rec.autos.simulators

mmmm....for some reason I've always enjoyed the NFS series even though the
physics where not so good the games are still a blast.

I think the recent previews of both NFS5 and F12000 are steering me right
away from the crashed and burning F1 2000 and straight at NFS PU....I can
always run GPL to satisfy my F1 needs until GP3 is released.

I am glad to also see they took a step away from the circuit tracks and back
to the original road model of NFS SE.

I took the liberty of trying NFS5 "Porsche 2000" on a friends PC today.  
I ventured into the new car garage, and when I selected a car, I could
click on the hood (and it would open), I could click on the door (it
would open as well) and zoom inside the car for a look. Top down? Click.
Top up? Click again. VERY COOL. I can't wait to see what the West's have
done with this concept in WSC.

Also - you guys might be very surprised by the physics in NFS5. You can
definitely feel and see these cars moving on their suspension. And the FF
is very close to GPL - I think because the physics are better, you get
better FF. If you "saw" your wheel left and right, you can feel the
build-up in the FF as the weight transfers.

And the graphics, ahhhh the graphics. I believe WSC is definitely on
track to do battle graphically with NFS5 from what I've seen.  Slam me if
you want for trying something before it's released, but I assure you I'll
be the first in line at EB when NFS5 hits the shelf this week.

Well, now I have something to keep me busy until GP3. That will then keep
me busy until WSC :P

Can't wait!

Stash

What an apt title to your message -- I have briefly sampled NFSPU, too,
and even with only a few hours' worth of wheel time, I was literally
blown away. This may well be THE best DRIVING simulator yet -- GPL
still holds the "racing" crown, of course (with Viper Racing and Dirt
Track Racing in a dead heat for heir to that throne), but NFSPU is the
first sim that I've actually been able to simply hop in and DRIVE as
easily as I would a real car. Not competitively, mind you, but all the
responses feel absolutely dead-on, and the vehicles respond VERY
realistically.
Think Viper Racing's physics applied to the NFS genre, and you're on
the right track.
NFS3 and NFSHS cannot hold a candle to NFSPU -- I was truly amazed by
what I saw and felt, even with only a brief amount of wheel time. If
SCGT was as realistic as NFSPU, I would still be playing it today.
FYI, just to give you an idea of what my frame of reference is, the
only sims that currently enjoy a permanent home on my hard drive are
GPL, Viper Racing, DTR. I've currently got Powerslide and
NFS2se/NFS3/NFSHS installed for the occasional diversion (hey, I just
got a new 20 GB hard drive, so with drive space to burn. why not? <G>),
but even though I've got several NFS titles installed, I've never
really been much of a fan of the NFS games -- until now.
Sports car fans everywhere are in for a real treat when NFSPU hits the
shelves.
-- JB

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

        A hobo knocked on my door last night asking for food.  I gave
him some chicken soup and he granted me one wish.  Obviously I asked
him for a chance to sample a pre-release version of NFS:Porsche 2000,
and this he gave me.  However, he warned me to buy the real game next
week if I liked it, lest ill fortune befall upon myself and my family.

        With that explanation out of the way...  As some of you may
know (from my frequent rants on the topic), I have been a longtime fan
of the original NFS and NFS:SE.  I was such a fan of the original that
I was suckered into buying the mediocre NFS2:SE and the even worse
NFS3.  By the time NFS:HS rolled around, I'd grown wiser (though I did
play it on a friend's Playstation: slightly improved driving model
over NFS3 but most corners could still be taken just by lifting off
the gas).  

        I must say that I've found NFS:P2K to be a tremendously good
step in the right direction.  From what I've tried so far, the driving
model is superb.  Is it as good as NFS:SE's was?  Bearing in mind that
I can only compare compare Type 993 Carreras, definitely yes.  The
lift-off oversteer of the early 911s is terrifying while mid-engined
models and more recent 911s are much more docile.  However, I don't
think the physics are up to the same level as Viper Racing's (just a
gut feeling at this point and I realize that Vipers are supposedly
less user-friendly than contemporary Porsches).  It seems much too
easy to induce a huge tail-out slide (just trailbrake) and too easy to
hold the skid without spinning out.  Nevertheless, EA has tossed out
the NFS3/NFS4 "cars on rails" physics and have made something very
satisfying to drive.

        Graphics have also been much improved.  The focus is less on
glitz and more on realism.  Gone are the glass cars of NFS3/NSF4,
replaced with a sheen that looks more like real automotive paint.  The
tracks are not as fantastic as they were in past games, yet no less
visually impressive.  Once you see the waterfalls and forested hills
of the "Schwarzweld" track, you will be impressed.  Incidentally,
"track" is a misnomer as most of the "tracks" are, in fact,
point-to-point segments like in the original NFS.  From what I've seen
the tracks are well-done with a combination of fast sweepers and
slower corners, as well as alternate routes.  

        Gameplay is much improved over previous titles.  There is
"Porsche Factory Test Driver" which loosely follows the trend set by
Gran Turismo's driving tests (example: get this Boxster to the docks
in 2 minutes).  Tournament mode now takes the form of the ingenious
"Evolution" mode.  Start with a 356 in 1950 and progress through the
years in a large number races.  Some of these include racing against 7
cars with traffic on the road.  I didn't try the multiplayer, but it
should be mentioned that split screen two-player is gone.  I have a
feeling I'm the only one who'll miss it.  

        Complaints?  My main gripe is that the roads are too wide.
Most of the roads are three lanes wide,  with two cars able to fit in
one lane.  I think narrower tracks (yes, like ur-NFS) would have
allowed the driving model to shine and rewarded driving precision.  I
was also disappointed to see EA continue its "download extra cars"
gimmick.  I, for one, would rather have a Porsche 959 ready-to-drive
than have a greater selection of "music".  Another disappointment: a
poor selection of Porsche racing cars (from what I know, only the 550
Spyder, 935, and GT1-98 are available).  Not included in the game:
906, 917, 956, 962, nor any of the pre-1998 GT1s.  

        I think I've said more than enough!  Needless to say I'll be
getting this one next week, wish-making hobo or not.

Martin
Long Live Nigel Mansell!

Very few rag tops in WSC I think. ;-)

Cheers for your thoughts on the game tho', appreciate it.

Jan.
=---

Do you need to progress along either career path to unlock tracks and
cars? -In other words: is the build up of the game more arcade or do you,
like in a sim, have the opportunity to drive anything anywhere from the off?

Jan.
=---

You open up tracks and cars, and the career modes are very cool!
It ain't GPL, but it is very nice, in my opinion. You get attached
to the car you bought, raced and added performance parts to.
It is a very different kind of game in that regard. In DTR,
there is a carer mode of sorts, but the one in NFS5 is far
more involving. When you are considering the purchase of
a car, you can take it out for a test drive. The road will have
traffic etc., and you can decide if you like it. Of course
as you earn money, you can add performance parts.
You can begin with the earliest 356 and progress all
the way to the GT1. I have a feeling this will take quite
a bit of time... :)

Also, there is annother mode where you become a 'test driver'
for Porsche. In that, you get assignments from your boss that
begin by having you do slaloms, spins etc. on a skidpad. It
eventually leads up to racing in traffic. It is sort of a
mission mode, if you know what I mean. While you are
the test driver, you are earning a salary. You can take the
money and buy your OWN car and go racing !!!

I think it is very well thought-out and cool. It drives
and sounds nice too... ;)

--
* rrev at mindspring dot com
* unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m.
* http://www.cabal.net

Those of you who have tried it (i.e. who's been lucky enough to get one wish
granted LOL):

What kind of a system does it require? I have a PII/350 64 w/G400 32 SH.

In NFS HS the graphics struggle at times, which disappoints me a bit. And
yes, I do enjoy NFS HS for the occasional race, but it requires some
tweaking since it's really meant to be played with a console controller.

PS

Thanks for the preview Martin. I'm also a fan of the original NFS (I
even bought a 3DO because of that game!). This one sounds like a
winner.

Hey Joe, I have heard you talk about what you wanted in a racing
game and what you wanted to see happen to the NFS series.

Well, it's here .. :)

--
* rrev at mindspring dot com
* unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m.
* http://www.cabal.net

On Tue, 21 Mar 2000 10:53:00 GMT, "Jan Verschueren"

Jan,

        From what I know...  Tracks are unlocked as you proceed from
one era of the Evolution tournaments to the next (Years go by as you
compete in races.  1970 marks the end of the classic era, for
example).  Cars are either purchased or won in bonus races.  Here's an
irritating point: After completing some 15 races in the classic era,
you get just ONE shot at winning the 550A Spyder.  If you lose that
race (which can't be restarted, BTW), you will not have a chance to
get a 550 again.  

        As I noted, the other cars are downloadable.  Hopefully the
959 will be first out!

        Apparently, all cars are accessible in multiplayer mode.

Martin
Long LIve Nigel Mansell!

uh-oh....  :(

Man, can you imagine how cool it would be if they had included
the one of the models of the 917? Since it was one of their most
successful prototypes of all time, it's really a mystery as to why
they didn't include it.

Hmmm .. maybe somebody will CREATE one for the game, like they
did with user addons for the other NFS releases.That would be
outstanding.

--
* rrev at mindspring dot com
* unit.26 - s.p.u.t.u.m.
* http://www.cabal.net

Maybe EA has some add-on packs in mind for future release.  I know I'd
gladly pay $10 - $15 for a "Porshe 917 Racing" add-on pack if it came
with, oh, maybe a track or two (Le Mans and/or Sebring would be VERY
cool).

Then again, with NFSPU, they have the ideal basis for a whole line of
add-on or companion products.  Imagine follow-on products or add-on
packs that were completely compatible with the cars and tracks in
NFSPU -- we could see things like "NFS: Ferrari Unlimited," followed by
"NFS: Corvettes Unlimited," "NFS: Mustangs Unlimited," etc.

Hope someone from EA is paying attention to this newsgroup . . . <G>

-- JB

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Not so!  After losing my shot at winning the 550A Spyder by about half a car
length, I found that when I went into the garage and looked at the new cars
that could be purchased, the Spyder was there for $50,000.  Take a look.

Sounds like this game may bring them all out of the closet!!! Thanks for the
update Stash. Sounds like I will be driving a new sim next week. LOL