NASCAR Thunder 2003

EA/ISI · released 2002 · discussed in 166 posts, 2002-2004 · overall tone negative

Posts per month

Timeline

2002-05-24 EA Sports announced NASCAR Thunder 2003 for PC at E3, to be built by Tiburon on ISI's engine. post thread post
2002-09-18 EA released NASCAR Thunder 2003 for PS2 and Xbox. thread post
2002-10-16 EA Sports released NASCAR Thunder 2003 for PC, without a career mode. thread post
2002-11-26 EA released a demo of NASCAR Thunder 2003. post

Key threads

ISI to develop EA's NASCAR Thunder 2003 2002-06-03 · 25 posts
Haqsau reported from PC Gamer that ISI was developing EA's NASCAR Thunder 2003. The talk turned to NASCAR Heat's missing online yellow flags, which posters said had been blamed on licensing. Former MGI developer Dave Pollatsek explained that Heat was contracted with only pickup-race multiplayer and that Hasbro lacked full online rights, which Sierra held.
Heated debate over NASCAR Thunder 2003's merits 2002-10-19 · 109 posts
A joke post calling NASCAR Thunder 2003 rubbish prompted Phillip Malphrus to defend it as decent, and Alan Bernardo accused the group of dismissing anything not made by Papyrus. Detailed criticism followed on track accuracy, controller feel and the missing track editor and road courses, while Bill Bollinger attacked NR2002's drafting and damage models. EldredP and others lamented the tribal tone of the arguments.
EA's NASCAR Thunder 2003 to use ISI engine 2002-07-24 · 76 posts
Chad Sparks linked a GameSpot preview of EA's NASCAR Thunder 2003 for PC, built by Tiburon on ISI's F1 2002 engine and billed as a true simulation. Some welcomed competition for Papyrus, while others doubted its multiplayer and mocked alpha screenshots showing a draft meter and treaded tyres. Joe Marques defended the ISI engine against Papyrus loyalists.
Jason Moyer's critical NASCAR Thunder 2003 review 2002-10-17 · 61 posts
Jason Moyer posted a scathing review of NASCAR Thunder 2003, criticising inaccurate tracks such as Pocono and Watkins Glen, handling worse than the FIA GT mod and unrealistic multi-wide racing. Bill Bollinger defended the game and attacked NR2002's AI and physics, while others debated Papyrus AI quality and Dale Jr.'s use of Papyrus sims. Many readers thanked Moyer and said they would skip the game.
Early impressions of NASCAR Thunder 2003 on PC 2002-10-16 · 57 posts
Bill Bollinger praised EA's newly released NASCAR Thunder 2003, describing its physics as between NASCAR Heat and NR2002 with smoother graphics and better AI. Critics focused on the 16-player online limit, which Schooner and others said made it useless for leagues, and an argument followed over whether large online fields work even in NR2002. Others mocked the wheel graphics and Ed Martin's role.
Larry's detailed initial review of NASCAR Thunder 2003 2002-10-23 · 45 posts
Larry posted a lengthy, balanced review of NASCAR Thunder 2003 based on testing at Atlanta, covering handling, setups and menus, which readers praised as fair. Discussion turned to whether a stock car should pull left, with ymenard and others arguing it reflected realism in Papyrus sims, and to odd camber behaviour requiring positive right-side camber for even tyre temperatures. No track editor was included.
Controller setup problems in NASCAR Thunder 2003 2002-10-22 · 32 posts
Frederickson found NASCAR Thunder 2003's steering twitchy. Advice drawn from F1 2002 explained that the critical speed-sensitivity slider was hidden under digital controller rates, that 50% axis sensitivity was linear, and that reducing steering lock in setups helped; editing the player file also worked. Several complained about needing so many settings, and a side argument arose about Senna's steering column at Imola 1994.
Plea to stop bashing NASCAR Thunder 2003 2002-10-26 · 31 posts
Bruce Millar asked the group to stop repeatedly bashing NASCAR Thunder 2003 and instead help get it improved. Jason Moyer, ymenard and Christopher Johnson replied that the criticisms were valid and it was not their job to fix EA's product, while Alan Bernardo repeated that the group dismissed anything not from Papyrus. Doug Ellison clashed with others over his own position.
Complaints that NASCAR Thunder 2003 is a waste of money 2002-10-17 · 30 posts
David Ciemny warned others off NASCAR Thunder 2003 after it failed to recognise his TSW wheel, and Philster also found it poor. Gerry Aitken jokingly invited him to the 'GPL Church', and posters mocked Ed Martin's promises and the inaccurate tracks. Later posts drifted into banter about the GPLEA BRM and Doom multiplayer.
NASCAR Thunder PC theme song sparks spat 2002-10-27 · 23 posts
Seni Hoellmann asked which song was used in NASCAR Thunder's PC intro, and Magic Carpet Ride was suggested. Larry's quip that it was fitting drew an accusation from redTed that he had not played the game, leading to a testy exchange until others pointed out Larry's detailed reviews.
Screenshot comparison of NR2002 and NASCAR Thunder 2003 2002-10-21 · 20 posts
Andreas Nystrom linked a comparison of NR2002 and NASCAR Thunder 2003 screenshots, finding Thunder's track graphics livelier. Others disputed this, noting the NR2002 shots were from empty test sessions, and some reported returning Thunder for store credit. Don Hancock said he enjoyed EA's games for gameplay and wanted Thunder for a truck mod.
F1 2002 tracks working in NASCAR Thunder 2003 2002-10-17 · 20 posts
Bill Bollinger noted that F1 2002 tracks could easily be added to NASCAR Thunder 2003. A question about the reverse direction produced a string of echo jokes, with Dave Henrie noting F1 mod makers were already converting Thunder tracks.