Insane screenshots at High Gear

Hi all, Codemasters sent us 11 new screenshots of Insane today. Insane puts racers behind the wheel of over 20 unique off-road vehicles including 4x4's, dune buggies and military vehicles. Each vehicle operates with realistic handling and response systems reflecting actual center of gravity effects. Players can also choose specific paint jobs for their vehicles, which undergo real time body and paint deformation from the rigors of the race. Insane will be released on November 22nd for $29.99 (USD). Click to enlarge! You can find the screenshots at http://www.simracingnews.com/games/screenshots/insane/index.shtml. -- Kenneth Verburg Editor-in-Chief, High Gear http://www.simracingnews.com

On Fri, 06 Oct 2000 03:08:37 GMT, [email hidden] wrote:

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> I am in fact a beta tester for Insane, and I encourage all >you 'disciples of sim' to try this new experience: racing in a wide >open natural environment(s) without armco, walls, or pitlanes to >contain you. The physics are, relatively speaking, very good- with >suspension movement (and suspension parts) clearly visible and >functioning. Vehicles range from tame to extreme, and you can even >generate your OWN environments to race in. Offline or online!

[snip] If you've played Motocross Madness 1 or 2, you'd know it isn't a new experience at all. I'm sure anxious to try it, though. Tim

In article <[email hidden]>, Tim O. <[email hidden]> wrote:

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> > If you've played Motocross Madness 1 or 2, you'd know it isn't a new > experience at all. I'm sure anxious to try it, though. > > Tim > > You got me there Tim, I havent tried MM1 or 2.. didnt know it was in

those games. But I did try the demo of that other 4x4 game thats due out soon too, but theres no comparison IMO but that Codemasters Insane gives you more feeling of driving on a realistic suspension. If you try the demo of Insane Tim, post something about it. I'd like to hear what another racer thinks. mr Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

In article <Lp0D5.896$[email hidden]>, "Kenneth Verburg" <[email hidden]> wrote: > Hi all, >Insane puts racers > behind the wheel of over 20 unique off-road vehicles including 4x4's,dune > buggies and military vehicles. Each vehicle operates with realistichandling > and response systems reflecting actual center of gravity effects. >You can find the screenshots at > http://www.simracingnews.com/games/screenshots/insane/index.shtml. > > Kenneth Verburg > Editor-in-Chief, High Gear > http://www.simracingnews.com > I am in fact a beta tester for Insane, and I encourage all you 'disciples of sim' to try this new experience: racing in a wide open natural environment(s) without armco, walls, or pitlanes to contain you. The physics are, relatively speaking, very good- with suspension movement (and suspension parts) clearly visible and functioning. Vehicles range from tame to extreme, and you can even generate your OWN environments to race in. Offline or online! Tonight I was racing in a rocky African environment with lots of vegetation, and I can tell you that racing online through shrubs, around rocks, and dodging (African type) trees was quite a rush. They physics, for the physics hounds, is a notch or two better than Toca2 (pound-for-pound) in my opinion, and thats not too bad- for such a fun idea of a game. Mark Rael Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8rlj2v$1r$[email hidden]...

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> In article <[email hidden]>, > Tim O. <[email hidden]> wrote: > > > > If you've played Motocross Madness 1 or 2, you'd know it isn't a new > > experience at all. I'm sure anxious to try it, though. > > > > Tim > > > > You got me there Tim, I havent tried MM1 or 2.. didnt know it was in > those games. But I did try the demo of that other 4x4 game thats due > out soon too, but theres no comparison IMO but that Codemasters Insane > gives you more feeling of driving on a realistic suspension. If you try > the demo of Insane Tim, post something about it. I'd like to hear what > another racer thinks. > > mr > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

I'm Beta testing Insane over the next week for Codemasters. I'll let you know ;-) Regards John

In article <QeGD5.13196$[email hidden]>, "Gary Wampler" <[email hidden]> wrote: > None of the "Insane" screenshots show an in-car view. Before Iattempt to > download the demo, please tell me there is an in-car view? > > I havent downloaded the demo, but there is an in car view in the(beta) game. Also, for people that did get the demo- try using the f7 key while you are driving in combination with the 6 keys: insert,delete,home,end,pageup,pagedown. The f7 key gives you a 'free ranging' view from which you can choose your OWN favorite view to drive with.. even if you like the front differential as your perspective :) MR Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

In article <yEsD5.2017$[email hidden]>, "John Orrett" <[email hidden]> wrote: > I'm Beta testing Insane over the next week for Codemasters. I'll letyou > know ;-) > Regards > John > > You must not have read my first post, John. I'm a tester too! :)You can find my comments about the beta as Mark Rael in the beta forum John.. and are you in the US?? I've been hooking up with UK testers left and right online, but I havent heard from another US Insane tester yet. Let me know. And look for me as 'DirtClod' in the CMN game service John, I race a lot. MR Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8rlp9n$4vv$[email hidden]...

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> In article <yEsD5.2017$[email hidden]>, > "John Orrett" <[email hidden]> wrote: > > I'm Beta testing Insane over the next week for Codemasters. I'll let > you > > know ;-) > > Regards > > John > > > > You must not have read my first post, John. I'm a tester too! :) > You can find my comments about the beta as Mark Rael in the beta forum > John.. and are you in the US?? I've been hooking up with UK testers > left and right online, but I havent heard from another US Insane tester > yet. Let me know. And look for me as 'DirtClod' in the CMN game service > John, I race a lot. > > MR > > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

Hi Mark, I'm in England I'm afraid ;-). I haven't actually got around to testing online yet, I'm still trying to connect cos my IP is having trouble. See you there soon though ! Cheers John

None of the "Insane" screenshots show an in-car view. Before I attempt to download the demo, please tell me there is an in-car view?

Yes there is (a couple in fact) - but I can't get joystick support Anyone? Tony "Gary Wampler" wrote > None of the "Insane" screenshots show an in-car view. Before I attemptto > download the demo, please tell me there is an in-car view?

<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8rjfni$avi$[email hidden]... > They physics, for the physics hounds, is a notch or two better than > Toca2 (pound-for-pound) in my opinion, and thats not too bad- for such > a fun idea of a game. If the physics were not better than TOCA2, it would be rather sad. I don't see how an offroad game could fail to model understeer and still be seen as remotely realistic (like TOCA2). BTW I own TOCA2 and enjoy it as a multiplayer game, but the physics are sadly lacking as any kind of sim. Ryan

In article <[email hidden]>, Jason Monds <[email hidden]> wrote: There is a track generation feature > which will make online racing more than knowing the course already.I hope we > can make our own tracks (it was mention by Mark that we could) sothose of us > who wanted SODA2 could make more restrictive race course style tracks. > > Great job CodeMasters! > Jason. > Hi Jason. One of my favorite things about the environment generator is that you can use the end product online (if you are the host.) You create them offline, and each one is assigned a number, then if you are hosting you can enter that number and use it online. I cant get into the exact parameters you use to create environments, but you can for sure create things you wont see in the regular menu of choices. The most challenging in my opinion are the heavily wooded pine forest areas.. visibility is poor, and since Insane has such an active damage model your car is likely to get a bit crooked on the way to grandmothers house :) On the other hand, I really like the African environment with fairly numerous trees- the African trees dont have the branches and needle density that pine trees have! Its fun to dice with another driver through the trees at high speed. Prepare to sweat. mr Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

The incar view is wild; your head follows which way your turning. Unlike CPR, I could handle this one. Maybe it's because I wasn't going 200mph. You can use the mouse to turn your head as well. I didn't use it much, but it seems to have all the flexiblity you need in this area. It models the whole drivers body, so from the middle of the car view you can see the drivers' legs bounce when you hit the rough stuff. With realtime damage, I jumped off a cliff and it crushed the vehicle such that I was driving with my head below the dash board. Luckily the repair button is close by ;-) Overall, Insane looks and drives great. There is a track generation feature which will make online racing more than knowing the course already. I hope we can make our own tracks (it was mention by Mark that we could) so those of us who wanted SODA2 could make more restrictive race course style tracks. Great job CodeMasters! Jason. Gary Wampler wrote: > None of the "Insane" screenshots show an in-car view. Before I attempt to > download the demo, please tell me there is an in-car view? -- Jason Monds http://www.proracingclub.com - Pro Racing Club! (N3, GPL, Fun Run Sims) http://www.racersdomain.com - Race hosting. (Please remove 'no extra spork' when replying)

Mark, I D/L'd the demo last night. It is VERY similar to Motocross Madness 2. Capture the Flag is the same as MXM2's tag. The gate races are the same as MXM2's Baja or enduro racing, right down to almost identical gates. Even details like the directional arrow are very similar. Actually, the Insane demo engine doesn't seem quite as sophisticated as Rainbows. MXMadness2 has many more trees and objects in the environment. I saw the birds flying in Insane. MXM2 has moving traffic on the roads which aren't involved in the racing, trains, and aircraft. I loved the look of the Insane demo's pickup. I also thought the way it was damaged is great. The game itself seems pretty neat, but I couldn't bring myself to play it for long due to a control problem. I couldn't play it with my Wingman FF wheel. Insane wouldn't recognize any inputs in split axis mode. When I switched over to combined axis, I could map controls, but the game wouldn't allow me to assign braking and acceleration. When I set acceleration to the gas pedal, then assigned the brakes, pushing the brake pedal would take the axis and put a question mark next to the acceleration input. I don't if it is just a problem with the Logitech or what, but to let something like that slip through in a driving game is unbelievable, beta demo or not. That should be one of the first things you work to get right. It's not like it's Codemasters' first driving game. I played it with the keyboard to check out the features and environments, but I'm done with it because of the lack of support for my wheel. Tim On Fri, 06 Oct 2000 22:18:13 GMT, [email hidden] wrote:

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>> You got me there Tim, I havent tried MM1 or 2.. didnt know it was in >those games. But I did try the demo of that other 4x4 game thats due >out soon too, but theres no comparison IMO but that Codemasters Insane >gives you more feeling of driving on a realistic suspension. If you try >the demo of Insane Tim, post something about it. I'd like to hear what >another racer thinks. > >mr >

Howdy Mark, See question inline... [email hidden] wrote:

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> I hope we can make our own tracks (it was mention by Mark that we could) > so > those of us who wanted SODA2 could make more restrictive race course style > tracks. > > > > Great job CodeMasters! > > Jason. > > > > Hi Jason. One of my favorite things about the environment > generator is that you can use the end product online (if you are the > host.)

Is there a random track generator? For some reason, I had it stuck in my mind that the "generator" option was for random tracks. > The most challenging in my opinion are the heavily wooded pine forest > areas.. visibility is poor, and since Insane has such an active damage > model your car is likely to get a bit crooked on the way to > grandmothers house :) Done that already :-) Driving through a forest in a motorcycle is not the same as a 2000lb truck ;-) > mr > -- Jason Monds http://www.proracingclub.com - Pro Racing Club! (N3, GPL, Fun Run Sims) http://www.racersdomain.com - Race hosting. (Please remove 'no extra spork' when replying)

In article <[email hidden]>, Jason Monds <[email hidden]> wrote: > Howdy Mark, > Is there a random track generator? For some reason, I had it stuckin my > mind that the "generator" option was for random tracks. > > -- > Jason Monds > http://www.proracingclub.com - Pro Racing Club! (N3, GPL, Fun RunSims) > http://www.racersdomain.com - Race hosting. > (Please remove 'no extra spork' when replying) Jason- ok, the environment generator can work two ways: it can either create a randomized environment for you, or you can select from a set of options to create something of your own. Both of these functions are separate from the pre-created environments the game will ship with. But I was also mentioning that the environments you can create are different than the regular ones, and that you can add more (objects, trees, etc.) to the environments you yourself create. The stock terrains are a good balance- but obviously there are people that are going to want to race in an unbalanced environment.. heavily forested and crevassed terrain, with rivers, comes to mind :) Mark Rael NOTE: The AI in insane are very good! I think this is in part because of the nature of the racing, and that its more effective to program intercept behavior than to endow AI with aggression-but-not-too- aggressive behavior. And then theres racing lines. Its easier to program in the free environment than to place AI cars intelligently on a closed circuit- which is why so many games have AI that people dislike. The best solution to the AI problem on closed circuit racing so far has been in (of all things) NASCAR2000(!) ..for you could create your OWN computer AI files by driving yourself (or download other peoples files) and race against THAT as the AI. Some variation on that seems to be the best answer for closed circuit racing. The AI in Insane is like playing chess against IMB's Deep Blue. Gary will tell you, it aint easy! Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

This demo really annoyed me with it's extreme oversteer. I get the truck up to speed and then if I try to turn even just a little I do a 360 spin (overcorrect, etc.) and flip over. In the "other" game it's just about impossible to roll the truck, very unrealistic, but less annoying. There's a key to right the truck but it takes at least three tries to get it on it's wheels again. One time I got up to speed and hit a bump and the truck turned over on the long axis as if it were spinning on it's driveshaft. I had the same problem with my Nascar Charger wheel with brakes. I just assigned a key to the brakes (and then forgot which key I picked). Tim O. wrote:

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> I couldn't play it with my Wingman FF wheel. Insane wouldn't recognize > any inputs in split axis mode. When I switched over to combined axis, > I could map controls, but the game wouldn't allow me to assign braking > and acceleration. > When I set acceleration to the gas pedal, then assigned the brakes, > pushing the brake pedal would take the axis and put a question mark > next to the acceleration input. > > I don't if it is just a problem with the Logitech or what, but to let > something like that slip through in a driving game is unbelievable, > beta demo or not. That should be one of the first things you work to > get right. It's not like it's Codemasters' first driving game. > > I played it with the keyboard to check out the features and > environments, but I'm done with it because of the lack of support for > my wheel. > > Tim >

In article <[email hidden]>, Cruiser <[email hidden]> wrote: > This demo really annoyed me with it's extreme oversteer. I get thetruck up > to speed and then if I try to turn even just a little I do a 360 spin > (overcorrect, etc.) and flip over. In the "other" game it's just about > impossible to roll the truck, very unrealistic, but less annoying.There's a > key to right the truck but it takes at least three tries to get it onit's > wheels again. Hi Cruiser, there's a few things I can tell you about Insane. One is that (like you already know) you have to be carefull about how much steering input you apply depending on the terrain. I dont have the demo, but I know it has the 'Blaze' vehicle and that this truck has a higher center of gravity than some of the others. Its easier to roll. I realized pretty quick that sometimes going slower and paying more attention to the terrain is faster than trying to Dukes of Hazzard your way over everything in sight. Right now I have more points than any beta tester by a pretty decent margin (we're using Codemasters CMN online service and it has a built in points award system) so I suppose you can trust what I say :) When you DO roll you shouldnt have a problem just holding the key and getting turned rightside up. It takes a moment, and its not instantaneous, but its not meant to be. The penalties in Insane cost you time- whether its getting rightside up or getting your wrecked car repaired. Its faster not to let yourself roll. I promise you that 'rolling the truck' is not some goofy built in function of the driving model. Its a function of driving too fast over untrustworthy terrain. I think a vehicle like a Suzuki Samurai would roll just as easy in real life, under the same conditions :) Insane Players Guide http://blitzsports.com/racing/insane I just posted some cool 'F key' functions you might try out. MR Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.