News has been slow and sparse lately, but here's what I've heard recently
about DTR:
DTR is reportedly moving from the Alpha testing stage to the Beta stage.
Areas that have reportedly been improved in the Beta include audio
performance (primarily engine sounds), video compatibility (Voodoo Banshee
issues have been fixed), car setups (players will be able to save up to 10
setups per car in the garage area), physics (specifically, horsepower
differences between the various classes and throttle responsiveness),
multiplayer (occasional warping in the Alpha, but reportedly up to
Powerslide levels in the Beta), and career costs. Some members of the media
will also be receiving copies of the beta, and the IGN Web site
([link lost in import] will reportely publish the first public, hands-on look
at the Beta in the near future.
Wizard Works has released some new pictures, and one thing I noticed is that
there are distinctly different in-car dashboard views for the Late Models
and the Pure Stocks -- much better than the single, generic***pit view
used in the final release of EA's SCGT. Check it out at:
[link lost in import]
Testers have reported great frame rates with all graphics details on and
solid gameplay in the Alpha using low-end AMD K6-233 systems equipped with
lowly 4 MB Voodoo Banshee boards, so DTR should really rock on more modern
PII or PIII machines with Voodoo3 or TNT2 cards. This all sounds promising,
and for $19.95, DTR might be just the thing to blow N3 and NASCAR Legends
into the weeds. We'll know soon enough -- reports I've heard indicate that
we should be seeing a demo version towards the end of October.
Now if they can only get the rights to use AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt
Cheap" as the opening theme . . . <G>
-- JB
