rec.autos.simulators

1. The car handling is far more realistic. The car now really seems to weigh
something, imo due to the fact that it reacts a bit slower to the controller
movement and because the in-car view (or bumper view) doesn't shake that
much anymore. The car doesn't move over sensitive and itchy as in the old
demo. Big improvement. Very realistic. And by adjusting the sensitivity (you
actually see percentages, very handy), I now can slide through corners
without the handbrake, just by pulling *** the wheel at the right time.
This way taking corners feels better now. Even better than in previous NFS
version (imo): in contrary to other driving games I could never 'feel' I was
going too fast too take a certain corner. Now I can.

2. The opponents AI seems to be improved a lot. They won't let you pass
easily: (at last) they really try to cut you off! Great! They also don't
seem to wait for you anymore, like in previous NFS versions. Don't know
about any catch-up, though. I hated it in the previous version that, even
when catch-up was disabled, winning or losing a race always depended on your
last half lap... The opponents don't drive perfect lines. During a rainy hot
pursuit race a car spinned 360 degrees in the first corner. And that wasn't
because he was pushed or something: it was a hot pursuit race and he clearly
was 'surprised' by the wet track (and I was still standing still at the
start, amazed by the beatifull weather effects)! Talking about weather...;

3. Graphics are incredible. Very realistic. (Why do all other arcade racing
games have those eye-hurting flashy 'arcade colours'?! I like these
atmosperic colours much more!) The weather effects are really awesome (on my
Celeron 266 OC to 333 and a Helios Voodoo2 12 MB: FPS is smooth). The water
that comes up behind the cars when it rains is great. And the effects on the
surroundings are just perfect. The mist between the trees. The horizon...
everything changes when you drive under different weather conditions. You
really can't compare this with the simple effects you got using the hack in
the old demo.

4. There are some very nice new (interface) options!
- You can change the position of ALL the info on the in-game screen!!!
GREAT! You can put the rear view mirror, the speed indicator, the laptime,
whatever, (almost) anywhere you like! Really nice idea: you can make the
game look anyway YOU want to!
- By left-clicking with your mouse on the name of an opponent (in the
'gradings box') you are transported to that car! Right-clicking anywhere
brings you back to your car. So if you hear the other car is caught by the
cops, left-click and watch him getting booked. :-)
- You can 'program' a maximum of 4 different cam views (out of 6) which you
can change in-game with the appropriate button. Very nice: now you don't
have to 'scroll' through views you never use. (BTW It took me a few minutes
before I discovered this option: I got the dashboard view, while I wanted
the bumper view (although the dashboard looks great). You don't get that by
default, but it is there: you just have to 'program' it.)

ONE BIG BUT...: the biggest disappointment is still the (lack of) of
speed... And that's what this game is all about. Too often it all looks like
a family ride on a lazy sunday afternoon... Maybe this is due to the fact
you can't change gear manually (in this demo anyway): I seldom reach gear 4,
I'm mostly stuck in gear 3. And when I personally would like to change gear
to 2 (to speed up faster) the automatic keeps on humming in 3... (ANYBODY
KNOWS IF YOU CAN CHANGE THIS IN THE DEMO??? I WANT MANUAL GEARS!)

Another small 'but' regarding the demo: settings aren't saved

Maybe I've forgotten to say something, but I really have to get back into my
Corvette now... This demo is great. It's only 17 Mb, so download it NOW! And
even though the speed is not what I'd like it to be, I'm going to buy it the
day i hits the shelves!

Happy driving!

Jeroen van Engelenhoven

On the graphics side, check out the rear view mirrors on the out side of the
car, they are texture mapped like the rear window. It is so cool. It's a
small thing, but it's awesome that they put that in. The glow around the
lights in the tunnel, and on the street lights are cool also.

For me, there's never been a question of weather or not I'll buy it. I plan
on getting it the day it comes out. Over all, I think this demo is much
improved from the beta we tested. I just wish it felt faster, I guess it
will feel faster with some of the faster cars.

I would say it's *slightly* more realistic. You can sort of steer, but
otherwise it still feels all wrong. LIke floating on air.

You're kidding, right? To me it feels like the car is make of balsa
wood, or mayby that thin transparent kitchen-wrap plastic. Absolutely
no weight whatsoever.

Wierd, mine won't slide at all.

Agreed.

I found the sense of speed of. my biggest disappointment is the
horrible/hacked physics of cars hitting each other. The tiniest bump
from behind sends you into a random, wild spin.

I will probably buy it as well, but ONLY becase there are editable
cars, so I have some hope a semi-realistic driving feel can be
created, even though it seems like it won't be there out of the box.

Joe

The dashboard view is nice, and the handling seems "lighter" but this may
just be the difference between the Corvette and Lambo.

The coronas from the tunnel lights and streetlights are nice and the
frramerate seems better/gameplay smoother.

I will buy this on release day!

Thats good.  I just picked up Test Drive 4 yesterday in the bargain bin for
$10 bucks, and I doubt I"ll get $10 worth of enjoyment out of
the game.  I tried it briefly in the demo many moons ago and remembered that
the cars were large, the roads were narrow, and
the graphics were.."eh".

Now that I got the whole game, my opinion hasn't changed much......its also
terrible with joystick control, you gotta have a wheel for this
game I'm thinking...

Well, I for one like a slower game, that forces you to pay more attention to
driving your car as opposed to *** around
and bouncing off of "invisible barriers" like you were playing a game of
Ridge Racer or some other 100% arcadish racer..
Or...for that matter...Test Drive 4. :)

Brant

you know..i saw this too...right at the start we got a few feet and he
did a 360... thouh I almost ran into him when I saw some of his
reflectiono on the wet road in doing so :O

The lightening man! how could you forget that! ;D The forks where cool
and no blinding full screen flashes, even better... a delayd real
sounding clap of thunder follows.. no cheesy low sampled static
here... btw change the headlights from projected to vortex and watch
how you can se "fog" pass through them

Yea i noticed this too. I couldnt get past 3rd unless I went down a
steep hill. It could be all part of the realistic physics engine
simulating the fact you arnt gona get far going up steep hills and
around hairpin corners in 5th gear what so ever...

theres also more then one car in the full version... also..I really
thing its either the track or the demo. No one can *** up that bad
and make a game like this w/o allowing you to go as fast as the cars
TRUE life top speed :D

Also another change from the last demo. the cops are no longer Expert
race drivers!! hehe...nothing pissed me off so bad then having my
pimped out car benig outruned by a ***en chevy. Now they will
actually hang behind you and will catch up if you make to many
mistakes or go to slow. also they will set up road blocks and spike
strips though... the only time I saw a spike strip..the police car was
infront of it... so it wasnt really effective. Another thing too...
before you where like ignored if they where persuing the other guy.
Now while the main persute car will ignore you...other cars..called to
help or not will see you speed if you do and go after you as well.

But damn...i couldnt help but scream out "OJ!!!!" when I had 4 cars
behind me and you could hear each one :D

also last note..the demo has kic kass software support. I was surpised
when going through all my video cards i saw software mode had lots of
colors... had the chrome teaxture on the cars... lights.. rain...
though didnt have the rolling clouds or lightening...

Anyway 1 Week to wait and I can finally get to drive a HSV Commodore :)

Peter

Joe