rec.autos.simulators

New Rally 2000 Demo! - 1999-09-28 14:52:10 - Jeremy Allford

Eurporess has released a new 18.6MB demo of their upcoming Rally 2000
racing game. The new demo is an all new course with improved graphics and
options over the massive 60MB past demo release. Here is all of the info
you need and of course a local download link as well.

7/28/99 - Moon & Star Playable Demo (18.4MB)
A brand new stage!
Improved handling and car physics!
Steering wheel support! (including force feedback)
Visual damage and selectable graphics resolutions!

As rally enthusiasts eagerly await the launch, it has been revealed that
Rally Championship will shock the market with a number of new features
that have never been seen before: Including multiple driving positions,
fully operational 3D dashboard instruments, a superb selection of 20 top
rally cars, crash damage and comprehensive multi-player options - adding
up to the most exciting driving experience you can have without getting
into a car and doing the real thing.

Download from  http://www.racesimcentral.net/

The car has no weight and essentially no suspension. It sort of floats
along the road with INSTANT brakes at your disposal.. which may or may
not launch you sideways.  Overall a great graphics package in need of
some tuning but they are definitely on the right track.  

One other major question.. which wheels are supposed to be driving
this car? I'm not sure if it's FWD, or AWD or NWD (No wheel drive)..
it seems as though the car has a giant wheel in the middle of hte car
that provides power.. there is no feel of under or oversteer, just a
sort of neutral weightlessness.

The interior views are also great, especially from the middle where
you can see everything working.. (a bit distracting from time to time
but good).  I'm still trying to figure out if the roads are meant to
be that narrow and repetative (straight, pair of tree's, zig zag right
to left, then straight until the next nearly identical zig zag).
Driving through the 'town' is a cool effect as is the sounds and
judder when going over the cow grate.  Again, many things on the right
track.. but please work on the physics and controller interface a bit!
While you are at it, what cars do you plan to offer?

I'm looking forward to the next upgrades!

____________________
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember: Amateurs built the Ark,
Professionals built the Titanic!

The fact is that the code for each of the demos is old. The demos do not
include the final damage model, physics, sounds, controller setup, etc. To
take time out now to make a demo with the final code would only subtract
from the time available to make the retail version the best it can be. Maybe
when the full game is finished they will release yet another.

The tracks in the game are identical to the real life courses. For a list of
the cars, click on the pic at the bottom right.
http://www.rally99.com/gallery.html

David G Fisher

Ok, did you drive the game with the final physics? If so, are these
physics on par with GPL's?

Remco

The one other area that needs work is the force-feedback. I don't want
to feel gimmicky road texture and collision effects. I want some feel
for what the tires and/or weight of the car is doing.

Joe McGinn
==========================================
Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network
http://www.racesimcentral.net/***.com/
==========================================

The demo's implementation of wheel support is pretty shocking, especially
when I think back to their previous 2 titles (when I used my T2) where it
was one of the few things they did get right.

I am hugely gutted that these demos are nothing more than graphical
showcases.  Wheel support and handling need -massive- overhauls before I'm
convinced this is worthy of a purchase.  The fact that they're so far off
the ball leads me to believe that the 'old code' excuse is hot air and that
any improvements that come will be minor.

You don't know how much I want to be proved wrong on that last statement.

Cheers,

Mark
Reading, UK

I think the only game/sim that I've played that 'catches air' correctly is
GPL.  All others have an element of floatiness about them except maybe CMR,
but that looks like it's gonna float at first then gets sucked back down as
if the force of gravity increases as soon as all four wheels leave the deck.

Later...

Mark
Reading, UK

Joe McGinn
==========================================
Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network
http://www.racesimcentral.net/***.com/
==========================================

Y.Minami