Confession of a closet racer

If you see RatBags Powerslide you should get it....by far the one of the most exciting arcade racers of the 99 season and a ball to race online...if anyone is still out there on Heat.

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> Apparently I'm a retrograde racer, it seems -- after starting out with > various "***" sims like ICR2, GPL, and, more recently, Dirt Track > Racing, I recently went looking for something a little less serious. I > have NFS3 and NFS4, but neither had really impressed me much compared > to the more realistic, "***" sims, so they didn't spend much time > on my hard drive. > As a diversion, I recently downloaded the "Hot Chix 'n Gear Stix" demo > from the 3dfiles site, and found myself having a blast with this nifty > little arcade racer. I bought the full version, in fact (hey, it was > only $15), and quickly mastered the entire game, but I found myself > having a lot of fun -- with a blatant arcade racer! (Don't tell the RAS > folks!) > Just for kicks, I decided to re-install NFS3/4, and to my surprise, I > found myself really enjoying both games quite a bit -- much moreso than > I did at first. Then, just a couple of days ago, I happened upon a > cheap copy of NFS2Se, and since I'm a 3DFx guy, I picked it up. WOW! > I was really impressed -- as much as I've been enjoying NFS3 and 4, I > REALLY found myself enjoying NFS2. > In some ways NFS2 is obviously more archaic than 3 or 4, but in others > it's far superior to either 3 or 4. I really like how the AI cars in > NFS2 react when you hit them -- unlike the AI cars in NFS3/4, they're > not invulnerable slot cars that aren't bothered by your presence (or > your bumps), and the engine note sounds better (especially the sound of > the power band as you run through the gears). The environmental > effects are VERY cool, too -- I don't remember which track it is (the > Australian one, I think), but the part where you encounter the swarm of > bugs that splatter on your windshield is AWESOME (yeah, I know, it's > just eye-candy, but it DOES help enhance the realism). > All in all, it seems to me that NFS2 *may* be somewhere near the same > league as ICR2 in terms of physics modeling (break out the branding > iron, folks -- I've committed heresy!). The cars respond "properly" to > on- and off-throttle actions, the acceleration seems about right, and > you can actually carry a drift through a corner -- PLUS you CAN get > airborne, which indicates full 3-axis modeling, which may put it > slightly ahead of ICR2. Granted, we're not talking GPL quality here, > but ICR2 was (and still is) pretty darn good in the physics department, > IMO. > So what's the general consensus from some of the rest of you "***" > devotees? Am I the only one (besides Randy Magruder) who seek guilty > pleasure in the form of the various NFS games, or are there other > "closet" racers out there? If there are any others "in the closet," > what's your view of the NFS2 vs. NFS3/4 issue? Inquiring closet cases > want to know . . . <G> > ;-) > -- JB > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

Apparently I'm a retrograde racer, it seems -- after starting out with various "***" sims like ICR2, GPL, and, more recently, Dirt Track Racing, I recently went looking for something a little less serious. I have NFS3 and NFS4, but neither had really impressed me much compared to the more realistic, "***" sims, so they didn't spend much time on my hard drive. As a diversion, I recently downloaded the "Hot Chix 'n Gear Stix" demo from the 3dfiles site, and found myself having a blast with this nifty little arcade racer. I bought the full version, in fact (hey, it was only $15), and quickly mastered the entire game, but I found myself having a lot of fun -- with a blatant arcade racer! (Don't tell the RAS folks!) Just for kicks, I decided to re-install NFS3/4, and to my surprise, I found myself really enjoying both games quite a bit -- much moreso than I did at first. Then, just a couple of days ago, I happened upon a cheap copy of NFS2Se, and since I'm a 3DFx guy, I picked it up. WOW! I was really impressed -- as much as I've been enjoying NFS3 and 4, I REALLY found myself enjoying NFS2. In some ways NFS2 is obviously more archaic than 3 or 4, but in others it's far superior to either 3 or 4. I really like how the AI cars in NFS2 react when you hit them -- unlike the AI cars in NFS3/4, they're not invulnerable slot cars that aren't bothered by your presence (or your bumps), and the engine note sounds better (especially the sound of the power band as you run through the gears). The environmental effects are VERY cool, too -- I don't remember which track it is (the Australian one, I think), but the part where you encounter the swarm of bugs that splatter on your windshield is AWESOME (yeah, I know, it's just eye-candy, but it DOES help enhance the realism). All in all, it seems to me that NFS2 *may* be somewhere near the same league as ICR2 in terms of physics modeling (break out the branding iron, folks -- I've committed heresy!). The cars respond "properly" to on- and off-throttle actions, the acceleration seems about right, and you can actually carry a drift through a corner -- PLUS you CAN get airborne, which indicates full 3-axis modeling, which may put it slightly ahead of ICR2. Granted, we're not talking GPL quality here, but ICR2 was (and still is) pretty darn good in the physics department, IMO. So what's the general consensus from some of the rest of you "***" devotees? Am I the only one (besides Randy Magruder) who seek guilty pleasure in the form of the various NFS games, or are there other "closet" racers out there? If there are any others "in the closet," what's your view of the NFS2 vs. NFS3/4 issue? Inquiring closet cases want to know . . . <G> ;-) -- JB Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

You got that right......Powerslide is a great arcade racer. I even prefer it over DTR. > If you see RatBags Powerslide you should get it....by far the one of the > most exciting arcade racers of the 99 season and a ball to race online...if

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> anyone is still out there on Heat. > > Apparently I'm a retrograde racer, it seems -- after starting out with > > various "***" sims like ICR2, GPL, and, more recently, Dirt Track > > Racing, I recently went looking for something a little less serious. I > > have NFS3 and NFS4, but neither had really impressed me much compared > > to the more realistic, "***" sims, so they didn't spend much time > > on my hard drive. > > As a diversion, I recently downloaded the "Hot Chix 'n Gear Stix" demo > > from the 3dfiles site, and found myself having a blast with this nifty > > little arcade racer. I bought the full version, in fact (hey, it was > > only $15), and quickly mastered the entire game, but I found myself > > having a lot of fun -- with a blatant arcade racer! (Don't tell the RAS > > folks!) > > Just for kicks, I decided to re-install NFS3/4, and to my surprise, I > > found myself really enjoying both games quite a bit -- much moreso than > > I did at first. Then, just a couple of days ago, I happened upon a > > cheap copy of NFS2Se, and since I'm a 3DFx guy, I picked it up. WOW! > > I was really impressed -- as much as I've been enjoying NFS3 and 4, I > > REALLY found myself enjoying NFS2. > > In some ways NFS2 is obviously more archaic than 3 or 4, but in others > > it's far superior to either 3 or 4. I really like how the AI cars in > > NFS2 react when you hit them -- unlike the AI cars in NFS3/4, they're > > not invulnerable slot cars that aren't bothered by your presence (or > > your bumps), and the engine note sounds better (especially the sound of > > the power band as you run through the gears). The environmental > > effects are VERY cool, too -- I don't remember which track it is (the > > Australian one, I think), but the part where you encounter the swarm of > > bugs that splatter on your windshield is AWESOME (yeah, I know, it's > > just eye-candy, but it DOES help enhance the realism). > > All in all, it seems to me that NFS2 *may* be somewhere near the same > > league as ICR2 in terms of physics modeling (break out the branding > > iron, folks -- I've committed heresy!). The cars respond "properly" to > > on- and off-throttle actions, the acceleration seems about right, and > > you can actually carry a drift through a corner -- PLUS you CAN get > > airborne, which indicates full 3-axis modeling, which may put it > > slightly ahead of ICR2. Granted, we're not talking GPL quality here, > > but ICR2 was (and still is) pretty darn good in the physics department, > > IMO. > > So what's the general consensus from some of the rest of you "***" > > devotees? Am I the only one (besides Randy Magruder) who seek guilty > > pleasure in the form of the various NFS games, or are there other > > "closet" racers out there? If there are any others "in the closet," > > what's your view of the NFS2 vs. NFS3/4 issue? Inquiring closet cases > > want to know . . . <G> > > ;-) > > -- JB > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > > Before you buy.

you might enjoy pong

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> Apparently I'm a retrograde racer, it seems -- after starting out with > various "***" sims like ICR2, GPL, and, more recently, Dirt Track > Racing, I recently went looking for something a little less serious. I > have NFS3 and NFS4, but neither had really impressed me much compared > to the more realistic, "***" sims, so they didn't spend much time > on my hard drive. > As a diversion, I recently downloaded the "Hot Chix 'n Gear Stix" demo > from the 3dfiles site, and found myself having a blast with this nifty > little arcade racer. I bought the full version, in fact (hey, it was > only $15), and quickly mastered the entire game, but I found myself > having a lot of fun -- with a blatant arcade racer! (Don't tell the RAS > folks!) > Just for kicks, I decided to re-install NFS3/4, and to my surprise, I > found myself really enjoying both games quite a bit -- much moreso than > I did at first. Then, just a couple of days ago, I happened upon a > cheap copy of NFS2Se, and since I'm a 3DFx guy, I picked it up. WOW! > I was really impressed -- as much as I've been enjoying NFS3 and 4, I > REALLY found myself enjoying NFS2. > In some ways NFS2 is obviously more archaic than 3 or 4, but in others > it's far superior to either 3 or 4. I really like how the AI cars in > NFS2 react when you hit them -- unlike the AI cars in NFS3/4, they're > not invulnerable slot cars that aren't bothered by your presence (or > your bumps), and the engine note sounds better (especially the sound of > the power band as you run through the gears). The environmental > effects are VERY cool, too -- I don't remember which track it is (the > Australian one, I think), but the part where you encounter the swarm of > bugs that splatter on your windshield is AWESOME (yeah, I know, it's > just eye-candy, but it DOES help enhance the realism). > All in all, it seems to me that NFS2 *may* be somewhere near the same > league as ICR2 in terms of physics modeling (break out the branding > iron, folks -- I've committed heresy!). The cars respond "properly" to > on- and off-throttle actions, the acceleration seems about right, and > you can actually carry a drift through a corner -- PLUS you CAN get > airborne, which indicates full 3-axis modeling, which may put it > slightly ahead of ICR2. Granted, we're not talking GPL quality here, > but ICR2 was (and still is) pretty darn good in the physics department, > IMO. > So what's the general consensus from some of the rest of you "***" > devotees? Am I the only one (besides Randy Magruder) who seek guilty > pleasure in the form of the various NFS games, or are there other > "closet" racers out there? If there are any others "in the closet," > what's your view of the NFS2 vs. NFS3/4 issue? Inquiring closet cases > want to know . . . <G> > ;-) > -- JB > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Before you buy.

>So what's the general consensus from some of the rest of you "***" >devotees? Am I the only one (besides Randy Magruder) who seek guilty >pleasure in the form of the various NFS games, or are there other >"closet" racers out there? If there are any others "in the closet," >what's your view of the NFS2 vs. NFS3/4 issue? Inquiring closet cases >want to know . . . <G> Personally, I find the original NFS (and NFS:SE) to be the best of the series. I still get a thrill out of sliding the Porsche around fast sweepers on the Coastal highway. For an "arcade" racer, its driving and physics model was surprisingly competent and, sadly, unsurpassed by any of the later NFS games. Although I had a bit of fun playing split-screen NFS2SE against a friend, the actualy driving was nowhere near as enjoyable as the original's. NFS3's was even worse. NFSHS was slightly improved but the fastest way around a track, unfortunately, did not involve the use of brakes (handbrakes, maybe...). As far as other arcadish "guilty pleasures," I enjoy Colin McRae Rally, the TOCA series, Carmageddon 2 (yep), Stunts (on my hard drive since 1990!), Big Red Racing, Moto Racer (the original), and Sega Rally 2. By the way, I did play the Hot Chix demo to completion when it first came out. Unfortunately I was impressed only by the music and the delightfully tacky artwork. :-) Martin Long Live Nigel Mansell!

Agree completely, NFS series took a very wrong turning after it's first installment. However, it's next installment (with the Porsches) promises a return to a more realistic handling approach. There's a message here somewhere which points to a chat transcript on the matter (I wish someone would post about those chats here before they occurred!). As ever I will remain firmly on the fence until I play it myself, but it's got me past the "bwoh, just another NFS game"-, to the "hmmm, have to check it out"-stage. CMR and TOCA1/2 are indeed very entertaining diversions. Not enough there to give them big replay value, but very relaxing if a certain track in GPL is giving you a rough time, I like arcade too. Haven't had something to shout about recently, but I really loved ReVolt a while back (the kid in me I guess). Wasn't actually half bad in sim-mode either. Jan. ----

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> <Snip> > Personally, I find the original NFS (and NFS:SE) to be the > best of the series. I still get a thrill out of sliding the Porsche > around fast sweepers on the Coastal highway. For an "arcade" racer, > its driving and physics model was surprisingly competent and, sadly, > unsurpassed by any of the later NFS games. > <snip> > As far as other arcadish "guilty pleasures," I enjoy Colin > McRae Rally, the TOCA series, Carmageddon 2 (yep), Stunts (on my hard > drive since 1990!), Big Red Racing, Moto Racer (the original), and > Sega Rally 2. > <snip>

YES! I forgot all about Powerslide -- what a GREAT game! I "discovered" it about a year ago. VERY enjoyable, with what may be the best physics model of any arcade racer, IMO. -- JB Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Gee, what a well thought-out response. I thought you had to go to rec.autos.sport.indy to get this kind of asinine response to a meaningful post, but it looks like I was wrong. Thanks for the enlightening commentary, Oh Great Wise One. -- JB Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

>Apparently I'm a retrograde racer, it seems -- after starting out with >various "***" sims like ICR2, GPL, and, more recently, Dirt Track >Racing, I recently went looking for something a little less serious. I >have NFS3 and NFS4, but neither had really impressed me much compared >to the more realistic, "***" sims, so they didn't spend much time >on my hard drive. SNIP >-- JB >Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ >Before you buy. "Hi! I'm Peter. I'm a closet racer." [Applause} "I've recently been enjoying Microsoft Monster Truck Madness 2 and Beetle Crazy Cup". There, I feel much better now... :-) /petern

>YES! I forgot all about Powerslide -- what a GREAT game! I >"discovered" it about a year ago. VERY enjoyable, with what may be the >best physics model of any arcade racer, IMO. >-- JB Best physics? What about that FRAMERATE then! /petern

Ratbag took everyone to framerate school and nobody has learned from the master yet as far as I have seen..

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> >YES! I forgot all about Powerslide -- what a GREAT game! I > >"discovered" it about a year ago. VERY enjoyable, with what may be the > >best physics model of any arcade racer, IMO. > >-- JB > Best physics? What about that FRAMERATE then! > /petern

My psychoanalyst sais, there is nothing wrong with you, JB, even a *** simmer needs some chix now and then... (he, he). ;-) Zolli

I'm a sap for the Nintendo 64 game Formula One World Grand Prix. It's arcadish as hell (although it claims it's a sim, heh) but it's fun, with racey AI that drive, in the Formula 1 spirit, with nothing but constant blocking maneuvers. Rather fun to try to get that win in the last few turns at Monaco on the last lap. I still haven't won the championship in Champion difficulty. I can't seem to get around Brazil or Suzuka for crap! Dan Belcher Team Racing Unlimited http://simcrashes.cjb.net