KOTOR swoop racing question

[Maia]

I am a bit of a klutz and never played any racing games, so it took me
a loong time to understand the "gear-switching" system in this
mini-game, let alone to use it whilst simultaneously avoiding
obstacles and hitting speed boosters. On Taris it didn't matter (which
along with required times makes it very amusing that it is referred to
as swoop race Mekka), as long as you clicked the mouse erratically,
avoided obstacles and hit a few rather conveniently placed speed pads.
Tatooine race is extremely unforgiving in comparison and I have spent
a couple of hours trying to beat it.

However, once I am in high gear (5 or 6), the speed boosters don't
work for me anymore. Is it a feature or a bug? I seem to remember that
it wasn't so when I started playing with the track, but of course I
don't know which gears I used then. And the XBox swoop race guide on
gamefaq implies that they should remain effective....

[Warren]

Post by Maia
I am a bit of a klutz and never played any racing games, so it took me
a loong time to understand the "gear-switching" system in this
mini-game, let alone to use it whilst simultaneously avoiding
obstacles and hitting speed boosters. On Taris it didn't matter (which
along with required times makes it very amusing that it is referred to
as swoop race Mekka), as long as you clicked the mouse erratically,
avoided obstacles and hit a few rather conveniently placed speed pads.
Tatooine race is extremely unforgiving in comparison and I have spent
a couple of hours trying to beat it.
However, once I am in high gear (5 or 6), the speed boosters don't
work for me anymore. Is it a feature or a bug? I seem to remember that
it wasn't so when I started playing with the track, but of course I
don't know which gears I used then. And the XBox swoop race guide on
gamefaq implies that they should remain effective....

Have you been to Manaan? I think that track is tougher. It also took
me a long time to beat the 3rd round on Tatooine. In fact, I don't
know how I really did it. I hadn't raced in a while, and I didn't
think I did particularly stellar, such as hitting all the speed boosts
and what not, but I beat the time. I didn't complain. This was the
second time through. Never did beat it the first time. (Shortly
after, I restarted.) I only tried Manaan once (well, one session,
about 15 tries) and didn't even manage to beat the 2nd level time.

As for those speed boosts, for a while I did notice them not doing
anything when I hit them on Tatooine. Didn't notice anything similar
on Manaan. However, I have no idea whether this was some kind of bug
or a "feature". I never did register what gear I was in ... I just
hit the button everytime I saw it go red. The second time when I did
win, I don't recall this happening. Wouldn't mind myself knowing the
scoop on this.

Warren

[Maia]

Post by Warren
Have you been to Manaan? I think that track is tougher. It also took
me a long time to beat the 3rd round on Tatooine. In fact, I don't
know how I really did it. I hadn't raced in a while, and I didn't
think I did particularly stellar, such as hitting all the speed boosts
and what not, but I beat the time. I didn't complain.

He, I can't even beat thevery first time on Tatooine and I have wasted
several _hours_ trying to do that. I like swoop racing, but it doesn't
like me :(. Anyway, to answer myself, I have looked on the official
message boards and the pads stopping to function is a known bug - it
happens when one quick-loads in the swooping office too often and in
my case also when I take too many practice runs without reloading. A
loser bug, you could say. I wish that the times had been more
forgiving and you could then race against your record and get money
for improving it. This way, both proficients and klutzes would get
some satisfaction...

[Warren]

Post by Maia
He, I can't even beat thevery first time on Tatooine and I have wasted
several _hours_ trying to do that. I like swoop racing, but it doesn't
like me :(.

Hmm, not trying to make you feel badly, but the first 2 times on
Tatooine didn't seem that hard to me. The last one killed me for a
long time, though, and I wouldn't bet I could do it again.

Checkout out gamefaqs.com. There's a guide on the course layout for
the 3 tracks and a suggested path to get the best times. I looked at
it briefly but didn't try it out.

Post by Maia
Anyway, to answer myself, I have looked on the official
message boards and the pads stopping to function is a known bug - it
happens when one quick-loads in the swooping office too often and in
my case also when I take too many practice runs without reloading. A
loser bug, you could say.

Well, I very rarely reload the game and only did that once when the
game crashed on me right after a number of unsuccessful runs. Don't
remember if that's when the problem popped up or not. Having played
all the way through the game once, I've suffered a number of weird
crashes and bugs and have decided it's a good idea to every once in a
while exit the game completely and restart to help avoid those
problems.

Post by Maia
I wish that the times had been more
forgiving and you could then race against your record and get money
for improving it. This way, both proficients and klutzes would get
some satisfaction...

Yeah, that'd be cool, but I guess they figured it was optional so it
didn't matter. For the Taris races, it's hard to not win. In fact, I
won without having a clue what I was really doing yet. :) That said,
the one time through there it did take me 3 races to win. :)

Warren

[Maia]

Post by Warren

Post by Maia
He, I can't even beat thevery first time on Tatooine and I have wasted
several _hours_ trying to do that. I like swoop racing, but it doesn't
like me :(.

Hmm, not trying to make you feel badly, but the first 2 times on
Tatooine didn't seem that hard to me. The last one killed me for a
long time, though, and I wouldn't bet I could do it again.

It is strange. I have just done Manaan and beat the second tier fairly
easily. I even came quite near to the first tier, a couple of times,
but greater things awayit me, so I don't have the patience to actually
do it...
I have heard about a slowdown bug on Tatooine track and although I
didn't notice it visually, the bike handling is much smoother on
Manaan. Maybe that's the sticking point. Or maybe it is my
idiosyncrasy...

[El Senor]

Post by Maia
Tatooine race is extremely unforgiving in comparison and I have spent
a couple of hours trying to beat it.

Here are some tips:
* Use the A/D keys to move left and right, not the mouse.

* Don't worry about when to switch gears -- just constantly tap
the spacebar; don't even waste time looking at the acceleration
readout.

* Memorize the position of the pads and rehearse the path you
will take in your mind, ahead of time.

* It is far better to miss an acceleration pad than to hit an
obstacle, expect for the first 3-4 acceleration pads, which you
absolutely must hit properly. Hitting an obstacle will take a
full .6 - 1 second off your time.

The Tattoine race should not be too hard if you follow these
guildines. The races on Manaan are quite a bit harder, though.

Post by Maia
However, once I am in high gear (5 or 6), the speed boosters

don't

Post by Maia
work for me anymore. Is it a feature or a bug?

I'm pretty sure that's how it's supposed to work. Once you've hit
top speed you can't go any faster.

-Mike