RACE 360

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:32 pm

Sounding good man

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:16 pm

OK, there are no options to force pit stops. If you need them take them, but no mandatory ones.

When in the pits you get 4 options, fuel, tires, repair, and fuel&tires together. All driving in the pits is done automatically, however you do need to enter the pit lane at the right speed or you will get a penalty. (At Monza there was a small sign and also bigs numbers painted on the track indicating the speed was 80kph).

I tried one online race. I got booted from the first 2 I tried, but the 3rd stuck. Some good and bad impressions here.

Bad first. The frame rate did seem to hiccup a bit. This seemed to happen when a new person entered the game, but it was there. Also, one guy (who we'll call Buttnut) had a bad connection.

Ah, Buttnut, so sad to see a Need For Speed fan so lost following real race rules. I qualified first, and led the first lap. Then I see a message that Buttnut had gotten a warning for cutting the track. Next thing I know he is passing me. He spins off a few turns later and a lap or so after that I see he is disqualified.

Now the good. You can save a replay of your online races. So I took a look at the race from Buttnut's perspective. He was pretty much using all of the other cars (4 humans and 8 AI total) as brake pads, smashing his way to the front. So while he made it to the front he was destroying his car. The thing that finally booted him was when he was forced to go into the pits for repairs, he went in too fast and he was gone.

Next good thing was that before the end of the race the other 2 guys exited the race. OK, thats not good, but what is good is that the race still finished, even with me as the only human left and not the original host. Very cool.

Being able to run laps while waiting for others to join was nice also.

The AI in the online race seemed to do more than get in the way, without dominating the race. Watching the replay from the other 2 guys cars shows that they had to race them to get by them. Also, human qualifiers start at the front of the grid; the AI lines up behind them.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:30 pm

Good stuff. Thanks Gurantsu.

One question though, are you sure Buttnut wasn't in fact 34?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:31 pm

Naples39 wrote:Good stuff. Thanks Gurantsu.

One question though, are you sure Buttnut wasn't in fact 34?

I would have guess Grog before I would have guessed 34.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:46 pm

If you guys got the game from Gamestop there's a code to download the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:53 pm

Rodster wrote:If you guys got the game from Gamestop there's a code to download the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee.

Unique codes to each buyer?

If the code is generic and everyone gets the same one why not post it?

FifaInspected · Post by **FifaInspected** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:12 pm

Rodster wrote:If you guys got the game from Gamestop there's a code to download the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee.

I just picked mine up from GS and received no code.

I'm still bothered by the frame rate issue. Gurantsu, when you say the frame rate hiccuped a bit... what exactly does that mean? I recall playing moto gp 06 and there would be that slowdown in the corners at times.. It drove me nuts.
I guess my question is, could this be hard for us frame rate sensitive folks to look past?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:23 pm

The codes are unique because I had to redeem it via the marketplace. You could email Simbin support and ask them for the code.

There is a framerate issue but not a biggie IMO. It does hiccup "a split second pause" not too bad. There is screen tearing but again not a huge problem.

Now for the good stuff. The physics model is sublime when you turn off all the aids. The cars display good front/back and lateral weight shifts. The cars sound badass too. I like the fact that if you ride the curb and give the car gas around the corner you will lose the back end (happened to me

). That's good as that means the curbs just aren't art but are actually implemented and accounted for with the physics model.

So far so good but I still prefer the PC version. The graphics get a passing grade. Grid and Dirt look much better IMO. The big selling point is the driving and physics model. The AI btw is good but still exhibits typical ISI/Simbin code. They bunch up at the start line and usually causes a brief sector yellow at the start of the race.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:41 pm

I hate you f*ckers who can play this right now while I'm stuck at work with only WoW to keep me company.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:42 pm

Rodster wrote:
So far so good but I still prefer the PC version. The graphics get a passing grade. Grid and Dirt look much better IMO. The big selling point is the driving and physics model. The AI btw is good but still exhibits typical ISI/Simbin code. They bunch up at the start line and usually causes a brief sector yellow at the start of the race.

How is the diffuculty compared to the PC version? I am trying the demo right now to see if I can handle it.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:49 pm

This girl ain't the prettiest one at the dance, not by a long shot, and she doesn't dress the spiffiest, but if you are looking for the one who puts out...you've found her.

This game resembles a high end Xbox game graphically, at least to me. It isn't going to win ANY awards for it's graphics-or it's presentation, for that matter. You can't get too much more bare bones than what we have here.

But if it's simply to race, I think there's a good game to be had here. I was worried when I fired it up and had to drive the Coopers, because they are so damned slow, but I've been able to get past those, and the Caterhams are a hoot. The engine noises are really good-I mean REALLY good, really throaty on the monsters.

There seems to be quite a bit of difference between semi pro and pro. Semi pro gives you the line, the braking in the line, and some ABS and traction control, if you want it. The AI seems to be a bit slow on semi pro, as I have won every race I've entered on that level, save one, and that was only because I FUBAR'ed an entry point. I've entered 9 races, and won 8 the first time out.

But the cars 'feel' great, so far as I can tell at this point. I sure want to try it out online, though, and see if I can hang at all. Traditionally, I don't do worth a piss at sim racers against people. And I hate being the cause of a wreck or a spinout because I don't brake correctly, or whatever. And honestly, since I'm not a sim junkie, I wonder if I'll get bored quickly. Because outside of the main event...there ain't much else there. Oh well, we'll see...

FifaInspected · Post by **FifaInspected** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:01 pm

I just opened it up and did a quick offline race. I saw no indication of a frame rate issue. So, either it was there and so minor I missed it, or it was not an issue at all. I drove using the bumper cam.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:38 pm

FifaInspected wrote:
Rodster wrote:If you guys got the game from Gamestop there's a code to download the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee.
I just picked mine up from GS and received no code.

Me neither.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:51 pm

TCrouch wrote:I hate you f*ckers who can play this right now while I'm stuck at work with only WoW to keep me company.

Only WoW?...Blasphemer!!!

So what are we racing?...Semi pro or Pro?

I see semi pro can be adjusted with some stuff on or off.

I prefer to do this with what we will be doing online.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:00 pm

Just tried some of the Race 07 demo for the PC and it's great! It controls with my 360 controller just perfectly. I was able to keep up with mid-pack for semi-pro and all the defualt settings. Semi Pro seems perfect for me, but I don't know how the PC version compares to the 360 one.

I might end up picking this one up if the 360 version doesn't pan out. It looks incredible in widescreen resolution and the sound is also incredible.

Can someone with the PC version tell me if the 360 version compares? Thanks.

FifaInspected · Post by **FifaInspected** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:05 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
FifaInspected wrote:
Rodster wrote:If you guys got the game from Gamestop there's a code to download the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee.
I just picked mine up from GS and received no code.
Me neither.

DB - I found mine in the box.

go figure ...............

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:08 pm

I got the code from Gamestop for the Dodge, really irritated me though as my reserved copy ends up being taken out of a cd sleeve and put back into the display case.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:11 pm

JackB1 wrote:
Can someone with the PC version tell me if the 360 version compares? Thanks.

Other than the physics no. The graphics are no where close.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:16 pm

FifaInspected wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:
FifaInspected wrote: I just picked mine up from GS and received no code.
Me neither.
DB - I found mine in the box.

go figure ...............

Haha...me too. I guess I should open the damn thing before I post. Idiot!

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:25 pm

Well, it still isn't pretty to look at, but the more time I've spent driving the different cars, the more I see the potential for brilliance with this thing. I was worrying about my apparent prowess, winning races right and left. Well, Homer, THAT just ended! Got into a Viper, and I can't drive that damned thing for s***. But I've never had so much fun spinning out-it's a beast, and sounds incredible!

I'm sold-now I've just got to be able to play online, which means you cats are going to have to have some Friday or Saturday night racing action-I'm having to go to sleep alot earlier than I used to!

Online is going to make me or break me on this, as I barely have enough time to play what I already had in my collection-so if I don't play tonight, I expect LOTS of online impressions tomorrow morning...

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:47 pm

Rodster wrote:
JackB1 wrote:
Can someone with the PC version tell me if the 360 version compares? Thanks.
Other than the physics no. The graphics are no where close.

Hmm.... That is disappointing since supposedly they created a brand new engine to take advantage of the graphics on the 360. Are the graphics really that bad?

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:08 pm

Anyone play in a nice big room of human racers online, yet? Curious to hear about framerates and lag in that type of situation...

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:16 pm

DChaps wrote:
Hmm.... That is disappointing since supposedly they created a brand new engine to take advantage of the graphics on the 360. Are the graphics really that bad?

Someone referred to it looking like an Xbox game. It's pretty close at times. I mean it doesn't look bad but it's not the game that's going to give PGR3, PGR4, Forza 2 a run for it's money.

The most important part of the game they got right. The way each class and model of cars drive is sublime. There's a difference between between how a Mini, BMW 320i and Viper drive and handle. The AI for the most part does it's job competently.

As I racer i'll take that every time over pretty graphics. The bottom line is, it's worth $40 bucks.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:22 pm

Rodster wrote:
DChaps wrote:
Hmm.... That is disappointing since supposedly they created a brand new engine to take advantage of the graphics on the 360. Are the graphics really that bad?
Someone referred to it looking like an Xbox game. It's pretty close at times. I mean it doesn't look bad but it's not the game that's going to give PGR3, PGR4, Forza 2 a run for it's money.

Ya, Thats right on. Xbox. Its not bad but definately not eye candy.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:47 pm

Some quick impressions after messing around with early career mode;

-Graphics are basically the equivalent of a Xbox game in HD. I didn't expect great graphics, but these are a bit worse than I expected. Honestly, I don't care all that much though.
-Drives nicely, but hard to judge just on Mini's and Caterhams. I went straight to all assists off with those low powered cars and enjoyed it.

Here's my open question--a review said on semi-pro, career mode is too easy, and on pro it's too hard. For a single race this definitely isn't a problem because you can set assists and AI difficulty independently.

In career mode thus far, there is no setting for AI difficulty. Is AI difficulty set by career tier, or by setting it on semi-pro/pro?

Stated differently, in career mode, is playing semi-pro and then manually turning off each assist exactly the same as playing on pro? Or will pro turn off the assists AND make the cpu cars faster?

I ask because in that first round with the mini's I did semi-pro with all assists off except racing line and won each race by 10+ seconds, which made me worried that review is correct that career mode will be frustrating like that.