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[Die Squirrel Die]

I was thinking how good the lighting was when playing. I know they probably aren't doing it the same way, but it's got that Gran Turismo thing where the lighting feels so right. They're the only two racers that I can think of that have that, maybe even the only two games ever. And technical stuff like textures and draw distance, etc. aside, it's just so vibrant. The colours just scream out at you from the screen, caressing your optical cord.

 

[Shogmaster]

The lighting is amazing. I also like the touches of how losing your headlights can really make a difference. And how the glare can actually be a hinderance in snow tracks. Just an amazing game. I'm blown away by some of the GT4 media I've seen, and the perfect touch of real world lighting they have, but that game doesn't take on the effects this one puts out. Stunning.

Ya mon. The lighting is ker-razy! I just love watching the replays that have late afternoon/sunset/sunrise and clear weather. The way the warm light hits the car and the environment is sooooo pretty. And the consistancy of lighting is really impressive as well. The light shines equally on EVERYTHING, not just the car. Beyond impressive visuals.

 

[Warm Machine]

I was thinking how good the lighting was when playing. I know they probably aren't doing it the same way, but it's got that Gran Turismo thing where the lighting feels so right. They're the only two racers that I can think of that have that, maybe even the only two games ever. And technical stuff like textures and draw distance, etc. aside, it's just so vibrant. The colours just scream out at you from the screen, caressing your optical cord.

The techniques for environment lighting and vehicle lighting are most likely the same but the two games are using differnent settings. GT has a very video/camcorder look that looks quite like broadcast footage and RSC2 has a high budget motion picture look.

RSC2 does have the most caramel smooth and beautiful lighting I've seen in a game. Everything is just so gorgeous. The lighting on the snow tracks is exactly how it looks on the prairies in winter.

 

[op_ivy]

i played for a few hours last night, fun times. for the first time ever, i checked out the daily challenges... that is a really fucking cool idea. after about 30 minutes or so, i got 3rd place

shog, you on live? i'd like to play a few races with you some time.

in the mean time, i really need to go through the career mode again to unlock everything. for the 4th fucking time...

 

[Shogmaster]

i played for a few hours last night, fun times. for the first time ever, i checked out the daily challenges... that is a really fucking cool idea. after about 30 minutes or so, i got 3rd place

shog, you on live? i'd like to play a few races with you some time.

in the mean time, i really need to go through the career mode again to unlock everything. for the 4th fucking time...

I'm Shogmaster on XB Live, but I haven't gone on Live with RSC2 yet since I'm trying to unlock stuff through career mode first. I get bombarded with Halo 2 invites when I go Live, so I don't even sign on Live while playing RSC2.

I think after I get back from CES, I'll try to get on Live with RSC 2. Hopefully you'll still be playing.

 

[HokieJoe]

CMR5 when back to CMR3 physics, CMR4 is much better and Richard Burns Rally has taken the crown as the best rally sim ever.

Yep. I like RSC2. The Live! component is a lotta' fun; but CMR04's driving mechanics and physics are off the hook. RSC2 probably looks better though. CMR04 is more of a sim than RSC2 IMO.

 

[HokieJoe]

I'm Shogmaster on XB Live, but I haven't gone on Live with RSC2 yet since I'm trying to unlock stuff through career mode first. I get bombarded with Halo 2 invites when I go Live, so I don't even sign on Live while playing RSC2.

I think after I get back from CES, I'll try to get on Live with RSC 2. Hopefully you'll still be playing.

Shog,

I'm just finishing up the SuperRally campaign. Once I complete it, I'll be on Live! quite a bit. My Live!ID is: HokieJoe.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Graphically, after reading DaCoco's comments, my curiosity forced me to pop in RSC1. The difference is night and day. After RSC2. RSC1 just looks wrong. It's as if the car's lit like it's in a showroom under flourescent lights, while the environement looks like it's lit by incandescent lights. Just doesn't look right at all. The car just looks pasted on in the background, doesn't look like it belongs there.

My comments were based off the PC version of RSC1, which spanked the XBOX one IMO. I'm gonna install it and take screen caps just for you.

Chew on this for now...

As someone mentioned earlier in the thread, the lack of AF in RSC2 really has an impact on the overall IQ.

 

[Gregory]

Graphically RSC1 ctually looks better on some stages. The Mediterranian rally stages and the snowy hillclimb tracks looks fantastic, imo. Most aren`t that impressive in RSC2, except for the snowy swedish rally stages perhaps. They look fantastic.

 

[HokieJoe]

Best racer on Xbox, together with the first one. Just too bad shit like PGR and it`s equally shitty sequel totally overshadowed them. Do not expect a sequel due to crap sales.

But hey, there`s always another NFS sequel coming. I`d like to thank all gamers out there for buying NFS games in droves.

PGR2 sucked? PGR2 is a an awesome game IMO. I've logged more hours on Live! with PGR2 than anything else so far.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

PGR2 sucked. Stop fighting it.

 

[bob_arctor]

Just a run-down (yet again), what view do you guys use?

95% of the time, I'm in bumper cam, for the sense of speed and the sheer adrenaline of it.

Secondary is interior view, for the realism, the breakable windshield (ah, when that sun peaks through a crack, it is truly a thing of beauty), and tranny sounds when shifting.

3rd is hood cam, which imo is probably the easies of the "1st person" views to judge corners.

I actually turn off the 2 "3rd person" views since I never bother w/ them.

I also turn off the bar on the top of the screen that tracks everyone's progress in rally races to have more to look at.

And of course, in-game music was shut off on day 1.

At one point, I decided to turn off the markers in the rally races, but I doubt I can do that now since it's been a while.

 

[HokieJoe]

PGR2 sucked. Stop fighting it.

Just curious, why don't you like PGR2?

 

[Warm Machine]

PGR2 sucked. Stop fighting it.

Jack Black likes PGR2. He put hundreds of hours into it.

 

[Warm Machine]

Just a run-down (yet again), what view do you guys use?

95% of the time, I'm in bumper cam, for the sense of speed and the sheer adrenaline of it.

Secondary is interior view, for the realism, the breakable windshield (ah, when that sun peaks through a crack, it is truly a thing of beauty), and tranny sounds when shifting.

And of course, in-game music was shut off on day 1.

Bumper cam is where its at for 95% of my racing. I'll use exterior views on a night course or hill climb as it gives me an extra few meters to react.

The only thing that drives me nuts about the interior view is that the windshield is generally tinted to make it look like glass. Most vehicle windshields are not tinted to that degree, they are pretty well transparent.

Music was shut off from day 1 for me too. I want to hear the engine so I know just when to shift. I also need to hear sound of the tires and their contact with the driving surface.

 

[Crag Dweller]

Just a run-down (yet again), what view do you guys use?

95% of the time, I'm in bumper cam, for the sense of speed and the sheer adrenaline of it.

Secondary is interior view, for the realism, the breakable windshield (ah, when that sun peaks through a crack, it is truly a thing of beauty), and tranny sounds when shifting.

3rd is hood cam, which imo is probably the easies of the "1st person" views to judge corners.

I actually turn off the 2 "3rd person" views since I never bother w/ them.

I also turn off the bar on the top of the screen that tracks everyone's progress in rally races to have more to look at.

And of course, in-game music was shut off on day 1.

At one point, I decided to turn off the markers in the rally races, but I doubt I can do that now since it's been a while.

For me it was the hood cam w/ manual transmission. It gives me the best feeling of driving the car(Toca2 has an excellent hood cam also).

 

[Musashi Wins!]

I use the hoodcam. I like the interior view, especially when the windshield busts, but realistically I'm not as good using it.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

1st person always. Outrun 2 is the only exception due to not knowing where the tail is during slides.

Hood view is a novelty and is seldom done properly. Looks tacked on.

Just curious, why don't you like PGR2?

Other than the obivous (frame rate), the controls in regards to steering and oversteer were fucked. I never really felt like I was driving. I used to really like Bizarre Creations, but I now feel that their talents would be better suited developing other kinds of games.

 

[Apharmd Battler]

I like PGR and PGR2 just because they are pick up and play arcade racers. The course design is great and the game is fun. It by know means holds a candle to the Rallisport series, but stop the PGR hate. For what it is it's not a bad game. Rallisport is all about how you handle the car.

I really hope we get to see a Rallisport sequel on the next generation hardware. I have always loved this series. I don't know why RS2 didn't move more units, there was a good advertising campaign. Anybody who doesn't own this game should, it retails for less than $20. Defiantely one of the best racers (in terms of fun factor) this generation!

 

[tahrikmili]

I hate it when I can't drive from the cockpit.. that's one reason PGR2 didn't grow on me..

 

[bob_arctor]

I really hope we get to see a Rallisport sequel on the next generation hardware. I have always loved this series. I don't know why RS2 didn't move more units, there was a good advertising campaign. Anybody who doesn't own this game should, it retails for less than $20. Defiantely one of the best racers (in terms of fun factor) this generation!

I have a friend of mine who pretty much buys every single game ever released and will not even think of getting RSC2 because it "isn't fun" for him. THIS GAME IS NOTHING BUT FUN! *Sigh* I can't even convince him at the $20 budget price. It really gets under my skin. His reasoning is that it is too hard. You should see the look of disbelief on my face for that one.

 

[HokieJoe]

1st person always. Outrun 2 is the only exception due to not knowing where the tail is during slides.

Hood view is a novelty and is seldom done properly. Looks tacked on.



Other than the obivous (frame rate), the controls in regards to steering and oversteer were fucked. I never really felt like I was driving. I used to really like Bizarre Creations, but I now feel that their talents would be better suited developing other kinds of games.

I hear a lot of people complaining about framerate, and it does chug in a few spots. It just wasn't a very big deal for me. It is what it is: a console arcade racer. What's funny is that I never liked arcade racers. I've always been a big fan of sim racers. My experience began with Sierra's Nascar Racing Series, which for the most part are almost pure sims.

However, PGR2 got me hooked on the Xbox in general and Xbox Live in a major way. IMO, for an arcade racer, it takes a lot of skill (or no life) to get a real Speed 12.

 

[Shogmaster]

My comments were based off the PC version of RSC1, which spanked the XBOX one IMO.

Well WTF, goofy?!? That's not even the same game then. RSC1 PC is a wholey different beast then the XBox version when it comes to the rendering engine. Thanks for making me for a while think you've lost your eye sight.

As someone mentioned earlier in the thread, the lack of AF in RSC2 really has an impact on the overall IQ.

It's not as bad as you guys make it out. The only thing that really stands out from the missing aniso is things like the white stripes on the road blurring away a few dozen feet ahead due to tri-linear, but game meant for your NTSC TV, it's more than fine.

Not that I wouldn't mind it implimented, but a game running on mobile Celeron 733Mhz and GF4 Ti 4200 all sharing 64MB of PC1600, what more do you want?

 

[isamu]

Wouldn't be funny(and sad) if PGR3 comes out for Xenon at 30fps?

Oh and has there been any news about RSC2 for the PC?

 

[Drinky Crow]

Isn't RSC2 for PC out?

 

[op_ivy]

no rsc2 for pc, and zero mention of it afaik.

i use the close 3rd person cam exclusively for rsc2 and most games, unless bumper cam is obviously superior (GT, ridge racer, etc). i guess i just really prefer seeing my car. i'm also very used to guaging powerslides from that view now, and have a tough time judging them from the 1st person views.

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

I use a third person view, mostly 'cause I just can't get the feel of where the rest of the car is in first person view, it feels to disconnected for me (it's the same for me in FPS games, I find it disorientating knowing where my characters is in relation to the enviroment - although I do have to say having played Riddick, which tried to give a sense of actually seeing through someones eyes, that it's more pronounced in FPS because so little effort is made to get past that disembodied floating gun feeling).

I usually like a middle distance camera view away. Sometimes a far distance.

 

[FightyF]

I know that the framerate can turn people off in PGR2, but it was definately one of the best racing games made. I'd put it up there with the Ridge Racer series, and close to the SEGA Rally series. Off topic, but it had to be said.

I really hope DICE continues on with this series! RSC2 got a bit of a marketing push...but it wasn't effective. The TV spot was alright...but didn't do the game justice. For being one of the most beautiful console games out there, you'd think it would be highlighted. FYI, I didn't see any of it's print ads...for what I know they could have been made completely from screenshots .

 

[op_ivy]

Ya mon. The lighting is ker-razy! I just love watching the replays that have late afternoon/sunset/sunrise and clear weather. The way the warm light hits the car and the environment is sooooo pretty. And the consistancy of lighting is really impressive as well. The light shines equally on EVERYTHING, not just the car. Beyond impressive visuals.

it sure is. i just played for a few hours, and one little detail that i find really fucking cool, is how the moon being visible in the sky will completely change the night skies lighting. if you have no idea what i'm talking about, race the last hill climb for mt rosa. towards the end of the run (and the top of the mountain) you'll notice that when your facing the moon, the abient lighting becomes very blueish, and when the moon is hiden, or you face away from it, it returns to the standard blackish sky. very very cool effect.

and Fight For Freeform, the print ads were awesome. they were screenshots

 

[_Angelus_]

Have you guys noticed a control glitch in PGR2? The other day while playing single player I was on a straight away,looked in my review mirror,then looked directly ahead. Ok so I'm crusing with a lead,theres still more straights ahead for about another 50 yards or so. When suddenly the freakin car jolts to the left and I hit the wall hard,almost spinning me out. Now this happens on occasion. It happened a few weeks back when no cars were around and I was preparing to brake and turn,but I still had abit of straights ahead,when the same damn thing happened.

Now....I know it can't be the control pad,its brand new(3 weeks old and it plays great with Rallysport2 and Apex racing.)

Whats going on here? Is there a ghost in my Xbox or has anyone encountered this glitch within the game?

None the less very cool game. I mostly play online though. I should play single player more,but I need to spend time with some of the other games that also need attention. Damn back logs,haha.

 

[HokieJoe]

Have you guys noticed a control glitch in PGR2? The other day while playing single player I was on a straight away,looked in my review mirror,then looked directly ahead. Ok so I'm crusing with a lead,theres still more straights ahead for about another 50 yards or so. When suddenly the freakin car jolts to the left and I hit the wall hard,almost spinning me out. Now this happens on occasion. It happened a few weeks back when no cars were around and I was preparing to brake and turn,but I still had abit of straights ahead,when the same damn thing happened.

Now....I know it can't be the control pad,its brand new(3 weeks old and it plays great with Rallysport2 and Apex racing.)

Whats going on here? Is there a ghost in my Xbox or has anyone encountered this glitch within the game?

None the less very cool game. I mostly play online though. I should play single player more,but I need to spend time with some of the other games that also need attention. Damn back logs,haha.

The only glitches I've noticed were due to the contstant thrashing my controller has taken. But then, I'm a knuckle dragging oaf.

 

[dskillzhtown]

I am a weak-sauce gamer, so the easy control sounds right up my alley, :lol

 

[Shogmaster]

I am a weak-sauce gamer, so the easy control sounds right up my alley, :lol

I fancy myself as a competent gamer, but trying to control a MG Metro Groupe B car around some of those Austrailian and Sweden tracks at full tilt has made me curl up into a ball like an abused puppy.

The controls are "easy" as long as you take it easy on the throttle.

 

[Warm Machine]

I have a friend of mine who pretty much buys every single game ever released and will not even think of getting RSC2 because it "isn't fun" for him. THIS GAME IS NOTHING BUT FUN! *Sigh* I can't even convince him at the $20 budget price. It really gets under my skin. His reasoning is that it is too hard. You should see the look of disbelief on my face for that one.

I'd assume this guy likes his racers where you don't take your foot off the gas pedal and have to brake or gear down.

 

[Shogmaster]

I'd assume this guy likes his racers where you don't take your foot off the gas pedal and have to brake or gear down.

Or his idea of 'racing" involves "Boost" meter, no option for manual tranny, and lots of smashing into other cars to "win".

 

[Warm Machine]

The only thing I'm not a fan of in RSC2 is the ice racing levels. Everytime I have to do one I do so begrudgingly. Though, as I'm racing and pulling the turns I'm still enjoying the experience.