Time to decide

[Meatloaf86]

well after i looked at a few racing games i've narrowed by choices down to either IndyCar Series or Colin McRae 3. hopefully i'll get both but which one would you suggest i get first. i really enjoy the rally racing and i'm just getting into the IRL stuff. so i'm leaning towards Colin McRae 3. i've read reviews on both games and have heard many good things from other boards.

what one would you get first?
where did you get it?
how much did you pay for it?
any comments on either game?

Thanks

[TCrouch]

Re: Time to decide

I had some fun with McRae, but the limitations in this year's version killed it for me.

Personally, I'd probably get Indycar.

[TCrouch]

Re: Time to decide

I had some fun with McRae, but the limitations in this year's version killed it for me.

Personally, I'd probably get Indycar.

[TCrouch]

Re: Time to decide

I had some fun with McRae, but the limitations in this year's version killed it for me.

Personally, I'd probably get Indycar.

[pk500]

Re: Time to decide

Meat:

Tough call.

Colin McRae 3 is the third installment in a very successful, long-running series by Codemasters, where IndyCar Series is the first of hopefully a long-running series -- I sure hope so, as I work for the IRL! -- by Codemasters.

Knowing that, it should be easy to recommend CMR 3, as it is a more polished game due to it being third-generation. But not so fast, my friend, as Lee Corso would say! There's a big, big problem with CMR 3: It's very stripped of gameplay modes and options compared to Colin McRae 2, so it doesn't have a lot of staying power.

Here are my complaints about CMR 3:

1. You only can drive as Colin McRae in a Ford Focus in the career mode. If you like any other kind of car -- I'm a Subaru WRC freak, for example -- you're [censored - you naughty boy] out of luck.

2. You don't make any of the service decisions between stages, which you could do in CMR 3. The computer makes all the repair choices and makes the repairs. Lame.

3. Not all parts are unlocked at the start of your career. It takes a good 2 1/2 seasons or so to unlock all of the available parts for your car. And that dances into the last flaw with a doozy ...

4. The career mode lasts just three seasons. Then you have to start over from scratch. That's right: You bust your balls for three seasons to progress through the skill levels and accumulate points and parts, and it's all over after the third season. You lose everything and have to start over. Bulls*it, if you ask me.

5. The above flaw would be forgivable if the single-stage racing was good, and it is. You can use any car in single-stage or single-rally action, but there's a kicker with that mode of racing: No setups. That's right, you can't play with car setup -- a vital part of rallying -- in the single-stage or single-rally mode.

While CMR 3's driving model is sublime, and the entire game just drips with realism, the above flaws really, really hurt the replay value. I got tired fast of seeing my career end after three seasons and having no tuning options.

ICS has only a season mode, no career mode. And the graphics aren't as good as CMR 3, if that means anything to you.

But like CMR, the racing model in ICS is excellent. The car setup options are great, and getting a good handle on setups is very important to success.

Both games are quite challenging. This isn't Ridge Racer, man.

I guess your choice boils down to which kind of racing you prefer. CMR 3 is the more polished game, but something tells me you'll get more replay value from ICS.

Can you rent them?

Good luck!

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Time to decide

Meat:

Tough call.

Colin McRae 3 is the third installment in a very successful, long-running series by Codemasters, where IndyCar Series is the first of hopefully a long-running series -- I sure hope so, as I work for the IRL! -- by Codemasters.

Knowing that, it should be easy to recommend CMR 3, as it is a more polished game due to it being third-generation. But not so fast, my friend, as Lee Corso would say! There's a big, big problem with CMR 3: It's very stripped of gameplay modes and options compared to Colin McRae 2, so it doesn't have a lot of staying power.

Here are my complaints about CMR 3:

1. You only can drive as Colin McRae in a Ford Focus in the career mode. If you like any other kind of car -- I'm a Subaru WRC freak, for example -- you're [censored - you naughty boy] out of luck.

2. You don't make any of the service decisions between stages, which you could do in CMR 3. The computer makes all the repair choices and makes the repairs. Lame.

3. Not all parts are unlocked at the start of your career. It takes a good 2 1/2 seasons or so to unlock all of the available parts for your car. And that dances into the last flaw with a doozy ...

4. The career mode lasts just three seasons. Then you have to start over from scratch. That's right: You bust your balls for three seasons to progress through the skill levels and accumulate points and parts, and it's all over after the third season. You lose everything and have to start over. Bulls*it, if you ask me.

5. The above flaw would be forgivable if the single-stage racing was good, and it is. You can use any car in single-stage or single-rally action, but there's a kicker with that mode of racing: No setups. That's right, you can't play with car setup -- a vital part of rallying -- in the single-stage or single-rally mode.

While CMR 3's driving model is sublime, and the entire game just drips with realism, the above flaws really, really hurt the replay value. I got tired fast of seeing my career end after three seasons and having no tuning options.

ICS has only a season mode, no career mode. And the graphics aren't as good as CMR 3, if that means anything to you.

But like CMR, the racing model in ICS is excellent. The car setup options are great, and getting a good handle on setups is very important to success.

Both games are quite challenging. This isn't Ridge Racer, man.

I guess your choice boils down to which kind of racing you prefer. CMR 3 is the more polished game, but something tells me you'll get more replay value from ICS.

Can you rent them?

Good luck!

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Time to decide

Meat:

Tough call.

Colin McRae 3 is the third installment in a very successful, long-running series by Codemasters, where IndyCar Series is the first of hopefully a long-running series -- I sure hope so, as I work for the IRL! -- by Codemasters.

Knowing that, it should be easy to recommend CMR 3, as it is a more polished game due to it being third-generation. But not so fast, my friend, as Lee Corso would say! There's a big, big problem with CMR 3: It's very stripped of gameplay modes and options compared to Colin McRae 2, so it doesn't have a lot of staying power.

Here are my complaints about CMR 3:

1. You only can drive as Colin McRae in a Ford Focus in the career mode. If you like any other kind of car -- I'm a Subaru WRC freak, for example -- you're [censored - you naughty boy] out of luck.

2. You don't make any of the service decisions between stages, which you could do in CMR 3. The computer makes all the repair choices and makes the repairs. Lame.

3. Not all parts are unlocked at the start of your career. It takes a good 2 1/2 seasons or so to unlock all of the available parts for your car. And that dances into the last flaw with a doozy ...

4. The career mode lasts just three seasons. Then you have to start over from scratch. That's right: You bust your balls for three seasons to progress through the skill levels and accumulate points and parts, and it's all over after the third season. You lose everything and have to start over. Bulls*it, if you ask me.

5. The above flaw would be forgivable if the single-stage racing was good, and it is. You can use any car in single-stage or single-rally action, but there's a kicker with that mode of racing: No setups. That's right, you can't play with car setup -- a vital part of rallying -- in the single-stage or single-rally mode.

While CMR 3's driving model is sublime, and the entire game just drips with realism, the above flaws really, really hurt the replay value. I got tired fast of seeing my career end after three seasons and having no tuning options.

ICS has only a season mode, no career mode. And the graphics aren't as good as CMR 3, if that means anything to you.

But like CMR, the racing model in ICS is excellent. The car setup options are great, and getting a good handle on setups is very important to success.

Both games are quite challenging. This isn't Ridge Racer, man.

I guess your choice boils down to which kind of racing you prefer. CMR 3 is the more polished game, but something tells me you'll get more replay value from ICS.

Can you rent them?

Good luck!

Take care,
PK

[Meatloaf86]

Re: Time to decide

na i live in a small town (about 2100 people) and we have one rental place. it has like 5 games. our family never rents movies so we don't go to a blockbuster at all or anything so usually i have to buy the games.

from what i've read CM3 as great graphics and the stages are pretty cool. then i look at ICS and it has the father of all events, the Indy 500. i really want both but if i can only find one i'll get which ever. i have GT3 so i do have some rally cars but the idea that there is a co-driver with you sounds really fun. i'm also a little ticked that you can't change your set up in the Stages mode of CM3. in CM3 i like the thing where the mechanics actually work on your car. i saw screens of that and i really liked that idea for the game. i don't know which one to get. hopefully Best Buy, Targer, Comp USA, or Software Etc will have it. if not i'll look at Ebay for it.

Thanks for all the help. i'm really glad you're responding to my topics.

[Meatloaf86]

Re: Time to decide

na i live in a small town (about 2100 people) and we have one rental place. it has like 5 games. our family never rents movies so we don't go to a blockbuster at all or anything so usually i have to buy the games.

from what i've read CM3 as great graphics and the stages are pretty cool. then i look at ICS and it has the father of all events, the Indy 500. i really want both but if i can only find one i'll get which ever. i have GT3 so i do have some rally cars but the idea that there is a co-driver with you sounds really fun. i'm also a little ticked that you can't change your set up in the Stages mode of CM3. in CM3 i like the thing where the mechanics actually work on your car. i saw screens of that and i really liked that idea for the game. i don't know which one to get. hopefully Best Buy, Targer, Comp USA, or Software Etc will have it. if not i'll look at Ebay for it.

Thanks for all the help. i'm really glad you're responding to my topics.

[Meatloaf86]

Re: Time to decide

na i live in a small town (about 2100 people) and we have one rental place. it has like 5 games. our family never rents movies so we don't go to a blockbuster at all or anything so usually i have to buy the games.

from what i've read CM3 as great graphics and the stages are pretty cool. then i look at ICS and it has the father of all events, the Indy 500. i really want both but if i can only find one i'll get which ever. i have GT3 so i do have some rally cars but the idea that there is a co-driver with you sounds really fun. i'm also a little ticked that you can't change your set up in the Stages mode of CM3. in CM3 i like the thing where the mechanics actually work on your car. i saw screens of that and i really liked that idea for the game. i don't know which one to get. hopefully Best Buy, Targer, Comp USA, or Software Etc will have it. if not i'll look at Ebay for it.

Thanks for all the help. i'm really glad you're responding to my topics.

[Meatloaf86]

Re: Time to decide

i'm so happy. i found a place to buy both the games i want. ICS and CM3. i can get CM3 at Gamestop and i can get ICS at Software Etc. to bad they aren't anywhere close to each other. the Gamestop is about an hour west of my house and the Software Etc. is abotu an hour east. oh well. just means more shopping and more games/CDs to buy. i'm so happy. this should be a fun summer.

if you guys have any comments please feel free to post what you think.

[Meatloaf86]

Re: Time to decide

i'm so happy. i found a place to buy both the games i want. ICS and CM3. i can get CM3 at Gamestop and i can get ICS at Software Etc. to bad they aren't anywhere close to each other. the Gamestop is about an hour west of my house and the Software Etc. is abotu an hour east. oh well. just means more shopping and more games/CDs to buy. i'm so happy. this should be a fun summer.

if you guys have any comments please feel free to post what you think.

[Meatloaf86]

Re: Time to decide

i'm so happy. i found a place to buy both the games i want. ICS and CM3. i can get CM3 at Gamestop and i can get ICS at Software Etc. to bad they aren't anywhere close to each other. the Gamestop is about an hour west of my house and the Software Etc. is abotu an hour east. oh well. just means more shopping and more games/CDs to buy. i'm so happy. this should be a fun summer.

if you guys have any comments please feel free to post what you think.

[Meatloaf86]

Re: Time to decide

well i finally got to go shopping today. i picked up both ICS and CM3. i like both so far. i've done 3 stages in CM3 and took off a tire, hood,grill, front fender, and back bumper. it was pretty cool.

ICS crashes suck IMO. the racing is cool. i like the speed realism.

i'll post more comments later maybe. i have to get going now. got a baseball game in an hour and need to catch a bus.

[Meatloaf86]

Re: Time to decide

well i finally got to go shopping today. i picked up both ICS and CM3. i like both so far. i've done 3 stages in CM3 and took off a tire, hood,grill, front fender, and back bumper. it was pretty cool.

ICS crashes suck IMO. the racing is cool. i like the speed realism.

i'll post more comments later maybe. i have to get going now. got a baseball game in an hour and need to catch a bus.