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Storm Warning

September 14, 2008

Dated: Sunday 14 September
System: ®3
Title: “® Private Beta” / “®
Published by: Computer Europe
Developed by: Evolution Limited
Availability: European Network Promotional Download *

* choose few (thousand, so it seems) audience members so-called “Private Beta” were contacted by e-mail around midday (UK time) on Friday 12 September , & offered promotional vouchers codes redeem via Network (valid use until 11 October ).

Title Release Date: Friday 12 September
Download file size capacity: 617Mb
Genre: (off-road)

Number Players supported / Cars available:
1 Player Race (offline)
Event title: “Rain Spires”; Race Type: Standard; Number vehicles: 16; Laps: 2
Vehicles: One variety following classes : a) Bike, b) Truck, or c) Truck

2 Player Race (offline)
Event title: “Rain Spires”; Race Type: Split-Screen; Number vehicles: 6; Laps: 2
Vehicles: Each player has differing varieties : a) Buggy, b) Rally Vehicle, /or c) Truck

Commercial Release Date/Rating:
[US] 28 October (T)
[EU] 14 November (16+)
[JP] be confirmed

1 4 Players supported Offline / 2 12 Players supported On web

16 Players supported concurrently
(4 offline + 12 online agree with quoted “16-player on web battling, four-player split-screen “?)

16 Events (Tracks) available
8 Vehicle Classes available (including previous classes original “” title & vehicle class added, Truck”)


- time date:
1.5 hours, then a further 30 minutes

Input controller(s) used:
a) SIXAXIS™ wireless controller (UK supplied),
b) DUALSHOCK®3 controller charging via console front-mounted USB port (Japanese import)

Output device:
26-inch, 11 year old, Cathode Ray Tube (”Fat” screen) Toshiba Television

Calm before Storm…

I did like “, probably not as much as former chief Worldwide , Phil Harrison, but I was suitably prepared by original promotion & months lead-up marketing footage want, nay, title as a priority (alongside “ “) as soon as I had bought release console. original title developed by Evolution (now ’s growing empire celebration development teams when brought -house a whopping 33 million US dollars with subsidiary Bigbig ) was title I played, title I went on web with. Although, be fair, debut night was filled with who could not understand how participate an on internet […”What’s [Start] button again?”… “Oh, somebody has dropped-out with boredom, now we will have quit & restart”…], so I only got one race evening.

I received promotion code download playable (“Private Beta”) “… ” by chance , if I honest, I could have waited a full commercial release date, then some, as I haven’t returned original “” so far year. Apart multiplayer local option, that I did think was a limitation with title (especially as it always seemed be an age before it turn again whilst waiting each three kids make it finish line side Christmas), I was nowhere near as eager venture back into driving (or riding) seat time around as soon--be released follow-up title didn’t seem offer me anything else.

But, as were kind enough remember me their mass mail delivery on Friday, it would have been rude not at least download , “Rip it up Paradise” at least once. e-mail went on state that I was welcomed “… island, a tropical paradise deep heart . a brand location – diverse, dangerous unpredictable - a unique exciting location Festival”. So, I “off-roaded” some various I had been downloading that point on Friday external USB hard drive, make ample provision what I thought was going take at least one & a half two ‘gigs’ on-board 60Gb capacity (going off other Beta Test versions I have been lucky enough sample).

e-mail content had me hooked… I was keen “Rampage through 16 multi-route tracks across four diverse zones”, “Tear into landscape with eight vehicle classes, including a devastating Truck”, “Rev it up some reckless fun with split-screen action up four players”, “Race on internet with up 12 players”, “Download tracks, cars liveries”. OK, so I wasn’t anticipating latter option Beta Test , but it was going be there “autumn ”, so I would just overlook that now.

Expecting a say euphoria Network traffic on Friday afternoon/early evening, I waited until 11pm before kicking-off massive… wait, 617Mb download. 617Megabytes? that ? download size playable “Clive Barker’s Jericho” was larger at 821Mb, “Kane & Lynch: Men” was 840Mb, “ “Haze” clocked- at 1,557Mb. wasn’t a good sign. Equally poor was delivery download. At 12:30am I gave up & fell asleep watching something or other on “Sky 4+1.5” or whatever channel was called. As I was unavailable devote a decent amount gaming time most Saturday, I got up early morning (Sunday) see if a such a small size could keep attention any longer than three comparative titles (that, if truth be told, wouldn’t be difficult).

Start your engines…

Albeit, by definition ‘demonstration’ version, a Beta Test version at that, limited “ - would have benefited inclusion a second event (track) tropical environment known only as “ Island”. Additionally, capability more than one opponent offline/split-screen mode ( gauge if up four players would be a viable option) would have been appreciated, but developers did not just target me & requirements, so just provided single player mode, two-player (horizontal) split-screen mode could be tested.

On internet multiplayer - was not available test, but it has previously been announced that there will be “a radical re-look at whole on internet , focusing on ease use breadth - while tearing it up races up 16 players”, or described as an “immersive online “, or some other marketing hype-nonsense- terminology putting “PR” into “ “, ideal left a session boardroom “buzzword bingo”.

I will also add that any graphical improvements terms gloss or shine on cars, or denser more intricate scenery, prone be on aging visual display equipment, as well as failing eyesight that was never going be 20/20 begin with (due red/green & shade colour-blindness, vision that long-sighted corrected by prescription spectacles). So you’ll not find any image quality comparisons previous title, nor an side-by-side screen --difference (with ) competition either, as franchise remains solely on console second outing! :)

record, co-player two-player offline mode was one . At young age seven, he very adept most catalogue (One, 2, 3) titles, that are mainly person shooters, or within genre. His impression was that “… ” was “very hard… much harder than ‘’ was”. Whether just because we’ve not played previous title quite a few months, or whether improvement handling - cars, subtle changes overall realism driving (that, be fair, was never that poor anyway) made -feel more true-- than before debatable. I mention his (only) feedback your information any respect, but I certainly noted that less forgiving when taking corners wide at , especially rough . back-end Buggy Rally Car vehicle classes certainly was more ‘twitchy’ than I recall meaning a slight lapse concentration only a second or two can cause a few places unforgiving relentless console-controlled opponents (or seven year old, as applicable).

track on offer , well, just like track (if not tracks) ” title, rugged & mountainous, only not as exciting second time around. water or mud effects, “thick swamps, dense jungle, towering peaks, & steaming volcanoes” (as regularly quoted at various gaming industry showcases); just jumps, jumps, corners, & more jumps. Cliffs, precipices, chasms, long drops, narrowing valleys, lots & lots smashes, crashes, restarts. Same old, same old, you could say. But what made title so playable, what turned a “quick minute” test into a ninety-minute wills between a sleep-deprived 30-something adult & his up--early--his-own-good son morning.

When said youngest had returned bed evening, I returned Island” make sure what I had typed here was true what I thought at time morning , unfortunately, on a second viewing, I was more critical than before.

Best pedal foot forward…

A few precursory “… ” have made reference landscape, additional tree branches ready remove helmet (with head still it), overhangs/underpasses ready take roof (or, case, bonnet) off a four-wheeled racer,

yes, there are a few. yes, they’re placed just right catch you off-mud guard, meet you slap helmet (head, or otherwise).

However, after a few laps only track on offer ( one three single-player automobiles, or one three other cars trial local multiplayer mode) you realise where not go, how keep your set wheels one piece regardless how many times - competitors try knock you off course.

concept track-forks still exist adventurous (or foolhardy), each branch circuit presents differing obstacles & hazards navigate. Some routes are better suited one vehicle class, other detours what might be perceived as intended route are only passable if you’ve sufficient & ‘boost’ energy clear a jump successfully. Try a higher route a Truck, example, you may not have enough power reach a fast enough velocity land safely off a ramp, or take a lower route on a bike undulating track might be designed bounce & machine into a collision if much used. Slow down much though, benefit breaking main vehicle pack may be wasted. Something learn trial, error. I made plenty those. Thank goodness inclusion [Select] button reset automobile back track, long-term “Restart Race” option ‘Pause’ menu.

Taking a spin as a bike offers ability turn corners quickly using either D-pad direction buttons, or tilt facility SIXAXIS controller. However, “health & safety” rules track are not adopted by , & as soon as you meet a group bigger, stronger, more metal-looking , hence, greater mass & sharp-edged shaped competitors coming sideways into you at , then you realise limitations & vulnerability a two-wheeler very quickly matter how good ‘Boost’ button reacts when needed. Herein lies another danger … keep your finger down on [X] expel ‘Boost’ energy a faster ride long, & an imminent explosion meets you head-on when your vehicle overheats. Not good! So, with one eye on road ahead, one ‘boost’ gauge, one on surrounding competitors, you keep your wits about you at times.

I also noticed vast disparity between collision impacts while just head protection, a dust mask, & rolled-up sleeves [seriously… are these riders mad?]. Sometimes can take immense amounts physical punishment without as much as breaking sweat or anything else. bike remains intact, remains defiant. Then on other occasions slightest pebble track causes bounce off & headlong into some convoluted tumbling sequence not out place Network title “PAIN”. Also, mess up your timing a jump & you can drop into a precarious situation between ledge & imminent death whilst participating an hoc round BBC ’s “Kickstart” (but without Peter Purves congratulating you not putting a foot down during entire bunny-hop on one wheel back safety).

OK, so you can now punch (‘attack’) left or right on a bike, or shunt (’ram’) a similar way if a larger automobile, but by time you have set-up a hit, timed it within a second perfect opportunity, you have crashed into somebody, or got shunted yourself. capability a motorbike punch a quad-biker mush & send four-wheeler into oncoming vegetation pleasing nevertheless, but at times it just good luck, rather than good management, accomplish . capability duck away attacks your opponents also now available, but boxing-on-wheels has never been a genre I considered a , so maybe trying traverse course without injuring yourself or your automobile might be seen by many as primarily, if not only, objective. I don’t think winning a race by referring further rules courtesy Marquis Queensbury going catch on. fact, winning isn’t only deciding factor outcome within full commercial . once, taking counts ! A rating system be introduced that’ll be based on participation a race, not just how near player finish line before crashing out at bend & watching entire field pass with seconds go. So, thankfully, going be better than “Mario Kart ” ( just look how long that has been multi-format charts!).

Oh yes, something that I never noticed original , but it might have been same as now… when on a bike, “… , wheels don’t quite touch ground meaning & machine are perfect harmony without contact with ! It not that noticeable when playing as you’ve much more pressing issues attend , but when race has finished & you are watching bike go around track automatically without intervention, then fact that your are on some futuristic hover-bike just looks sloppy.

As mentioned above, you can now race a Truck, but it just acts so realistically a sponge-like bouncey-tigger fun-fun-fun-fun-not-so-fun way you lose majority other by bend never catch up due mass automobile far out-weighing torque on offer. vehicle use if you want lose friends by running their - player, but if they have ability out-manoeuvre your --top wheels race-off, keeping ahead you shouldn’t be a problem, well, on sample track. If undergrowth becomes -growth, then car class will be a welcome addition existing roster, as it will literally just drive anything. Where do you a Truck? Anywhere you want . end.

So, back Truck; only real ‘-rounder’ available single player mode. It has road-presence knock bikes mud-plugging buggies aside, but also has performance keep up with them . It also can beat starting line, but so can delivery schedule “WipEout HD” project, so that’s not worth mentioning.

But, on second time loading version, I started notice faults when playing as a Truck. damage modelling was nowhere near as realistic as I would have expected. Truck can accelerate hard a fixed object, momentum on , then seconds later when automobile at a standstill one or windows will shatter & then Truck will flip rear bed--hood. When objects are struck at & occurs, marks are seen, when drops a height are taken (intentionally, or otherwise) vehicle will either continue without pausing, or will instantly lose four wheels & come an abrupt stop seemingly defying one, if not , Newton’s Laws Motion. more I played as Truck, more annoyed me. I don’t recall being critical with original “” title, but I do have bear that still officially a Beta Test version. Maybe some polish “jazz hands” are be applied between now & full public playable or, at very least, before editions are burnt & shipped high & on web outlets. current collision physics engine needs tweaking, as present state, want a better phrase, it ‘broken’.

Also, version tested, crashes seem take ages reset you back track (offering a tap [X] button after a preset time), & playable version you can’t move camera around paused image damaged automobile shell. Maybe that a limitation just a 617Mb download. Alternatively, maybe that moveable camera rotation has been removed completely. I guess once you’ve used once or twice, unless wrecked car/truck-nage your thing, then you wouldn’t bother again, so perhaps way features some form progress. It has been reported that “Photo Mode” full release, example, will be used capture either a victory or a ‘n’burn moment share with your friends, so there must be some form multi-angle camera positioning at some point during -.

full commercial release also offer a “Free ” mode where event ‘tickets’ can be created result a -your-own race structure, even though actual race courses are stated change on a lap-by-lap basis anyway due - unpredic