| Nascar Thunder 2003 Facts : | ||
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INTRODUCTION As promised, here is our interview with Ed Martin, Director of NASCAR production at Electronic Arts. Before we start, we would like to thank all the visitors, who submited their questions. We received around 100 of them. TABLE OF CONTENT MULTIPLAYER BHMS - What is EA's vision of multiplayer for the release version of NT2003 and the early updates. Multiplayer is make or break for many on a purchase. Ed Martin - As this is our first NASCAR PC title in a couple of years and our first with Image Space, multiplayer will be an evolution. We have to get the basics right before we blow out the online world. That said, because we are working with Image Space, the online experience is going to be similar to that of F1 2002. BHMS - Did you think of all the league administrators when doing the multiplayer part of the game? What are the main and "revolutionary" features? Ed Martin - You can export results & such out of the game but admin control of the race is limited. For example, the admin can't throw flags manually. BHMS - Will we be able to setup our own (dedicated) servers or be tied to having to pay EA for online racing? Ed Martin - We do not support dedicated servers. BHMS - Is the code for online play the same as F12002? Ed Martin - Yes - it was built from the same code base. BHMS - Will there be a ranking system? Just how serious is EA when it comes to supporting and improving the online multiplayer portion of this program? Ed Martin - We do not have a built in ranking system. Leagues can do it easily on their own, though. BHMS - Will yellow flags, full 43 car field and AI cars be implemented in multiplayer? Ed Martin - Yellow flags are in. However, we do not have multiplayer AI. BHMS - Will the game allow for a championship season to be run in multiplayer to allow friends to run a season with you? Ed Martin - We don't have a season, per se, but with the stats, it's certainly easy for people to do so. BHMS - Will you be able to be a spectator in a multiplayer race? Ed Martin - There's no special spectator mode but you can get into a race and just watch if you choose. GAMEPLAY BHMS - How real is the physics engine? Is it really based on F1 2002 and can you give us some examples? Ed Martin - Yes, it is based off of the F1 2002 engine, modified, of course, for NASCAR. BHMS - How did you model the tire wear and fuel usage? Will you actually be able to save fuel by rolling out of the trottle early, or is that already pre-set? Ed Martin - It's not pre-set. The way you drive directly impacts your wear. BHMS - How extensive is the damage modeling? Will there be random breakdowns, will the cars be able to catch fire if the situation allows? Ed Martin - Fire is "realistic" but not exaggerated. Yes, random breakdowns will occur & the user can adjust the frequency up & down to their liking. BHMS - Will Nascar Thunder 2003 have dirt, oil, marbles, and oil dry on the track like Nascar Racing 2003 supposedly will have? Ed Martin - No. BHMS - Will Nascar Thunder 2003 include dynamic weather where track conditions change throughout the race? Ed Martin - Yes - it's user selectable (so it's up to them whether they want it to change or not). And, we even have rain on the road courses. BHMS - What settings will we be able to change when setting up a car? Will there be different engines for qualifying and race? Ed Martin - No, just like the real world, you have to use the same engine all weekend long. BHMS - Have you included tips on building setups? Ed Martin - We ship with some default setups but there's no "tips". God knows the community out there gets it enough to do great setups! :-) BHMS - Will there be a career mode? Ed Martin - Career Mode is on the PS2, Xbox & Gamecube but not PC & PSX. BHMS - I have read that the Winston, Bud Shootout, and Gatorade 125's will be in the simulation. Can you tell us a bit more about them? Ed Martin - Those are in the PS2, Xbox & Gamecube versions, not the PC & PSX. BHMS - What can you tell us about AI in Nascar Thunder 2003? Will they learn, race hard in finishing stages, will they remember who nudged them and return the "favor"? Ed Martin - We don't have any "memory" built into the AI but yes, they are aggressive. Of course, the user can adjust them to their liking. MISCELLANEOUS BHMS - Are you planning on releasing a demo? If so, will this be before or after the retail release? Ed Martin - We will have a demo but the release date has not yet been announced. BHMS - What is the main goal of NT2003? Is it to be as real as possible, or is it more of an "arcade" oriented, to appeal to the masses? Ed Martin - NT03 PC is to be a hard core sim. While we do have some assists in there that users can turn on, realism is the goal. BHMS - Are there any differences between the PC, Playstation, Playstation 2,XBOX, and Gamecube versions? Ed Martin - I've noted the biggest ones above. HARDWARE BHMS - What will be the system requirments to run this game? What specs. would you recommend? Ed Martin - The min spec is a P3-500 with 128MB of RAM and a 32MB DX8.1 compatible video card. Recommended is a 900 with 256MB. BHMS - Will Nascar Thunder have dual controller support? I have an Act Labs shifter, and clutch pedals and I wonder if I will be able to use them. Ed Martin - If you can set it up to work in Windows Control Panel, you can make it work in the game. EDITING BHMS - Is this game going to be open source so that mods like new tracks and vehicle types can be made? Ed Martin - We're not releasing the source code, of course, but this will be the most editable/tweakable NASCAR game ever. BHMS - Other than painting will we be able to customize the cars for instance cockpit, types of gauges, arrangement of gauges, etc. from inside the game or will we still have to do it manually and will we have more options on external editing? Ed Martin - There is no built in paint kit. But, we've released templates & models to the community already so everything is editable. BHMS - Whats the limit of cars in the overall game? Can you create new car files, or do have to overwrite the oringinal car files? Ed Martin - You can very easily add more cars to the game without removing the ones already there. BHMS - Are tracks going to be possible to make? If so, what program(s) will we need (3DS Max, Gmax, etc.)? Will you include a 3ds max (or gmax) plug-in so we can make our own tracks/cars? Ed Martin - There's no built in track builder but the community has never that that stop them. Again, take a look at EA's F1 PC products to get an idea of what can be done. A lot. BHMS - What size are the car textures? Is the entire car included in the texture, or is the car broken into different texture files? Ed Martin - It's a single texture. BHMS - Is each car's driver picture (face, arms, gloves) independent for each car, meaning I can have Ricky Rudd's face, arms, gloves, dashboard on one car, Mark Martin's face, arms, dashboard on another car, and so on for all 43 cars? Ed Martin - The dash is different between the models and the arms are textured/colorize to the drivers. But, no faces. Of course, they're wearing full face helmets. |
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Comments : |
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| Author: SDager34 | 21-09-2002 |
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Well as expected this is not going to be direct competition for the N2002 series yet. I wish that these guys would do their homework and make a sim that surpasses what is currently the best. Why waste the time & money? The net code for F12002 is horrible at best! Oh well guess its time to wait for N2003. SD |
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| Author: Thomas Retkowski | 21-09-2002 |
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Looks like we are getting N2003 and playing that until Sierra no longer supports it. |
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| Author: K_King | 21-09-2002 |
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Nice Kiddie Game, maybe next time they will make a 2004 Season with actual 2003 schemes, instead of 2003 Season with 2001 schemes. |
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| Author: Midnite | 21-09-2002 |
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Disappointing about the multiplayer, but I'm glad to see a new competitor. Maybe they will even release a patch to make the game better. lol. |
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| Author: Road | 22-09-2002 |
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Looks like EA has dropped the ball. Kinda surprising since Ed is working on this project. They need to realize that there is more to a game than looking good. Multiplayer is where it is at. The only time that alot of people race off line is to practice for league races. Come on ED work on the Multiplayer. You might want to call JD from IRF and let him show EA how to make free online play. You can tell that EA is focusing to much and the console market and not enough on us PC users. |
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| Author: buzard | 22-09-2002 |
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So if I can set it up for LAN my brother and I are the only cars on the track! Gee what fun!!!!!!!! |
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| Author: Man Junk | 22-09-2002 |
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This is what happens when you let the moron papy fans post anything they want on your site. But really Ed. No AI in mulitplayer? Stupid. |
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| Author: BB Toad | 23-09-2002 |
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Moron Papy fans?!?!? From the interview, this game will be similar to F1 2002 in multiplayer. From the F1 2002 box, 2 - 8 players. From just about any F1 2002 review written, the multiplayer mode is weak. Ok, the pictures are pretty (maybe even prettier than N2k2). The physics, if based on the F1 2002 engine should be pretty good. But, with limited multiplayer support (up to 8 drivers presumably on Lamespy) NT2003 doesn't do much for the online sim racing crowd. Enjoy the hot laps. But, don't look for me - I'm not interested. Forgive me if I'm disappointed that the business of licensing appears to be robbing me of something I enjoy - which is racing online with a good racing sim. I hope NT2003 fails miserably, if what's been discribed in this interview is all there is. |
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| Author: CH3NO2 | 23-09-2002 |
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NOTHING can be worse than the physics in Nascar 4,and I refuse to pay $50 for a stinking patch. Papy got my money for EVERYTHING they released, until after I bought N4. I have been downloading car sets since N1, and I have been hopping around the boards since they came about. I have raced online for years, SO, I will support ANYONE that goes up against Papy, and some of you DIEHARD online racers, maybe you should run alittle more offline, so when you do race online maybe it would appear that you know how to drive. You clowns act like you think you are professional race car drivers because you play these computer games, and you all think you know more about creating one than everyone else, WELL I am still waiting to see YOUR products on the store shelves SHEEESH |
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| Author: TUBBY | 23-09-2002 |
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I thought someone said that the guys or guy that did the multiplayer for Nascar Heat was working on this mp code with ISI? I'm realy getting sick of racing NH online because it's like the only stable multiplayer code out there. I do have both F12k and F12k2 and the multiplayer is actualy about the same lag with both. All the time spent between F12k and F12k2 adds up to about 1 extra multiplayer car. Not good!! I do love all ISI products since the addictive SCGT but racing the AI is not fun anymore! I want some real online competition. EA should have used Image Space to make there Nascar Sim. Sorry ISI, it's a love hate relationship for me. I love your product, i hate your multiplayer code!!!!! |
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| Author: Raybee1970 | 23-09-2002 |
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Wow..reviews before the game is even out..lol.But most of you Papy guys are probably right.If the online capabilities aren't there,many people won't just drop Nr2002 or Heat. I am a Heat editor and I find it to be the most edited racing game EVER!!! And it will be very hard to replace it as far as what cars and tracks have been made and the depth of the multiplayer by way of IRF. Physics and AI can be made with some hard work for Heat and even better than Papy's weak AI.The graphics are top notch too.But after looking at the screenshots and seeing that they look good for Thunder,I still don't think all the guys will run out and buy up the game.Sure,alot of people will buy it I'm sure,but in the end,they will probably be as disappointed in it as I will probably be and all of them will probably go back to Papy or Heat because of the multiplayer issues.Too bad too. |
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| Author: NR Fan | 23-09-2002 |
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Although it's doubtful that Papy will never release another NASCAR Racing game after the next one, if they are smart they will call it NASCAR Racing 6 rather than 2003. Or EA will eat up the newcomers because we know they will update their package every year with 2004, 2005, etc. |
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| Author: Racer nite | 23-09-2002 |
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The only reason im buying it is for the fictional tracks then ill copy em over to 2002 or 2003 what ever i own at time hahahaha burn EA burn |
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| Author: extractor | 24-09-2002 |
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Just sad how NASCAR just gives the rights to EA, without consideration of the racing products developed. Sure F1 2002 is probably the best F1 sim, but Papyrus has always had the best NASCAR game. Their multiplayer code is solid. If EA were smart they would hire the papy guy. Multiplayer with 2-8 drivers is just crap. |
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| Author: JS | 24-09-2002 |
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Nice one sentence answers from Ed... Guess when you know you're product is inferior to the competition, not much you can say. I was looking forward to this game until I read this article. Now EA can kiss my *** |
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| Author: Ray | 24-09-2002 |
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Weak article, weak sim. Online is were it's at, and if that sucks, the sim sucks. Nuff said. |
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| Author: Flywheel | 25-09-2002 |
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Very weak but i'm gonna check out the demo this guy suppoisdly said thats coming out and base this game off the demo. Just remember though, in 4 months after this game is out Nascar Racing 2003 will be out. Nascar 2002 has probably beat this game already. |
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| Author: Dirty Seabee | 09-10-2002 |
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The Multiplayer is a major loss. What disappoints me the most though is the career mode not being on the PC. I have the PS2 version and was looking foward to that aspect on the PC. Since I am in the military and will deploy, It was worth my while.. WAS it seems. Oh well. I can always modify the AI files in papy 2k2 or 2k3. |
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| Author: mackie mcbroom | 19-10-2002 |
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seemed weak |
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| Author: Mike Stone | 30-10-2002 |
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Once again EA screws the PC gamer. We were the ones buying your games before console's were even thought of and to us, the old school pc gamers, you cheat us out of a career mode. No excuse for that, just greed. I don't know how much money you saved by screwing the PC people out of a career mode but I hope it comes back to haunt you. Too Bad, this game had some potential. PAPYRUS still rules the Nascar genre |
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| Author: HDKen | 26-11-2002 |
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Wish I had read this before purchasing, a very disappointing game. This will take Sim racing back t least 3 years. |
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| Author: kensvctr | 27-11-2002 |
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I wish i would have read all the articles before buying, wish i could get my money back, worst racing sim I have ever purchased. Supposed to make the games better not suckier. Akiddie version to 2k2. EA has no bussiness in the racing sim field. |
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