AMA Superbike Hands-On Preview at SGN

Joe wrote Sounds very impressive, especially the multi-player info: "What's this about Multiplayer? I couldn't test the multiplayer component of the game, but it sounds impressive. There's no doubt Motorsims has the expertise needed to implement support for large numbers of simultaneous racers. The bad news is there will be a monthly fee (I'm told "a small one") for access to the Motorsims Racing Network servers (you do get 30 days free access when you purchase the game). The good news is that it will be far more than just a matching service like the Microsoft *** Zone. First, they will have high-speed servers to effectively support large races. There will be a rating system so that you can choose to play with people near your own level of ability. Motorsims will organize and administrate racing leagues, and there has been talk of prizes. You can watch other races as if they were on TV. The system is Roger-Wilco compatible for voice communication during races. The game can automatically download new features and patches from a menu within the game (they use a system where you only download the changed bytes of any file, to keep the downloads small and quick). Motorsims' stated goal is to build an online racing community. It will be impressive if they can pull it off. " I hope Papyrus is reading this, they may finally have some competition.

[link lost in import: /***.com/racing/ama_superbike/hands_on_preview.shtml] Comments and questions are welcome of course. Joe McGinn ========================================== Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network [link lost in import: /***.com/] ==========================================

I hope that Motorsims becomes a big competitor, because out of competition comes better games and lower prices....

Better games, yes! Lower prices? Probably not. Game industry is too violatal and while one game may do great, you get the either bad game that doesn't sell, or a excellent game [i.e. GPL] that doesn't sell well. So they have to make up the monies elsewhere with other titles.

I think there will be lower prices eventually. Notice the big, professional companies like Hasbro? These are guys that do serious market research for ANY product. Instead of just "following everyone else" like most software companies do they looked at computer games as just another toy. They researched it, and found the optimum profit price point for games is around $20. That's one reason they are making a killing with huge hits like Roller Coaster Tycoon, it's cheap enough to be an impulse buy. Joe McGinn ========================================== Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network [link lost in import: /***.com/] ==========================================

Sure, and Roller Coast Tycoon cost very little to develop too. :) Price point for a that took 3 years to develop, had a budget of $2 or $3 million would have to sell twice as many copies as a $40 pricepoint game. Cheap, easily developed, produced, etc. games will come out at lower price point. However, the more "prime" games and those with higher budgets won't. Example, Microprose and Hasbro released MechWarrior3 at the beginning of the summer for a $50 price point...last time I looked it was still at a $30 or so pricepoint in the store.

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> >Better games, yes! Lower prices? Probably not. > I think there will be lower prices eventually. Notice the big, > professional companies like Hasbro? These are guys that do serious > market research for ANY product. Instead of just "following everyone > else" like most software companies do they looked at computer games as > just another toy. They researched it, and found the optimum profit > price point for games is around $20. That's one reason they are making > a killing with huge hits like Roller Coaster Tycoon, it's cheap enough > to be an impulse buy. > Joe McGinn > ========================================== > Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network > [link lost in import: /***.com/] > ==========================================

Never say never. ;> -MSM -- __________________________________________________________________________ Mark S. Miller "Be regular and orderly in your life, Director of Design that you may be *** and original Motorsport Simulations in your work." [link lost in import]

Too true.

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> Never say never. ;> > -MSM > -- > __________________________________________________________________________ > Mark S. Miller "Be regular and orderly in your life, > Director of Design that you may be *** and original > Motorsport Simulations in your work." > [link lost in import]

I can't belive that u guys have released this from what i've heard its not nearly ready for release

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> > Better games, yes! Lower prices? Probably not. Game industry is too > > violatal and while one game may do great, you get the either bad game that > > doesn't sell, or a excellent game [i.e. GPL] that doesn't sell well. So > > they have to make up the monies elsewhere with other titles. > Never say never. ;> > -MSM > -- > __________________________________________________________________________ > Mark S. Miller "Be regular and orderly in your life, > Director of Design that you may be *** and original > Motorsport Simulations in your work." > [link lost in import]

another point to be made,I just got home and decided to play with it a bit more before I return it tomorrow and noticed you can drive through the outside wall at pikes peak raceway as well.I could see my tire sticking out the other side:(You hit the nail on the head,this game is NOT ready for release.For a company claiming that AMA is a serious simulation of cycles,it sure feels like an arcade game to me. Mark

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> I can't belive that u guys have released this from what i've heard its not > nearly ready for release > > > Better games, yes! Lower prices? Probably not. Game industry is too > > > violatal and while one game may do great, you get the either bad game that > > > doesn't sell, or a excellent game [i.e. GPL] that doesn't sell well. So > > > they have to make up the monies elsewhere with other titles. > > Never say never. ;> > > -MSM > > -- > > __________________________________________________________________________ > > Mark S. Miller "Be regular and orderly in your life, > > Director of Design that you may be *** and original > > Motorsport Simulations in your work." > > [link lost in import]

Man, even arcade games you can stay on the track :) > another point to be made,I just got home and decided to play with it a bit more > before I return it tomorrow and noticed you can drive through the outside wall at > pikes peak raceway as well.I could see my tire sticking out the other side:(You > hit the nail on the head,this game is NOT ready for release.For a company claiming > that AMA is a serious simulation of cycles,it sure feels like an arcade game to

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> me. > Mark > > I can't belive that u guys have released this from what i've heard its

not

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> > nearly ready for release > > > > Better games, yes! Lower prices? Probably not. Game industry is

too > > > > violatal and while one game may do great, you get the either bad game that > > > > doesn't sell, or a excellent game [i.e. GPL] that doesn't sell well. So

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> > > > they have to make up the monies elsewhere with other titles. > > > Never say never. ;> > > > -MSM > > > --

__________________________________________________________________________ > > > Mark S. Miller "Be regular and orderly in your life, > > > Director of Design that you may be *** and original > > > Motorsport Simulations in your work." ("Jihad") > > > [link lost in import] -----------== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News ==---------- http://www.newsfeeds.com The Largest Usenet Servers in the World! ------== Over 73,000 Newsgroups - Including Dedicated Binaries Servers ==-----

I'm sure it has nothing to do with GP500 recently going gold, and the critical acclaim it has received from magazines and in demo form. Cheers! John

Thats the sad part,who the hell actually said this was a good cycle sim.Jesus its not even close.The best part about this game is the cd,its a full color screen print with a Ducati on it.Now thats sad:( Mark

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> >I can't belive that u guys have released this from what i've heard its not > >nearly ready for release > I'm sure it has nothing to do with GP500 recently going gold, and the > critical acclaim it has received from magazines and in demo form. > Cheers! > John