Its a shame that the game is a budget title, because it certainly comes across as a labor of love for the developers. There are so many little things that are cool, that if they had more money behind them the game would be a classic for gear-heads.
As it is there are a lot of rough spots, but it gets it right where it counts; on the track.
Speaking of tracks, at Indy when the full straight of bricks is finally switched to asphalt, that section is all new smooth blacktop, where the rest of the track looks weathered.
Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
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red95vette
- Mario Mendoza
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Like others here mentioned, I also stumbled across this title at Best Buy (on release day no less) without even knowing it was in development. They had only two copies and I snatched one up when I found out it was a budget title price, intending to check reviews before opening the seal.
Well low and behold NOBODY had any sort of review posted, so of course I returned it to Best Buy unopened....
NOT.
I can't help myself, I tore into it and tried it out and like others have said -- if you can overlook the lack of polish (I certainly can), it is a really fun racer and nice diversion.
I dove right into career mode on PRO level and have finished the first season and part of the 2nd and am having a real blast. I race all races on full length and it makes for some great fun. I ended up winning the championship (6 race season) by 4 points the first year.
If you can race clean AND PATIENT and are a reasonably good racer you should have no problem finishing top 5 or even winning with the default car in the first season. If you want a bit of an easier time, race the challenges first and earn some credits to upgrade the car (you can get a '62 or some of the '63s in the first season of '61 but the prices can be pretty high and I noticed they drop once you advance to '62, so that's a nice added touch of cost vs reward to consider). I bought a '63 at the beginning of my second season at it is about 2 mph faster at Trenton and Indy (the only ones I've had a chance to race with it so far).
The patience part of it cannot be overstressed though especially on full-length races. Tell me this doesn't get your juices flowing -- At the final race of the season, a 200 lap, 300 miler at Trenton, I had built up a 20s lead over 2nd place AJ Foyt with about 60 laps to go and I figured I would be able to coast home. However, I then came up upon an absolute traffic jam of lapped and lapping AI cars, I counted *8* of them all racing side-by-side and bunched close. Every turn they entered I'd see weaving and bobbing & smoke from brakes locking up. I dropped back about 200 yards and watched and waited for what I figured would be the inevitable crash that I DID NOT want to get caught up in.
Meanwhile as lap by lap passed I had to watch my lead over AJ drop, first to 15 secs, then 10, then 5! Finally with about 15 laps to go the traffic jam had worked itself out (yes it took over 40 laps of patience!) I had been able to pass single and even double sets of cars without much problem all race, so even though I was only 4 secs ahead of Foyt I had no worries. That is... until I put the pedal back down and found out my tires has gone to crap during all of the waiting. I couldn't drive my preferred line and passing even single cars became trecherous and risky.
3 secs, 2 secs, 1.5 secs behind was Foyt with 2 laps to go! I took the white flag with 0.7 sec lead and by now Foyt was in my slipstream. Through turn one he was able to get a wheel next to me, but fortunately I accelerated away and clear before Trenton's tricky, turn-two right hander. But in the final corner he dove down underneath and we came out nearly side-by-side on a final drag to the finish. After 200 laps and 300 miles I would see a 20 sec lead vanish in the last 100 yards ... or would I? Somehow, my slippery worn tire vehicle had enough HP and enough grip left to inch me across the finish just ahead of Foyt. 0.02 seconds ahead to be exact.
I kid you not, that is exactly how my last race of the '61 season went down. The closest and one of the most fun virtual racing experiences I've ever had. Not too bad for an impulse buy of a budget title racer.
YMMV, but for racing afficinados, try it out.
Well low and behold NOBODY had any sort of review posted, so of course I returned it to Best Buy unopened....
NOT.
I can't help myself, I tore into it and tried it out and like others have said -- if you can overlook the lack of polish (I certainly can), it is a really fun racer and nice diversion.
I dove right into career mode on PRO level and have finished the first season and part of the 2nd and am having a real blast. I race all races on full length and it makes for some great fun. I ended up winning the championship (6 race season) by 4 points the first year.
If you can race clean AND PATIENT and are a reasonably good racer you should have no problem finishing top 5 or even winning with the default car in the first season. If you want a bit of an easier time, race the challenges first and earn some credits to upgrade the car (you can get a '62 or some of the '63s in the first season of '61 but the prices can be pretty high and I noticed they drop once you advance to '62, so that's a nice added touch of cost vs reward to consider). I bought a '63 at the beginning of my second season at it is about 2 mph faster at Trenton and Indy (the only ones I've had a chance to race with it so far).
The patience part of it cannot be overstressed though especially on full-length races. Tell me this doesn't get your juices flowing -- At the final race of the season, a 200 lap, 300 miler at Trenton, I had built up a 20s lead over 2nd place AJ Foyt with about 60 laps to go and I figured I would be able to coast home. However, I then came up upon an absolute traffic jam of lapped and lapping AI cars, I counted *8* of them all racing side-by-side and bunched close. Every turn they entered I'd see weaving and bobbing & smoke from brakes locking up. I dropped back about 200 yards and watched and waited for what I figured would be the inevitable crash that I DID NOT want to get caught up in.
Meanwhile as lap by lap passed I had to watch my lead over AJ drop, first to 15 secs, then 10, then 5! Finally with about 15 laps to go the traffic jam had worked itself out (yes it took over 40 laps of patience!) I had been able to pass single and even double sets of cars without much problem all race, so even though I was only 4 secs ahead of Foyt I had no worries. That is... until I put the pedal back down and found out my tires has gone to crap during all of the waiting. I couldn't drive my preferred line and passing even single cars became trecherous and risky.
3 secs, 2 secs, 1.5 secs behind was Foyt with 2 laps to go! I took the white flag with 0.7 sec lead and by now Foyt was in my slipstream. Through turn one he was able to get a wheel next to me, but fortunately I accelerated away and clear before Trenton's tricky, turn-two right hander. But in the final corner he dove down underneath and we came out nearly side-by-side on a final drag to the finish. After 200 laps and 300 miles I would see a 20 sec lead vanish in the last 100 yards ... or would I? Somehow, my slippery worn tire vehicle had enough HP and enough grip left to inch me across the finish just ahead of Foyt. 0.02 seconds ahead to be exact.
I kid you not, that is exactly how my last race of the '61 season went down. The closest and one of the most fun virtual racing experiences I've ever had. Not too bad for an impulse buy of a budget title racer.
YMMV, but for racing afficinados, try it out.
That is awesome! I agree that being patient is very important, something I need to work on. Most of my contact with the other cars comes from me not waiting for them to sort themselves out. I can't say enough about the AI, if you sit back and watch them they race each other very realistically, even making very human like mistakes (sometimes they aren't patient either!)
I'm racing on normal mode, finished 12th in the 1961 season. I'm running 25% races, but may do longer ones. I wish there was an in-race save feature.
I'm racing on normal mode, finished 12th in the 1961 season. I'm running 25% races, but may do longer ones. I wish there was an in-race save feature.
2319!
Gamertag: "Gurantsu"
Gamertag: "Gurantsu"
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red95vette
- Mario Mendoza
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Received my Gamefly rental of this game today. It's actually a little better than I thought it would be. It's surprisingly unforgiving for something I thought was going to be more of an arcade racer. I've only had 3 10 lap races, but I've started about 10. I wrecked or quit early on seven.
The graphics are servicable, but the cockpit view leaves a little to be desired. The instrument panel is way too dark. It looks like a low budget game, but the graphics don't let the game down by any stretch.
I guess the thing I'm most disappointed with is I can find no way to tweak my force feedback wheel settings. There's way to much slop in the steering for my tastes. I can manage with what it defaults to, but I drift too much because of the wide inner deadzone.
Too bad this had to come on the heels of Forza 3. I got my copy last Monday due to a Walmart.com shipping goof-up, and I'm heavily into it right now.
The graphics are servicable, but the cockpit view leaves a little to be desired. The instrument panel is way too dark. It looks like a low budget game, but the graphics don't let the game down by any stretch.
I guess the thing I'm most disappointed with is I can find no way to tweak my force feedback wheel settings. There's way to much slop in the steering for my tastes. I can manage with what it defaults to, but I drift too much because of the wide inner deadzone.
Too bad this had to come on the heels of Forza 3. I got my copy last Monday due to a Walmart.com shipping goof-up, and I'm heavily into it right now.
Last edited by J_Cauthen on Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:22 am, edited 2 times in total.
Yeah, I agree completely. There is a surprisingly decent sim there, but the poor wheel and FF implementation makes it difficult for me to enjoy.J_Cauthen wrote:I guess the thing I'm most disappointed with is I can find no way to tweak my force feedback wheel settings. There's way to much slop in the steering for my tastes. I can manage with what it defaults to, but I drift too much because of the wide inner deadzone.
I picked this one up as part of the BB B2G1 deal and I must say it's keeping more interest for me than Forza. Forza is pretty, has a great driving model, and quality selection of tracks, but I can't help but have a bit of a "eh" feeling with Forza. Forza's 7 AI opponents that quickly get strung out makes the game more of a time trial rather than a race against other cars on track. It's just missing that "racing" feel.
This game, however, while not to the level of Forza either graphically or in terms of physics, is holding my attention for one main reason - the racing. It's great to actually be in the midst of 20-30 other cars in a competitive race where you really have to be aware of the cars around you. It reminds me of the Indy Car series on the Xbox which really penalized you for not holding your line - any contact with the wall or other cars in an open wheeled racer has very bad consequences. That's what this game provides - a racing experience that requires your concentration.
Sure there are a few bugs (noticeably the camera sometimes flickers from front to rear view on me) and so far the cars have terrible understeer (were '61 cars FWD? I can turn hard left and hear those tire squeal yet not lose it), but the other aspects make up for these issues. So while the DRIVING model isn't the best, the RACING model is better than most of the racing games out on the 360.
The old video footage is fantastic.
This game, however, while not to the level of Forza either graphically or in terms of physics, is holding my attention for one main reason - the racing. It's great to actually be in the midst of 20-30 other cars in a competitive race where you really have to be aware of the cars around you. It reminds me of the Indy Car series on the Xbox which really penalized you for not holding your line - any contact with the wall or other cars in an open wheeled racer has very bad consequences. That's what this game provides - a racing experience that requires your concentration.
Sure there are a few bugs (noticeably the camera sometimes flickers from front to rear view on me) and so far the cars have terrible understeer (were '61 cars FWD? I can turn hard left and hear those tire squeal yet not lose it), but the other aspects make up for these issues. So while the DRIVING model isn't the best, the RACING model is better than most of the racing games out on the 360.
The old video footage is fantastic.
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GB_Simo
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Are any of you lot still playing this? My copy is on its way to me now...
The original PAL release was delayed. 4 times. It then disappeared altogether from the listings in early March. I'm a patient boy, so I waited a while, then a while longer, then snapped this week and emailed Brain in a Jar to ask for an update. It turns out that Zushi, the appointed European publisher, went into administration just before the game was due to go into production. Destineer are the rights holder, I was told, and though the developer is still pushing for a Euro release, Destineer haven't sorted out a new publisher as yet.
My email was more of a good-humoured begging letter, in the hope that there might be a promo copy lying around somewhere that I could blag. There wasn't, but the bit where I mentioned importing a US 360 led them to advise me that the NTSC release is in fact region-free. This isn't what the rest of the Internet says, but I figure the rest of the Internet didn't code the game so I've ignored them and ordered a copy. I've got nothing but good things to say about all the correspondence I've had with Brain in a Jar to date - they've never been anything but open, kind and helpful in their replies to me.
My game will shortly begin its trans-Atlantic trek, so if any of you have hung on to it and fancy some online races sometime in the next few weeks, I'd love to run some laps with you.
The original PAL release was delayed. 4 times. It then disappeared altogether from the listings in early March. I'm a patient boy, so I waited a while, then a while longer, then snapped this week and emailed Brain in a Jar to ask for an update. It turns out that Zushi, the appointed European publisher, went into administration just before the game was due to go into production. Destineer are the rights holder, I was told, and though the developer is still pushing for a Euro release, Destineer haven't sorted out a new publisher as yet.
My email was more of a good-humoured begging letter, in the hope that there might be a promo copy lying around somewhere that I could blag. There wasn't, but the bit where I mentioned importing a US 360 led them to advise me that the NTSC release is in fact region-free. This isn't what the rest of the Internet says, but I figure the rest of the Internet didn't code the game so I've ignored them and ordered a copy. I've got nothing but good things to say about all the correspondence I've had with Brain in a Jar to date - they've never been anything but open, kind and helpful in their replies to me.
My game will shortly begin its trans-Atlantic trek, so if any of you have hung on to it and fancy some online races sometime in the next few weeks, I'd love to run some laps with you.
XBox Live and PSN Gamertag: theycallhimsim
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GB_Simo
- DSP-Funk All-Star
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Re:
Turns out the rest of the Internet was right. What were the odds? There are those who say you just can't play an NTSC game in a PAL region, and to those people I say that there's a perfectly good workaround:GB_Simo wrote:There wasn't, but the bit where I mentioned importing a US 360 led them to advise me that the NTSC release is in fact region-free. This isn't what the rest of the Internet says, but I figure the rest of the Internet didn't code the game so I've ignored them and ordered a copy.
1) Get drunk
2) Visit amazon.com
My NTSC 360's been with me for about a week now.
I wish the Yearbook missions were harder. I wish 1961 in Career mode was harder - colliding with both Rathmanns at once couldn't keep me from winning at Trenton, though getting caught up in a wreck and dealing with the smoky, wobbly-wheeled aftermath threatened to cost me a 30 second lead at Milwaukee. There were 25 laps to go, and if I'd pitted I'd have had to make up some excuse about the tracking being a bit off or something so I pressed on, not really knowing how much time either option would cost me, and had about 10 seconds spare come the finish.
Qualifying at Trenton for the first race of 1962, a thoroughly depressing experience in which a dirty great wall played a significant role, leads me to suspect that '62 might be about to kick my arse, and that the Porter might have been a duff choice of chassis (I'm determined not to skip ahead a year on my chassis purchases, and I haven't tried the Thompson to see if there's any real difference in the '62 models), so I'm hopeful of a challenge to come. Even when I'm out front, I'm in traffic, and there's a lot of satisfaction to be had from planning your moves through the backmarkers, then sitting back and watching them race, which they do properly.
Don mentioned earlier that I'm one of that handful of people for whom the entire concept is impossibly cool. I can drive around Riverside, I can try to win Indy in the STP Lotus turbine and while I'm at it I can see A.J Foyt in my mirror. The handling is simple and predictable enough but I'm punished for missing my marks, and when I mess up with AI cars in attendance, they'll snatch any opportunity to pass me. I love the concept, and while I'm not sure I love the execution, I do at least like it a whole lot.
Which is probably just as well, I suppose.
XBox Live and PSN Gamertag: theycallhimsim
Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
I think it's a very good game. It reminds me a lot of the old Monaco Grand Prix on the Dreamcast. Not for the mass market in terms of the handling, but a nice challenge.
Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
You guys inspired me to put this one back in the tray tonight. It really is a fun game, despite it clearly being a budget title. Langhonre can suck it, what an awful idea for a track.
Depending on the night/evening, I would be interested in playing online with those of you that still own the game.
Depending on the night/evening, I would be interested in playing online with those of you that still own the game.
xbl/psn tag: dave2eleven
Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
I went ahead and picked it up for $15 part of the buy 2 for $30 at Walmart.com
Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
I am really enjoying this game from the AI to the nostalgic pictures and movies. Adam mentioned how well the AI behaves in this game and I have to second that. It's by far the best written AI in a console game and rivals the Geoff Crammond AI although his AI is still racier and more cunning especially in Grand Prix 4. That to me is still the benchmark in AI. 
But the AI in I500 gives you room, they rarely if ever rear end you unless you screw up your line or abruptly slow down and surprise them. They will take the high side as well as low side to pass you. It's refreshing to see AI so well behaved and racy at the same time.
Anyways if you love racing games and have a 360 get this game you won't regret it.
But the AI in I500 gives you room, they rarely if ever rear end you unless you screw up your line or abruptly slow down and surprise them. They will take the high side as well as low side to pass you. It's refreshing to see AI so well behaved and racy at the same time.
Anyways if you love racing games and have a 360 get this game you won't regret it.
Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
I picked this up through Amazon finally.
My hope is that it will work well with the new Microsoft wheel due out in october.
I am really looking forward to this as I haven't been able to race Grand Prix Legends since my CPU went awol.
My hope is that it will work well with the new Microsoft wheel due out in october.
I am really looking forward to this as I haven't been able to race Grand Prix Legends since my CPU went awol.
Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
It still amazes me how great this game is considering it is a budget game, developed on a shoestring budget. The big racing game developers should hire whoever programmed the AI in Indy.
That upcoming wheel is the one without pedals and a base, where you just hold it up in the air, right?
That upcoming wheel is the one without pedals and a base, where you just hold it up in the air, right?
Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
pigpen81 wrote:I picked this up through Amazon finally.
My hope is that it will work well with the new Microsoft wheel due out in october.
I am really looking forward to this as I haven't been able to race Grand Prix Legends since my CPU went awol.
Correct. I am really looking forward to it because of its small size.
With my small boys at home, having big wheel is to cumbersome, especially for storage.
My 3 year old is crushing it with the Wii-wheel on Sims Racing.
I think he'll be able to use the MS wheel for the kiddie type of racing games.
Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
It's odd that MS quit making the previous MS wheel since there are not a lot of other good affordable options out there for the 360. Hopefully this wheel will work well, especially given that it is going to cost around $60. My main reservations are: how my arms will feel after several hours of holding this thing up in the air, and how accurate it will be given that it is hard to keep arms and hands perfectly steady in midair. If it works really well and is an upgrade over a controller then that will be cool since a wheel and pedals really need some sort of decent setup to be comfortable for long driving sessions. I look forward to seeing how it works out.pigpen81 wrote:pigpen81 wrote:I picked this up through Amazon finally.
My hope is that it will work well with the new Microsoft wheel due out in october.
I am really looking forward to this as I haven't been able to race Grand Prix Legends since my CPU went awol.
Correct. I am really looking forward to it because of its small size.
With my small boys at home, having big wheel is to cumbersome, especially for storage.
My 3 year old is crushing it with the Wii-wheel on Sims Racing.
I think he'll be able to use the MS wheel for the kiddie type of racing games.
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pk500
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Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
Very much digging the AI, racing and nostalgic feel of this game, which I bought on the mega-cheap yesterday at Gamestop. But it's a shame there's no way to adjust the steering sensitivity in-game for controller use. The left stick feels like an on-off switch when steering with the controller: You're either going straight or almost in full lock.
Still, this is very fun. And I ended up with this game, GRAW 2 and Assassin's Creed used for $3 total after trade-in credit and two returns of buy two, get one free used games that confused the Gamestop clerk to the point of needing an a stiff drink. I think the dude gave up on the math and just pulled a $10 out of the cash drawer and let me go.
Still, this is very fun. And I ended up with this game, GRAW 2 and Assassin's Creed used for $3 total after trade-in credit and two returns of buy two, get one free used games that confused the Gamestop clerk to the point of needing an a stiff drink. I think the dude gave up on the math and just pulled a $10 out of the cash drawer and let me go.
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
XBL Gamertag: pk4425
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
XBL Gamertag: pk4425
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pk500
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Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
I'm getting a better feel for speed control. The precision of this game is pretty impressive for a budget title. When you carry the proper rate of speed through a corner, the car just rolls through with ease. But when you carry even the slightest bit of extra speed, the car starts to slide with tire squeal.
This game is big fun.
This game is big fun.
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
XBL Gamertag: pk4425
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
XBL Gamertag: pk4425
Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
As you can tell from my previous posts and love-fest with the game, the game gets more impressive the more you play. The AI is actually pretty doggone good and the nuances of the driving model become more obvious the more you get a feel for the game. Glad you tried this one out and are having fun with it. It's an underrated gem in my book.
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pk500
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Re: Indianapolis 500 Evolution (360) Impressions
Underrated gem, indeed. Too bad the subject matter appeals to about .0001 of the general population.
"You know why I love boxers? I love them because they face fear. And they face it alone." - Nick Charles
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
XBL Gamertag: pk4425
"First on the throttle, last on the brakes." - @MotoGP Twitter signature
XBL Gamertag: pk4425