TOCA 2 PC Multiplayer demo is out!

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 10:54 pm

Just played it.... guys - I'm speachless

This is absolutely fabulous. Ran 60 fps+ at 1280 x 1024 x 32, with 8X Anisotropic filtering and full texture and detail levels on my PC. Raced the FFord.... I can't put it into words - it's amazing! They've almost got the steering and force feedback workable now!

I will own both the PC and Xbox versions of this game, and I haven't even seen the Xbox version yet. I'll buy it Sunday evening after I get off work, but until then, this PC multiplayer demo will tide me over.

Blackhole Motorsports has all the links to the demo, BTW.

btmmayor · Post by **btmmayor** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:00 am

It looks like the PC version will be the way to go with TOCA 2. There is a "Pro-Simulation" physics mode that is not in the Xbox version, unless it is unlockable through a bonus code. That is unforgivable in my book not to at least have the option in the Xbox version of a more realistic, sim mode. I understand they want to please the console crowd but at least give us the option.

Also, according to a Codemaster rep, there is a patch in the works that will add rear-view mirrors which can't be added to the Xbox version due to frame-rate concerns. The ability to look left/right will also be included (hopefully this will make the Xbox live update). Then there is the Active Cockpit mod that adds a sense of motion and sway to the cockpit view that better conveys what is happening to the car. If you haven't tried it yet with the demo, download it immediately. Amazing what a difference it makes.

I have the Xbox version now, but I will make the switch to the full PC version the second the patch hits with those added features.

mgoblue · Post by **mgoblue** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 12:48 pm

I could see how for big racing game fans the PC version could be better, but I really like being able to talk to people easily on Live when I'm racing online. I can apologize for that bump, give props for a great pass (as well as swearing if I got passed

)...I can never type in the middle of PC racing, and PC games never seem to do anything with online voice chat.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 12:51 pm

I will definitely end up with the PC and Xbox version. Fortunately, they will both only cost me $10 more than a regular priced console game.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:12 pm

I was able to pick up a rental of TOCA 2 for the Xbox on my way home from work last night at Blockbuster. Oddly, they only had it for rent, not for sale? I would have bought it with no question had it been available. Anyway, I couldn't wait and had to try it out. It's really nice and I like the console version for the reasons mgoblue stated. Besides, I can already say that it's the best - by far and away - console racing game I've ever played. I was so impressed with it that I fell asleep from pure exhaustion playing it... and missed my final round of the DSP TW 2004 tour event, BTW!

But I'm still blown away at how smooth the PC version is in multiplayer. The force feedback steering wheel makes me much more competitive on the PC... I'm just not much of a gamepad jockey. The promise of mirrors will put the PC version over the top, IMO. I really need them. I made a ton of moves last night I wouldn't have made had I had a mirror!

I doubt there's a chance we'd ever see a mirror patch for the Xbox version, but I'd welcome it if there were. None the less, it will be more than worth my dosh to have both versions in my stable!

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:13 pm

By the way, the full PC version appears to be out in the US. John Bodin, sim modding guru who is responsible for a couple of the utilities mentioned above, just made a post over at RaceSim Central that he picked up the PC version of the game at his local EB for $30.

EBGames is in fact showing that it is released:

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/242417.asp

Bad news is that he is having problems with his DVD rom reading the StarForce copy protection.

Check out the full thread here:

http://forum.racesimcentral.com/showthread.php?t=148519

And go here for some good PC TOCA Race Driver 2 discussion:

http://forum.racesimcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=700

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:14 pm

Guys:

When I check out the options in my profile, where you can select the tranny you want to use, and map the controls how you want, I notice that there is a greyed-out "Advanced" option in there. I have no clue what it does or what I need to do to gain access to it, but it's definitely something.

If I had a PC (Mac guy here) I would likely get it for PC since this is a better spot for me to set up a wheel. I just don't have a stuation in my living room where I can put a wheel; attatching it to the coffee table makes me feel like I'm driving a Big Wheel or something, all hunched over like some Wacky Racer from the ol Hannah Barbera Saturday morning cartoons.

Plus, I hear all the Xbox wheel suck, although Terry was having some decent success last night with one of his. And this game really controls well with the gamepad. Voice is soooo key as well.

It's easy for me, since I can't play the PC version, but I'm sure I would be tempted to have both if I could!

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:07 pm

sf_z wrote:I ran some quick online races over the weekend. There were a lot of problems with warping and ramming, especially at Hockenheim. I don't know how much of this was due to latency or the host's inability to support 12 car fields. I had the most success intentionally avoiding the lap 1 carnage and then picking off the damaged cars 1 by 1.

I'm seeing equally varied multiplayer performance issues with both the PC and XBox versions of TOCA2. When the server(host) is up to the task, it's brilliant, when it's not, it becomes a guessing game. Conceivalbly, XBox Live *should* take some of the load off the individual's hardware, and I'd say that it does in most cases.

I raced neck and neck with a pack of 4 racers on the PC version Saturday night in one race, but in the next race, three more racers had joined (bringing the field up to 11) and it drug the performance down into the muck.

I'm sure there will be some growing pangs to go through with this. I'm anxious to hear some reports on the released version of TOCA 2 PC, now that it's out.

BTW, I just ordered a Toshiba CD/DVD read-only driver from New Egg for $28.99. I figured it was time I upgraded to accomodate the likes of Winning Eleven 7 and TOCA 2. I think it's a trend that will force us all to ultimately buy them. Besides, my CD-ROM drive I'm using now peters out after an hour and a half or so, and I have to reboot to get it working again.

The more I race the XBox version online, the more I regret not having a rear view mirror. There are so many times I could have avoided being rear ended, or darting over into an oncoming car's line if I'd had one. I hope I get better at this, maybe if I had surround sound I could pick up the sounds better.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:38 pm

CD/DVD reader? It's time to get a dvd writer I think (they are pretty cheap now too)...oh well, one step at a time.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:46 pm

Parker wrote:CD/DVD reader? It's time to get a dvd writer I think (they are pretty cheap now too)...oh well, one step at a time.

I've got a CDRW drive now that I hardly use. I'll bet I've made only a couple dozen disks in the three years I've had it. But I realize I'm in the minority there. I just want a drive that reads CD and DVD's reliably; the Toshiba I've ordered is reknowned for that.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 6:37 am

Here's an oddity I encountered last night while playing the PC Multiplayer demo online. I had set my force feedback to 100%, increased my steering deadzone by one arrow keypress (one notch), and squeezed my steering saturation by by three keypresses (as is the norm for me for the Formula Ford racing).

I joined a Formula Ford Championship series online (which had a very capable host btw.... nary a hiccup with 10-12 cars per race!). The very first race I had no force feedback and the saturation zone was clearly the maximum. I managed to survive with it, finishing 5th after starting 3rd, but it was nerve racking.

So then we return to the series lobby, chat a bit, and then start the next race. I made no changes to my setup or options whatsoever. Then the next race starts and.... wah-lah - I've got force feedback, the expected deadzone and saturation range (which, btw, is nearly perfect for my LWFF on the FF's... the only series I've got tweaked properly so far)!? Anyone else experience this?