rec.autos.simulators

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Namco is working on a bunch of game modes for RR6, all accessible via
the slick interface we've come to expect from the series. The main mode
of play is called World Explorer, and accessing this mode opens up
options for Global Time Attack, Single Race, Online Battle, Multi
Battle, Options, Garage and Save/Load. World Explorer takes place in a
world called "Ridge Universe," where more than 230 races await. The
races are accessed on a massive flow chart. You're free to construct
your own race tour, selecting the order of multiple courses or, for
those who like to keep things simple, choosing just a single course.

In all, the game will have 30 courses -- the most ever for the series.
Famitsu introduces five new courses that are being prepared for the
game: Harborline 765 (4.167km), Southbay Docks (5.694km), Highland
Cliffs (6.377km), Crossbay Tunnel (7.149km) and Surfside Resort
(3.527km).

Courses aren't the only area of the game getting attention. Namco is
also adding a bunch of new cars to the Ridge Racer franchise with part
6. The game will feature over 130 cars, including Meltfire, a new
sports car, and Hijack, a new next generation sports car.

Reiko Nagase is back for spokesperson duties, and she looks easier than
ever. Here's her updated profile: Birthplace, Tokyo; Height, 165cm;
Weight, 48kg; Three sizes, 85/58/86; Foot size, 23cm; *** type, A.
Reiko is said to be good at swimming. She likes driving and making
souffls, and on her days off, she enjoys driving with her (most
likely hot) sister and scuba diving. Her favorite foods are minestrone
and potato chips (???), and she seems to love Namco games, as she lists
Pacman and We Love Katamari as her favorite games. In the future, she
hopes to become an astronaut.

It seems that Nagase will have a greater role in the game this time
around. Apparently, once you've cleared certain conditions, she'll send
you letters!

Development on Ridge Racer 6 is being headed up by series veterans
Hideo Teramoto (producer) and Masaya Kobayashi (director). Commenting
to the magazine, Kobayashi reveals that team Ridge Racer is aiming for
60 frames per second in the final build -- something we've come to
expect from the series. Teramoto states that he wants to convey the
same style of drift mechanics we've seen in previous entries.

Xbox Live play will make it into the title, as suggested by the above
mode list, but Teramoto is not willing to commit just yet on how many
players will be able to race Online. He hopes to push the game as far
as possible in this regard and allow for the maximum number of possible
players to race Online together. He also mentions that the game's
Global Time Attack mode, where you race against the times of racers
throughout the world. This is the mode that he most enjoys, he admits.

Moving on to gameplay specifics, Kobayashi hints that we can expect
some changes to the nitro system, resulting in greater opportunity for
strategy and a better feel. Enemy AI has been improved, and on top of
that, due to the greater number of cars on screen, you'll have to aim
for openings in the road. The TGS version didn't have any traffic, so
hearing that the final version will have lots of opponent cars has us
e***d.

Ridge Racer 6 is listed as 80% complete in Famitsu and is scheduled to
launch with the X360 in Japan on 12/10.

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

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