NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

[Badgun]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
TCrouch said:
Yes, you can. And the entire career mode is there bro.

Signing sponsors, R&amp;D, building cars...having special cars for Super Speedways, Road Courses, etc. Signing individual sponsors...driving for 20 years.

That's a whole lot that Papy's game doesn't have. Granted, it's "fluff", but the PC version doesn't drive horribly...it just has twitchy wheel control that I'm still messing around with. I had a volleyball league match last night, so I wasn't home to mess around with it a lot, but it wasn't crap. I didn't feel like instantly dismissing it.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

So do you think this might be like Tiger Woods was last year? Console versions more on the arcade side and pc versions more on the sim side? Tiger Woods on the Xbox is an entirely different game than on the pc. I liked the pc version much better since it felt more realistic. Do you think this is the case with NT 2004?

BTW, who, if anyone is doing cars for EA's game?

[bbondsfan25]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

I admittedly have not played many Nascar games in the past. What makes Nascar Thunder 2004 arcadey?

[bbondsfan25]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

I admittedly have not played many Nascar games in the past. What makes Nascar Thunder 2004 arcadey?

[bbondsfan25]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

I admittedly have not played many Nascar games in the past. What makes Nascar Thunder 2004 arcadey?

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Rodster,
I never thought for a moment that you did drugs, it was just another euphimism for "what is he smoking?". So if it offended you, I apologize, my brother.

Maybe you do have problems with your disk. I have not seen anything like what you described. If fact, the framerates for me appear to be as good as it gets. You know how EA games are...they consistently have problems with disc read errors and such. Just wondering if you tried a new disc would it be any better? Even the very first time I put mine in, I got a dirty disc error before I even finished putting the info in for my profile. Looked like a bad sign, but I haven't had any trouble with it since.

You might try exchanging it and see it that helps.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Wow that must be it cause i'm on my second disk. The first only worked once and would just sit at the dashboard. I exchanged it yesterday and now i'm constantly getting DDE messages. So I apologize for making the statement as well about poor framerates. It must be my XBOX which i've had since the launch date.

I'm curious can you try racing at New York and Devils Canyon fantasy courses. I experienced the worst FPS there and saw lots of pausing. I get headaches when certain games have framerate issues. I do agree with you bro, NT2004 is a blast on the console. You should try the PC version if EA releases a demo.

peace

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Rodster,
I never thought for a moment that you did drugs, it was just another euphimism for "what is he smoking?". So if it offended you, I apologize, my brother.

Maybe you do have problems with your disk. I have not seen anything like what you described. If fact, the framerates for me appear to be as good as it gets. You know how EA games are...they consistently have problems with disc read errors and such. Just wondering if you tried a new disc would it be any better? Even the very first time I put mine in, I got a dirty disc error before I even finished putting the info in for my profile. Looked like a bad sign, but I haven't had any trouble with it since.

You might try exchanging it and see it that helps.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Wow that must be it cause i'm on my second disk. The first only worked once and would just sit at the dashboard. I exchanged it yesterday and now i'm constantly getting DDE messages. So I apologize for making the statement as well about poor framerates. It must be my XBOX which i've had since the launch date.

I'm curious can you try racing at New York and Devils Canyon fantasy courses. I experienced the worst FPS there and saw lots of pausing. I get headaches when certain games have framerate issues. I do agree with you bro, NT2004 is a blast on the console. You should try the PC version if EA releases a demo.

peace

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Rodster,
I never thought for a moment that you did drugs, it was just another euphimism for "what is he smoking?". So if it offended you, I apologize, my brother.

Maybe you do have problems with your disk. I have not seen anything like what you described. If fact, the framerates for me appear to be as good as it gets. You know how EA games are...they consistently have problems with disc read errors and such. Just wondering if you tried a new disc would it be any better? Even the very first time I put mine in, I got a dirty disc error before I even finished putting the info in for my profile. Looked like a bad sign, but I haven't had any trouble with it since.

You might try exchanging it and see it that helps.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Wow that must be it cause i'm on my second disk. The first only worked once and would just sit at the dashboard. I exchanged it yesterday and now i'm constantly getting DDE messages. So I apologize for making the statement as well about poor framerates. It must be my XBOX which i've had since the launch date.

I'm curious can you try racing at New York and Devils Canyon fantasy courses. I experienced the worst FPS there and saw lots of pausing. I get headaches when certain games have framerate issues. I do agree with you bro, NT2004 is a blast on the console. You should try the PC version if EA releases a demo.

peace

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

So do you think this might be like Tiger Woods was last year? Console versions more on the arcade side and pc versions more on the sim side? Tiger Woods on the Xbox is an entirely different game than on the pc. I liked the pc version much better since it felt more realistic. Do you think this is the case with NT 2004?

BTW, who, if anyone is doing cars for EA's game?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Yo bro that's the best example I can think of. I bought TW2003(PC) last year and it was way different from the XBOX/PS2/GC versions. NT2004 is very different from the console versions. It now includes a Career Mode, improved physics, improved graphics, and support for 4x Anti Aliasing. Randy McGruder seem to like it a lot. Even though it's not in the same league as NR2003 it's a 150 percent improvement over last years game.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/450/450285p1.html

Last year HCmotorsports.com released all the 2002 cars and a few of the 2003 cars as well. They also released a killer CTS mod for THunder 2003 so i'm pretty sure someone will pony up with current 2003 cars and another CTS mod.

peace

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

So do you think this might be like Tiger Woods was last year? Console versions more on the arcade side and pc versions more on the sim side? Tiger Woods on the Xbox is an entirely different game than on the pc. I liked the pc version much better since it felt more realistic. Do you think this is the case with NT 2004?

BTW, who, if anyone is doing cars for EA's game?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Yo bro that's the best example I can think of. I bought TW2003(PC) last year and it was way different from the XBOX/PS2/GC versions. NT2004 is very different from the console versions. It now includes a Career Mode, improved physics, improved graphics, and support for 4x Anti Aliasing. Randy McGruder seem to like it a lot. Even though it's not in the same league as NR2003 it's a 150 percent improvement over last years game.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/450/450285p1.html

Last year HCmotorsports.com released all the 2002 cars and a few of the 2003 cars as well. They also released a killer CTS mod for THunder 2003 so i'm pretty sure someone will pony up with current 2003 cars and another CTS mod.

peace

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

So do you think this might be like Tiger Woods was last year? Console versions more on the arcade side and pc versions more on the sim side? Tiger Woods on the Xbox is an entirely different game than on the pc. I liked the pc version much better since it felt more realistic. Do you think this is the case with NT 2004?

BTW, who, if anyone is doing cars for EA's game?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Yo bro that's the best example I can think of. I bought TW2003(PC) last year and it was way different from the XBOX/PS2/GC versions. NT2004 is very different from the console versions. It now includes a Career Mode, improved physics, improved graphics, and support for 4x Anti Aliasing. Randy McGruder seem to like it a lot. Even though it's not in the same league as NR2003 it's a 150 percent improvement over last years game.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/450/450285p1.html

Last year HCmotorsports.com released all the 2002 cars and a few of the 2003 cars as well. They also released a killer CTS mod for THunder 2003 so i'm pretty sure someone will pony up with current 2003 cars and another CTS mod.

peace

[TCrouch]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

Also, I went home and lunch and found a setting on the wheel that gave me excellent control. The trick was the Speed Sensitivity. I had it on 0, but after I bumped it up to 50%, I was golden. I now have my wheel on 100% sensitivity, 0% dead zone, and 50% speed sensitivity, and it gave me precise control. I went 3 wide at Daytona in the center lane for 6 laps at lunch without banging anybody.

I really, really, really enjoyed the time I had at lunch. I'm starting a new career on 20% races tonight...yellows seem to go for a long time in this game, and there are some inaccuracies during a yellow (for instance, I crossed the yellow flag at Daytona, completing lap 5...it was yellow for the rest of a 10 lap race, and normally yellows at Daytona are 3 lap affairs...also, it went green on lap 10. Meaning I basically hit the gas and crossed the line.)
.

I haven't played the console versions, but the past ones have been "arcadey" (to answer the person who asked that earlier) because you could do things that physically weren't possible in a car. You could slam into turn 1 at The Rock at 170 mph and control the car. In reality, anything over 155 or so will cause you to spin out...and even 150+ is dicey as hell. By mid-corner, you'll be in the 130's anyway on an "average" setup. In Thunder, you can typically drive the car like an arcade game, with little regard to real-world physics.

I'm happy to report that, after a day or so of on-and-off messing around, they've corrected a lot of that crap in Thunder PC. It's still a little too easy (using Rockingham as my example, I'll continue)...you can brake hard entering 1 or 3, and after you are slowed enough to stop your outward drift, absolutely MASH the gas instantly, and the car is on a rail. No breaking loose, no spinning out, etc. It's good fun, for sure...not the most realistic thing out there, but it's fun. It's also not as unbelievable as previous years.

It's still a better physics engine than years past, it just isn't on par with NR2003. But, in keeping with typical EA tradition, the presentation and "fluff" more than make up for the minor crap I've seen so far (now that I have a good control setup). I'll be playing it quite a bit, at least for the near future. If I find some huge, monumental flaw, then maybe not. But so far, it's semi-realistic fun.

[TCrouch]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

Also, I went home and lunch and found a setting on the wheel that gave me excellent control. The trick was the Speed Sensitivity. I had it on 0, but after I bumped it up to 50%, I was golden. I now have my wheel on 100% sensitivity, 0% dead zone, and 50% speed sensitivity, and it gave me precise control. I went 3 wide at Daytona in the center lane for 6 laps at lunch without banging anybody.

I really, really, really enjoyed the time I had at lunch. I'm starting a new career on 20% races tonight...yellows seem to go for a long time in this game, and there are some inaccuracies during a yellow (for instance, I crossed the yellow flag at Daytona, completing lap 5...it was yellow for the rest of a 10 lap race, and normally yellows at Daytona are 3 lap affairs...also, it went green on lap 10. Meaning I basically hit the gas and crossed the line.)
.

I haven't played the console versions, but the past ones have been "arcadey" (to answer the person who asked that earlier) because you could do things that physically weren't possible in a car. You could slam into turn 1 at The Rock at 170 mph and control the car. In reality, anything over 155 or so will cause you to spin out...and even 150+ is dicey as hell. By mid-corner, you'll be in the 130's anyway on an "average" setup. In Thunder, you can typically drive the car like an arcade game, with little regard to real-world physics.

I'm happy to report that, after a day or so of on-and-off messing around, they've corrected a lot of that crap in Thunder PC. It's still a little too easy (using Rockingham as my example, I'll continue)...you can brake hard entering 1 or 3, and after you are slowed enough to stop your outward drift, absolutely MASH the gas instantly, and the car is on a rail. No breaking loose, no spinning out, etc. It's good fun, for sure...not the most realistic thing out there, but it's fun. It's also not as unbelievable as previous years.

It's still a better physics engine than years past, it just isn't on par with NR2003. But, in keeping with typical EA tradition, the presentation and "fluff" more than make up for the minor crap I've seen so far (now that I have a good control setup). I'll be playing it quite a bit, at least for the near future. If I find some huge, monumental flaw, then maybe not. But so far, it's semi-realistic fun.

[TCrouch]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

Also, I went home and lunch and found a setting on the wheel that gave me excellent control. The trick was the Speed Sensitivity. I had it on 0, but after I bumped it up to 50%, I was golden. I now have my wheel on 100% sensitivity, 0% dead zone, and 50% speed sensitivity, and it gave me precise control. I went 3 wide at Daytona in the center lane for 6 laps at lunch without banging anybody.

I really, really, really enjoyed the time I had at lunch. I'm starting a new career on 20% races tonight...yellows seem to go for a long time in this game, and there are some inaccuracies during a yellow (for instance, I crossed the yellow flag at Daytona, completing lap 5...it was yellow for the rest of a 10 lap race, and normally yellows at Daytona are 3 lap affairs...also, it went green on lap 10. Meaning I basically hit the gas and crossed the line.)
.

I haven't played the console versions, but the past ones have been "arcadey" (to answer the person who asked that earlier) because you could do things that physically weren't possible in a car. You could slam into turn 1 at The Rock at 170 mph and control the car. In reality, anything over 155 or so will cause you to spin out...and even 150+ is dicey as hell. By mid-corner, you'll be in the 130's anyway on an "average" setup. In Thunder, you can typically drive the car like an arcade game, with little regard to real-world physics.

I'm happy to report that, after a day or so of on-and-off messing around, they've corrected a lot of that crap in Thunder PC. It's still a little too easy (using Rockingham as my example, I'll continue)...you can brake hard entering 1 or 3, and after you are slowed enough to stop your outward drift, absolutely MASH the gas instantly, and the car is on a rail. No breaking loose, no spinning out, etc. It's good fun, for sure...not the most realistic thing out there, but it's fun. It's also not as unbelievable as previous years.

It's still a better physics engine than years past, it just isn't on par with NR2003. But, in keeping with typical EA tradition, the presentation and "fluff" more than make up for the minor crap I've seen so far (now that I have a good control setup). I'll be playing it quite a bit, at least for the near future. If I find some huge, monumental flaw, then maybe not. But so far, it's semi-realistic fun.

[BigDPW]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

OK I am becoming increasingly sold on the PC version... A couple more questions though for those that have it...

How are paintjobs handled for each player (like in the console version) are they unlockable, how do you unlock them etc???

Are the lightning challenges in the PC version???

Are the fantasy tracks in the PC version???

How is the paint option for the career mode... Simple interface with options like on the console or more detailed like NR2003???

Are the Busch drivers and Legends on the PC version like they were on the console last year???

Do people retire and have younger drivers take over there rides like the console for last year???

Thanks for the great info so far... I like the idea of getting NT04 for the PC b/c it is cheaper and I will not have to buy a wheel for my PS2 (plus where my PS2 is located isn't set up good for a wheel to be hooked up)...

Also if anyone has found anything new that the console versions have this year (esp with the career mode) I would love to hear about it...

[BigDPW]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

OK I am becoming increasingly sold on the PC version... A couple more questions though for those that have it...

How are paintjobs handled for each player (like in the console version) are they unlockable, how do you unlock them etc???

Are the lightning challenges in the PC version???

Are the fantasy tracks in the PC version???

How is the paint option for the career mode... Simple interface with options like on the console or more detailed like NR2003???

Are the Busch drivers and Legends on the PC version like they were on the console last year???

Do people retire and have younger drivers take over there rides like the console for last year???

Thanks for the great info so far... I like the idea of getting NT04 for the PC b/c it is cheaper and I will not have to buy a wheel for my PS2 (plus where my PS2 is located isn't set up good for a wheel to be hooked up)...

Also if anyone has found anything new that the console versions have this year (esp with the career mode) I would love to hear about it...