rec.autos.simulators

by **Andrew Englis** » Sat, 17 May 1997 04:00:00

> >Subject: Re: My "Network Q RAC Rally Championship" Review
> >Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 21:02:17 GMT

> >>WARNING: You guys must be talking about a new version that Network Q
> >>has put out for this rally game. Way back in 1994, I purchased
> >>Network Q RAC Rally's "RALLY: The Final Round of the World Rally
> >>Championship". I am looking at the box right now: It was licensed by
> >>Accolade and the copyright on the box is 1993. It has 35 stages of
> >>the RAC rally and 5 different cars available. This OLD version is
> >>terrible with a capital T. Choppy VGA graphics, pathetic sound,
> >>driving model worse than Pole Position, and well... it's just aweful.
> >>Beware you don't buy this older version!
> >I sure wish they'd just given the new version a new name, it would
> >have helped avoid a LOT of confusion!

> >Joe

> I recently ckecked out the new version for a day and didn't think it was
> worth buying. Arcadish car physics, invisible walls right at the edge of the
> road, and very slow on my P100.
> Don Scurlock
> Vancouver, B.C.

Possibly slow on P100, there is a heck of a lot going on in there when
this runs. But...at least it gives you something to look at when it
transitions between resets,restarts, etc, not like the big white screens
I get on Sega Rally. It grows on you, if you're a rally fan, anyway.

Androo

by Jo » Sat, 17 May 1997 04:00:00

>For different views, replay a successful stage & hit the number keys at
>the top of the main keyboard; "0" (zero) shows continuously changing
>trackside views. Not as flashy as Sega Rally's replay, but it grows on
>you,

Thanks, I missed that!

Joe

by **Richard Wa** » Sat, 17 May 1997 04:00:00

: Well I've been waiting to get ahold of this ever since I played the
: 64MB (count 'em) demo what seems like a year ago.
: I just received a copy a day or two ago and it's great.
: I am constantly surprised at how fun this game is. Europress? Who?
: They make a F1 Manager game as well, but thats it. One of the few
: games that makes you laugh out loud when you're barreling down a
: mountain at 120mph (I suppose it should be kph).

The speed unit is switchable in the options IIRC. Since it's a British
game the default is probably mph.

: I've had friends play this game instead of the traditional sims,
: because it's easier to control, and they've loved it. It's a riot.
: (I just got it so of course I'm gushing, check with me in a week or
: two) But I believe this game will hold it's value.
: I like how the tracks are based on real places, so you may have a
: straightaway for what seems like forever, just like in real life and
: very rare in other driving sims.

Also the variation in size of the stages is a good feature. Some that will
take only 3 or 4 minutes to do for a quick burn and others in the 15-20
minute range (I believe the longest is about 30 min but it's a while
since I played this)

: The downsides, like the Playstation-like 2D texture mapping and
: 'invisable walls' ala NFS1 are really not that annoying at all. The
: only time I was aware of the mapping to any degree was going through a
: forest and even then I'm fighting just to stay upright.
: Very forgiving driving model, but I did end up in a 4 car upside down
: pile up last night, I righted myself and had to drive around the poor
: bastards.
: If you like racing games, it's definitely worth playing, just for a
: quality change in routine.
: I'd like to see someone crack the sound files so that you could
: substitute your co-pilots instructions with your own spliced in files.

Do away with Tony Mason? How could you? :)

Something you haven't mentioned is that when you play in championship mode
it's against the clock. There are no other cars on the track. You get a
continuous readout of where you place in the rankings but it seems to me
that this is decided on the basis of the computer racers travelling at a
constant average speed. You will always gain on them on fast straights and
they will always cut your lead on slower twistier sections. OTOH this may
be just the crapness of my driving.

My twopenn'orth

--

by **S. Johnso** » Mon, 19 May 1997 04:00:00

Thanks. Now I won't pay $80+ to get this great (so I've heard) game!

Yeah, mine came with that game too, called "Lamborghini American
Challenge." This game is THE WORST game I have ever seen, even worse than
when I bought "Vette!" for my 286 oh so long ago. Inaccurate physics (like
you don't lose speed when you skid through turns), no joystick support, and
a cheesy arcade "win races, earn money, buy super stick sludge tires"
theme.

Well, I guess I have to keep on playing NFS2 and Nascar2 until I can get
Rally (not to say that NFS2 and Nascar2 are bad, I just can't wait!)

Sam

by **k964..** » Tue, 20 May 1997 04:00:00

Anyone out there know how to run Rally Championship in VGA?

by **s..** » Fri, 23 May 1997 04:00:00

>Well I've been waiting to get ahold of this ever since I played the
>64MB (count 'em) demo what seems like a year ago.
>I just received a copy a day or two ago and it's great.
>I am constantly surprised at how fun this game is. Europress? Who?

I just got my copy also. I agree,its fun; its almost as much fun as
screamer. My cheapo steering wheel/pedals
work perfectly in this game (unlike NFS & screamer).

There is an add on for it (Thee XMiles add on). Ill get that soon.

by **Paul Davi** » Fri, 23 May 1997 04:00:00

>>Yes, yours is definitely a different game (it's confusing with such
>>similar titles). I'm not sure where you can get "Network Q RAC Rally
>>Championship" in the US though (I carefully typed this long title from
>>the box to make sure I'm talking about the right game). I live in
>>Canada and have seen it at a couple computer stores. Odd that it
>>wouldn't be available in the US, I imagine that's gotta be the biggest
>>single computer game market.

>I thought they were tweaking the game for the US release. They're
>changing some cars that US people would recognise (well, them being
>Americans and all)

That's a shame! NetQ is a fantastic rally (Perfectly realistic.) But
the Ford Escort Cosworth is one of the best rally cars there is!

(Quake Handles: Majika/Overlord of Chaos/Danger)

by **Andrew Englis** » Sat, 24 May 1997 04:00:00

Wondered where this info came from, then I checked Europress' site
again. Apparently, they are sending reps to Electronic Entertainment
Expo (E3?) in Atlanta GA, June 19-21. A Rally Championship upgrade is
mentioned among software to be presented. Maybe they'll start selling it
here (US).
andrew e

> >>Odd that it
> >>wouldn't be available in the US, I imagine that's gotta be the biggest
> >>single computer game market.

> >I thought they were tweaking the game for the US release. They're
> >changing some cars that US people would recognise (well, them being
> >Americans and all)
> That's a shame! NetQ is a fantastic rally (Perfectly realistic.) But
> the Ford Escort Cosworth is one of the best rally cars there is!

> (Quake Handles: Majika/Overlord of Chaos/Danger)

by **Led Mira** » Thu, 29 May 1997 04:00:00

>>I thought they were tweaking the game for the US release. They're
>>changing some cars that US people would recognise (well, them being
>>Americans and all)
>That's a shame! NetQ is a fantastic rally (Perfectly realistic.) But
>the Ford Escort Cosworth is one of the best rally cars there is!

It was mentioned in the latest (?) issue of CGW. It's probably going to
be called simply Rally Championship rather than the ridiculously long
name of "Network Q RAC Rally Championship". It didn't say whcih cars will
be changed. Hopefully, they'll keep the Renault, Ford and of course the
Subaru. While I don't know how realistic it is, it's definitely one of
(if not THE) most playable rally game out there. If anything, its
definitely the most fun rally game I've played (and I've played Screamer
2, Sega Rally).

by **Marc Collin** » Fri, 30 May 1997 04:00:00

Yes a U.S. version will be released soon and we in Canada will likely be
able to get that too when it comes out. There is a new version under
development now that is DirectX Win95 only (a la Need For Speed II). Also,
make sure you get the analogue joystick patch so that you can have proper
analogue acceleration and braking when using a joystick!

> >>Yes, yours is definitely a different game (it's confusing with such
> >>similar titles). I'm not sure where you can get "Network Q RAC Rally
> >>Championship" in the US though (I carefully typed this long title from
> >>the box to make sure I'm talking about the right game). I live in
> >>Canada and have seen it at a couple computer stores. Odd that it
> >>wouldn't be available in the US, I imagine that's gotta be the biggest
> >>single computer game market.

> >I thought they were tweaking the game for the US release. They're
> >changing some cars that US people would recognise (well, them being
> >Americans and all)
> That's a shame! NetQ is a fantastic rally (Perfectly realistic.) But
> the Ford Escort Cosworth is one of the best rally cars there is!

> (Quake Handles: Majika/Overlord of Chaos/Danger)

by **Richard Pic** » Sun, 01 Jun 1997 04:00:00

> Wondered where this info came from, then I checked Europress' site
> again. Apparently, they are sending reps to Electronic Entertainment
> Expo (E3?) in Atlanta GA, June 19-21. A Rally Championship upgrade is
> mentioned among software to be presented. Maybe they'll start selling it
> here (US).
> andrew e

> > >>Odd that it
> > >>wouldn't be available in the US, I imagine that's gotta be the biggest
> > >>single computer game market.

> > >I thought they were tweaking the game for the US release. They're
> > >changing some cars that US people would recognise (well, them being
> > >Americans and all)
> > That's a shame! NetQ is a fantastic rally (Perfectly realistic.) But
> > the Ford Escort Cosworth is one of the best rally cars there is!

> > (Quake Handles: Majika/Overlord of Chaos/Danger)

Actually *** Entertainment (www.vie.com) will be publishing
it here for Europress and its due to be released in the US in June.
Just look into "games", then "in production" on their site and
there is a bunch of info on it, along with a demo.