Codemasters GRID
Codemasters just dropped a new video for the upcoming racer, GRID.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/32013.html
It looks like a love child of PGR & Forza, with all the bells and whistles from the DiRT game engine (including the best car-damage modeling to date...sorry, Burnout).
Last year I was completely smitten with DiRT and it wound up being one of my favorite games of the year. The speed, gorgeous visuals, extensive/chaotic damage models, and superior interior cameras won me over to make it best the seemingly untouchable RalliSport Challenge 2 (Xbox). It looks like all the best qualities of Codemasters excellent DiRT engine have been transported over to GRID with an added layer of polish. Where DiRT suffered from some framerate issues, GRID seems to have addressed the problem.
GT5 looks great and all, but this early footage and my previous experience with DiRT lead me to believe that GRID is most importantly going to be FUN. Where GT and Forza strive for clinical realism, DiRT deftly straddled the line between realistic and arcade racing, making the experience fast and furious while keeping it grounded with authentic car models in real-world locations.
Bonus points for the Formula 1 car (00:45) and Washington, D.C. location (00:25).
Here's a link to the first video showing off locations:
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/30610.html
Anyone else following GRID?
Saw the trailer on Live and it looks interesting but I'm hesitant when it comes to racing games anymore. I hope it plays as good as it looks, and if so I'll probably get it. I especially like that they seem to be hitting different racing genres, which really got my attention.
Unfettered Blather - Daily updated nonsense
X-Box Live Gamertag - CrazedJava
Less chatter more splatter!
Yep, I'm keeping an eye on it.
Actually, what ever happen to TOCA Race Driver series?
Xbox Live: Nei HD | Playstation ID: Nei_GWJ | Too Human | simExchange
I only recently saw anything on this game, and being the race-junkie that I am, it's now firmly on my radar. I too enjoyed the spectacular visuals in dirt and relaxed driving mechanics. The only thing I can think of that I'd really want addressed in this version is the central axis pivot point. That one thing made it much harder for me to control the drift in DiRT, as I'm accustomed to a more realistic physics model from PC racing simulators.
Keep it arcadey (is that a word?), and make lots of eye-candy for me, and I'll drive it to death.... or to boredom whichever comes first.
Cheers!
Nyxs
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell
XBL Tag: Nyxs Optare
This is supposedly a combination of that and DiRT/Colin McRae. I'm stunned that a little publisher like Codemasters is putting out something that easily rivals Forza 2 and GT 5 visually. DiRT was an absolute blast (I'm still working on career off and on.) My only issues were the long loads and the inconsistent frame rate, neither of which interfered with the game experience that much. If they can polish those up, I can't wait to try this.
"Just because something's popular, that sure doesn't make it right." -Penn Gilette
"You can't fix stupid." -Ron White
blog.digital-lifeline.ca
I dare'nt watch this game since the gradual consolisation and Americanisation of the McRae series... I have little hope that this will actually appeal to me. Which is a shame, since CM2 is the best rally game in the existence of PC rally games.
Of - power - insessantly
Plagued - by - malefisense
Doomed - to - insidious -
Death - is - he - who - breaks
this - monument - i - prophesy
I'm a big fan of Codemasters ability to straddle the realism line.
Xbox Live: StaatsM
Yay for in-car camera + hud overlay. Take some notes PGR4.
I hope the driving/fun factors match the visuals.
XBL/PSN Tag: Sithcundman
I beg to differ. The finest rally game ever produced was Richard Burns Rally. The CMR series is another one of those where the car rotates around a central pivot point. RBR, if I remember correctly, not only modeled the grip of all 4 tires independently, but the roads had 2 layers of grip. A top layer, and a hardpack. While it's not as visually stimulating as CMR, it really gives a better feeling of driving a rally car down narrow trails at extreme speed. If you've not tried it, and you are a true rally fan, give it a shot. Blackhole motorsports has a large RBR community of modders, etc. that have kept life breathed into this game for the past 6-7 years.
http://www.bhmotorsports.com/
http://www.richardburnsrally.com/home.htm
*edit*
I'm uploading a nice RBR video to youtube. Once complete, I'll post the link. It's the best demonstration of the game I can think of.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IihAT5q498g
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell
XBL Tag: Nyxs Optare
You're right, i never played it... though i have heard of it before and i am interested in it. The problem is that my driving equipment is at my dads and it tends to be a bonding exercise for the two of us whenever i visit.
What modes does it have? One of the attractions of CM2 was the completeness of the experience - from being able to have multiple (single person) people competing in a championship rally to being able to alter the characteristics of the cars. Some of the things in CM2 are missing from the later games and the original and other 'rally' games we've tried have been too arcadey.
Of - power - insessantly
Plagued - by - malefisense
Doomed - to - insidious -
Death - is - he - who - breaks
this - monument - i - prophesy
It really only has 3 modes, although the modding community has setup an online thing where you can create seasons and race them independently and it reports scores to a central location. The 3 modes in the game are fairly basic. Tutorial (which is a must play when you're starting out), Single rally, or Event. Single rally is just a timed run down a specific course, and Event is a complete event at one of the 6 (I think) locations (England, Japan, USA, Australia, France... maybe another, but I can't remember it).
The car setup can be very involving if you want it to be, but not knowing enough to setup the differentials, I leave it stock and it drives very well.
If you're looking for a wheel, Might I suggest mine. I'ts the 6000 GTS pictured on this page:
http://ecci6000.com/6000_combo_01.htm
I LOVE racing games
Cheers!
Nyxs
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell
XBL Tag: Nyxs Optare
I believe that's actually a formula 3 car. Note the air intake pod on the left side behind the driver. The rear wing is also incorrect for a formula 1 vehicle.
I'm such a racing nerd....
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell
XBL Tag: Nyxs Optare
Details, shmetails.
On a side note, it's really interesting seeing the GRID video's reception on various game forums over the past 24 hours. Apparently it's causing quite a stir, drawing a line between two distinct camps.
The first group of people seem genuinely impressed. It's got a lot of people eagerly anticipating Codmasters' new racer who didn't even have the game on their radar.
Far more entertaining is the second camp, the Gran Turismo 5, um, enthusiasts. This group is completely aghast over the video and crying for the developer's blood, claiming that the video game is most definitely NOT in-game. GRID can't look that good w/o video doctoring and there's no way the interior cams look that good. Guess these guys never played DiRT.
It's quite fun to watch, in a train-wreck kind of way.
The interesting thing is that they're launching a smear campaign in forums against GRID in order to maintain GT5's status as the untouchable King Of Racers. The funniest part is that GRID is a completely different racing experience than the Gran Turismo (and Forza) series, so all the mud slinging is apparently in vein.
Either way, it makes for fun reading.
Got a link to any of these forums? I'll go stir the pot....
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell
XBL Tag: Nyxs Optare
Here's an example from NeoGaf.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=258870
A developer from Codemasters (handle: thegodsend) is actually in there trying to answer a few real questions about the game and some people are just slamming him.
Dev:
"If you don't believe that this is ingame, alright - your choice. But please download the demo that is coming in May and you will see that it indeed is.
Game is made with Ego Engine, the evolution of Neon. Does all kind of cool new tricks, up to 20 cars on track with full damage system, up to 40.000 full modelled polygon spectators at the race tracks.
but everyone is talking about graphics right now... wait till you see the AI in action. there's some amazing racing action going on :)"
Response:
"Those who are stating that this is better than GT5 ( graphics or gameplay ) are being so premature as to be disappointing.
To base your judgements upon this bulls**t hype video is stupid, instead of waiting for actual gameplay.
I wonder what console of choice these people own? .... maybe looking for a 3rd party to help rescue them from their jealousy / feelings of inadequacy?"
Response:
"What consoles are in dying need for is a GTR style racer, of which the aforementioned one seems to be the only racer like that around anymore (I know there is plenty of decent online racers on PC, but I'm talking likely console ones here). You can call it business if you like, I just call it follow the leader s**t to try tap 'new' markets. If you want to make me feel good codies, I'd prefer to pay you $60 to lick my a**. Bitches."
Dev:
"I'll never get why someone who is NOT in the industry and should be all about "I'm looking forward to some games that could bring me a lot of fun" is so prejudiced against some game, especially if there's only one trailer out there.
And just for the record, I'll also buy GT5 Prologue, as it will be a great game. No questions about that. But I think both games, GT5 and Grid, are quite different.
Your argumentation is a bit like "Oh, I won't buy Call of Duty 4, I just played Bioshock and it's the far superior shooter in my opinion". You should never forget that there could be two games in the same genre that are doing things differently and are a lot of fun by themselves."
...................
Man, it's just crazy in there.
There's actually some good info from the developer and others if you sift through the muck.
Sure makes me appreciate this place!
If you're referring to the GRID video on Xbox Live, it is most certainly CGI. It says so on the title. With that said I have no doubt that Codemasters is capable of producing extraordinary graphics. What I'm unsure of is whether they can keep those graphics and still produce reliable multiplayer. DiRT sort of cheated in that you only raced against ghosts, I'll be interested to see if they can keep that level of graphics while having 8 cars on the screen crashing into each other.
"The light at the end of the tunnel is just the light of an oncoming train." - Robert Lowell
Xbox Live - Trainwreck GWJ
I really hate the assumption that everyone loves Gran Turismo (in response to some people are just jealous because they don't have a PS3)
I kinda liked Gran Turismo 2, mostly for the car selection. However, Gran Turismo 3 was just boring to me. Far too technical, very little fun, it played like a chore. I didn't bother with GT4 and GT5 isn't on my radar even though a PS3 is.
Besides which, I thought competition was good? I have the money to buy more than one racing game a year. I don't know what they're hyperventilating about.
Unfettered Blather - Daily updated nonsense
X-Box Live Gamertag - CrazedJava
Less chatter more splatter!
Yeah, the first GRID video Codemasters released back in Feb. was indeed CGI.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/30610.html
This new one, released just yesterday, is the one some people are having trouble with.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/32013.html
The second video says, "Actual Gameplay Footage" at the beginning.
This is exactly what Codemasters did with DiRT.
First they released a CGI teaser:
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/18147.html
Then they released a gameplay video that opened with, "Actual Gameplay Footage".
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/18185.html
If you look at the second DiRT video (actual gameplay) you can see that aside from sexy camera angles, it looks exactly like the game that shipped.
The first CGI video released for DiRT wound up being the opening cinema for the game, and I suspect that the case will be the same for the first video released for GRID
http://www.gamespot.com/video/939160/6187093/grid-interview
This developer interview says that there will be 12 player online racing in GRID. Hopefully they can pull that off with out compromising the game engine.
I wish I had money for a wheel then I would pick this up for my PC
makes me a sad panda 
Xfire: Pharacon
Tempest says: "A team hat doe snot communicate and talk to each other about what the next move will be is going to lose."
Thanks.... but does it allow for people to race 'against' each other within the event? i.e. within the rally event could i and my dad compete by taking turns as player 1 and player 2 on the same computer?
I'm not so much of a racing enthusiast that i'd buy a £600 racing wheel/pedals. We have a few wheels at my dad's:
Microsoft's Sidewinder Force Feedback (x2 - one's partially broken)
A Saitek R220 Digital Sports Wheel
And a crappy Tevion PS2/gamecube/PC wheel.
We generally use the MS one as it's the heaviest (even without FF enabled) but lack of support from MS means that its lifetime is coming to an end.
Of - power - insessantly
Plagued - by - malefisense
Doomed - to - insidious -
Death - is - he - who - breaks
this - monument - i - prophesy
Yes, there is a "Hot Seat" mode where you select a rally, and each person takes turns racing the 5-7 stages.
If you are going to need to replace your wheel(s) any time soon, you might check out the Logitech G25 wheel. It's much cheaper than the ECCI model, and from what I've heard in my racing circles, it's really a fantastic wheel.
Couch Potato Linky: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/playstation_3/devices/131&cl=us...
(It says it's for PS3, but it works on the PC as well)
Cheers!
Nyxs
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."
--Bertrand Russell
XBL Tag: Nyxs Optare
Thanks, Nyxs. I might get it my dad as a combined birthday/christmas present for next year... i'm sure he'd appreciate it.
Of - power - insessantly
Plagued - by - malefisense
Doomed - to - insidious -
Death - is - he - who - breaks
this - monument - i - prophesy
The demo for GRID just hit Xbox Live today. I've not had a chance to check it out yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
XBL/PSN Tag: Sithcundman
I'm looking forward to it. I hope they add in some real Live and split-screen support that didn't make it into DIRT.
Xbox Gamertag: Armchair Jockey
Wow. That gameplay video looks awesome.
I just hope the physics aren't just like they were in dirt. I hate the car pivoting from the center thing. It just feels so incredibly wrong.
XBLive: Thin J
PSN: Thin_J
I don't imagine master craftsmen leaping away from completed projects and shouting "Done, motherf*ckers! - 1Dgaf
OOOOOoooooOOOOooooo
I know what I'll be doing tonight.
Unfettered Blather - Daily updated nonsense
X-Box Live Gamertag - CrazedJava
Less chatter more splatter!
San Fransico Replay from the demo.
Sexy time!
Sweet... must download!
Xbox Live: Nei HD | Playstation ID: Nei_GWJ | Too Human | simExchange
Why is everyone switching to streaming flash? I can't get it to play in Firefox for the life of me. It just sits on the loading screen. Also removing the downloadable version is a killer for slow work internet connections.
Xbox Gamertag: Armchair Jockey
They're not straddling it with this. They obliterated it.
This is pure 100% arcade racing. Period. Anyone who says otherwise has never so much as touched the steering wheel in a real car before. PGR straddles the line between arcade and realistic. This does not. The physics in this game are far far closer to the likes of Need for Speed: Most Wanted than they are anything else, and they still do that weird car pivoting from the center thing that they did in DIRT.
That said, there's fun to be had with this. The game is super smooth and very pretty. The in car view is awesome, and the sound and everything is akin to the actual racing sections of Days of Thunder (Surely you all remember the awful Tom Cruise nascar movie?) or something. It feels almost hyperactive, if that's the right word.
Again, not a bad thing. I may very well pick this one up as an alternate to Forza 2, especially since Gran Turismo has failed me so completely.
XBLive: Thin J
PSN: Thin_J
I don't imagine master craftsmen leaping away from completed projects and shouting "Done, motherf*ckers! - 1Dgaf
Oh man, the front end of this game is sweet. I was wondering if they'd be able to match the sleek and beauty of DiRT's menu system, and it looks like they actually pulled it off with GRID.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Q1geM8DN0
I love how they actually say your name when welcoming you into the game.