Anyone check out the Nascar 2003 demo yet?

[Mike89]

I never really got into racing games but I thought I'd check out the new Nascar 2003 demo.

I'm glad I did. Dam nice game, pretty realistic. I am definitely going to buy it when it comes out in February.

I did have a couple if issues with the demo though. I notice the game plays better for my system in D3D. Plays super smooth at 1024x768x32 (Quincunx FSAA) with all settings full max. Problem is I get some crash to desktop sometimes, right dam in the middle of a good race. I hope this is corrected in the full game. With OpenGL I did not get any kicks to desktop but in one turn, everything slows down big time for a second or so. Always at the same turn. It doesn't do this at all in D3D.

Anyway I'm looking forward to the full game. I like the Talledega race track but the race is just not long enough in the demo. I'm looking at this game from a single player since I don't get into multiplayer, but I can see this game will good for multiplayer too.

[Daelemans_G]

Hey Mike89! Welcome to a whole new sub-culture - Sim racing! If you want to get the latest info on Nascar Sims by Papyrus, you need to bookmark: http://www.sportplanet.com/team-lightspeed/ There are tons of tweaks, add-ons, extras, and modifications out there... it's quite an avid community, and that website is the mecca of on-line racing.

I've been runnin' Papy sims since Nascar 1 on the Mac about 7 years ago. The last 3 years have been spent on-line racing, and as an admin for an on-line league.

As for performance: Technically OpenGL is "not really supported" by Papy. It usually runs faster, but isn't as "pretty". Direct3d is where Papy has been focusing their energy these days. That slow-down you encountered is probably the new "lens-flare" effect. I've heard that it's a real fps killer when it sweeps across the screen (that can be disabled in the graphics features). The word is that since Papy is leaving the NASCAR sim market for the foreseeable future, they wanted to put everything in there they could...which also means that they expect the graphics engine to keep high-end systems busy - now and for the next few years ( bring on the GeforceFX :) ) In the meantime, they made the engine pretty scalable so it will run well on mid-level systems now. It runs pretty sweet on my system with 4xAA and 2xani at 10x7 - never below 50 fps.

I know you said that you don't like multi-player, but it's not the same community as typical for on-line shooter games - it's not quite as adversarial (by it's nature).... If you run on the open servers at Sierra, you're going to have a mixed bag of good and bad drivers, and a fair share of people who want to wreck you. That's why it's always advisable to join a league if you can spare a little time once a week...

Either way, enjoy NASCAR 2003!

[Mike89]

Well I'm looking forward to the retail game. I have played both tracks and they are good but just too short. It forces you to try to pass too quickly and thus get slammed by cars more. If you spin out, the race is already lost because there just is not enough time to catch back up. I hope the retail game has the option to make the race as long as you want. I would actually like to run a real 500 mile race. It would be about as close as you could get to the real thing. I hope the retail game gets the crash to desktop thing fixed. Since I have upgraded my system I had not had one single system crash or game crash with any of my games (I have lots). Now with this game I occasionally get the 'kicks to desktop'.

[Daelemans_G]

The retail version will let you race as long as you want... up to the actual WC race length (perhaps even longer- not sure). The AI is supposedly adjustable, and even "adaptive" this time around...so if you are smoking the field, they will catch up to you, and if you are slower than the A.I. it will slow down to match you... that way you are always in the hunt.

Can't speak to your crashes though - it runs like butter on my system, and most of my league mates haven't had any trouble either. The final release will be better - of that I'm sure. :D

[demonized]

Are you guys using wheels to control this game? I just tried the demo and i dont know if im a bad driver or using keyboards really just suck.:D

[Daelemans_G]

Driving with a keyboard is not advisable. You get absolutely NO feel for the exquisite physics model without at least a half-way decent wheel/pedals setup.

I used to run with an ACT-LABS FF setup. It was pretty darn good with N4, but I opted for a more precision system( non-FF). I expect that the FF modeling has only improved since N4.

Short answer - Get a good wheel if you have any intention of purchasing this game.

[demonized]

Any recommendations? I also have Rallisport Ch. and NFS II.
Are any of these good?

$99 Logitech Wingman
http://www.compusmart.com/product.asp?CatalogID=0&SupplierPartID=112659&CurrentSegment=Peripherals%7CGame+Controllers

$159 Logitech MOMO racing
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&dept=1&WLBS=fsweb8&sku_id=0665000FS10021126&catid=&newdeptid=1

$99 Microsoft Sidewinder
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&dept=1&WLBS=fsweb8&sku_id=0665000FS10020259&catid=&newdeptid=1

[Daelemans_G]

I personally haven't used any of those - however a few fellow leauge members have the MOMO, and they say that it's very good for the $$. It should also be VERY good with those other racing games... unfortunately my wheel system doesn't play well with those (4 axis system is beyond what EA or MS can comprehend).. but I don't mind as long as Papy supports it... :D

[gmontem]

Nope, haven't tried it yet; still playing GPL. :D

Hey Daelemans_G, what wheel and pedals are you using now? A TSW maybe?

[Daelemans_G]

hmmm.... how did you EVER guess? ;)

TSW2 Cup with the 15" wheel. No clutch yet - not enough road courses.

[Red Dog]

Nascar racing online is the most incredible sustained adrenaline rush in multiplayer.

there are so many things which affect your strategy during an online race and it takes a thinking man to win.

In a race you constantly analyze the situation. when you gamble correctly and end up working with 2 or 3 other drivers its a beautiful thing. 2 or 3 cars can leave a pack in its dust if they work together.

off the track you constantly try to pry that last .10 of a second out of your chassis. And believe me you will need it, there is some serious talent online.

like any online game there are slaptards, but its not too difficult to find a good race because of Papy's driver rating system.

take my word for it, nascar offline is like sex with your clothes on.

oh its still fun, but it aint the real deal. you have to race people, not ai.

when racing people you are pushing and pushing as hard as you can. but it is a delicate balance and you dont want to cause a wreck or disrespect other drivers. it ends up keeping you in a constant adrenaline rush.

people end up knowing you and respecting your abilities and they become more apt to work with you on the track. its a pretty cool experience overall

at least give it a try or two

[Daelemans_G]

Amen Red Dog - that's why I would always advocate running in an on-line league to get the most out of the game.

....only a few days more til the full version is out... :)