34 replies to this topic

[tyrrellp34]

Is this possible?

Does anyone playing GPL with Keyboard??

[masterhit]

It is possible. I used to have a steering wheel with GPL some time ago. Then I moved house, upgraded my machine and reinstalled GPL. By this time I had thrown away my wheel. So now I play happily on keyboard. All I would say is that it is perfectly possible - you just need a more forgiving setup for changing direction quickly.

[tyrrellp34]

Really, this sounds good.

So, what about the setups?? Is there a big difference??


I'm playing GPL since years and want to give it to my brother which has no wheel and don't want to use a Joystick.

[byrkus]

Sure it is possible. I drove 3:22 on Spa wizh keyboard, and 8:40 at Nürburgring. I know I suck, but still

[tyrrellp34]

Fine!!!!

Thank you!!!!

[Rediscoveryx]

I've always driven it with keyboard, so I can't really say if it's more or less difficult. I must however say, that only having the option of no steering or full lock is not an advantage. And only having the option of no acceleration or full acceleration isn't exactly an advantage either. And the option of no braking or full braking isn't an advantage...

How much this adds up to is hard to say. I think that at certain tracks (Spa, Kyalami) this wouldn't be a big deficit, though at perhaps Monaco and Nürburgring, it would be a big disadvantage.

[BMW FW22]

those byrkus times are really fast with keys..

[byrkus]

These are my times, with keyboard:

Kyalami 1:23.69
Mexico 1:53.67
Monaco 1:35.45
Monza 1:28.81
Mosport 1:25.46
Nürburging 8:44.71
Rouen 2:02.14
Silverstone 1:31.37
Spa 3:23.54
Watkins Glen 1:07.60
Zandvoort 1:29.31

[byrkus]

There is one major disadvantage with keyboard: it is almost impossible to use manual shifting, those keys are very close to each other. So, I use automatic, which however shifts at waay to low revs. I'm bypassing this trouble by raising hand; when hand is raised, shift can't be done.;) Or does enybody know, how coul I change amount of revs, at which the car would shift?? I'd be most grateful for that.

By the way: All of above mentioned times were achieved with Eagle.

[babbel]

I could change the shift keys with my program if you want.

Which keys would be the best for shifting ?

[masterhit]

Hi Byrkus. Changing the gearing will change the revs. My version of GPL seems to have a bug when trying to assign keys, let us know how you get on.

[byrkus]

Well, here I am again. I must say that after two weeks of expreminenting, I finally found suitable keyboard setup for manual shifting. I drive with default keys, i.e. 8 throttle, 2 brakes, 4 and 6 steering. Left hand on steering, right on throttle/brakes. And then I upshift using key 7 with 4th finger on left hand (don't know the english word for it ), and downshift with [enter] (below + ), with 4th finger of right hand. I tried it, and eventually my times dropped by quite a margin: now I drive Monza 1:27.75, and Kyalami 1:22.78.

I hope I was clear enough...

[jloehs777]

Originally posted by byrkus
Well, here I am again. I must say that after two weeks of expreminenting, I finally found suitable keyboard setup for manual shifting. I drive with default keys, i.e. 8 throttle, 2 brakes, 4 and 6 steering. Left hand on steering, right on throttle/brakes. And then I upshift using key 7 with 4th finger on left hand (don't know the english word for it ), and downshift with [enter] (below + ), with 4th finger of right hand. I tried it, and eventually my times dropped by quite a margin: now I drive Monza 1:27.75, and Kyalami 1:22.78.

I hope I was clear enough...

1:27.75 with a keyboard? fark

[BMW FW22]

wow

with a brab-honda ?;)

[byrkus]

Eagle.

[Wolf]

Originally posted by Rediscoveryx
I've always driven it with keyboard, so I can't really say if it's more or less difficult. I must however say, that only having the option of no steering or full lock is not an advantage. And only having the option of no acceleration or full acceleration isn't exactly an advantage either. And the option of no braking or full braking isn't an advantage...

I am certain that braking assistance is forced option when one uses k-board (on, regardless whether is checked in options), and I believe that throttle might be similarly modulated in k-board moade. Anyways, I still suck @ GPL (barely outqualified Bandini @ Monza in equal equippment and Ligier @ Watkins), but I'm beginning to suspect ti has nothing to do with playing with k-board...

[padovani]

Maaan I find it totally impossible to play gpl on with the keyboard. Never managed a complete lap @ Monza without spinning.

But I did found a keyboard setup that might help you guys. I break with the "9" key, throttle is on the "*" above, and steering is on "8" (left) and "+" (right, just right from the "9" key). I use automatic shifting, but I guess that if I wanted to manually shift, this setup would let me free to assign "4" and "1" keys to shifting. So I could drive with my right hand (8, 9, * and + keys) and shift with my left hand (4 and 1 keys).

Seems easier.

[oleksa]

As for me?I use such keyboard setup:
7&8 - left & right
F4 & F6 - accelerate & brake
0 - gear up
F4 - gear down
9 - clutch

It's easy and useful.

[Psychoman]

When I played I used
8=accelerate
5=brake
4/6=left/right
7=upshift
9=downshift
1=clutch
and my individual laps would be okay (shaky hand), faster than the "privateer" entries, but much slower than the big guys. Of course after 3 laps I'd toss it into a gravel trap, or hit a fence and give myself a nice replay to save

[MSTheCheat]

I used...
7=accelerate
4=brake
2=left
3=right

[babbel]

I used A Z , and .

I can't drive any racing game with other keys than that

[F1Johnny]

Originally posted by babbel
I used A Z , and .

I can't drive any racing game with other keys than that

I hear you there. GP2 spolied me and it such a natural layout. Thanks again for the keyboard change. I am so much better now.

[mikedeering]

AZ is the only way to drive!

Seriously, I played GPL with keys and sucked (1 lap in 5 at Monza would not feature a spin!). I couldn't understand the hype about GPL. Then I bought a wheel - so much easier!!! Now understand hype. I think if you are patient enough though it seems perfectly possible to race with keys - just takes longer to learn than a wheel.

[Garagiste]

Ahh, A and Z classic Crammond keys!
The thing that I liked best about the GP series controls was the gear selection - the way the same key would shift up as well as down depending on whether the gas was on or off. I guess this would be ultimately slower than having a dedicated key / button, but I liked it. GPL is the first thing I've ever really tried manual shifts with, and I'm still going the wrong way sometimes.
Concentration....

[MrAerodynamicist]

I play GPL with the keyboard. I'm just getting good enough to battle with the other cars at Zandvoort. Unfortunately I haven't quite got the consistancy there yet, so I haven't managed to get all the way to the end without a couple of big spins to ensure I end up miles behind :

[Wolf]

Mr. A, ditto here, but I race AIs on Monza, and even managed to finish fifth out of 10... And I didn't even have to chop anyone.;) But try getting a max speed advantage over AIs (that's what I do on Monza- gear for 138mph on 9er diff*), so I can pick through them on straights and they can't get past me in corners unless I get it *very* wrong.


*oops, trhat won't do You much good since I drive F3...

[MrAerodynamicist]

I don't want to just breeze passed them on the straights, I want to have to work to get passed them. I'm slowly getting better. I got my Zandvoort laptime down to a 1m36 but more importantly, I managed to complete a 8 lap race without a single 2 min plus lap!

[MrAerodynamicist]

I've got some utility to allow me to drive with AZ. However, it doesn't seem to do anything about gear shifting (still limited to the numeric pad). Surely after all this time there must be some utility for selecting any keys for gear shiting? I need to use some left-hand keys, using my right steering hand just seems to confuse my brain

[Wolf]

Mr. A- if it's of any use to You, here's how I drive: steer (4,6) and accel-brake (8,2) with my right hand, shift (7,1) and clutch (0) with left...

[MrAerodynamicist]

Who-hoo, I finally managed to complete a race without coming last! I actually managed to go half the race battling for 6th, before I spun, spun again and once more for luck by which time I was last. Which left me some way behind with 1.5 laps of Zandvoort left. A crazy lunge in to the 3rd corner (the 180 hairpin) got me to 9th, but some dirty blocking on the finish line kept me from 8th.

[Wolf]

Well done Mr. A! Not much of a landmark but my #28 white Brabham BT-23 glided through Masta Kink with 130mph for the first time...

[Liquid]

Hate to break it to you keyboard racers but when you play GPL with the keys then you have Auto-Throttle and Auto-Brake ON. It cannot be disabled when you use the keyboard so you are only driving half the sim there!

[MrAerodynamicist]

Thats another thing i've been meaning to ask - although I am playing with keyboard, the Auto-Throttle and Auto-Brake are un-ticked. Is this just how it is, or have I done something odd to my install?

[Wolf]

Nothing wrong there, Mr. A- check or uncheck it, 'tis still on...

[MrAerodynamicist]

I thought that was the case, it's just I recalled it as you couldn't untick it.