Just downloaded and installed first patch. I thought I'd give shot at 3D view before I start career mode and did the Crostis/Zoncolan stage with Lampre. Game ran smooth on my laptop with default graphical settings. New music was a bit annoying, probably because I'm just not accustomed to it.
Starting in the back of the peloton is quite annoying. You end up getting a decent heartrate just trying to get your leaders to the front of the group. Even if you protect him, they often get separated and the leader is ahead of the protector and then the protector rushes way up ahead of the leader and has to fall back. However, this seems to me to be much more realistic, so while it's annoying I do appreciate the realism of moving through the peloton as it is now modeled. Because of this, getting water for your riders takes forever, so keep that in mind as you're implementing your strategy.
It seems as splits in the peloton occur often and at random times so it's important to keep everyone near the front. For example, Petacchi was floating around the back of the group and then without any pressure at the head of the group, he got dropped with four other riders. No idea why. There were no attacks from the front for most of the race until half way up the zoncolan, and of the 198 riders to start the race, only 104 made it within the time limits. Oh well.
I haven't really tried much else, but no crashes so far, game runs smooth, now I just have to wait for the PCM.Daily.db and I can start my career. : )
For my part just the solid riders is a HUGE improvement. You're not able to ride through other riders anymore.
This makes especially the sprints great! You can end up losing to a far worse sprinter just because you get stuck between other riders, forcing you to position yourself before the final sprint much more carefully.
Haven't got to try much more besides that, but seems promising!
Edited by larsn91 on 23-06-2011 02:57
I have to say this: PCM 2011 is a big, positive surprice. I pre-ordred and downloaded the game on the 21st, and got my key on the mail yesterday afternoon. Started a new career, took Slovenian Adria team and wanted to play my first stage, to see howw it feels. The game CRASHED. Oh no... So i just tried over and over again. It crushed every time. So i downloaded new patch, applied it and RESTARTED Windows and the game in the 3D MODE finally worked.
Wanted to play just one stage, as it was late and what happened? It looks prety much like PCM 10, but the gameplay... There will be no 8x plays anymore, as you have to be careful not to fsll behind in the starting km of the stage. So i just tried to make an ecsape on the first hill with Mahoric, but he was stuck in the field, the road was narrow and he couldn't win more than 10 places over next 5 KM. Nice. So i waited for road to widen, i took a chance, a group of 3 managed to take 6 min out of the field, some others tried later and so it was 12 man together 20 KM to the finish with allmost 5 min ahead of the bunch. They had to overcome some hill, which did not seem tough. My mistake, this is 2011, not 2010. As the hill elevated, the attacks began. I covered 2 jumps, but realized, i'm spending to much effort, and just put back on 'hold position' button. the pack was closing and some prominent riders were taking their chanses.I moved Mahoric to 92% and effort button, as the road started to turn on the way down just enough to recall some effort. 5 km to the finish the pack was over 1 km long, small gorups were formed (e1 to a6) and i was preparing for the final sprint with Mahoric (i think he is 69 in SPR and 68 in ACC). I GOT STUCK STUCK BETWEEN RIDERS and managed to sprint last 5oo m alone, taking the last place in the group. BUT I LOVED IT. It was really satisfaying 13th place, for which I had to work really hard.
Cyanide and focus - thump up, Me - thumps down for not ordering via PCM daily and spending 44,99€ - but this time, it's worth it.
pbenoit4 wrote:
Petacchi was floating around the back of the group and then without any pressure at the head of the group, he got dropped with four other riders. No idea why.
This probably has to do with the new way that PCM deals with the 'hold position' button. When riders are in the rear of the peloton it's extremely dangerous to stick to 70%. Imagine for yourself that a riders is never allowed over 70% of effort, but has to keep up with the big group. This would never work in real life. Riders regularly have to put in effort to accelerate after corners, bumps etc. in order to keep in contact with the group.
My solution is to keep the riders that ride at the back at high percentages (even 99%) to prevent them from getting dropped. Remember that they don't always use this high effort, but only when needed.
Riders in the middle, or near the front don't need those high setting, as a slight moment of riding slower than the bunch isn't punished by losing connection with the peloton.
This new addition prevent riders from emptying their red bars (with consequent loss of yellow and green energy too) just by holding their position in an irrelevant climb halfway through the stage.
I'm really enthusiastic about this change. It really adds to the realism of the game and forces you to stay alert for most of the game.
BTW: another great, but minor, addition is the fact that the effort percentage greys out when it's irrelevant. For example on riders protecting other riders, or when attacking from a group. This clarifies a lot about when it's in effect and when it's not...
