Rally Demo Facts

The Rally Championship demo is an alpha version of the game. Check the date in the read me file also. It does not have the full physics model, all the sounds, all the graphics options, and only allows keyboard control. It was given to the French magazine "Joystick" to be included on one of their demo CD's so that the casual gamer (which is almost the entire population of gamers) could have a preview of the sim. Joystick magazine explained to it's readers what the demo contained in it's magazine and online review. That the demo was then uploaded to the net and passed around, and now assumptions are being made as to what it represents, says more about the state of the internet than anything else I guess. Some people took a few minutes to find out exactly what it was they were looking at. Others have not and have jumped to conclusions about the final version. David G Fisher

On Tue, 31 Aug 1999 06:39:34 -0400, "David G Fisher" >The Rally Championship demo is an alpha version of the game. Check the date >in the read me file also. It does not have the full physics model, all the >sounds, all the graphics options, and only allows keyboard control. Quick question: Does the date in the readme refer to February 8, 1999 or August 2, 1999? Martin Nigel Mansell RIP!

Not slamming Magnetic Fields or anything - but to set the record straight the following quote is off the RC forum on simracingnews.com. Andrew Bolt of Magnetic Fields: "The physics are fairly complete in the demo - the main thing missing is car damage." David Cook

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> The Rally Championship demo is an alpha version of the game. Check the date > in the read me file also. It does not have the full physics model, all the > sounds, all the graphics options, and only allows keyboard control. > It was given to the French magazine "Joystick" to be included on one of > their demo CD's so that the casual gamer (which is almost the entire > population of gamers) could have a preview of the sim. > Joystick magazine explained to it's readers what the demo contained in it's > magazine and online review. > That the demo was then uploaded to the net and passed around, and now > assumptions are being made as to what it represents, says more about the > state of the internet than anything else I guess. > Some people took a few minutes to find out exactly what it was they were > looking at. Others have not and have jumped to conclusions about the final > version. > David G Fisher

On Tue, 31 Aug 1999 06:39:34 -0400, But David, if it were a decent game/sim, and the developers had a clue or any sense of pride in their game, then why would they have released it in this condition, to anyone? No joystick control? C'mon... I wish to thank the poster that said it was keyboard only. It saved me a lot of download time. I, too, will wait until this one is fully released and some time and usenet reviews have occured before considering buying it. Oh, and I loved the earlier Europress Rally game. I just refuse to drive with a keyboard. -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

On Tue, 31 Aug 1999 11:50:59 GMT, LOL!! Oops, and there's that joystick control we forgot..

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>> The Rally Championship demo is an alpha version of the game. Check the date >> in the read me file also. It does not have the full physics model, all the >> sounds, all the graphics options, and only allows keyboard control. >> It was given to the French magazine "Joystick" to be included on one of >> their demo CD's so that the casual gamer (which is almost the entire >> population of gamers) could have a preview of the sim. >> Joystick magazine explained to it's readers what the demo contained in it's >> magazine and online review. >> That the demo was then uploaded to the net and passed around, and now >> assumptions are being made as to what it represents, says more about the >> state of the internet than anything else I guess. >> Some people took a few minutes to find out exactly what it was they were >> looking at. Others have not and have jumped to conclusions about the final >> version. >> David G Fisher

-- * rrevved at mindspring dot com * http://www.cabal.net * http://www.sputum.com

> It was given to the French magazine "Joystick" to be included on one of > their demo CD's so that the casual gamer (which is almost the entire > population of gamers) could have a preview of the sim. It strikes me as being quite amusing, giving a keyboard only demo to a magazine called "Joystick" :) Grant.

hmmm, the number of "Alpha" demos that end looking a hell of a lot like their eventual release is getting more common. The fact that the handling on this demo is very much like their predecessors is a bit of a worry. The car has less slip on gravel than my car has on bitumen! Still, that maybe good, because if your tail gets more than 3 inches beyond square, your car will slam into something due to the ridiculously narrow trenches (track). It looks great, but I fear the handling is going to be the same as the previous renditions. Bring on the slippery slide. I like to point the nose in early and glide around the corners. The sensation of speed is great, but going around corners is just, de-throttle, steer, continue. Its just feels robotic. None of that de-throttle, point nose, glide/slide rear , throttle up, adjust slide, straighten car, rear snap back and off you go. Oh, well, here's hoping.... Bring on GP3 in the meantime. Bazza <SNIP>

Absolutely correct. I'm trying really hard to remember any game or sim where I disliked the demo and bought the full release. Can't think of any titles, and I can't think of any good reason why a developer would allow an unrepresentative demo out the door... apart from, perhaps, to gauge whether they really need to go the extra mile and add the "optional extras". Ditto. Andrew McP

>.... I'm trying really hard to remember any game or sim >where I disliked the demo and bought the full release. While I agree with you in general, I can think of one sim that fits that category for me - GPL.

Certainly can't agree with you on that one. That demo was more important for me than the release of the finished sim. No-one forgets their first time! ;-) Andrew McP

The difference is probably that you were already a dedicated sim afficianado and/or had read something about GPL prior to trying the demo. Not so for me. I didn't know what I was getting into and became completely frustrated with the demo in pretty short order. It was only later after I learned more about GPL that I bought the full version and gave it the learning period that it required. After that, I was hooked.

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>> I can think of one sim that fits >> that category for me - GPL. >Certainly can't agree with you on that one. That demo was more important >for me than the release of the finished sim. No-one forgets their first >time! ;-) >Andrew McP

CORRECT ! :-) Tilus

Absolutely the same experience at this address