VROC: Virtual Racers' Online Connection

Welcome to VROC! The Virtual Racers' Online Connection, or VROC (pronounced VEE-rock), is intended to help you find others who would like to race GPL over the Internet. Here you'll find people hosting GPL, and you can host your own race if you wish. Things You Need to Know Before you start racing online, we strongly recommend that you read the following: Sections 1 and 2 of VROC's Technical Notes. Read these carefully. This can save you a great deal of aggravation when you start participating in online races! Eagle Woman's GPL Online FAQ Please read at least sections 1, 5, and 6! VROC's Cool Stuff page. This page supplies a host of essential information, including comments about USB modems, car setups, driving, hosting tips, core.ini files, and offline leagues. VROC's core.ini Suggestions. VROC's Security Warning. We also suggest you join the VROC and GPL Mailing Lists. These very active and informative facilities provide a mailing list/forum, calendar, chat, and more. You can get VROC and GPL-related questions answered here. User Interface Choice There are now two user interface alternatives for accessing VROC. Java-based VROC User Interface The original VROC Java applet requires Netscape Communicator 4.5 or Navigator 4.08 or later, and provides a basic interface with all necessary features for joining and hosting races. The race list is updated whenever you press a Refresh button. Native Windows User Interface for VROC A new native Windows client for VROC, known as GPL Spy Boy, is now available. This user interface provides the same basic features as the VROC Java applet, but contains a number of additional enhancements, including an integrated chat, automatic refresh of the race list, inspection of the routes to GPL servers, integration of all races on a single race list, and assorted other features. We recommend you try GPL Spy Boy. If it works for you, you won't need the VROC Java applet. Download GPL Spy Boy now and try it. If GPL Spy Boy works for you, proceed to Online Racing Community below to discover other ways to engage with the GPL online racing community. If you have difficulties with GPL Spy Boy, then continue with the instructions for the VROC Java applet below.

Java-based VROC User Interface Preparations Before you use the VROC Java applet, you need to do some preparation. Below is a quickstart list which you must follow precisely. A fuller version is here. Don't skip any steps! Purchase Papyrus Grand Prix Legends and do a full install! Install Netscape 4.08 or newer*, enable Cookies and enable Page Refresh. Perform VROC Setup. Download the VROC software. Please review our complete instructions, and the VROC Help and Tech Support pages if you have any questions or problems. *Users of other browsers may click here to see a shot of the VROC applet. We hope to add MS-IE support soon.

GPL Online with Java Once you've done the preparations above, you can dive in and look for other folks to race with. When VROC asks you about permissions, grant them. If you are worried about this, read our Security Warning. The Open Rooms are for races which are not password protected. If the room you choose is full, and you wish to host a race, go to another room. We will add more rooms as demand requires. Open Room 1 Open Room 2 The Passworded Races Room is for password-protected races, such as those used for race series Passworded Races Room Racing First check the VROC Race list on the Room you enter to make sure your GPL Path, IP Address, Name, and other personal information is displayed correctly. If any of this information is incorrect, read Help. To join a race, click the [Join] area to the left of your desired race. Only races in Practice or Waiting mode which have not reached their player limit will display a [Join]. If no races have [Join] next to them, click Refresh at intervals until a race becomes available, or host a race yourself. To host a race, click the Host button. Note: Make sure you disconnect from any browser-based chats before you launch GPL! It's important to devote maximum bandwidth and CPU resources to GPL. Read Help if you have difficulty retrieving the race list or joining or hosting a race. If difficulties persist, there are a number of resources available from the VROC Tech Support page.

Online Racing Community VROC and GPL Mailing Lists VROC Paddock The VROC Mailing List and the VROC Paddock provide "off-course" meeting places for GPL online racers. The Mailing List and the Paddock include a Chat, Message Board, Links, and Calendar, all of which can be updated by members. The Mailing List provides the option of receiving postings into your email inbox and posting from your email program. Anyone can join theVROC Mailing List and/or Paddock. Please do! Note: It's not necessary to join the VROC Mailing List or the VROC Paddock in order to use VROC. If you do join the VROC Paddock you need not reveal any personal information.