I think I might have to take a punt on this. I love NASCAR and the PC has been missing a NASCAR game for years. The last one was 2004 and the last decent one was NASCAR Racing 2003 Season.
It's quite expensive "for a punt" though...that's my only concern. Trouble is, I'd kind of like to back it so they don't walk away from the PC.
What to do...what to do... :-\
I didn't know they had rednecks in the UK. Cool!
Most of the Nascar crew of yore have gone to iRacing. I have no idea which studio is making this new NASCAR game, but I highly doubt it involves any of the old crew that made the cool NASCAR games in the past.
I would be cautious.
They released a 2013 version last year....
http://store.steampowered.com/app/225220
I love NASCAR!
As for the game, it's not getting great write ups...especially from hardcore racers, but I'm hoping if I punt some money into it, they keep going and maybe, just maybe, start perfecting it...it's a long shot...but still.
I'll just repeat what I said at SimHQ
Well, I stumped up last night. I haven't done much in it other mess around with the car paint system and testing solo on a few tracks and a couple of quick races (start at the back) in Talledega...hardly a track to really try "physics" and "feel" because you're going round flat out.
It looks good, sounds good and drives pretty good. I haven't looked at setup options and I don't know how hardcore racing is going to be, but I didn't leave it with a sigh of despair...if anything, I left it rather sad that it was too late for me to start Career mode and all I've done is think about that...so work is going to be a looooong day today.
More impressions to follow when I start a career tonight...but I most certainly wasn't unimpressed.
More power to you if you enjoy NASCAR, JD. Me, I simply don't see the excitement of cars doing a left turn for 500 laps.
That said, I HAVE seen quarter-mile dirt-track racing from the stands, both in Pennsylvania (with my rather more 'country' side of the family) and some friends of ours that live in Dallas (one of whom actually owned a car and raced it in those circuits). That is rather exciting to watch - much shorter, more intense, and a lot more connected with the 'regular' fans I think.
Gaming-wise, I've not been taken by any of the NASCAR games - I have tried one or two. I have, however, enjoyed the rally racing type games, and I do like Need For Speed every so often.
Well...just raced my first race in career mode.
It's actually very enjoyable. I mean really enjoyable. I just done 60 laps at Daytona. The race was close at the start and as is Daytona kind of spaced out over the laps. There were occasional cars where I could draft and the drafting effect is cool and seems to work well, allowing a slingshot but allowing the car behind to stay with you. It seemed to me also that the drafting had "degrees" of effectiveness and the better your line behind the car, the better the draft...I don't know, but it seemed that way.
So I rather enjoyed it.
I wasn't entirely sure about the results or the format. For example I was 16th on the final lap and I didn't see anyone I could've passed (though a car or two may well have pulled in the pits)...but the race finished telling me I was 11th. However, when I went to the garage, it told me I had finished 15th. Also, it said I had qualified 30th when in actual fact I had qualified 4th. And finally when the race format for Daytona was
Practice 1
Qualify
Practice 2
Duel 1
Duel 2
But I only took part in Duel 1. Was Duel 2 not available to me because I only finished 16th? 15th? 11th?
Anyway - that seemed to me to be what I expected from a NASCAR game. I also liked the fact that you could tap the cars in front or keep being tapped in the rear and it didn't make you spin...much like Nascar 2003 Season used to. And that the AI seemed to be aware of where you are. The two accidents in the race were caused by me and my "nervous" driving.
Of course the AI may not be so great in some other races, like Watkins Glen (a road course) or a Bristol (a very short oval).
There are some things I wasn't too keen on....like the pits. When you drive in the AI takes over and then you get the chance to make your selections...but you ONLY get the time from the AI taking over until you box...and it really isn't enough time...or at least it wasn't. Perhaps as you perform races and understand the pit menu better, you'll be able to make your selections quicker. Also there were a couple of accidents but no yellows. I don't know if yellows come out for all accidents, they seemed to for NASCAR 2003 Season...but the two accidents in the race didn't bring out the yellows...though they weren't big pile ups.
I actually don't mind the AI taking control of the car into the pits.
A big thumbs up from me so far.
Always wanted to enjoy these games, but for some reason I find it difficult to control car racing games...maybe if I actually had a driving wheel it would make it easier....might be something for me to try again when it hits the bargain bins:)
LOL!
Trying to play racegames seriously with only a keyboard is like playing Mikado with an electronic prostethic arm that short circuits all the time.
lol - exactly like that!
GR - you definitely need a steering wheel. Even if you're not hard core into it, driving games really need the investment of a wheel. The good news is there are all ranges, and you don't need force feedback, though it does increase your immersion.
I think My wheel was £60 - Logitech Formula Force GT, but without force feedback, you can get them for £30.
Well, I'm not entirely sure what to make of this,...it is a very small test (1 track) but it is a consistent test...
1 Lap at Daytona, no opponents (so no drafting) and no other influences and therefore pretty much a very solid line...1 timed lap each try and this is the result
100% grille tape
Best Lap 189.65
Avg Lap 188.82
70% grille tape
Best Lap 190.18
Avg Lap 189.29
0% grille tape
Best Lap 190.10
Avg Lap 188.56
That's a bit disappointing tbh. Grille tape, from what I gather should affect engine temperature quite dramatically and also lap times/speed. Unfortunately in my test, it did nothing.
What this does do is make you wonder if any of the setup options will make a difference...and the reason is because this should (from what I gather) make a difference...regardless of other options. In other words, if you do a test on a track with 0% tape, then do a test with 100% grille tape, then you should notice a significant difference in speed...at least, that's how I was taught at the school of NASCAR Season 2003
So - I will have to remove that from my mind and try and enjoy the sim for what it is...but that has definitely dampened my spirits somewhat
Quote from: Yskonyn on February 21, 2014, 05:30:01 AM
LOL!
Trying to play racegames seriously with only a keyboard is like playing Mikado with an electronic prostethic arm that short circuits all the time.
Would never play with keyboard, but have tried to play with a controller.....but wasn't any better for me:(
Quote from: JudgeDredd on February 21, 2014, 05:38:00 AM
lol - exactly like that!
GR - you definitely need a steering wheel. Even if you're not hard core into it, driving games really need the investment of a wheel. The good news is there are all ranges, and you don't need force feedback, though it does increase your immersion.
I think My wheel was £60 - Logitech Formula Force GT, but without force feedback, you can get them for £30.
Not serious enough about racing games to add another controller to my desktop:) Even with a wheel, I think I would still suck:)
Quote from: JudgeDredd on February 20, 2014, 06:14:33 PM
I wasn't entirely sure about the results or the format. For example I was 16th on the final lap and I didn't see anyone I could've passed (though a car or two may well have pulled in the pits)...but the race finished telling me I was 11th. However, when I went to the garage, it told me I had finished 15th. Also, it said I had qualified 30th when in actual fact I had qualified 4th. And finally when the race format for Daytona was
Practice 1
Qualify
Practice 2
Duel 1
Duel 2
But I only took part in Duel 1. Was Duel 2 not available to me because I only finished 16th? 15th? 11th?
I'm assuming the game works like the real race. Qualifying determines who starts in the first row and the duels determine the rest of the Daytona 500 starting grid. Its the only odd race of the season, all the other races are determined by qualifying speed. Duel 1 determines the odd (inside line) and duel 2 determines the even (outside line).
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/2/16/daytona-500-qualifying-duel-races-setting-the-field.html (http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/2/16/daytona-500-qualifying-duel-races-setting-the-field.html)
^ Yeah - someone cleared it up for me. Here was me thinking it was just round and round....oh no. Daytona is different apparently
On another note...
I could be wrong, but I did a run at Daytona with 50% tape and 100% tape and I didn't notice any difference in speed when in NASCAR Season 2003 grille tape made quite a difference. I also didn't notice too much in the way of heat issues...and with 100% tape in NASCAR Season 2003 100% grille tape would have got you a blown engine in a few laps.
I was able to do 9 laps, with some drafting, with seemingly no heat issues.
Was NASCAR Season 2003 grille tape effect exaggerated or isn't it modelled very well in this game?
So I did one flying test lap at Daytona...no other cars, pretty much the same line...
100% grille tape
Best Lap 189.65
Avg Lap 188.82
70% grille tape
Best Lap 190.18
Avg Lap 189.29
0% grille tape
Best Lap 190.10
Avg Lap 188.56
I'm a bit disappointed with that to be honest. From what I know, grille tape affects the cars performance quite considerably...and if it doesn't work, what else in the setup doesn't work?
I could be wrong - it was a small test, but I guarantee I wouldn't get that result on NASCAR Season 2003