Ford Racing 2 Camera Utility now available

This may be a little off-topic for you hardcore guys, but I'm sure somebody besides me has been playing around with Ford Racing 2, so this should be of interest to SOMEBODY (I hope): I have now completed the Ford Racing 2 Camera Utility, which enables you to modify the default bumper cam view to a more proper height, or you can choose from a cockpit-like "cowl view." If you find you don't like either option, you can use the utility to re-install the original bumper cam view. You can download the Ford Racing 2 Camera Utility here: http://irlheat.bhmotorsports.com/FR2/FR2CameraUtilityInstaller.zip This utility can also be used with the demo -- check out the readme file for full details: http://irlheat.bhmotorsports.com/FR2/FR2CameraUtilityReadme.txt Enjoy! -- JB

Is Ford Racing 2 any better than the original? I tried the oriinal and found it pretty weak. I'd love to find another NFS:PU type arcade racer to fill in the off time. MadDAWG

"MadDAWG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>... > Is Ford Racing 2 any better than the original? I tried the oriinal and > found it pretty weak. I'd love to find another NFS:PU type arcade racer to > fill in the off time. > > MadDAWG Ford Racing 2 is LIGHT-YEARS ahead of the original -- in fact, Ford Racing 2 was developed by Razorworks using the same physics engine that they used for Total Immersion Racing . . . which means that from a physics standpoint, FR2 is every bit as tweak-able as TIR. Straight out of the box, though, Ford Racing 2 is very good, IMO -- the scenarios and track/car unlocking structure is VERY engaging, rather than annoying and intrusive, as this sort of thing typically is. There are cheats available to unlock all cars and tracks from the start, but I've had as much fun unlocking things in FR2 as I did in NFSPU. Lots of fun all around, with both off-road and asphalt tracks, and a wide variety of historic, classic, competition, and prototype vehicles. It feels a lot like a mix between the NFSPU gameplay/mission objective approach and advanced physics combined with the earlier versions of NFS (NFS 1 and 2 come to mind). The track designs are outstanding (all fantasy tracks, but there is a nice mix of faux road circuits and fantasy race courses, all of which are nicely executed), the vehicle handling is predictable, with different physics for each car type. The AI is reasonably challenging at the higher levels, and although you do get some fender-banging, the AI seems "smart" enough. There is a wide variety of scenarios, some of which seem like they should be too hokey to endure, but even the ones that seem like they will be silly are engaging and -- imagine this -- FUN. Quite a bit of fun, in fact -- maybe not as rigidly structured as the Factory Driver stuff in NFSPU, but every bit as fun. The sounds are also outstanding in FR2 (again, unique sounds for all cars), and although there is no cockpit view available, my camera utility goes a long way towards rectifying that. All in all, there's a lot to like here, IMO. In short, I'd call FR2 a HUGE success as an arcade racer with fairly serious physics -- it's not GPL, but it is a heck of a lot of fun, and driving FR2 doesn't degrade my GPL driving skills one bit (this criteria is something I use as a measure of how "realistic" a sim is, actually -- spending time driving something that is arcade c&@p like Pro Race Drive actually makes me slower when I return to GPL, but the "good" racers don't have any negative impact on my GPL skills). FWIW, I found Ford Racing 2 locally at a Wal-Mart for $19.99. After spending some time with the demo, I was thinking hard about going back to Wal-Mart to pick up a copy, but over on the High Gear TIR message board, Bad Bud pointed out that you can get Ford Racing 2 for $9.99 plus free shipping from the EB Games Website: http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/239931.asp Note that this DOES include free shipping -- the "shipping info" link on the site indicates that the "EB Saver" rate is $1.99, but when you process the order, it gives you shipping for free if you choose the "EB Saver" rate. At $9.99 plus free shipping from the EB Games site, I snapped up a copy immediately, because I remembered how difficult it was to find TIR after it initially appeared on the store shelves in my area -- I finally had to find a copy of that on ebay. Hope this helps a bit! -- JB

Sounds intriguing. One question though. How is the controller set-up? Does it support multiple simultaneous controllers? I seem to recall that FR1 did not, but NFSPU did. Thanks. Bert jbodin wrote:

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> "MadDAWG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>... > > Is Ford Racing 2 any better than the original? I tried the oriinal and > > found it pretty weak. I'd love to find another NFS:PU type arcade racer to > > fill in the off time. > > > > MadDAWG > > Ford Racing 2 is LIGHT-YEARS ahead of the original -- in fact, Ford > Racing 2 was developed by Razorworks using the same physics engine > that they used for Total Immersion Racing . . . which means that from > a physics standpoint, FR2 is every bit as tweak-able as TIR. > > Straight out of the box, though, Ford Racing 2 is very good, IMO -- > the scenarios and track/car unlocking structure is VERY engaging, > rather than annoying and intrusive, as this sort of thing typically > is. There are cheats available to unlock all cars and tracks from the > start, but I've had as much fun unlocking things in FR2 as I did in > NFSPU. Lots of fun all around, with both off-road and asphalt tracks, > and a wide variety of historic, classic, competition, and prototype > vehicles. It feels a lot like a mix between the NFSPU > gameplay/mission objective approach and advanced physics combined with > the earlier versions of NFS (NFS 1 and 2 come to mind). The track > designs are outstanding (all fantasy tracks, but there is a nice mix > of faux road circuits and fantasy race courses, all of which are > nicely executed), the vehicle handling is predictable, with different > physics for each car type. The AI is reasonably challenging at the > higher levels, and although you do get some fender-banging, the AI > seems "smart" enough. There is a wide variety of scenarios, some of > which seem like they should be too hokey to endure, but even the ones > that seem like they will be silly are engaging and -- imagine this -- > FUN. Quite a bit of fun, in fact -- maybe not as rigidly structured > as the Factory Driver stuff in NFSPU, but every bit as fun. The > sounds are also outstanding in FR2 (again, unique sounds for all > cars), and although there is no cockpit view available, my camera > utility goes a long way towards rectifying that. All in all, there's > a lot to like here, IMO. > > In short, I'd call FR2 a HUGE success as an arcade racer with fairly > serious physics -- it's not GPL, but it is a heck of a lot of fun, and > driving FR2 doesn't degrade my GPL driving skills one bit (this > criteria is something I use as a measure of how "realistic" a sim is, > actually -- spending time driving something that is arcade c&@p like > Pro Race Drive actually makes me slower when I return to GPL, but the > "good" racers don't have any negative impact on my GPL skills). > > FWIW, I found Ford Racing 2 locally at a Wal-Mart for $19.99. After > spending some time with the demo, I was thinking hard about going back > to Wal-Mart to pick up a copy, but over on the High Gear TIR message > board, Bad Bud pointed out that you can get Ford Racing 2 for $9.99 > plus free shipping from the EB Games Website: > > http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/239931.asp > > Note that this DOES include free shipping -- the "shipping info" link > on the site indicates that the "EB Saver" rate is $1.99, but when you > process the order, it gives you shipping for free if you choose the > "EB Saver" rate. > > At $9.99 plus free shipping from the EB Games site, I snapped up a > copy immediately, because I remembered how difficult it was to find > TIR after it initially appeared on the store shelves in my area -- I > finally had to find a copy of that on ebay. > > Hope this helps a bit! > > -- JB

Sounds intriguing. One question though. How is the controller set-up? Does it support multiple simultaneous controllers? I seem to recall that FR1 did not, but NFSPU did. Thanks. Bert

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> > Is Ford Racing 2 any better than the original? I tried the oriinal and > > found it pretty weak. I'd love to find another NFS:PU type arcade racer to > > fill in the off time. > > MadDAWG > Ford Racing 2 is LIGHT-YEARS ahead of the original -- in fact, Ford > Racing 2 was developed by Razorworks using the same physics engine > that they used for Total Immersion Racing . . . which means that from > a physics standpoint, FR2 is every bit as tweak-able as TIR. > Straight out of the box, though, Ford Racing 2 is very good, IMO -- > the scenarios and track/car unlocking structure is VERY engaging, > rather than annoying and intrusive, as this sort of thing typically > is. There are cheats available to unlock all cars and tracks from the > start, but I've had as much fun unlocking things in FR2 as I did in > NFSPU. Lots of fun all around, with both off-road and asphalt tracks, > and a wide variety of historic, classic, competition, and prototype > vehicles. It feels a lot like a mix between the NFSPU > gameplay/mission objective approach and advanced physics combined with > the earlier versions of NFS (NFS 1 and 2 come to mind). The track > designs are outstanding (all fantasy tracks, but there is a nice mix > of faux road circuits and fantasy race courses, all of which are > nicely executed), the vehicle handling is predictable, with different > physics for each car type. The AI is reasonably challenging at the > higher levels, and although you do get some fender-banging, the AI > seems "smart" enough. There is a wide variety of scenarios, some of > which seem like they should be too hokey to endure, but even the ones > that seem like they will be silly are engaging and -- imagine this -- > FUN. Quite a bit of fun, in fact -- maybe not as rigidly structured > as the Factory Driver stuff in NFSPU, but every bit as fun. The > sounds are also outstanding in FR2 (again, unique sounds for all > cars), and although there is no***pit view available, my camera > utility goes a long way towards rectifying that. All in all, there's > a lot to like here, IMO. > In short, I'd call FR2 a HUGE success as an arcade racer with fairly > serious physics -- it's not GPL, but it is a heck of a lot of fun, and > driving FR2 doesn't degrade my GPL driving skills one bit (this > criteria is something I use as a measure of how "realistic" a sim is, > Pro Race Drive actually makes me slower when I return to GPL, but the > "good" racers don't have any negative impact on my GPL skills). > FWIW, I found Ford Racing 2 locally at a Wal-Mart for $19.99. After > spending some time with the demo, I was thinking hard about going back > to Wal-Mart to pick up a copy, but over on the High Gear TIR message > board, Bad Bud pointed out that you can get Ford Racing 2 for $9.99 > plus free shipping from the EB Games Website: > http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/239931.asp > Note that this DOES include free shipping -- the "shipping info" link > on the site indicates that the "EB Saver" rate is $1.99, but when you > process the order, it gives you shipping for free if you choose the > "EB Saver" rate. > At $9.99 plus free shipping from the EB Games site, I snapped up a > copy immediately, because I remembered how difficult it was to find > TIR after it initially appeared on the store shelves in my area -- I > finally had to find a copy of that on ebay. > Hope this helps a bit! > -- JB

Also, Do have a url for the demo? jbodin wrote:

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> This may be a little off-topic for you hardcore guys, but I'm sure > somebody besides me has been playing around with Ford Racing 2, so > this should be of interest to SOMEBODY (I hope): > > I have now completed the Ford Racing 2 Camera Utility, which enables > you to modify the default bumper cam view to a more proper height, or > you can choose from a cockpit-like "cowl view." If you find you don't > like either option, you can use the utility to re-install the original > bumper cam view. > > You can download the Ford Racing 2 Camera Utility here: > > http://irlheat.bhmotorsports.com/FR2/FR2CameraUtilityInstaller.zip > > This utility can also be used with the demo -- check out the readme > file for full details: > > http://irlheat.bhmotorsports.com/FR2/FR2CameraUtilityReadme.txt > > Enjoy! > > -- JB

Also, Do have a url for the demo?

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> This may be a little off-topic for you *** guys, but I'm sure > somebody besides me has been playing around with Ford Racing 2, so > this should be of interest to SOMEBODY (I hope): > I have now completed the Ford Racing 2 Camera Utility, which enables > you to modify the default bumper cam view to a more proper height, or > you can choose from a***pit-like "cowl view." If you find you don't > like either option, you can use the utility to re-install the original > bumper cam view. > You can download the Ford Racing 2 Camera Utility here: > http://irlheat.bhmotorsports.com/FR2/FR2CameraUtilityInstaller.zip > This utility can also be used with the demo -- check out the readme > file for full details: > http://irlheat.bhmotorsports.com/FR2/FR2CameraUtilityReadme.txt > Enjoy! > -- JB

BRH <"bhoenig<no-spam>"@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

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> Also, Do have a url for the demo? > > jbodin wrote: > > > This may be a little off-topic for you hardcore guys, but I'm sure > > somebody besides me has been playing around with Ford Racing 2, so > > this should be of interest to SOMEBODY (I hope): > > > > I have now completed the Ford Racing 2 Camera Utility, which enables > > you to modify the default bumper cam view to a more proper height, or > > you can choose from a cockpit-like "cowl view." If you find you don't > > like either option, you can use the utility to re-install the original > > bumper cam view. > > > > You can download the Ford Racing 2 Camera Utility here: > > > > http://irlheat.bhmotorsports.com/FR2/FR2CameraUtilityInstaller.zip > > > > This utility can also be used with the demo -- check out the readme > > file for full details: > > > > http://irlheat.bhmotorsports.com/FR2/FR2CameraUtilityReadme.txt > > > > Enjoy! > > > > -- JB

Try the Razorworks site: http://www.razorworks.com/ This should be the direct link: http://www.empireinteractive.com/support/download.asp?ProdDetailID=398 Enjoy! -- JB

Alas, like TIR, Ford Racing 2 does NOT seem to support multiple simultaneous controllers. It DOES support split-axis controls very nicely, though, and the controller setup/config screens look and work a lot like something Papy might have come up with, so they at least did part of their homework. -- JB BRH <"bhoenig<no-spam>"@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

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> Sounds intriguing. > > One question though. How is the controller set-up? Does it support multiple simultaneous > controllers? I seem to recall that FR1 did not, but NFSPU did. > > Thanks. > > Bert > > > > > jbodin wrote: > > > "MadDAWG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>... > > > Is Ford Racing 2 any better than the original? I tried the oriinal and > > > found it pretty weak. I'd love to find another NFS:PU type arcade racer to > > > fill in the off time. > > > > > > MadDAWG > > > > Ford Racing 2 is LIGHT-YEARS ahead of the original -- in fact, Ford > > Racing 2 was developed by Razorworks using the same physics engine > > that they used for Total Immersion Racing . . . which means that from > > a physics standpoint, FR2 is every bit as tweak-able as TIR. > > > > Straight out of the box, though, Ford Racing 2 is very good, IMO -- > > the scenarios and track/car unlocking structure is VERY engaging, > > rather than annoying and intrusive, as this sort of thing typically > > is. There are cheats available to unlock all cars and tracks from the > > start, but I've had as much fun unlocking things in FR2 as I did in > > NFSPU. Lots of fun all around, with both off-road and asphalt tracks, > > and a wide variety of historic, classic, competition, and prototype > > vehicles. It feels a lot like a mix between the NFSPU > > gameplay/mission objective approach and advanced physics combined with > > the earlier versions of NFS (NFS 1 and 2 come to mind). The track > > designs are outstanding (all fantasy tracks, but there is a nice mix > > of faux road circuits and fantasy race courses, all of which are > > nicely executed), the vehicle handling is predictable, with different > > physics for each car type. The AI is reasonably challenging at the > > higher levels, and although you do get some fender-banging, the AI > > seems "smart" enough. There is a wide variety of scenarios, some of > > which seem like they should be too hokey to endure, but even the ones > > that seem like they will be silly are engaging and -- imagine this -- > > FUN. Quite a bit of fun, in fact -- maybe not as rigidly structured > > as the Factory Driver stuff in NFSPU, but every bit as fun. The > > sounds are also outstanding in FR2 (again, unique sounds for all > > cars), and although there is no cockpit view available, my camera > > utility goes a long way towards rectifying that. All in all, there's > > a lot to like here, IMO. > > > > In short, I'd call FR2 a HUGE success as an arcade racer with fairly > > serious physics -- it's not GPL, but it is a heck of a lot of fun, and > > driving FR2 doesn't degrade my GPL driving skills one bit (this > > criteria is something I use as a measure of how "realistic" a sim is, > > actually -- spending time driving something that is arcade c&@p like > > Pro Race Drive actually makes me slower when I return to GPL, but the > > "good" racers don't have any negative impact on my GPL skills). > > > > FWIW, I found Ford Racing 2 locally at a Wal-Mart for $19.99. After > > spending some time with the demo, I was thinking hard about going back > > to Wal-Mart to pick up a copy, but over on the High Gear TIR message > > board, Bad Bud pointed out that you can get Ford Racing 2 for $9.99 > > plus free shipping from the EB Games Website: > > > > http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/239931.asp > > > > Note that this DOES include free shipping -- the "shipping info" link > > on the site indicates that the "EB Saver" rate is $1.99, but when you > > process the order, it gives you shipping for free if you choose the > > "EB Saver" rate. > > > > At $9.99 plus free shipping from the EB Games site, I snapped up a > > copy immediately, because I remembered how difficult it was to find > > TIR after it initially appeared on the store shelves in my area -- I > > finally had to find a copy of that on ebay. > > > > Hope this helps a bit! > > > > -- JB