Ping: QuikSand (and other horse racing fans)

[Franklinnoble]

Anyone had a chance to try this one out?

http://www.startersorders.com/index.htm

Just wondering if it's worth downloading the demo or not...

[QuikSand]

I can't keep the various names of games straight... I don't recall seeing this one before. The last game that was brought up this way here was just a renamed version of "Horse Racing Manager" which was a big turd. This one seems to be a UK-based sim, which doesn't bother me all that much. Looks interesting.

[Franklinnoble]

I can't keep the various names of games straight... I don't recall seeing this one before. The last game that was brought up this way here was just a renamed version of "Horse Racing Manager" which was a big turd. This one seems to be a UK-based sim, which doesn't bother me all that much. Looks interesting.

Agreed. I bought Horse Racing Manager (I think it was re-named "Final Stretch" or something like that for US release), and "turd" describes it pretty accurately.

One nice thing about this game is that it looks like it's in active development... there's a recent patch posted. And you have the option of using furlongs instead of meters, from what I can tell... and that makes a big difference to me. I don't do metric.

[QuikSand]

I'm about 80% through with the download now, it's about 14 MB. FYI

[John Galt]

I do think this game was brought up before, but it does look to be updated. Like QS, I think it is hard to keep all the names straight. I'll try to download the demo when I have some time.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I've been meaning to post this for a few days, hadn't gotten around to it, now seems like as good a time as any. So FWIW ...

From http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tabletopsports&msg=4755.1

Hi, The computerized version of my Fast-Action Horse Racing Game will be available for sale March 1, 2004! For those who don't know, Gary Stishan has done the programming and I think fans will be well pleased. All 4,300+ of the horses in the board game will be included, as well as all the options, etc, found in the board game. Other options are also included. Pre-set Dream Races for every breed are also included. You can bet on your favorites. You can stage up to 100 runnings of the same race instantaneously, if you like.

The 2003 season is not yet done, but for those who buy the computer game now, the 2003 season will be e-mailed to you FREE as soon as it is finished. I am still gathering info from some of the lesser known breeds! Some have yet to name their 2003 champions!!!

The Computer Version sells for $32 postpaid. The board game is $30 ppd. Both games are $54 ppd. Priority shipping is $4 extra per order. These prices are all for US orders.

My new e-mail address is [email protected]. Mail all orders to:

Patrick Premo
1250 Chipmonk Rd.
Allegany, NY 14706


If Gary Stishan's name seems familiar, it might be from his work on converting APBA's Saddle Racing from board game to PC.


Also, I asked Pat a couple of questions that are probably pretty obvious around here:


1) PC requirements: "Windows 98 is the oldest OS under which the game should work, although it MIGHT work with Windows 95.
2) There isn't a demo available.


Also of possible interest:
Pat Premo's Fast-Action Games website
http://members.tripod.com/newaction/index.htm

An older (?) interview with Pat Premo about some of his earlier gaming work
http://boardgames.about.com/library/weekly/aa063099.htm

[Franklinnoble]

I downloaded the demo, but I can't really do anything with it right now... my first complaint is that it's a full-screen game. I mean, come on, people... if we're going to slack off at the office with your software, we need to be able to do it discreetly.


(yes, I do realize that last sentence is just begging to be Fritzed...)

[John Galt]

I downloaded the demo, but I can't really do anything with it right now... my first complaint is that it's a full-screen game. I mean, come on, people... if we're going to slack off at the office with your software, we need to be able to do it discreetly.


(yes, I do realize that last sentence is just begging to be Fritzed...)

I would just be able to play any game at work once and a while, but the lack of administrative rights sucks.

[Franklinnoble]

I would just be able to play any game at work once and a while, but the lack of administrative rights sucks.

There are ways to grant yourself admin rights on your machine. How much do you fear the wrath of your local IT person? They might get a little tweaked if they find out that you've done it, but if the ramifications aren't too severe, I can point you in the right direction...

[rkmsuf]

There are ways to grant yourself admin rights on your machine. How much do you fear the wrath of your local IT person? They might get a little tweaked if they find out that you've done it, but if the ramifications aren't too severe, I can point you in the right direction...

I'd be curious also...

[Franklinnoble]

There is a linux boot CD (or floppies - but the CD is easier) out there that can hack the registry of any Windows NT/2000/XP machine. Basically, it boots up, and has a simple command-line menu that lets you re-set the local administrator password on the computer. You can then log in as the local administrator, and grant your local or domain account all the rights you want.

I don't remember where to find it, but I could google around for it if anyone's really interested.

[Franklinnoble]

**Bump**

Any luck yet, QS?

[Raven Hawk]

I'm curious about the Quik opinion on this as well. HRM was a baaaaaadddd program. Looking for something good.

[rkmsuf]

That Final Stretch game was an abomination...I got suckered in like the rest of you...

[QuikSand]

I have spent something like ten minutes with the demo... ran a couple of races, but didn't get much of a feel for the "management" side of things. The race interface is pretty smooth, and I'd initialy say that the running of the race is executed about as well as in a game like Hooves of Thunder.

This does seem to be an irretreivably British program, though - in case that matters to you. I didn't exlore a whole lot, but didn't see any way to get into dollars rather than pounds, and that sort of thing. I know they claim some customizability - it may not all be available in the demo game.

I think the demo is worthwhile... this has more promise than any game I've seen since QuarterPole Plus, which seemed pretty good to me on first blush (but then really disappointed under the surface).

[Franklinnoble]

I checked out the forums over at the game's homepage. The guy who develops the software is pretty active over there, and he says features like breeding will be included in the next version of the game. He also says that he's working on an American expansion to the game, given the demand indicated by the geography of his sales.

I'm still waiting for an opportunity to try the demo, but I think I might go for it if it looks somewhat decent, if for no other reason than to encourage the dude to get on with the improvements he's planning on.