Atlas F1 Generally Championship - Enter Here!

Hello Everyone

This is something I've been meaning to do for some time.

Some of you may know of Generally, a freeware, top down, racing game.

Its not very deep, not very technical, and not a resource hog and small in file-size, so it's perfect for widespread, lite, fun racing.

To that end I've decided to start a World Championship for Atlas.

If you'd be interested in driving in this series, well . . . here is where you can do it.

Interested?

Read on.

If you are familiar with Generally then you'll know that the game itself has no online multiplayer to speak of, but, with a little simple creativity, it's very easy to create an online tournament.

Here's how it works.

Each race is contested over 20 laps of a circuit against 5 other AI cars. At the end of the race the winner's average speed is logged (in order to enter time you must be the winner). At this point the game is saved and the saved file is mailed into the organizer (that's me) for verification. All the average speeds are compared and the person with the highest is the winner.

Simple isn't it?

The championship will take place across 9 rounds and the 9,6,4,3,2,1 scoring system will be used.

At the end of 9 rounds, whoever has the highest score will be World Champion.

In order to stop races being submitted from outside the time-frame, each round (there will usually be a week for each round) the AI drivers will be changed.

That might sound complicated but it's really quite simple. For example for round one of the Championship the 5 AI drivers might have to be called Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Bashful and Grumpy, or whatever. For the next round those names will be changed. This prevents competitors from using races they may have saved before the season.

For this season of the championship the AI's skill level will be set at 40. This makes the AI cars easy to beat provided a driver makes no mistakes during his 20 laps, but does provide some challenges in terms of lapping traffic.

Tyre Wear, Fuel Consumption and Damage are all set to 0% and Fuel Mass is set to 0 too.

The Championship will take place over the following Calendar using the Formula car (races with no other type of car will be accepted).

Atlas F1 Championship Schedule

Wigeno
Agari
Bytes
Mondega
Tantele
Pargy
Nyrporl
Tachren
Gilwan

And here is the official rulebook which, like the FIAs, may well be updated, ammended and clarified as the season progresses to iron out any kinks. I'll be more competent, even handed, and far less kinky than Max Mosely, I promise you ;).

THE RULES

1. You MUST race under your Atlas F1 Username, this means that you driver in Generally must be named identically to your posting ID here.

2. All Races Must Be Driven In The Formula Car. This Applies To Both Player And AI Cars.

3. All AI Cars MUST be named according to those stipulated for that particular round. If AI are not named correctly the entry will be ignored.

4. All AI Cars MUST be set to a skill level of 40.

5. Any Race Saves Submitted After The Deadline Will Be Ignored.

6. All Race Saves Must Named In The Following Format; Average Speed/Atlas F1 Username. For example a race saved by me might be named 94.56BorderReiver. Any entries that do not obey this convention will be ignored.

7. All Race Saves, when loaded, MUST show the end race positions/timing screen (this means saving when the positions/timing screen is in view after the race). Any race save that shows any other screen (such as Championship points etc.) will be ignored.

8. The Human driver MUST beat His/Her AI opposition over the course of the race for the entry to qualify.

9. Only ONE submission may be made by each driver. In the case of multiple submissions ONLY the first one will be counted.

10. The Race Options MUST be set to 0% Damage, Tyre Wear and Fuel Consumption and 0 Fuel Mass. The Starting Positions MUST be Random. Game Speed MUST be 100%.

11. Race Entries Must Be The Full 20 Laps. Any Other Distance Will Be Ignored.

12. In the event of a tied average speed, the fasted lap will be used to determine the winner. If this is still a tie the race that was submitted to race control (the email inbox for the championship) first will be the winner.

13. All saved races will be retained by the Governing Body (Me again) for transparency and copies will be emailed to any competitor who requests them in the interests of fairplay.

14. The Decision Of The Governing Body (me again) is final.

If you're interested in racing in this series, just say hello below and get busy with your racing! You can download Generally from the link at the top of this post (just go to the Download section, the entire game is less than 1.5 megs easy even for a dial up connection)

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to ask them below.

Good luck and happy racing!

ATLAS F1 CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND 1. The Wigeno Grand Prix - Sponsored By The Sherlock Holmes Canon.

The first round of the Atlas F1 Championship will be held at the Wigeno Circuit.

The deadline for entries is 00.00Hrs GMT Monday 21st April 2008 (that means Midnight of Sunday 20th).

The AI Drivers For This Round Must Be Named As Follows.

Holmes
Watson
Lestrade
Bradstreet
Moriarty

They Must have an AI Skill Level Of 40.

The Race Distance Is 20 Laps.

The Human Driver Must Beat All AI Opposition For His/Her Entry To Be Considered.

All saved games, named appropriately, must be emailed to formulaatlas@hotmail.com

Good Luck!

Count me in.

Originally posted by Jodum5
Count me in.

Good man!

Spread the word if you can .

Been playing for a few hours. This is some good ****, though there are some insane tracks I hope won't make it to the championship.

Originally posted by Jodum5
Been playing for a few hours. This is some good ****, though there are some insane tracks I hope won't make it to the championship.

Well this first Championship will be contested only on the standard tracks that come with the game, but over time, who knows? Obviously there'd have to be a consensus from the majority of competitors but I know there are some superb designs out there it would be fun to incorperate .

How you doing at Wigeno? I've done a 20 lap race this evening that I think is pretty good, considering making that my entry proper . . .

I installed it last night to have a look at doing this, but I only seem to be competing in single-car time trials. Is there a setting I'm missing somewhere?

I'm doing pretty good at Wigeno, even with other cars involved. I'll do a few more 20 lap races before making my official entry.

DAN F, you have to make the other drivers. Use the names BorderReiver chose earlier in the thread and make sure all their AI is at 40%, then add them with your name to a race. Go to the Options menu to choose change the car settings and starting position. Once they are set up, they won't need to be changed again.

Originally posted by Jodum5
I'm doing pretty good at Wigeno, even with other cars involved. I'll do a few more 20 lap races before making my official entry.

DAN F, you have to make the other drivers. Use the names BorderReiver chose earlier in the thread and make sure all their AI is at 40%, then add them with your name to a race. Go to the Options menu to choose change the car settings and starting position. Once they are set up, they won't need to be changed again.

What he said ;).

Once you've done your 20 lap race save your game when the results screen is available (the one that displays your average speed), DON'T save it when the championship standings are on the screen because by then it is too late to check your average .

If you're average is, say, 120.20kph then save the game as 120.20YourNameHere. Of course you might not be happy with 120.20kph so you can keep trying until you get an average you think will be competetive, then mail that in. Be aware though that only your first mailed entry will be accepted.

Enjoy!

Any other questions please just go ahead and ask .

Oh and if you can spread the word to people on the forum that would be great, I'd love to have as many drivers as possible in this .

By the way how do you save the game?

Originally posted by Jodum5
By the way how do you save the game?

Just hit escape when the race is complete and the option is in the menu. Make sure you save on the timing screen .

I'll probably give it a go...

As max would say...... prepare you have your ass whipped.

Originally posted by TailHappy
As max would say...... prepare you have your ass whipped.

Oooh topical and aggressive.

Still wrong though ;).

I'd like to give it a try

Originally posted by BorderReiver



If you're average is, say, 120.20kph then save the game as 120.20YourNameHere. Of course you might not be happy with 120.20kph so you can keep trying until you get an average you think will be competetive, then mail that in. Be aware though that only your first mailed entry will be accepted.

Are you trying to suggest 120.20kph is your average speed? If so, I have some work to do. I just saved one of my sessions last night that I'm moderately happy with but I'll wait to see if I can best it until the middle of next week.

By the way, I think there should be a rule against people posting their submissions on here before the results are released on the thread. It'll maintain an element of surprise.

Originally posted by Jodum5


Are you trying to suggest 120.20kph is your average speed? If so, I have some work to do. I just saved one of my sessions last night that I'm moderately happy with but I'll wait to see if I can best it until the middle of next week.

By the way, I think there should be a rule against people posting their submissions on here before the results are released on the thread. It'll maintain an element of surprise.

That's not a bad idea for a rule, but to be honest I think it's in everyone's best interests to keep their times secret, otherwise you're just giving everyone else a marker to shoot for.

Of course, next season (assuming there is one) we'll all have access to last years times and records so the competetion should get increasingly more intense.

With that in mind, no 120.20kph isn't my average round Wigeno, but I will tell you that my actual average is higher than that. I've just mailed it in to myself though, so it won't be improving as I think I've got all I can out of it.

Originally posted by Frank Booth
I'd like to give it a try

The more the merrier mate! Enjoy, just make sure your entry is in by the deadline . Spread the word if you can too .

It'd be nice to have a field that approximates the 22 runners in a Grand Prix.

In fact, I've been thinking, if we get more than that, after the first season we can do a Divisional split. Have a top division (where maybe the AI will be set to 50) a second division, and so forth. We can then run promotion and relegation at the season's end.

I'm in.

10 days seems quite a loooong deadline though, when this takes, like... 15 minutes? Okay, make that one hour if you want to practice a lot. I guess it's to give time to see if there's enough people interested?

Originally posted by paranoik0
I'm in.

10 days seems quite a loooong deadline though, when this takes, like... 15 minutes? Okay, make that one hour if you want to practice a lot. I guess it's to give time to see if there's enough people interested?

Yeh, that's the size of it.

I was intending for there to be week between races, but I'm thinking of cutting that down to five days or perhaps less. It really depends on what suits most people so if you've got an opinion, please let me know .

Count me in, BR!

Did you think you could ever get rid of Equipe Pindamonhangaba?

One amendment to the rules surely must be that the names for the AI drivers are submitted by different players each round.

Originally posted by Nikos Spagnol
Count me in, BR!

Did you think you could ever get rid of Equipe Pindamonhangaba?

Oh the horror!;).

Great to have you on board Nik! Spread the word if you can mate .

Originally posted by Makarias
One amendment to the rules surely must be that the names for the AI drivers are submitted by different players each round.

Actually, that avenue of abuse (as in my using it to cheat) has only just struck me. I promise I wouldn't though ;).

Of course, if you'd be mory comfy with having the AI drivers decided by others players then we'll do it, a disavdantage might end up being that it increases the delays between races though.

See what the majority think .

I was never too good at GeneRally, but I'll give this a go.

Originally posted by UPRC
I was never too good at GeneRally, but I'll give this a go.

Good man, you've got 7 days to sharpen up your skills .

I'll give it go. I used to play Generally off and on a year or so ago. Sounds like fun!

Originally posted by AcuraF1
I'll give it go. I used to play Generally off and on a year or so ago. Sounds like fun!

Excellent, welcome to the grid. Any questions just ask.

How much corner-cutting is valid? All that GeneRally accepts as a valid lap, or are you going to check if we keep the car on the tarmac during most of the race?

Reason is I used a lot of grass during my race, and want to know if it's ok.

Originally posted by paranoik0
How much corner-cutting is valid? All that GeneRally accepts as a valid lap, or are you going to check if we keep the car on the tarmac during most of the race?

Reason is I used a lot of grass during my race, and want to know if it's ok.

If Generally logs your lap time as valid, then it's a valid lap. I'm "leaning" on some apexes at Wigeno pretty heavily too I must admit. But we're in it to win it right?;)

Incidentally, I'm thinking of bi-secting the season with a "blue ribband" event, something like our version of the Indy 500 (in fact I'm thinking of making it an oval race, assuming I can find a good oval track to use). This race wouldn't count for points but would be a prestige event only.

Would anyone be interested in that?

sounds like fun, but I'm not sure I'd ever win an event to enter

I'll give it a go. I've never been particularly good at racing sims though, so don't expect another Schumi ;)

Edit: Damn! I suck! haven't managed to win a race yet, finished several laps down on most occasions :

Originally posted by Frogman
I'll give it a go. I've never been particularly good at racing sims though, so don't expect another Schumi ;)

Edit: Damn! I suck! haven't managed to win a race yet, finished several laps down on most occasions :

Have you got the AI of the other drivers set to 40? Their standard setting is 100 where they hammer most people (well, me anyway).

A quick update.

So far three drivers have logged times for the Wigeno Grand Prix.

Myself, Makarias and paranoik0. These times have been verified and stand as official.

So, no matter what happens from this point on we will at least have three drivers to stand on the podium. The question is, in what order?;)

Hey don't count me out, I'm just waiting to see if I can beat my best time from last night. I'll probably submit my time on saturday

Originally posted by Jodum5
Hey don't count me out, I'm just waiting to see if I can beat my best time from last night. I'll probably submit my time on saturday

Oh I'm not counting anyone out, as long as you're in before the deadline, that's fine .

Well, I am pretty sure I will be rubish, but it seems fun, so I'll give it a go.

Thanks for running it, BorderReiver!

A little under 3 hours to go until the deadline for Round 1 folks. If any of you have any outstanding entries, please get them in before 00.00hrs GMT!

ATLAS F1 CHAMPIONSHIP - ROUND 1 - THE WIGENO GRAND PRIX - RESULTS

Pos. Name. Avg Speed. Rce Tme. FLap.

1. Makarias, 141.82kph, 5m 14.77s, 15.50s
2. paranoik0, 139.39kph, 5m20.26s, 15.65s
3. AcuraF1, 135.68kph, 5m29.00s, 15.94s
4. BorderReiver, 133.01kph, 5m35.62s, 16.06s
5. Ferrari 312, 130.01kph, 5m43.36s, 16.51s
6. Jodum5, 124.58kph, 5m58.31s, 16.87s
7. Costaz, 120.53kph, 6m10.36s, 17.81s

Fastest Lap - 15.5 seconds. Makarias (New Lap Record)

ATLAS F1 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS - After Round 1 of 9

1. Makarias 9pts
2. paranoik0 6pts
3. AcuraF1 4pts
4. BorderReiver 3pts
5. Ferrari 312 2pts
6. Jodum5 1pt

Congratulations to Makarias for taking the win in the inaugural round of the Atlas F1 Championship!

Now the series moves on to Agari, a far shorter track, where everything is bound to be much, much tighter in terms of time.

ATLAS F1 CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND 2. The Agari Grand Prix - Sponsored By Beers BorderReiver Is Fond Of

The second round of the Atlas F1 Championship will be held at the Agari Circuit.

The deadline for entries is 00.00Hrs GMT Monday 28th April 2008 (that means Midnight of Sunday 27th).

The AI Drivers For This Round Must Be Named As Follows.

Belhaven
Stella
Cobra
Hoegaarden
Carling

They Must have an AI Skill Level Of 40.

The Race Distance Is 20 Laps.

The Human Driver Must Beat All AI Opposition For His/Her Entry To Be Considered.

All saved games, named appropriately, must be emailed to formulaatlas@hotmail.com

Good Luck!

Damn it, I did 132,84 after trying one million times... and completelly forget the deadline!

Bugger!

Originally posted by Nikos Spagnol
Damn it, I did 132,84 after trying one million times... and completelly forget the deadline!

Bugger!

Bad luck Nik, there's always Round 2 though! .

i'll be in for round two BR, work got in the way of me remembering to send you the saved file (I got a 120 ish anyway, so was last or such like)

I'm not expecting anything here, I hate this track.

Originally posted by paranoik0
I'm not expecting anything here, I hate this track.

I quite like it actually, maybe I'll do a bit better here .

I'm bloody hopeless at it. not much chance of me finishing a race, let a lone recording a respectable enough time to enter

Originally posted by philhitchings
I'm bloody hopeless at it. not much chance of me finishing a race, let a lone recording a respectable enough time to enter

Are your running with the AI at 40 Phil? And with damage, fuel use, and tyre wear set to 0%?

for my win.
Of the tracks listed for this season, I very much like Wigeno, Bytes and Tachren, although I suspect Bytes will be a bit bitchier with these AI cars blocking the way.

Wow, can't believe I only came 6th. I wonder where/how I was losing time.