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Dirt 2
Nov 22, 2008 9:08:44 GMT
Post by darrentoogood on Nov 22, 2008 9:08:44 GMT
That's right folks, Colin McRae Dirt 2 has been announced and is due for 2009 release! DiRT 2 will feature a roster of contemporary off-road events, taking players to the most diverse and challenging real-world environments. This World Tour will have players competing in aggressive multi-car and intense solo races at extraordinary new locations, from canyon racing and jungle trails to city stadium-based events.
To be powered by the third generation of the EGO™ Engine’s award-winning racing game technology, DiRT 2 will benefit from tuned-up car-handling physics system and new damage engine effects. It will also showcase a spectacular new level of visual fidelity, with cars and tracks twice as detailed as those seen in GRID.
DiRT 2’s garage houses a best-in-class collection of officially licensed rally cars and off-road vehicles, specifically selected to deliver aggressive and fast paced racing. Covering seven vehicle classes, players will be given the keys to powerful vehicles right from the off. In DiRT 2 the opening drive is the Group N Subaru; essentially making the ultimate car from the original game the starting point in the sequel and the rides just get even more impressive.
In addition to the World Tour, DiRT 2 will come complete with full online functionality that will be core to the overall experience, with head-to-head competitive online play and new social features to engage the racing community. Prepare for mud, gravel, dust and dirt too in DiRT 2, coming 2009. I think I will buy this for the PS3 even though I hate the handling of the game (takes forever to set the car up to your driving style). I feel a championship coming on
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Dirt 2
Nov 22, 2008 11:41:07 GMT
Post by Nick McRae on Nov 22, 2008 11:41:07 GMT
To be honest I'm not sure I'm comfortable with them releasing another McRae game after his death. Ok DiRT was released but that couldn't be helped, it was already out by a day when he sadly died?
As a Wii and DS owner I won't be getting this game - but a part of me was hoping they'd lie the series to rest following his death.
I think now is time to get in another WRC star to promote his own game, this would hopefully boost interest again in the WRC with a new name and I'm pretty sure if it supported interest in rallying again the McRae family wouldn't mind!
Out of the WRC field who do you think would be a good new face for a unofficial game? For me it's either one of the BP Ford guys or Chris Atkinson!
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Dirt 2
Nov 22, 2008 14:10:41 GMT
Post by Vivski on Nov 22, 2008 14:10:41 GMT
Daniel Elena Rally
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Dirt 2
Nov 22, 2008 14:50:02 GMT
Post by Mixa on Nov 22, 2008 14:50:02 GMT
I dont know.. I quess many things will change for dirt2! The screenshots,the promote shots have had quite a much different look(stadium rallying via X-games) etc. Also what Ive read them focus even more to the other classes than rallying what might not be so good for the basic rally fans. The americans will love it more for sure but it looks to be more like a Race Driver but only for offroad based and rally scene. Only what I really hope is the fact I would want to see more terrrains-more basic rallyes(countries) and more debth rally car showdown. (more gr.A-more gr.B-more S2000´s-more WRC cars and all in invidual classes except S2000´s would be with gr.N as in real life). Also Schlesser buggy must be an add on
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Dirt 2
Nov 22, 2008 15:07:03 GMT
Post by Hurricane on Nov 22, 2008 15:07:03 GMT
I'd like to see the official WRC game series continue. If given to a decent developer, this game could have so much potential!
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Dirt 2
Nov 22, 2008 23:05:54 GMT
Post by Nick McRae on Nov 22, 2008 23:05:54 GMT
I think when we get a global promoter they need to look at reviving that series again - it was just starting to turn the corner!
With an official license and virtual spectator I'm sure there is endless possibilities of realism you could get in!
They also need to get more official stuff out such as year books - the last official one I tracked down was in 2005, but that's another topic I'd imagine!
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Dirt 2
Nov 22, 2008 23:16:23 GMT
Post by Will on Nov 22, 2008 23:16:23 GMT
Seen some target screens of DiRT 2 and the graphics look picture perfect, but I'm apprehensive about the game.
In the interview with one of Codemasters' DiRT 2 tech guys they said that the game was inspired by Colin McRae's illustrious career, all about the speed, passion and excitement of the rally. Codemasters' GRID (sequel to ToCA Race Driver) was about the speed, excitement etc of the race and turned out to be a load of arcade tripe.
I also hope that Codemasters do not 'dumb-down' their game to attract a 12 year old American audience who buy it just so they can total their perfectly modelled Subaru into a tree.
/rant
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Dirt 2
Nov 23, 2008 18:16:31 GMT
Post by Nick McRae on Nov 23, 2008 18:16:31 GMT
I watched my mate play Grid once, he crashed into a barrier and simply pressed a button and reset himself 20 second back before the incident! As a ToCA vetran I was appauled by such a feature!
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Dirt 2
Nov 24, 2008 5:06:55 GMT
Post by Roo on Nov 24, 2008 5:06:55 GMT
I've seen enough of Colin McRae DiRT to know that it has become more and more arcade-ised since Codemasters had more and more input into the design. The sounds of the cars were almost direct copies from the TOCA/V8 Supercars "Driver" game, and the handling was pretty poor to say the least. I think it is far to say that since 2006, when the WRC failed to authorise a sequel to WRC Rally Evolved, the popularity of rallying dropped. Although the PS3 versions of Colin McRae Rally have helped to regain some popularity, a true rallying game is still lacking. That is why the Richard Burns game is so popular, because it is the best rally simulation available, even though it is now close to 3-4 years old. Until a game similar in nature to RBR is released, rally games will continue along the arcade path, perfectly matching the description that Will posted above. But I agree with Nick that the Colin McRae tag needs to be dropped from the series. If Codemasters want to further the interest of rallying in America, use the name of an American driver, Travis Pastrana, Ken Block, then there is an actual link for Americans between the game and reality.
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Dirt 2
Nov 26, 2008 13:50:25 GMT
Post by Vivski on Nov 26, 2008 13:50:25 GMT
CMR2 is still the best in the series. These game publishers know that if they can't beat the RBR benchmark then they may as well give up on the idea and cater to the masses... so they do. No-one to date has taken on the challenge.
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Dirt 2
Dec 5, 2008 0:52:18 GMT
Post by chrisfinch on Dec 5, 2008 0:52:18 GMT
Interesting news that a new game is due out, I am surprised as I thought it would be the end after the death of McRae.
However, there appears to be no mention of McRae by name in the press release, so maybe the game will go simply by the name of "DIRT 2" with just a brief "In Memory of Colin McRae" or something similar. That would be a nice touch.
The fact that "Grid" is a similar, simple four letter word to "Dirt" may indicate that the sequel will be literally just an off-road version of Grid. A nice touch of continuity, even if the rallying aspect is severely reduced.
I would imagine that if a rally game was to be named, it would really need to be "Travis Pastrana". There is nobody else that marketable in rallying these days. With the sad deaths of McRae and Burns, the fact that guys like Wilson and Wilks are not the icons that Burns and McRae were. Finally, even the biggest stars of today in the WRC like Loeb and Hirvonen are not household names in the slightest. I can't imagine any of my non-rally buddies knowing who Loeb or Hirvonen are, but they would know who Burns and McRae were.
Dirt is not the sort of game to appeal for Japanese fans, so the biggest market in the western world is the USA. Pastrana is very well known for his X-Games exploits, as well as his current forays in to Rallying. He is young, charismatic, and the kind of guy to be the face of Rallying in computer games. He may not be too well known in the UK, but how many people had heard of Tony Hawk before his skateboarding video game series. Now he is huge. If a name is added to a rally/off road game, it needs to be Pastrana.
An off road game, if produced well should appeal to the casual market. With the huge mass of track racing games out, and if Dirt 2 can hitch a lift of the success of Grid, it could potentially sell very well indeed.
One thing we've learnt over the years, is that a game does not have to be good to sell well.
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