FYI
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From: [email protected] (Matthew Francey)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video
Subject: Re: Atari: Hard Driving!
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 13 Apr 89 00:04:31 GMT
References:
Organization: Ziebmef Public Access Unix, Toronto, Canada
Lines: 19
In article , [email protected] (Bryan Wu) writes:
> Real Physics!
I dunno... the collisions are VERY elastic, and in some regions of the
"universe" (while off road), you encounter some very strange zones where
angular momentum is definitely not conserved.
But on-road... wow. My only problem is with the stick shift/clutch. I
find I have to put all my weight behind a single gear change. Since I don't
drive a Real Car (wimps drive cars.. Real Men drive motorcycles :-), I ask
the net if this is (in general) the case in real life ("heavy" stick shifts).
By the way.. has anyone else seen the new Sega "Out Run - Turbo"? Like most
sequels, a major disappointment. Compared to Hard Drivin' a huge joke. Sega
should be ashamed of itself.
--
Name: Matthew Francey Address: N43o34'13.5" W79o34'33.3" 86m
[email protected] uunet!utgpu!{ontmoh!moore,ncrcan}!ziebmef!mdf
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From: [email protected] (Elias Israel)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video
Subject: Re: Atari: Hard Driving!
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 17 Apr 89 14:15:34 GMT
References: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected] (Elias Israel)
Organization: Interactive Systems, Boston
Lines: 68
In article <[email protected]> [email protected] (Matthew Francey) writes:
>In article , [email protected] (Bryan Wu) writes:
>
>> Real Physics!
>
> I dunno... the collisions are VERY elastic, and in some regions of the
>"universe" (while off road), you encounter some very strange zones where
>angular momentum is definitely not conserved.
The elastic collisions are kind of unreal, especially when viewed alongside
the stunning realism of the rest of the game. But I don't understand
what you mean by angular momentum failing to be conserved. What symptoms
of driving off-road are you referring to?
> But on-road... wow. My only problem is with the stick shift/clutch. I
>find I have to put all my weight behind a single gear change. Since I don't
>drive a Real Car (wimps drive cars.. Real Men drive motorcycles :-), I ask
>the net if this is (in general) the case in real life ("heavy" stick shifts).
No, cars in general have much lighter sticks and race cars in
particular have shorter "throws", that is a shorter distance from the
gear position to the neutral position. While this makes for quicker
shifts, your hand position and timing have to be more accurate. This, I
think, is the reason that the game is set up the way that it is. After
all, what's the use of an arcade game that can't be played by
gum-popping high schol teens who, for the most part, have never driven
before at all?
Also, I have seen that these games take a fair amount of abuse (the
shifter is a prime candidate for rough handling) and the shifter can
become even harder to use.
Really, the major strength of the game is the nearly complete realism of
the control inputs and the results that you see. I was amazed when I was
able to take what meager knowledge of performance driving such as I have
and apply it and see it WORK! No other driving game does this. I was
able to see places where I was failing, hypothesize about the reasons why
from a knowledge of cars and driving (not from a knowledge of the game's
workings), test my hypothesis in the game and prove it correct!
It's also major loads of fun to try all kinds of nasty things that only
fools would try in a real car, like taking the car to the top of the
loop and throwing it off, taking jumps at incredible speeds, and
generally driving to endanger.
Things to try:
(1) On the first turn of the stunt course, there is a barn with a cow
standing next to it. Hit the cow.
(2) At the very start of the race, make a hard left turn as soon as you
get the car started. You'll find another road there.
(3) The game does not keep you from driving the course in reverse. You
can't get any extra time that way, but it can be used for general
mayhem.
(4) Stragely enough, although the game allows you to drive almost
anywhere, there is one place you can't drive. It causes a collision
with an invisible object.
(5) Hitting different objects produce different sounds. Try hitting
a sign post, another car, a building...
People who want more hints can send me mail. If enough people ask for
it, I'll post to the net.
Elias Israel | "Justice, n. A commodity which in more or
Interactive Systems Corp. | less adulterated condition the State sells
Boston, MA | to the citizen as a reward for his allegiance,
..!ima!haddock!eli | taxes, and personal service."
| -- Ambrose Bierce, _The Devil's Dictionary_