Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

[Steve_OS]

Next Generation has posted an article entitled, Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

"Impossibly shiny cars, breathtaking speed, blue skies and roaring engines: racers were once videogaming’s ultimate expression of realism crossed with escapist fantasy. But while other genres have rapidly evolved, from the thunder and bluster of modern FPSes to the vast scope of RPGs, racers seem stuck in the same old routine of race upon tournament.

Even the biggest sellers don’t seem to be performing as well as they used to: once a perennial fixture at the very top of the UK Christmas chart, Need For Speed managed only fifth place as 2007 turned to 2008. Buried in the blizzard of last year’s big releases, Project Gotham Racing 4 has failed to ignite the same fervor as its predecessors. And can Gran Turismo’s luster really sell PS3 the same way it once did PS1 and PS2?"

[bkfount]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

Next Generation has posted an article entitled, Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

"Impossibly shiny cars, breathtaking speed, blue skies and roaring engines: racers were once videogaming’s ultimate expression of realism crossed with escapist fantasy. But while other genres have rapidly evolved, from the thunder and bluster of modern FPSes to the vast scope of RPGs, racers seem stuck in the same old routine of race upon tournament.

Even the biggest sellers don’t seem to be performing as well as they used to: once a perennial fixture at the very top of the UK Christmas chart, Need For Speed managed only fifth place as 2007 turned to 2008. Buried in the blizzard of last year’s big releases, Project Gotham Racing 4 has failed to ignite the same fervor as its predecessors. And can Gran Turismo’s luster really sell PS3 the same way it once did PS1 and PS2?"

did PGR4 really do that bad, compared to the 3rd? I remember getting PGR3 for $15 off ebay well before the 4th came out.

I'm glad they talk about Test Drive Unlimited. It was an amazing game that took a step forward for the genre, yet why haven't they released it for the ps3, or put out info on a 2nd?

[pk500]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

PC racing sims are alive and thriving, even though the amount of quality new releases has reduced in the last two years. The incredibly active, generous, talented mod community is keeping games like NASCAR Racing 2003 Season, Richard Burns Rally, Grand Prix Legends, GTR 2 and rFactor very relevant and very current.

RACE 07 was a disappointment as a new release, but ARCA Sim Racing looks like a promising new release. Plus iRacing is coming, even though its subscription-based MMO model is too expensive, in my opinion.

The racing scene may be stale on consoles due to the emphasis on arcadish, tuning games, but proper sims are alive and well on the PC.

Honestly, I don't understand the panic in this story. It's no secret: Console racing games are following the same path as console team sports games in this generation -- all flash, little function. Only the window dressing is different. People moan about EA sports games being nothing but roster updates with prettier graphics and a meaningless feature thrown in, and many racing games only feature shinier cars and meaningless modes.

Take care,
PK

[Skyboxer]

The last racing game I played for any length of time was Papyrus' Nascar games. Mainly online leagues.
I can't really say why I haven't been into the console racing very much. I went from spending days setting up my car for the weekends online race (Then waiting for the league to decide whether I was at fault for the 10 car pile up in turn 3 at Atlanta) to virtually no racing at all.
I migrated back to consoles at about the same time with less PC gaming. "Real" racing did not follow me to the consoles.

[aukevin]

Games like Burnout and Need for Speed are entertaining me more than ever.

[bkfount]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

forza had potential to be a great game, but it felt shallow and rushed. It didn't even have the same amout of cars and tracks as the xbox version. Add in slow DLC and slow movement by the developers to fix glitches, and the community it did grow fell away only months after release.

[kneebon5]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

Racing games are fine on PC, im not sure about them on 360 or PS3, but this year will be a very good year for PC based sim racing.

Alot of big things are going to be going on. With The Sim Factory putting the winner of their series into an ARCA car, and Iracing narrowing their market to those who treat sim racing like it is real racing. The amount of numbers wont be there, mainly because their isnt a NASCAR sticker stamped on the boxes. But the quality of racing will be there and make it more interesting than ever.

[JoeRyan33]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

I know some people who play racing games with the controller on their consoles. Totally defeats the point.

GTA5 is gorgeous, photo realistic, and a big reason why I got a PS3. Still, nothing beats the arcade scene, Daytona or Sega Rally with your buddies in a packed arcade.

[RunN1st]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

I know some people who play racing games with the controller on their consoles. Totally defeats the point.

GTA5 is gorgeous, photo realistic, and a big reason why I got a PS3. Still, nothing beats the arcade scene, Daytona or Sega Rally with your buddies in a packed arcade.

I personally enjoy racing games with or without a wheel. (So add me to your list.)

In fact, I would say that playing on console (360) with a wheel is more work than it's worth. (Cost, setup, calibration, etc.) Being able to control the throttle and brake using the triggers gives you an advantage vs. trying to use the flimsy 360 pedals.

On the other hand, PC sims are 100% better when you use a wheel that's well calibrated and configured. And for the most part, PC games give you more options to set it up the way you want it, plus you have a wider variety of hardware options.

But, to each their own.

[fishstick]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

I think console publishers are headed in the wrong direction. Maybe it comes from days gone by when those classic arcade races where simple and fun and sold games.

Well, you can't just cast you line in the general pond of gamers with any genre nowdays and expect to do well. FPS developers don't try to incorporate some NBA twist into their game to the attention of basket ball fans. Madden doesn't add platforming missions in the hopes of pleasing that audience. So why is the racing genre trying to homognized there games into these something for everyone all over the map things that end up pleasing nobody including the racing fans they should be targeting.

Racing is first and formost a sport so why has so few games touched on this aspect? How come I can play an entire season in Madden or NBA 2K but pick up any racing game and you play 3 or 4 racings in a row and that's a level. You don't buy cars, build cars, build a team, hire anyone, design anything or have any type of season where you build rivalries and relationships. You build drama.

Another area that almost every sports games requires nowdays is online user created leagues and tournaments. What racing game provides that? Most don't even provide any type of worth stat tracking let alone league tracking.

What about real rules, real race day stuff and really making the person feel like they are there - at some big event. Commentators, TV views, behind the scene stuff. This stuff is manditory in a sport game if it wants to survive but racing games just ignore it and give you some sterile feel. What about winning and podiums and celebrations and all that.

Now I am not saying all games have to be like this - no. On the contrary because even though there is MLB2K there is also The Biggs. So there is room for both but I think the main problem is they are casting this net in the general populace and hoping to gain fans instead of getting the customers that are fans first and growing from there.

[bkfount]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

I know some people who play racing games with the controller on their consoles. Totally defeats the point.

GTA5 is gorgeous, photo realistic, and a big reason why I got a PS3. Still, nothing beats the arcade scene, Daytona or Sega Rally with your buddies in a packed arcade.

since most racing games for consoles are designed with the idea that a controller is standard, most don't provide an incentive to play with a wheel.

for example, forza 2 players who used a wheel were actually at a disadvantage to controller users. Why pay more for a wheel when it doesn't give you an advantage, but also actually makes you worse?

[patrick721]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

I think console publishers are headed in the wrong direction. Maybe it comes from days gone by when those classic arcade races where simple and fun and sold games.

Well, you can't just cast you line in the general pond of gamers with any genre nowdays and expect to do well. FPS developers don't try to incorporate some NBA twist into their game to the attention of basket ball fans. Madden doesn't add platforming missions in the hopes of pleasing that audience. So why is the racing genre trying to homognized there games into these something for everyone all over the map things that end up pleasing nobody including the racing fans they should be targeting.

Racing is first and formost a sport so why has so few games touched on this aspect? How come I can play an entire season in Madden or NBA 2K but pick up any racing game and you play 3 or 4 racings in a row and that's a level. You don't buy cars, build cars, build a team, hire anyone, design anything or have any type of season where you build rivalries and relationships. You build drama.

Another area that almost every sports games requires nowdays is online user created leagues and tournaments. What racing game provides that? Most don't even provide any type of worth stat tracking let alone league tracking.

What about real rules, real race day stuff and really making the person feel like they are there - at some big event. Commentators, TV views, behind the scene stuff. This stuff is manditory in a sport game if it wants to survive but racing games just ignore it and give you some sterile feel. What about winning and podiums and celebrations and all that.

Now I am not saying all games have to be like this - no. On the contrary because even though there is MLB2K there is also The Biggs. So there is room for both but I think the main problem is they are casting this net in the general populace and hoping to gain fans instead of getting the customers that are fans first and growing from there.

Man you summed up my thoughts 100 percent. I wish console developers would try to go after racing fans first then use that core group to expand their base. The 360 is crowded with fictional racing games, and with toca turning in that direction I see no real world racing game on the horizon.

[pk500]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

I think console publishers are headed in the wrong direction. Maybe it comes from days gone by when those classic arcade races where simple and fun and sold games. (Snip rest of post.)

You're spot-on, Fish. Very well said.

Some PC racing sims come with these features, and the mod community also has provided some things like TV camera views, telemetry, etc. Plus most players who drive PC sims put primary focus on the driving and racing model, and the developers of PC racing sims have done a good job to heed the desires of gamers in the community.

Take care,
PK

[mgoblue]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

You're spot-on, Fish. Very well said.

Some PC racing sims come with these features, and the mod community also has provided some things like TV camera views, telemetry, etc. Plus most players who drive PC sims put primary focus on the driving and racing model, and the developers of PC racing sims have done a good job to heed the desires of gamers in the community.

Take care,
PK

I would love a racing game with a great career mode (ie. have a team, own cars, switch teams as a driver, start your own team, whatever). I know I'll never be a fully sim driver cause I'm just not that good (or that into it), but I would like a better single player experience. I'm tired of the open world "get into random races" type game.

[kneebon5]

Re: Next Generation: Is Racing Gaming On Its Last Lap?

I would love a racing game with a great career mode (ie. have a team, own cars, switch teams as a driver, start your own team, whatever). I know I'll never be a fully sim driver cause I'm just not that good (or that into it), but I would like a better single player experience. I'm tired of the open world "get into random races" type game.

i dont remember what NASCAR game for ps2 it was but it was a great career mode. You had your team, and had to buy your cars and engines and it took a certain amount of weeks to build things up, and you also had to do R&D to get faster. I played so much of that. Now there isnt even a career mode or anything like that, what happened from that point to now. oh yeah exclusive rights.


Rfactor is set up for this it is just that no mod team has made this happen, you have to buy parts and upgrades for your car, and run seasons to earn money. But there isnt that much of a demand for offline racing compared to the online side of things in PC.