Racing Games: Doing It Right!
The crazed groupblog of Gamasutra news guy Jason Dobson, eToychest, has a fun story called 'Do’s and Don’ts: A Gamer’s Perspective: Racing Games' just posted - and... it's got a lot of do's and don'ts in it!
First, there's some whines: "DON’T implement absurd computer AI. This includes both forced stupidity and rubberbanding, both of which are annoying. As an example, the recent Test Drive Unlimited – otherwise a gem – suffers in that the NPC racing AI is far too conservative for it to challenge the player."
Then, there's the controversial: "DO include realistic visible steering-wheel turning and inertia in the cockpit view, if possible. Players absolutely love this. Seeing the driver realistically shift gears or at least turn the steering wheel proportional to the player’s input is worth including. In fact, anything to be done to make the cockpit view more realistic is a welcome addition." I think I completely disagree with this - but then, I love Ridge Racer's ridiculous artificiality.
Comments
1. Make more arcade racers because simulation racers are mostly boring. No matter how realistic it is, controlling a car on your screen isn't the same as driving a real one. With a car on a screen you only get feedback by looking at the screen. With a real car you getting crucial info from your backspine and behind. basically a real car tells you when you go over the limit.
2. Add online mode to make up for the crappy NPC's
ok gonna read the article now.
Posted by: Cruds | November 22, 2006 11:53 AM
There need to be more sim/arcade hybrids that are done right. Have the detail and look of a sim, but the arcade ease and easier approachability.
Posted by: d | November 22, 2006 3:33 PM
Always risky territory when you lay into typical gameplay conventions. Rubberbanding is horrible for FZero, but luck is part of what makes Mario Kart so accessible, frustrating as it may be for the Hardc0re.
Noticed this as well with a recent 1up (I think 1up? Now I can't find it the link) story on worst gaming ideas ever. They said cutscenes should be abolished. Fair argument, but plenty of room for debate.
Posted by: Jared | November 24, 2006 1:28 PM