Here we go Ladz, the Starters Orders 3 Impressions Thread..

[SirFozzie]

Just got this via email as a Starters Orders 2 owner:

tarters Orders 3 released!

Starters Orders 3 was released in May and has become our fastest selling racing game so far!. Great news for national hunt fans is that the new game contains jumps racing. All the big races are there such as the Grand National and Gold cup and these are accurately simulated to a level never seen before in a computer game.

A few more of the games new features:

* Improved graphics.

# Four game modes: UK (flat), UK (flat and jumps), US (flat) and Australian (flat).
# Race audio commentary.
# New race engine with the most realistic races ever in a computer game.
# Horses can get stopped, blocked, hampered or disqualified.
# Hurdle and fence jump races.
# Nearly 100 UK jumps showcase races.
# New, realistic course models featuring undulations and variable going.
# All new jockey control mode.
# And many more new features. Go here for a full list of game improvements since SO2: http://www.startersorders.com/features.htm

Website: http://www.startersorders.com

You can download the combined demo/full version from the website: http://www.startersorders.com/downloads.htm

Please feel free to register on the forums and give us your input:
http://www.startersorders.com/phpBB2/index.php

Starters Orders 3 full version costs £19.99 sterling or equivalent in your local currency.

SPECIAL OFFER!

For a limited period only buy BOTH Starters Orders 3 AND Greyhound Manager for just £29.99. Click here to buy both games for this special price.

Find out more about Greyhound manager here: http://www.greyhoundmanager.com

I'm downloading the demo to try it out now.

[SirFozzie]

First thoughts from one run through of the demo (7 racing days).

I swear I want to kidnap these developers and get them hooked up with Wolverine Studios or with the folks at GDS. The base game is very very good. However, you have to almost actively fight the game to get what you want to do. On my first run through, I couldn't figure out how to hire a jockey (the game ended up giving me jockeys when it came time for the race).

Unlike American tracks, most tracks in england are NOT ovals, and while they may be CALLED flats (to differentiate them from National Hunt Style Steeplechase style "Jumps" tracks), they will have sections of the course that are up hill or downhill.

The race day experience (after you fight with the interface to head out there) is very good. You give your jockey instructions which he will try to follow as best as he can, and then the good part starts, the actual race.

Not only are the graphics in THIS part good, (with everything clear as to which horse is where on the track, the current speed, and how long is left in the race), the game actually comes with a trackside announcer. This will probably get annoying after a while, but he will call the race through your speakers, referring to the horses by their #'s ("#4 clear of the pack, followed by #2, #13, and #7", for example), and noting the part of their track on (left or right hand turns, uphill or downhill).

I would LOVE to see a "Track Pack" with recordings of 20,000 or so potential horse names, just for immersion in the world.

[jonesz]

Is it an improvement of Starters Orders 2? I enjoyed 2 a lot, but it got kind of old after a while. You could get so much money that you could pretty much buy all of the good 2 year olds at auction.

I'm also curious as to if they did anything with the breeding model...I like the add that you can now pay stud fees to breed with other stable's horses. In 2 you could only breed with your own horses. Should open things up a bit and not make them so inbred.. Curious as to whether other computer stables will offer you stud fees as well?

[SirFozzie]

I haven't bought it yet, and the game limits you to a week in the game, so I can't say anything about the breeding model.