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PiBoSo Official Forum

GP Bikes => Support => Topic started by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 12:19:40 AM

Title: GPB unofficial guide
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 12:19:40 AM
If you notice things that are wrong/not really OK, if there are parts you'd like better explained, if you have any comment: send a PM to your beloved moderators (HornetMaX, RiccoChicco).

INTRODUCTION

GP Bikes (often shortened to GPB) is a motorbike racing simulation. It tries to stick to real bike's physics to a degree that sometimes the game may seem very hard. In fact, the game is hard.Like in real life, the fact somebody can take a corner at a given speed does not imply that you can do the same. But if you keep practicing, one day you'll see the light and you'll start improving: from that moment, addiction kicks in. But practice will still be the answer to anything.

Bottom line: it seems hard because it is hard. But then, we're not here to play mario kart, right ?


People who contributed (no specific order): RiccoChicco, HornetMaX, Ian, iVolution.
Title: 1.1 Download and install
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:18:29 PM
1.1 Download and install

You can get GP Bikes from it's official website: http://www.gp-bikes.com/?page=downloads (http://www.gp-bikes.com/?page=downloads).

Run the installer and you will get a window prompting you for (in order):
Now run the game for the first time and you'll be prompted to enter a Nickname and a License Key:
A video should start: pressing ESC will skip and you'll be on GPB main menu.

Congrats: for a biker you did well with a computer up to now !

But don't be impatient as a biker with his new bike, read the entire chapter 1 of this guide: seriously, it will save you from posting silly questions to this forum (you may not like the replies ...)

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Title: 1.2 Demo vs full version
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:19:09 PM
1.2 Demo vs full version

Demo version of GP Bikes is free but, of course, is limited. With the demo version:
However, the demo version has no other limitation. Things most don't know:

The demo version is there to allow you to check that GPB runs fine on your PC and gives you a glimpse of the great potential of the game.

If you have the demo version and you decide after a while to purchase a license, simply enter your License Key when you start the game and the full version will be unlocked: no need to re-download nor re-install.
Title: 1.3 Register for online stats
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:19:40 PM
1.3 Register for online stats

With the full version of GPB you will be able to play on online servers. This is tons of fun by itself of course, but there's another perk: your ego will be tested as your best lap times (per bike category, per track) will be published on the GP Bikes Records page: http://stats.gp-bikes.com/records.php (http://stats.gp-bikes.com/records.php)

To activate this you need to register here: http://stats.gp-bikes.com/register.php (http://stats.gp-bikes.com/register.php)
In any case, enter the captcha code too before clicking on the Submit button. Yeah, it happened ...
Title: 1.4 User profiles
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:20:34 PM
1.4 User profiles

GP Bikes allows you to have different profiles: this is helpful if you have split personality disorder and in other situations.

For example, if you play sometimes with a joypad and sometimes with a steering wheel, having two separate profiles will avoid reassigning all the controls each time you switch between the two devices. Note that if you play with a keyboard, professional psychiatric advice is strongly recommended.

Also, bike setups are saved within a profile (see 2.2 Data folder (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=431.msg2999#msg2999) for a detailed description).

You must create at least one profile: if you don't, you will be playing under the infamous "unnamed profile". It's ugly. And you will lose your controller settings each time you quit the game. It's bad.

So from GP Bikes main menu, click on Profiles and then you will be able to add a new profile and delete/modify existing profiles.

Notice that the Name you enter in the Profile does not have to be identical to the Nickname.

Once you have at least one profile, you're ready to configure the serious stuff.
Title: 1.5 Controls
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:20:49 PM
1.5 Controls

From GPB main menu, clicking on the Settings menu will bring you to the settings page. It has 6 tabs (bottom part of the screen), named Input, Input 2, Input 3, Graphics, Misc and Simulations. The last 3 will be described in the next section (1.6 Graphics, Misc and Simulation settings (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=431.msg2997#msg2997)), while the first 3 will allow you to properly configure your controller.

IMPORTANT NOTE: a proper configuration of your controller is very important in GPB. If your controller is not configured properly you will find it extremely hard to ride the bike.

1.5.1 Settings/Input tab

1.5.1.1 Settings/Input tab: Calibration
In this tab, on the top left corner you'll see a Calibrate button: once you click on it a small pop-up will appear showing on the fisrt line the name of the current input device, preceded by two small arrows to cycle through all the available devices (supporting calibration, no keyboard here).
You must calibrate all the devices you plan to use with GPB: typically you'll only use one (e.g. a joypad or a wheel+pedals), but GPB allows you to use multiple devices at the same time. In any case, you have to calibrate all the ones you intend to use: select the device then move all its analog axes to their full extent (joysticks, triggers, pedals, sliders, whatever). You will see the the numbers and sliders move in the window. Once you're done with one device, change to the other (if necessary) and do the same. once done with all, click on OK. The calibration is saved and normally you will not need to re-calibrate again (it's a good idea to do it from time to time however).

1.5.1.2 Settings/Input tab: Controls
Back to the Input tab, you now have to assign the controls. GPB main controls are:Typically you will want to associate Lean, Throttle and Brake (front) to analog axes of your device (i.e. not to digital buttons, with ON/OFF behaviour). Clutch (if used) and Rear brake should in theory be on analog axes too, but some players have them on digital buttons. Rider movements (F/B Lean, L/R Lean) are not used by many players as GPB can control these movements for you (see 1.6 Graphics, Misc and Simulation settings (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=431.msg2997#msg2997)): if used they should go to analog axes too.

To assign a control, after you have calibrated all your devices, click on the line of the control and you will be prompted to actuate your input device (i.e. the axis/button you want to associate to the control).

IMPORTANT: using a joypad with two analog triggers, the two triggers will usually be combined. This means that if you press both triggers fully, the net effect will be zero. If you want to avoid this (on a XInput compatible joypad, like the XBoX 360 pad) you have to install the XInput plugin (see XInput plugin (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=95.msg307#msg307)).

1.5.1.3 Settings/Input tab: Direct Lean
Direct Lean is by default OFF (not ticked). This means that GPB applies some sort of filtering/smoothing to your Lean input. If you activate Direct Lean you will find that the bike is (simplifying a long story a lot) more quick in its leaning movements, more reactive. Most of the players are happy with Direct Lean off, some prefer it on.
Important: Direct Lean is not Direct Steer. Direct Steer is something completely different, briefly explained here: Direct steer (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=28.0). 99% of  the players do not care about Direct Steer.

1.5.1.4 Settings/Input tab: Force Feedback
Force feedback is available only on some specialized joysticks and on steering wheels. The controls exposed in that section are self-explanatory.
Important: Force feedback is not the rumble that some joypads support, it's much more complex. By the way, GPB does not support any rumble feature at the moment.

1.5.1.5 Settings/Input tab: Advanced
In this section you can apply some modifiers to each control (Lean, Throttle, Brake, Rear brake, Clutch, F/B Lean and L/R Lean). The possible modifiers are:
1.5.1.6 Settings/Input tab: basic setup
A very common basic setup for a joypad with 2 analog sticks and 2 analog triggers (e.g. the XBoX 360 controller, probably the most used controller for GPB) is:Notice that on the lower right part of the screen you have a visual representation of the 7 controls: moving your input device you should see the bars moving.

1.5.2 Settings/Input 2 tab

1.5.2.1 Settings/Input 2 tab: Gearbox
Here you can assign two buttons to shift gears up and down. The Preload option (off by default) allows to use a different shift mode: you can pre-engage a gear with one of the buttons and the gear will actually shift only when the throttle is lifted. With Preload off, the procedure is the usual one: either use the clutch or lift the throttle before shifting up (unless the bike has a shifter, like the default 990, in which case no clutch/lift throttle is required).

1.5.2.2 Settings/Input 2 tab: Controls / View / Gestures
Controls:View:Gestures:
1.5.3 Settings/Input 3 tab
These are self-explanatory controls of the replay cameras (only for cameras Free and Free Roam). Yes, you could be the next Kubrick.
Title: 1.6 Graphics, Misc and Simulation settings
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:21:11 PM
1.6 Graphics, Misc and Simulation settings

From the GPB settings page (Main menu/ Settings).

1.6.1 Settings/Graphics tab
All the settings here are self-explanatory. GPB does not require a very powerful GPU to run properly but of course, increasing resolution/detail/quality will lead to lower frame rates. A few remarks:
1.6.2 Settings/Misc tab
Audio, Units, Date Formats, Connection and Track should be self-explanatory. Autochat can assign keys 1 to 0 to chat messages you can edit.

In the lower left corner you can opt to skip the intro video when starting the game.

In the lower right corner Help Changes on-track helpers: on Min pitlane speed and session info are not displayed (except for sighting lap). On Off 2D pitboard, 3D and 2D start stall helpers, 2D starting lights, and sighting lap info are hidden too.

Remark that if you do not select the highest connection speed, you might not to see all the riders on the grid/track.

1.6.3 Settings/Simulation tab
1.6.3.1 Settings/Simulation tab: Cockpit View
Some settings for the cockpit view (aka rider view):
1.6.3.2 Settings/Simulation tab: Riding Aids
Some automatic aids are provided by GPB. They are OK when you debut with GPB, but you should avoid the ones marked with a (*) once you have more experience.
Notice that some aids may be not allowed on some servers.
Title: 2.1 Program file folder
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:22:20 PM
2.1 Program file folder

The GPB program file folder is the directory you installed GPB in: by default, this is something like C:\Program Files\GP Bikes. Notice that the exact folder may depend on your OS (XP/Vista/7/8) and if it is 32/64 bits.

In this directory you will find:The most important is the gpbikes folder, which itself will contain (after the basic installation):If you have unpacked some .plz files (see 2.3 .pkz files (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=431.msg3000#msg3000)), you may also have additional folders (e.g. bikes, tracks etc).
Title: 2.2 Data folder
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:22:47 PM
2.2 Data folder

2.2.1 Data folder: location

Typically the data folder is generally My Documents\Piboso. This may depend on your OS: for XP aficionados, it's probably C:\Users\<your_name>\Piboso. In one specific situation the data folder will be located elsewhere: if in your core.ini you set compatibility=0, then the data folder will be the gpbikles folder in GPB Program file folder: so typically this will be C:\Program Files\GP Bikes\gpbikes.

2.2.2 Data folder: content

The data folder contains plenty of important stuff:It's not a bad idea to keep a backup copy of your entire data folder or to be sure that your regular backup also include the data folder ('cause you do have regular backups, right ?).
Title: 2.3 .pkz files
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:23:00 PM
2.3 .pkz files

In GPB, some .pkz files are located under the gpbikes folder in the GPB program file folder. Typically you will find bikes.pkz, effects.pkz, misc.pkz, rider.pkz, tracks.pkz and ui.pkz.

You can inspect the content of one of these files changing its extension to .rar and opening it with any WinZIP-like program. Each file will create a directory names just as the file (e.g. bikes, tracks etc) and some files inside the directory.

IMPORTANT: usually there's no need to unzip these files. If you have both the .pkz and some of its files in the corresponding directory, the files in the directory will have priority (will "override") the file sin the .pkz. So be very careful and avoid modifications to these files (unless you really know what you are doing). Best way to avoid any change: keep the files as .pkz and do't unpack them.
Title: 3.1 Add-ons: tracks
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:23:46 PM
3.1 Add-ons: tracks

Useful link for most of the tracks: Track Downloads (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=45.0).

Instructions:Things to keep in mind:
Title: 3.2 Add-ons: bikes
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:23:59 PM
3.2 Add-ons: bikes

Useful links for mod bikes downloads:
Instructions:Things to keep in mind:
Title: 3.3 Add-ons: skins
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:24:12 PM
3.3 Add-ons: paints

Useful links for skins downloads: Paints section (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?board=11.0)

Instructions:Things to keep in mind:
Title: 3.4 Add-ons: helmets
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:24:27 PM
3.4 Add-ons: helmets

Useful links for helmets downloads: Helmets section (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?board=31.0)

Instructions:Things to keep in mind:
Title: 3.5 Add-ons: plugins
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:24:40 PM
3.5 Add-ons: plugins

Useful links for plugins downloads: Plugins section (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?board=12.0)

Instructions:
Title: 4.1 Playing offline (Testing)
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:25:28 PM
4.1 Playing offline (Testing)

Testing (i.e. playing offline) allows you to play alone and does not need an internet connection nor the full version of GPB (demo is OK).

From GPB main menu, click on Testing to start a test session:When selecting the Bike, you will be able to select:IMPORTANT: in the Demo version of GPB, only the msm_125rr_07 bike (with default paint, default helmet, and default helmet paint) is allowed.

Once you click on Start, the track will load (it takes a few seconds) and you'll be on the Testing main screen. You have:
Title: 4.2 Playing online: connecting to servers
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:25:51 PM
4.2 Playing online: connecting to servers

4.2.1 Servers list
To play online (which means with other players), you need to be connected to internet (you probably guessed it ;D).
From GPB main menu, click Race: typically you will see an empty list of servers, as GPB displays here the local servers. To access online servers, click on World (top right).

IMPORTANT: you can only see servers that are using a track that you have (identical version) and mod bikes that you have (again, identical versions).

Each line briefly describes a server :
4.2.2 Connecting
To connect to a server just double click on the server line (or click once and then click on the Join button).When you see a riders list, you're online. Notice that the screen is very similar to the one for offline play, but it has an additional Chat button that allows to chat with the other riders.

Before going on track, take a look at online etiquette : 4.4 Playing online: etiquette (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=431.msg3009#msg3009).

4.2.3 Common issues
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Title: 4.3 Playing online: Hosting a server
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:26:06 PM
4.3 Playing online: Hosting a server

4.3.1 Hosting a server - the easy way
From GPB Main Menu, click on Race and then on Host Local (top left of the screen): you'll be asked to enter a server name (as it will appear in the Servers list), a password (will be necessary to connect to the server) and a max number of riders that can connect to it. Once this done, clicking on Continue will allow you to select the track (amongst the ones you have installed locally) and set a lot of parameters. Most are self-explanatory, others:Once all set, clicking on Start will start the server and you will be able to play. Other players will normally be able to see your server and connect to it as described in 4.2 Playing online: connecting to servers (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=431.msg3007#msg3007). Notice that as soon as you exit the "race", the server shuts down.

IMPORTANT: GPB by default uses UDP ports 10500 and 10510 for network protocol. If you have a firewall (and, by the way, you should), you must open theses ports. How ? it depend son your firewall. Google is your friend.

4.3.2 Hosting a server - the PRO way
The proper way to host is to use a dedicated server. When doing this, you will have a process, the (in)famous core.exe, that will only run the server. To play on this server you will have to start GPB as usual (which starts another core.exe).

How it is done is explained here: Dedicated server (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=26.0). Notice only that in the .ini of the dedicated server you can change the UDP ports used: of course if you change them, you have to open them in your firewall.
Title: 4.4 Playing online: etiquette
Post by: HornetMaX on January 02, 2014, 04:26:33 PM
4.4 Playing online: etiquette
When you play online on public servers there's one golden rule to keep in mind: try not to annoy the other players. The golden rule (which by the way is valid in many other social contexts), can be further specialized as:
If you don't know how to react in front of flags (blue, yellow, etc...) please read this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_flags) article

Server admins can ban players from the servers. You didn't know ? Well now you do.

And by the way, if you cheat, you're a sad human being. We're all sorry for you.
Title: 5.1 Replays: view/edit saved replays
Post by: HornetMaX on January 10, 2014, 12:06:32 PM
5.1 Replays: view/edit saved replays
From GPB main menu, clicking on Replay will allow you to load (and delete) an already existing replay. Notice that:Once you are in the replay mode you will see:The cameras Free and Free-Roam can be moved while watching the replay: you will have to use the keyboard shortcuts.
Title: 5.2 Replays: replays while playing offline/online
Post by: HornetMaX on January 10, 2014, 12:06:38 PM
5.2 Replays: replays while playing offline/online
While playing offline you can access the replay:When playing online, you can only access the replay from the pits.

The major difference concerning replays between offline and online is that in offline mode when you press Esc or you are in the pits, the time is "frozen". On the other hand, when online the time will go on. This means that when online and in replay mode:That aside, you can watch/cut/save the replays as describes previously. Keep in mind that the replay file is limited by the size specified in your gpbikes.ini file (see gpbikes.ini (http://forum.piboso.com/index.php?topic=14.0)).

Note : When viewing a replay you can press the "spacebar" to hide the replay control interface.
Title: 6.1 Garage: common settings
Post by: HornetMaX on January 10, 2014, 12:09:11 PM
6.1 Garage: common settings

You can access the garage from the event/testing screen, clicking on the Garage button in the lower part of the screen. Once in the garage the screen has 5 main areas:
Title: 6.2 Garage: general tab
Post by: HornetMaX on January 10, 2014, 12:09:30 PM
6.2 Garage: general tab

NOTE: the settings shown here are for the default 990 bike. Other bikes may have different settings (extra ones, missing ones, less choices etc).

From here you'll be able to change:
Title: 6.3 Garage: suspensions
Post by: HornetMaX on January 10, 2014, 12:09:46 PM
6.3 Garage: suspensions

NOTE: the settings shown here are for the default 990 bike. Other bikes may have different settings (extra ones, missing ones, less choices etc).

Here you will be able to tweak your front and rear suspensions:Front fork also allow to set the Oil level (in millimeters): in the fork you have some oil  and some air. The air is compressible and hence acts as a spring, but as a non-linear one: the more you compress it, the more its stiffness increases (in general, this is labelled as "progressive" behavior, while the opposite is "degressive"). This effect depends on the initial volume of air: more oil (so less air) and the effect will be greater (i.e. the stiffness will increase more when you compress the fork). Typically the impact of this is sensible only for large compression of the fork.
Title: 6.4 Garage: drivetrain
Post by: HornetMaX on January 10, 2014, 12:10:00 PM
6.4 Garage: drivetrain

NOTE: the settings shown here are for the default 990 bike. Other bikes may have different settings (extra ones, missing ones, less choices etc).

Here you can change the gearbox ratios (one ratio for each gear) and the final transmission ratio (Front Sprocket and Rear Sprocket). Things to keep in mind:
Title: 6.5 Garage: others tab
Post by: HornetMaX on January 10, 2014, 12:10:17 PM
6.5 Garage: others tab

NOTE: the settings shown here are for the default 990 bike. Other bikes may have different settings (extra ones, missing ones, less choices etc).

Under the Geometry part, you'll have:
Then you have front and rear tyre Pressures (not a lot to explain here) and finally the Electronics (for the bikes that have it):
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