NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

[bravesfan1984]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Since the season is coming up on us quickly, I decided to finally dig into career mode. My plan is to run short races (4%) to get through the first couple seasons when my team is bad and then adjust the race length and AI difficulty once I'm on par. So far, 16 races in first season I'm 22nd in points with a win. Trying to get my team really good so I can follow along with the real season here in 6 weeks or so. I'll find myself more likely to play if I'm not running back of the pack all the time.

[Turbojugend]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Does anyone play with friends or online ?

I only use my XB1 for Halo 5 with co workers and friends, but our group is trying to find a decent racing game to play and someone jokingly said NASCAR Heat and it turned into an actual interest in playing it.

I'm just wondering if the online experience has changed any since some earlier impressions and if it's stable.

I'm pretty sure there are no custom lobbies for this game, so I don't think you'd even be able to start up a friends-only league unless you all agree to a time when the servers are empty (which could be anytime for all I know).

[dave360]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I picked it up during the Steam Winter Sale for PC of course. It's a step up from the horrid NASCAR 14 and 15. The AI provides an enjoyable race, but it's really bare bones. I hope next year we at least have the ability to look left and right. It's ridiculous that a racing game doesn't have that ability. I also want to be able to customize the FOV settings. This is must for triple screens or ultrawide monitors. All in all, pleased with what I paid for it and hopeful for the future.

[Ebpmd]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I'm not a NASCAR fan and do not want to actually control a car around the track. Can you create a driver/car and let the CPU drive the car around the track? I'd just like to watch a couple big races with a created classic driver/car. Thanks

[BurghFan]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I'm not a NASCAR fan and do not want to actually control a car around the track. Can you create a driver/car and let the CPU drive the car around the track? I'd just like to watch a couple big races with a created classic driver/car. Thanks

No, you cannot do that. There is no 'spectator' mode nor is there a create-a-car feature in this game.

[dave360]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I'm not a NASCAR fan and do not want to actually control a car around the track. Can you create a driver/car and let the CPU drive the car around the track? I'd just like to watch a couple big races with a created classic driver/car. Thanks

If you have a decent PC, I'd try Motorsports Manager for that. You pick a team and then manage the races. It's really good and sounds like you might enjoy it.

[Turbojugend]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Question: Did DMi do some major tweaking to Sim physics? I pretty much gave up on Sim after the first couple of days, but I went back and played some last night and it wasn't nearly as awful as I'd remembered. With no practice or training, I could actual trade paint and scrape the walls without spinning out, even the braking seemed less twitchy. It was actually... *gasp*... enjoyable. This breathes a bit of fresh air into the game as I was missing out on custom setups, which could at least extend the life of the game a bit.

So, did DMi actual overhaul their Sim physics or do I just suck less?

[ILuvMN81]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Question: Did DMi do some major tweaking to Sim physics? I pretty much gave up on Sim after the first couple of days, but I went back and played some last night and it wasn't nearly as awful as I'd remembered. With no practice or training, I could actual trade paint and scrape the walls without spinning out, even the braking seemed less twitchy. It was actually... *gasp*... enjoyable. This breathes a bit of fresh air into the game as I was missing out on custom setups, which could at least extend the life of the game a bit.

So, did DMi actual overhaul their Sim physics or do I just suck less?

"Why not both?" Seriously though, according to DMi's patch notes they say that they improved the driving experience at XYZ tracks. I also think you've put in sometime and figured things out too, which is my exact experience. I was using a guy on YouTube almost religiously but now I look at that as a baseline and tweak for my style. I wasn't the fastest but I found that I setup a real nice car for Martinsville that wasn't too loose and could negotiate the turns really nicely. It makes a world of difference.

[Turbojugend]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Cool, thanks! It's funny though, 'cause I really haven't put any time at all into this game. It's been collecting dust for months, although I have been playing other NASCAR games so maybe my driving skill has improved just a bit. Anyway, Sim is definitely better than the autocorrect hell that is Normal.

Also, following up on an earlier discussion, it turns out that Speed Rating is indeed based solely on your fastest lap time. I said that I thought factors may be involved, but I was wrong. Try to boost the ratings on all tracks is kind of a neat diversion, those road tracks are brutal though.

[ILuvMN81]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Cool, thanks! It's funny though, 'cause I really haven't put any time at all into this game. It's been collecting dust for months, although I have been playing other NASCAR games so maybe my driving skill has improved just a bit. Anyway, Sim is definitely better than the autocorrect hell that is Normal.

Also, following up on an earlier discussion, it turns out that Speed Rating is indeed based solely on your fastest lap time. I said that I thought factors may be involved, but I was wrong. Try to boost the ratings on all tracks is kind of a neat diversion, those road tracks are brutal though.

Funny how that can work; every game has its own physics and handling but I agree that if you get skilled in one it can translate to others.

I have a love/hate feeling with the Normal mode. I absolutely hate it on short tracks and road courses but on the bigger ovals and especially the plate tracks I think of it as a necessary nuisance when playing the AI because any little bump causes a massive pile up. Sure it slows down your times and rythym but it actually makes the cars stable.

Also...on a side note to all: it's too bad this game has such a bad rap and seems to be dying. On XBL, the clubs feature makes it possible to hook up with people and do some good racing but lobby browsing can be a mixed bag (couldn't tell you about PS4).
DMi has said absolutely nothing about where this game or franchise is headed. They're getting a lot of questions on social media after the seemingly monthly DLCs have stopped (Toyota partnership already over?) and even more about updates for new drivers, schemes and now the new race format and every time they respond with "no news to share". The closest I've seen to an answer is that they'll include these features in a future game so read between the lines there and maybe they're hinting.

The game has improved since that fiasco at launch but they turned so many people off and really shot themselves in the foot. They hyped themselves a lot but I think consumers were expecting a bit much too. Take the game for what it is: a new series from a smaller developer. It has a lot of kinks but they did somethings well. Go and get it cheaper used or even new since the price has dropped by 40%, play it a little to unlock things, play multiplayer, whatever.

[Turbojugend]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I agree the game is not a total bust, there's actually some fairly decent racing here. Maybe not authentic, but fun. At the same time, there's so much missing from what you'd expect from a modern racer: Mini-map, wreck replays, working big screens, custom lobbies, savable camera options, the list goes on. It's just bizarre that previous-gen games from seven years prior had these features, and even these are relatively minor issues compared to the framerate and AI deficiencies.

Small studio, limited resources, I get it. Seems it would have been better to release this as a budget title at $29.99 then drop it to $19.99 over the holidays. Sure DMi might be taking a hit, but if they're really in this for the long haul, they'd sell through to a larger fanbase who would probably be satisfied with their purchase and looking forward to another game.

Anyway, I do think the silence is probably leading up to the announcement of either a 2017 DLC package with rule updates, etc., or a full-blown sequel. Personally I'm hoping for a sequel, I feel like there's only so much they can improve upon with the original. Not to mention NASCAR has completely rebranded this year (new logo, new sponsor), making the original feel even more dated.

[dave360]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Price drop across all platforms. $29.99 now

[timmg]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Price drop across all platforms. $29.99 now

19.99 PS4
29.99 XB1
On amazon

Is it even worth $19.99

[Turbojugend]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

$19.99 would be the sweet spot for me, just don't expect anything super-deep or visually amazing. But for $20 you could fire it up every now and then, tweak some setups, race online or for lap times/Speed Ratings and still get your money's worth, I would think.

[dubcity]

Re: NASCAR Heat Evolution Available, Post Your Impressions Here

19.99 PS4
29.99 XB1
On amazon

Is it even worth $19.99

The fact that that's even a question is your answer. Most of the YouTube channels I watch that focus on racing games gave up on this game long ago.
Also have to take into account if/when the next one comes out.