rec.autos.simulators

Don't waste your time with the TD4 demo.  What looked phenomenal "on paper"
has been executed so badly as to be a gross embarrassment to Accolade.  EA's
NFS2 looks like the best driving physics on the planet compared to TD4!!!
NFS2 graphics are also vastly superior to TD4.  In fact, the original NFS is
vastly superior to TD4 in graphics and physics.
Major problems with TD4 (non-3dfx):

- completely unrealistic handling -- very similar to TD3 for those with long
memories -- not on par with any of today's sims or games
- the dashboards look absolutely horrible and the gauges do not work
- frame rate on a 233MMX, 32MB RAM, Mystique 4MB only reaches acceptable
(for joystick response) at postage stamp size
- demo could not be configured for manual shifting with my joystick (though
an option is there)
- the steering is so sensitive that is impossible to stay on the road at any
speed approaching the opponents or that is necessary to stay in the game
(there are timed segments)
- the police (at least they are in there!) are ridiculously fast
- the other cars' AI is horrible -- they constantly ram you and each other
(right off the road)
I could go on, but why bother.  In concept, this should have blown NFS 2 out
of the water.  In execution, it is a sad, sad, joke.

Marc.

--
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Marc Collins

digital economies

http://www.racesimcentral.net/~digecon
"Change is inevitable...except from a vending machine."
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Handling is touchy, but it's not a sim.  I found it to be just as fun as
NFS2, though the tracks in TD4 are much more interesting.

The single game has a time limit, but if you play for the cup, there is no
time.  It's whoever has a higher finishing rank after all the races.  Again,
steering is sensitive at high speeds, but the ai on the playstation had
nothing to do with it.

This must be a difference between the two versions.  The ai on the
playstation never swerved at me, they just kept driving like I wasn't there.
(this is running for the easiest cup)  The cops do have high performance
vehicles apparently, but nothing out of the ordinary.

I don't know what you were expecting, but I think it is a fun arcade type
game, and nothing more.  If I get bored, I may buy either the playstation or
pc version, but who knows.

Brian Fox
"Bill Clinton thinks that Cheerios are donut seeds"
Geocities' MotorCity Community Leader
Get your own free homepage at http://www.geocities.com
The Fox Den:  Nascar 1 and 2, ICR2, GP2 and my Streetrod.
http://www.geocities.com/~foxman

: Don't waste your time with the TD4 demo.  What looked phenomenal "on paper"
: has been executed so badly as to be a gross embarrassment to Accolade.  EA's
: NFS2 looks like the best driving physics on the planet compared to TD4!!!
: NFS2 graphics are also vastly superior to TD4.  In fact, the original NFS is
: vastly superior to TD4 in graphics and physics.
: Major problems with TD4 (non-3dfx):

        This is true.  Aside from the accelerated gimmicks (brake lights
and tunel lamps), the graphics are about on par with RAC Rally.  The cars
themselves have detailed textures but the proportions are wrong.  
Speaking of gimmicks, you don't even get the "clouds across windows" or
"chrome" effects you get with either Screamer 2 or NFS2 SE.  And the
"sparks" (i.e. flames painted on triangles) look awful!
        The track itself (England) is very narrow and monotonous.  There is no
reward for taking proper racing lines.  Keep it on the road and you
should be okay.  Does anyone remember that god-awful Konami racing game
"Winding Heat"?  Now that I think about it, Winding Heat had more exciting
turns.  

: - completely unrealistic handling -- very similar to TD3 for those with long
: memories -- not on par with any of today's sims or games

        TD 4 is pretty bad, but this is really going too far.  Nothing since
TD3 has been quite so horrible!  Of course, complete and utter freedom of
movement was nice.  

: - the steering is so sensitive that is impossible to stay on the road at any
: speed approaching the opponents or that is necessary to stay in the game
: (there are timed segments)

        The driving model seems to be inspired by Cruisin' USA though
much less grippy when you upset the car.  Given that the roads are
pretty narrow in this demo, I often got the impression of driving a pinball.
I also get the feeling that I could finish this demo if I had a gamepad.

: - the police (at least they are in there!) are ridiculously fast

        True.  Someone said that this is nothing out of the ordinary, but
a Vauxhall outpacing a Viper GTS?!  Come on!

: - the other cars' AI is horrible -- they constantly ram you and each other

        It would probably be a lot better if you could ram them with any
bit of success.  As it stands, it's almost as bad as the abuse you get in
Psygnosis F1.

: I could go on, but why bother.  In concept, this should have blown NFS 2 out
: of the water.  In execution, it is a sad, sad, joke.

        Sad, but no joke.  I'll stick to NFS for stage racing, NFS2 SE
for graphics, and Moto Racer for arcade-style gameplay.  

Martin
Nigel Mansell RIP!