my own Qirex Phantom trial videos, non-NeGcon

[AG-wolf]

I'm not gonna start the NeGcon v D-Pad debate/argument here, I'm just sharing some videos I've made thus far as a sort of personal challenge. I've watched so many people use a NeGcon and do phenominal laps, even watched Al and Arnaud in person... and it made me want to improve my own ability. But I severly dislike the NeGcon, and it about makes my head explode when I try to use it (seriously, my brain can't wrap around the alterred method of data input :P Just like watching Al play Pulse with his PSP between his knees)... so I set forth to try and streamline my gameplay using just a regular controller with the D-Pad.

In these videos, I am using a first-generation PS1 controller. It was practically brand new when I got it, all the buttons are stiff and clicky, there was no finger-wear anywhere on the plastic before I started using it. 5 courses later, and a massive callous on my thumb which has numbed all touch-sensitivity, I can share the fruits of my labor.

These are all Time Trial races, but rather than focusing on ZOMG FASTEST TIME EVAR, I was trying to just do 5 "Perfect Laps" as fast as I can. It so happened that some of the times I made ARE personal best times, but what can you expect from doing the entire run without hitting the wall? :P

You could also ask why I'm not using Piranha... one honest answer is it is TOO DAMN FAST and I'd have to drink a gallon of Red Bull to have the response time to control it. But it's also because I like the idea of using the other fastest ship to do the videos because it has the WORST handling of all 5 teams :D Like I try to explain to people, it's like a concrete traffic barrier with a jet-engine attached :P hahaha I guess that way, it further emphasizes the difficulty of what I'm doing. Anyone can fling Fiesar, AG5, and Auricom around the track because their craft still respond to whatever you tell it to do... but Qirex? ha, no, it argues with you :P

Without further ado, here you go (remember to click the "high quality" link under the corner of the video):

Talon's Reach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ReaTua-mmA&fmt=18

Sagarmatha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S0KekznGUE&fmt=18

Valparaiso
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R_JKoMfEsk&fmt=18

Phenitia Park
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teRLXBPqHW4&fmt=18

Gare de Europa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZIi-6vA8wo&fmt=18


One thing to note; I WAS going to overlay CoLD SToRAGE music for EVERY video, but Gare de Europa was just pissing me off because I KNEW I could do a perfect run, but for some reason I just kept screwing up. I decided to stop focusing so hard and start playing other random music while I raced.... I realised I was doing great after my 4th lap in the video I uploaded, and made sure to finish so I could get it over and done with (watch the last hairpin, almost lost it there :P )... so I'm stuck with some ridiculously cheesey music in that one :p

Odessa Keys, Vostok Island, and Spilskinanke are all to come soon.

07/15/08
Odessa Keys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1u3B5DwPxU&fmt=18

Best personal lap thus far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ovlJDmF3JM&fmt=18

I can theoretically get a better time on the 5-lap video, but I'm so sick of the track after how long it took.

07/31/08
Vostok Island:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15wHqpBzB60&fmt=18
(Five perfect laps? ...when pigs fly... ;) )

[RJ O'Connell]

Great videos. Now I'm completely jealous and ready to record my own sessions! >_<

[JABBERJAW]

damn good, have you tried the valpo longcut, that is actually a shortcut, the one at the end of the track. When raced talon's the exact way you did (same route) with a negcon, I had a 1:28.7, so you were pretty close. Have you added all of your times to the tables? I also recommend you switch to auricom after you have finished your quest, and try all of the tracks with that ship instead, and I'd like to see what you can get

[Asayyeah]

Sweet racing skill with the fat bullet brick, Eric
:)

[lunar]

I second what Arnaud said, great racing. I`m sure the Gare d`Europa music must be from "Best Porn Soundtracks, 1979."

I understand the appeal of Qirex, it`s so much fun and a Piranha is so fast it can be scary. What`s the music on Talons Reach - it`s a great Wipeout racing accompaniment.

[Darkdrium777]

I'ts KinKong by CoLD SToRAGE ;)

Amazing racing too :)

[stin]

Seen the videos and they are excellent, you must have put hours of playing 2097!!:eek
I`m struggling to make my time to play 2097 but hopefully I might play in the winter coming or maybe not cos HD will be out by then!

stevie:)

[Quasi]

Wow, impressive! i wish i could race the a Qirex like that, but i get bogged down on the corners...

And nice times on talons reach too.:D

[JABBERJAW]

"Seen the videos and they are excellent, you must have put hours of playing 2097!!"

steven, I don't think he practiced 2097 at all to get those times

[Mano]

i think quirex is the best way to get to know a track, anticipation and track knowledge needed to race with this craft is superior to any other team, and must be a great traning way, cant wait to see once you master piranha (if you dont already)

Quirex makes you be aware of every corner of the track , inertia is very unforgiving if you forget to anticipate a turn in a precise place, either you crash or slow down so much its almost as crashing.

Me, i just couldnt bear to suffer much with it, i just wanted the fastest as soon as possible, only child defect i guess.

[Lance]

I'm an only child, too, but I find the 2097/XL Qirex to be much more fun than Piranha.

[AG-wolf]

stin, AL: lol yeah, no 2097 involved here ;P But definitely many hours logged over the years. in the case of some of those videos thus far, a few hours alone per track. 5 for Sagarmatha.

Quasi: it's all about momentum. I mean, on some of the REAL bad turns (ie: last hairpin in Valparaiso) you don't have much choice, but for the most part it's a matter of turning early, finding the smoothest line, and letting the ship throw itself into the turns instead of trying to control it on your own.

Mano: couldnt have said it better myself... except for the whole impatience for Piranha :P


For everyone saying you can't wait to see me using Piranha, I don't know if it's gonna happen... they're just too fast for me and too frustrating. I nearly threw my controller down after a couple practice runs with Piranha, yet I can play consecutive hours with Qirex while STILL screwing up and not get angry.

Hell i tried Al's suggestion on testing Auricom and I can't even use THEM anymore. Back in the day when I was new to XL, Auricom was the only team I used, but my mind is so programmed to use Qirex that it can't re-adapt to any of the others. I bet I'd even embarrass myself with Feisar.

[JABBERJAW]

my suggestion was mainly for spilskinanke, where auricom is much faster, the other tracks are close with auricom slightly faster overall, except for talons I think (at least for me)

It is quite possible, that you should use the negcon just for piranha. With this, there are no weapons to be concerned with, and only 4 buttons to press. this was actually how I started to use the negcon, originally just with this ship. The madcatz steering wheel was great for this game, you may want to try that as well. It was more fun than the negcon due to being more immersive imho.

[AG-wolf]

AUGH I NEED ODESSA KEYS MOTIVATION!!!

I haven't touched the game in a couple weeks (drove halfway across the country, Connecticut to Wisconsin and back, to visit friends then started a new job when I got home), I just bought a RockStar energy drink because it was larger than a Red Bull with the a larger amount of Stuff(TM) in it for the same price.. but it tastes TERRIBLE. Can't take any jumps without bottoming out profusely upon landing, and when I DO manage a soft landing, I can't reproduce it. Everything is working against me, despite having possibly found a smooth line through the course.

Oh god this drink is terrible... there's a reason Red Bull was an advertising partner of Wipeout, good lord >_< No amount of vanilla wafers and Hershey's chocolate is making this go down any easier.

Edit: not only that but DAMNIT the edges of the course are MUCH more unforgiving for some reason o_O It's like instead of scraping the wall here and there like I did in the other courses thus far, I stick to the wall nearly everywhere as if I were playing Wipeout 1.

[BulletWraith]

hey AG-Wolf, OT:
just wondering if you have tried a negCon alternative? such as an Ultraracer or Zerotech (its like an RC car controller) I found both of these easier to just pick up an use, the buttons need a bit of thought when mapping them but once you have them sorted it should be about as easy as using an analog stick for the first time, I actually can't play wip3out with a neGcon and have to revert to the zero or ultraracer

as for me I'm yet to earn Piranha(newbie)
-zer:donutshen

[AG-wolf]

Appreciate the input, but the whole purpose of me recording these videos is for the sake of doing all perfect laps deliberately using the original digital pad :P

I might look into them eventually but I've got my own handle on controlling the ship, never personally had an issue with the D-Pad itself. I think my two week XL absence is mostly to blame the difficulty I'm having right now. But I still stand by my claim, though, that Odessa Keys' track walls seem much more unforgiving. I found a good line through the course (31.0 second lap is my best thus far), so I'm sure once I get more consistent I can make my next video.

[kowareta|vojeet]

Which music track did you play on Phenitia Park?

[AG-wolf]

You tell me :)

[kowareta|vojeet]

LOL
My brain is not (yet) in gear ...
Thanks

[AG-wolf]

With Vostok finished, all I have left is Spilskinanke.

I got a new job at the beginning of the month, so I haven't had much time to sit in front of the TV and play XL lately. Rest assured, with my regained confidence, I'll be tackling the last course very soon.

[JABBERJAW]

very nice spil time. Do you have the video of that?

[AG-wolf]

what time? the 27.50 lap and 2:22.80 race times? I do have videos but I've yet to do 5 full perfect laps... I'll upload the 27.5 lap on youtube at least, then take it down when I do my real full run.. because, presumably I can get a faster time recorded ;P

EDIT: Video removed... just got a lap time of 26.6sec, so I'll have to upload that later