for next race ;)

*EDIT* an example of the process is here (http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?p=827686&postcount=914#post827686)

[Gil07]

I don't think there are enough people driving the BF1 seriously enough for this :(

[danowat]

snip....

Someones been playing iRacing :D:thumb:

[SilverArrows77]

Someones been playing iRacing :D:thumb:

lol nope not as yet (didnt realise you could yet?) but hey, if iRacing can launch races on the hour, then so can we ;) lol - but i do like some of its ideas ive read in threads here, and also miss some of the options ive had in other games in past - like locking server to new guests during race session. :)


I don't think there are enough people driving the BF1 seriously enough for this :(

Yeah ive thought that too :( (BF1 just isnt popular as a pick up and race car unfortunately), but am just running BF1 like this at moment while testing - planning to use other classes of cars inbetween rounds in this format - like at times maybe FXO (as Mp3 Astra is using that car for the IFDS series) or GTR classes etc. Something different each week maybe to allow for some different racing.

[Mazar]

Its a great idea Arrows, nice one.

Will get testing it later today and will be trialling the code on one of our servers too later. Will get back to you.

Best, Maz

[danowat]

lol nope not as yet (didnt realise you could yet?) - but like some of its ideas ive read in threads here, and also miss some of the options ive had in other games in past - like locking server to new guests during race session. :)

Ahh, ok, wells it's pretty much the same way iRacing does it (I have been playing iR for the last few months, I was on the Beta team), and IMO, would be a VERY good system to implement, infact, your system imported into something like CTRA would bring some of the benifits on iR's system into LFS, which would be a good thing IMO.

Stick with it, but like has been said, maybe the BF1 isn't the best "platform" for the system, at least to test on, may I suggest you select a more widely used car/cars for your testing?.

Good luck, sounds like a good job :)

[Gil07]

Maybe a good idea to post it on the General LFS Discussion section?

[SilverArrows77]

Ahh, ok, wells it's pretty much the same way iRacing does it (I have been playing iR for the last few months, I was on the Beta team), and IMO, would be a VERY good system to implement, infact, your system imported into something like CTRA would bring some of the benifits on iR's system into LFS, which would be a good thing IMO.

Stick with it, but like has been said, maybe the BF1 isn't the best "platform" for the system, at least to test on, may I suggest you select a more widely used car/cars for your testing?.

Good luck, sounds like a good job :)

Thanks mate - its really just simple scheduled actions done in LFSLapper that kick off the events at the required times - so is lapper doing the work, ive just thought how to set the actions :) yep i agree with point about BF1 - think ill open it up to GTR Class to test out.

@Gil - yeah though of posting there too, but didnt want to sound like i was just promoting my own server so posted here lol. But maybe soon i will as might get a few more on to test it out then :)

*EDIT* didnt see your post at first Mazar - yeah give it a shot on your servers and see if you can think of ways to improve the actions/ideas maybe ;)

[SilverArrows77]

Ok have set the server to GTR class now - and is running the 2Races-2Quals schedule per hour

For anyone that liked the 1 Race per hour, on the hour, with a practice and qual beforehand idea, i have posted the lapper auto-actions in the lapper thread 1race on the hour (http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?p=827874&postcount=915#post827874) or 2race-2qual per hour (http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?p=827686&postcount=914#post827686)

[Danke]

An iracing-type system in LFS crossed my mind as well, but not just the event schedule aspect.

One of the more attractive features is the automated marshalling. I forget the exact sporting code, but things like
- contact with another car
- going off track
- causing a yellow flag

... all impact your safety rating. My thought was a two tiered system, where every starts on the "rookie" server. By driving cleanly - finishing races and not doing any of the above - your safety rating goes up. Once it's high enough you can join the "advanced" server.

I think lapper can track spins, I'm not sure about yellows or contact with other cars. Is it possible to enforce hotlap criteria during multiplayer races? If this system is really going to take off, people need to know that there are consequences for wrecking.

Just my .02.

[morpha]

I think lapper can track spinsyup, angle velocity

, I'm not sure about yellowsThere's an InSim packet for flags, no problem there.

or contact with other cars. Is it possible to enforce hotlap criteria during multiplayer races?unfortunately not, at least not using InSim :(
You could check if someone is off track using the coords though, but that's a waste of processing time really, doing the same calculation twice.

[Danke]

If you can get the number of yellows thrown for a driver during a race, that alone should give you a decent idea of a safety rating. As mentioned numerous times in CTRA threads, counting yellows is not foolproof, but it might be good enough. :shrug:

[PLAYLIFE]

Great overall idea. I hope this is made to work