Codemasters regret for DiRT2 direction?

[lcd]

Interesting article here...
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/codemasters-confirms-dirt-3

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Codemasters have lost their reputation in my eyes. It no longer seems like the same company that created TOCA 2 Touring Cars and Colin Mcrae 2.

[lcd]

Codemasters have lost their reputation in my eyes.

Seems It took them ages to understand that!!

[AndyRAC]

What about 'the flagging Colin McRae series' ..? Not sure about that.
Both CMcRae & the TOCA games were great. Now both ruined.

[Macd]

Dirt 3 needs to return to a simulation. I don't have anything against the concept of an off road game but it needs to have more rallying and simulation physics.

[NeverKnow]

They should start by figuring out what the game suppose to be. Should it be offraid circuit racing, rally raid or actual rally. Not all of them at once. And should it be simulation and arcade. If they figure it out, then they should add some depth to it.
Currently they tried to please every rallying and racing fan but the final product was little shallow.
If it were up to me I'd start with a realistic physics engine coupled with a good graphics engine. Add some abs and traction devices for those who can't be bothered with simulators. Then it would be easier to add stages and different modes (maybe as addon packs). Focus on something specific like for example rally raid make sure there are enough rallies and stages (I wouldn't mind seeing some long stages like 50km or more at length) to challenge the players and keep the game fresh. Add some trophies and good ai to meet on the stages.

[pino]

I just hope Dirt3 will be focused on pure rallying and not on off-road stages or circuits like in Dirt2. I want loads of (long) stages and loads of rally-cars, how about a CMR2 sequel with today's technology ? :D

[AndyRAC]

I just hope Dirt3 will be focused on pure rallying and not on off-road stages or circuits like in Dirt2. I want loads of (long) stages and loads of rally-cars, how about a CMR2 sequel with today's technology ? :D

Sounds good, I actually preferred the original CM - Imagine them re-making that, plus other additions such as more cars, countries, etc

However, I think we'll be all disappointed. And remember not to go on the Codemasters site to give them grief......

[bennizw]

About bloody time!

[I am evil Homer]

What about 'the flagging Colin McRae series' ..? Not sure about that.
Both CMcRae & the TOCA games were great. Now both ruined.

Flagging perhaps in terms of sales? Sure we all want ultra realistic rallying but we also have to appreciate that we are in the minority of gamers when many seem to prefer Gran Tourismo or Midnight Club style games.

Codies got it very wrong with CMR3 and 4 when the physics were terrible.

That said, now with Blu Ray having such a high capacity there's no reason that a rally game can't appeal to both: an "arcade mode" with 6 stages per event in a DiRT style, and also a more in depth "professional" level with 12 stages, varying conditions, punctures etc etc.

In either version you can choose the cars but can only unlock some in "arcade" and the rest - Group B's etc - left to the pros :D .

[Daniel]

What a tool. Anyone who uses phrases like rebooted when it comes to a gaming series needs to be shot. how hard would it be to have an american co-driver AND a british codriver? How hard would it be to have a US version which is all totally OMFGWTFBBQ with a gymkhana mode and monster trucks and a high speed chase SUV mode and then have a mode for the rest of the world which JUST has rallying on it?

It's not difficult you moron. We want Colin McRae Rally not DiRT with added American crap. IMHO the DiRT series a completely different game to the Colin McRae Rally series......

[Allyc85]

What a tool. Anyone who uses phrases like rebooted when it comes to a gaming series needs to be shot. how hard would it be to have an american co-driver AND a british codriver? How hard would it be to have a US version which is all totally OMFGWTFBBQ with a gymkhana mode and monster trucks and a high speed chase SUV mode and then have a mode for the rest of the world which JUST has rallying on it?

It's not difficult you moron. We want Colin McRae Rally not DiRT with added American crap. IMHO the DiRT series a completely different game to the Colin McRae Rally series......

Couldnt put it better myself, sort it out Codemasters!

[I am evil Homer]

What a tool. Anyone who uses phrases like rebooted when it comes to a gaming series needs to be shot. how hard would it be to have an american co-driver AND a british codriver? How hard would it be to have a US version which is all totally OMFGWTFBBQ with a gymkhana mode and monster trucks and a high speed chase SUV mode and then have a mode for the rest of the world which JUST has rallying on it?

It's not difficult you moron. We want Colin McRae Rally not DiRT with added American crap. IMHO the DiRT series a completely different game to the Colin McRae Rally series......

Absolutely...he's back-tracking. If Codies is so proud of its heritage, let alone the honour of using McRae's name (RIP!) they could do much better than DiRT2!!!

They had excuses before as there were limitations with the Playstation design but that's gone now with the PS3 and Blu Ray.

[lcd]

Fact Is that the game has already died, just 6 months! after consoles release and 3 months !!! after pc release,
and I guess that's what Is worrying Codemasters the most at the time. Wouldn't be surprised, If we see DiRT3
a few months after wrc2010 Is launched...

[lugnut_usa]

I still don't see the problem with DiRT 2, to this day, unless you want rally and ONLY rally racing. It's an entertaining game and I still play it from time to time.

And TBH the requests for it to be a simulation are missing the mark a bit as well. The CMR series was never a proper sim; RBR showed us what a rally sim was supposed to be. CMR has always been more forgiving, more high-paced arcade style.

That said...I wish someone would do a more modern version of Mobil 1 Rally. That game was absolutely epic. :D

[Daniel]

I still don't see the problem with DiRT 2, to this day, unless you want rally and ONLY rally racing. It's an entertaining game and I still play it from time to time.

And TBH the requests for it to be a simulation are missing the mark a bit as well. The CMR series was never a proper sim; RBR showed us what a rally sim was supposed to be. CMR has always been more forgiving, more high-paced arcade style.

That said...I wish someone would do a more modern version of Mobil 1 Rally. That game was absolutely epic. :D
WTF is this rally racing?

Is this where you go "I bet my Safari rally will beat your acropolis" or something?

Seriously if you call rallying rally racing I can see why you don't have a problem with the DiRT series of games.

[lcd]

I wouldn't mind at all, If the DiRT series were published by another
company and not Codemasters. It's an entertaining game Indeed
but nothing more.Sadly.

I'm glad they have regreted so badly...

Rally community Is never wrong!
Should have known that after so many years In rally gaming...

[lugnut_usa]

WTF is this rally racing?

Is this where you go "I bet my Safari rally will beat your acropolis" or something?

Seriously if you call rallying rally racing I can see why you don't have a problem with the DiRT series of games.

At first I wasn't sure what you were trying to say.

Then I realized you're slamming me for using the term "rally racing" to refer to the sport.

Then I also realized you're a useless waste of time and you contributed absolutely nothing to the discussion.

[Daniel]

You call it rally racing meaning you probably don't really get rallying which means you probably don't understand why people hate DiRT.....

[Macd]

You call it rally racing meaning you probably don't really get rallying which means you probably don't understand why people hate DiRT.....

I have to agree. Anyone who can't call the sport by it's name shouldn't be commenting on the realism.

[lugnut_usa]

I have to agree. Anyone who can't call the sport by it's name shouldn't be commenting on the realism.

I...it's just...I mean there's just so much wrong contained in your post I don't even know where to begin.

So I'll skip it entirely because seriously guys it's a waste of time and contributes nothing to the discussion. Sometimes people use different words to refer to the same thing. I've even heard rumors that people in some parts of the world speak entirely different languages.

As for Codemasters: they went in a new direction with the DiRT series; I don't see this as a bad thing. The alternative was to crank out another "Colin McRae Rally [Number]", updating the graphics a little and adding some new cars. The series was getting stale and they needed to do something different. It's not like EA with the Madden NFL series where they can just crank out another one every year and it sells hojillions of copies.

I enjoy a good rally game as much as anyone here (thus my participation in the CMR2 offline series) but just because a company doesn't make version 45 of the same game as before means that it makes sense to say "Oh, well this new game stinks because it's not just like the one before it".

Making games is a business, and businesses are generally about making money. Ultimately the success or failure of a game comes down to how many people bought it. CM obviously felt they needed to shake things up in order to increase sales.

Simply put, there aren't as many pure rally games on the market because they don't sell as well as other types of racers.

Don't get me wrong, I understand your frustration. Living in the US and being a lifelong NASCAR fan it causes me no small annoyance that there hasn't been a proper NASCAR sim in years. But I also recognize that it's a small niche, and there's not a lot of money in it for the developers.

[306 Cosworth]

Give the DiRT 1 the car handling/physics of DiRT2 and then you've got the game DiRT2 should've been!

Wish there was a download Codie could release so you could update DiRT1 with DiRT2 physics! That would be awesome then, you could actually power slide around the hairpins on Pikes Peak!

[gravelman]

Has there been any further progress on this? Was over for a look on the Codies official forum and we're not alone on wishing for changes to the game. Is it just me that would like a corss between CMR 1-4, using the physics engine from Dirt 2.

Cars in my own opinion should be divided into eras, with certain cars being able to overlap between the eras, with the cars that overlap being a greater challenge to drive competitvely in the newer era, with greater reward for success in such cars, even top 8 finish.

Stages & Countries:
All the obvious ones here; Finland, Sweden, Australia, UK, Italy, France, Monte??
In order to satisfy the US audience, an American rally and X Games, but at least 10 to 12 rallies in the same number of countries, across various surfaces and conditions, even with mixed (Monte?). Some interesting rallies may be put in such as Belgian tarmac or even Irish stages. We cant fool ourselves to want an Irish championship in the game, but 1 event is possible.

Eras:
1979-1984:
Ford Escort Mk2
Lancia Stratos (?)
Audi Quattro A1/A2 (overlap)
Fiat 131 Abarth
Talbot Sunbeam Lotus
Lancia 037 Rally (overlap)
Opel Ascona 400
Opel Manta 400 (overlap)
Renault 5 Turbo

1984-1986:
Audi Quattro S1
Lancia Delta s4
Metro 6r4
Peugeot 205 T16
Ford Rs200
Toyota Celica Turbo
Opel Manta 400
Renault 5 Turbo Maxi
Lancia 037 Rally

1987-1989:
Ford Sierra Rs Cosworth (3dr) (overlap)
BMW M3
Mitsubishi Lancer VR4 (overlap)
Toyota Celica GT4 ST165 (overlap)
Lancia Delta Integrale (overlap)
Peugeot 205 GTi
Vauxhall Nova GSi (McRae?!!!)

1990-1993
Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 (overlap)
Subaru Legacy RS (overlap)
Toyota Celica GT4 ST165
Toyota Celica ST185 (overlap)
Lancia Delta Integrale
Ford Sierra Rs Cosworth 3dr
Mitsubishi Lancer VR4

1994-1997:
Subaru Legacy RS
Subaru Impreza 555 (overlap)
Ford Escort RS Cosworth (7 gears) (overlap)
Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4
Toyota Celica GT4 ST185
Toyota Celica GT4 ST205 (overlap)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3 (overlap)

1998-2000:
Subaru Impreza WRC 98/S5 (overlap)
Subaru Impreza 555
Ford Escort WRC (overlap)
Ford Escort Cosworth
Mitsubishi Evo 3
Mitsubishi Evo 4/5 (overlap)
Toyota Corolla WRC (overlap)
Toyota Celica GT4 ST205
Seat Cordoba WRC (WRC cars under different names to avoid licence issues; e.g Impreza 99, not Impreza WRC)

2001- 2003:
Subaru Impreza S7/S8 (overlap)
Subaru Impreza S5
Ford Focus WRC 2001 (Overlap)
Toyota Corolla WRC
Seat Cordoba WRC
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 (overlap)
Escort WRC
Skoda Octavia WRC (overlap)
Hyundai Accent (overlap)
Peugeot 206 WRC (overlap)
Citroen Xsara (overlap)

2004-2006:
Subaru S10 (overlap)
Subaru S7/S8
Mitsubishi Lancer WRC05 (overlap)
Ford Focus 2004 (overlap)
Citroen Xsara
Peugeot 206
Hyundai Accent
Skoda Fabia Wrc (overlap)

2007-Present:
Citroen C4
Latest Ford Focus Wrc
Focus 2004
Subaru S12
Subaru S10
Lancer 2005
Fabia
The latest S2000 contenders

While this all looks like pie in the sky stuff, its the same manufacturers popping up in each era, and waht manufacturer would not want to display their rallying heritage to the world on such a platform, with all their various models. Audi, SEAT and Skoda are from the same group.

If you think hard about it, most of these cars have popped up in previous edition of the McRae games, so the data and intellectual property is still probably at Codemasters to do this. Likewise with the tracks.

There would not be an isssue for Codies to get commercial backing for this as many of the cars mentioned have a huge aftermarket and tuning backround that allows for a commercial opportunity for the like of HKS etc to advertise in the game etc.

Am I somewhere near hitting the nail on the head?

[lcd]

In case anyone Is Interested, here's the new logo for DiRT3...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/tbtstt/gg1.jpg

Well, It sure looks ''cleaner'' than the DiRT2 one! ( ...And I don't think Colin's name will be there this time )
Unofficial rumors report, there will be some more rally In It, but It's more possibe to focus on the USA Rally championship
than any other European event...But who really cares, now that we got MILESTONE for the next 3 years!!! :D

[306 Cosworth]

Doesn't seem real to be that Logo. More photo shopped i'd say.

I think we'll have to wait until Codies are finished with F1 2010 before anything proper about Dirt 3 surfaces.