rec.autos.simulators

I have not been keeping up with the latest in racing simulators/games
because my old computer wasn't up to the task. But now that I have a
new computer I would like to buy another racing game or two. And the
main thing I'd want is really large tracks/cities that I can just
explore without racing. I'd also want to be able to drive anywhere
without invisible boundaries blocking my way. Racing, such as circuit
and checkpoint races, is fun too, but I don't want it to be a
necessity to drive.

Any suggestions? The bigger and more detailed the cities are the
better.

If you're willing to accept the depression-era setting, fictional
(although based on real-life) depression-era cars, and a fictional city,
"Mafia" might be one to check out. The main game (which is very, very
good, BTW) is a hybrid of first-person shooter + mission-oriented
driving, but there's also a free-driving mode where you can tool around
town as you please in period vehicles.

The city is quite extensive, with different neighborhoods, bridges,
stoplights, traffic, pedestrians, etc. -- plus you can drive a little
ways out of town into the surrounding hills, as well.

The physics modeling, while not exactly *** sim, is certainly not
horrible, and for my money, it's at least on par with MTM.

- Doug

World Racing 1 and 2 have complete 3d terrains, that allow you to
drive anywhere, not just on the roads, but world racing 1 is hard to
find these days.

Need For Speed: Underground 2 has large city areas that you can
roam around in. Need For Speed:Most Wanted also has large city areas,
but if you're roaming, you're bound to pick up cops that will chase you.

Some videos:

World Racing 1:

http://jeffareid.net/wr1/wr1nv5.wmv

http://jeffareid.net/wr1/wr1c14.wmv

World Racing 2:

http://jeffareid.net/wr2/wr2it3.wmv

Actual off road "course" in World Racing 2:

http://jeffareid.net/wr2/wr2gl.wmv

A track in NFS:Underground 2:

http://jeffareid.net/nfs8/n8ob.wmv

Outruns in NFS:Underground 2:

http://jeffareid.net/nfs8/n8or.wmv

A pursuit in NFS:Most Wanted:

http://jeffareid.net/nfs9/n9fprw.wmv

Those don't count as "racing" games Gil.  :)

I have bookmarked the videos, but may have to wait until I get FIOS
before downloading some of the largest ones. Still on dial-up right
now.

  Supposedly you can even take a 4x4 pickup into the surrounding hills and
find Bigfoot.

dh

Thanks. I'll be sure to add the GTA games to my list, even if the
comment about bigfoot is not true. :)

John...

These are not exactly racing simulators, but they all have large
city areas to explore:

Driver and Driver2

GTA3, GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas

8-)

*Peter* -  http://homepage.ntlworld.com/petergagg/