NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

[TidePride50]

I picked this up today and I can tell you right now it is much better than last years all the way around. It plays similar to NASCAR Heat 2002, but its not there yet. No more passing on the high side without help at the super speedways. The rival mode is real cool too. You can make rivals by bumping and grinding or you can make allies by drafting behind them and giving the racing room. Your allies let you pass much easier than rivals. Rival-Ally goes from 100 to -100. Your teammates start out in the positive side in the 90s. Depends on the rivals on where they start. I played with Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace started out as a -58 or something like that. Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart also started out on the negative side while playing as Jeff Gordon. But most of the drivers start out a 0 and you decide if they become an ally or a rival by the way you race them. You can also get back in the good graces with your enemis by drafting with them and racing them clean. For you NASCAR lover atleast rent this game and give it a fair chance. I know the sim fans really didnt like the 2002 and 2003, but 2004 is definantly a step in the right direction.

There are also several other new features that make this game better.

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

I agree it's much improved over NT2003. Nascar 2003 still has very little too worry about though.

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

I agree it's much improved over NT2003. Nascar 2003 still has very little too worry about though.

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

I agree it's much improved over NT2003. Nascar 2003 still has very little too worry about though.

[griffy97]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

How's the physics model?

That's the main reason I got rid of 2002 and 2003. The driving model was just plain bad. It didn't feel right.

Has NT 2004 improved this?

Thanks for the post!

[griffy97]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

How's the physics model?

That's the main reason I got rid of 2002 and 2003. The driving model was just plain bad. It didn't feel right.

Has NT 2004 improved this?

Thanks for the post!

[griffy97]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

How's the physics model?

That's the main reason I got rid of 2002 and 2003. The driving model was just plain bad. It didn't feel right.

Has NT 2004 improved this?

Thanks for the post!

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
griffy97 said:
How's the physics model?

That's the main reason I got rid of 2002 and 2003. The driving model was just plain bad. It didn't feel right.

Has NT 2004 improved this?

Thanks for the post!

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

Randy M. seems to like it. He admits it's not ready to overtake Papy's sim just yet but EA is taking this sim very seriously. His review is up and overall gives the whole package a nice grade.

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

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
griffy97 said:
How's the physics model?

That's the main reason I got rid of 2002 and 2003. The driving model was just plain bad. It didn't feel right.

Has NT 2004 improved this?

Thanks for the post!

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

Randy M. seems to like it. He admits it's not ready to overtake Papy's sim just yet but EA is taking this sim very seriously. His review is up and overall gives the whole package a nice grade.

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

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
griffy97 said:
How's the physics model?

That's the main reason I got rid of 2002 and 2003. The driving model was just plain bad. It didn't feel right.

Has NT 2004 improved this?

Thanks for the post!

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

Randy M. seems to like it. He admits it's not ready to overtake Papy's sim just yet but EA is taking this sim very seriously. His review is up and overall gives the whole package a nice grade.

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

[griffy97]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

Thanks for the link; it was a pretty good read.

I'm curious; he noted the rivals theme didn't seem to have much effect in the PC version. Also, that ImageSpace basically produced the game. Which is good. Will the Xbox version have the same enhancements and did ImageSpace (some former Papy programmers) also help develop the console versions? Sure hope so.

Another question: have the graphics improved? Not that EA delivers bad graphics, but they always seem grainy, especially on the NASCAR titles. I hope they cleaned up this area for 2004.

[griffy97]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

Thanks for the link; it was a pretty good read.

I'm curious; he noted the rivals theme didn't seem to have much effect in the PC version. Also, that ImageSpace basically produced the game. Which is good. Will the Xbox version have the same enhancements and did ImageSpace (some former Papy programmers) also help develop the console versions? Sure hope so.

Another question: have the graphics improved? Not that EA delivers bad graphics, but they always seem grainy, especially on the NASCAR titles. I hope they cleaned up this area for 2004.

[griffy97]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

Thanks for the link; it was a pretty good read.

I'm curious; he noted the rivals theme didn't seem to have much effect in the PC version. Also, that ImageSpace basically produced the game. Which is good. Will the Xbox version have the same enhancements and did ImageSpace (some former Papy programmers) also help develop the console versions? Sure hope so.

Another question: have the graphics improved? Not that EA delivers bad graphics, but they always seem grainy, especially on the NASCAR titles. I hope they cleaned up this area for 2004.

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
griffy97 said:
Thanks for the link; it was a pretty good read.

I'm curious; he noted the rivals theme didn't seem to have much effect in the PC version. Also, that ImageSpace basically produced the game. Which is good. Will the Xbox version have the same enhancements and did ImageSpace (some former Papy programmers) also help develop the console versions? Sure hope so.

Another question: have the graphics improved? Not that EA delivers bad graphics, but they always seem grainy, especially on the NASCAR titles. I hope they cleaned up this area for 2004.

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

All Thunder games for the consoles were produced by Tiburon the guys behind Madden. I agree with Randy the Rivals thingy was geared more for the console versions as the PC is geared towards the Sim crowd. The Console and PC versions basically share one thing "Career Mode" but the PC version adds the Simulation twist to Career Mode.

As far as graphics go you asked if the graphics were improved. If you're asking about the PC version then, YES very much so. THe graphics are cleaner, crisper they now support Anti Alaising and Anisotropic filtering and with all graphics options maxed out in 1280x1024x32 with 4xAA and 2xAnisotropic filtering I get about 44 FPS in last place with no stuttering like last year. The graphics engine has been improved quite nicely.

The XBOX is a mixed bag. The disk I bought had a defect as the game only loaded once and I noticed lots of pausing and lockups. I exchanged it and will try again. The Rivals feature is pretty cool as well as the revised drafting mode. You press 'A' and you can piggy back for the draft with the car in front and this builds up your Ally points as well. The XBOX graphics are average at best as it's quite evident this is a shoddy PS2 port. Yes their still is a grainy look to the graphics on the Xbox because it's a PS2 port. No doubt it will look slightly better and play a little smoother on the Xbox than the PS2 but don't expect to find this EA game looking or playing as smooth as Rallisport Challenge 2 from DICE.

Feel free to ask anymore ?'s

[Rodster]

Re: NASCAR Thunder 2004 released today

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
griffy97 said:
Thanks for the link; it was a pretty good read.

I'm curious; he noted the rivals theme didn't seem to have much effect in the PC version. Also, that ImageSpace basically produced the game. Which is good. Will the Xbox version have the same enhancements and did ImageSpace (some former Papy programmers) also help develop the console versions? Sure hope so.

Another question: have the graphics improved? Not that EA delivers bad graphics, but they always seem grainy, especially on the NASCAR titles. I hope they cleaned up this area for 2004.

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

All Thunder games for the consoles were produced by Tiburon the guys behind Madden. I agree with Randy the Rivals thingy was geared more for the console versions as the PC is geared towards the Sim crowd. The Console and PC versions basically share one thing "Career Mode" but the PC version adds the Simulation twist to Career Mode.

As far as graphics go you asked if the graphics were improved. If you're asking about the PC version then, YES very much so. THe graphics are cleaner, crisper they now support Anti Alaising and Anisotropic filtering and with all graphics options maxed out in 1280x1024x32 with 4xAA and 2xAnisotropic filtering I get about 44 FPS in last place with no stuttering like last year. The graphics engine has been improved quite nicely.

The XBOX is a mixed bag. The disk I bought had a defect as the game only loaded once and I noticed lots of pausing and lockups. I exchanged it and will try again. The Rivals feature is pretty cool as well as the revised drafting mode. You press 'A' and you can piggy back for the draft with the car in front and this builds up your Ally points as well. The XBOX graphics are average at best as it's quite evident this is a shoddy PS2 port. Yes their still is a grainy look to the graphics on the Xbox because it's a PS2 port. No doubt it will look slightly better and play a little smoother on the Xbox than the PS2 but don't expect to find this EA game looking or playing as smooth as Rallisport Challenge 2 from DICE.

Feel free to ask anymore ?'s