EXCLUSIVE: This could be the greatest racing sim you've EVER played
PROJECT CARS is the next big racing game coming to console and the creative director behind the game is promising a Destiny-like experience.
By
Tom Hutchison / Published 20th March 2015
Andy Tudor, of Slightly Mad Studios, believes his team have created one of the best
car simulators ever.
And he's promising fans a long future of Project CARS way after the
game launches in May, with constant tweaks and updates to keep driving fans coming back for more.
He's compared future plans for the title to that of sci-fi game Destiny, which receives regular new missions to play and has a decade-long plan in place.
Andy said: "The concept of releasing a game and moving on are long gone.
"Project CARS both from a technology and design standpoint are built for the future, so expect to see A LOT of content coming out for the game on a regular basis long after launch.
"We’ll have more info on this soon but looking at what Destiny is doing is a good starting point ;-)"
He said the game, which features so many authentic race tracks that it covers 250 miles of tarmac, is already a success before it's even on shelves thanks to public funding from fans, its amazingly detailed 4K TV broadcast ability and virtual reality headset connectivity.
He said: "In some ways it’s already been a success… the first AAA title to ever be crowd-funded, a
racing game that’s being considered a contender in the same sentence as Forza and Gran Turismo, one of the first titles to be publicly shown running at 4K resolution, the premium racing experience on Oculus Rift, the most beautiful and technically-advanced racing game on the planet, and one that’s captured the imaginations of gamers, media, real drivers, and motorsports fans around the world.
"Every piece of feedback or critique or praise we get helps make the game better and better so the success has come from the community really.
"If it wasn’t for their belief, their dedication, and their evangelism about the game to the world it would never have been possible.
"Ultimately success gets measured in sales and scores though.
"We have our hopes, and we have our targets, and we have our early indications but it’ll be seeing gamers pick it up off the shelf to go and purchase it, or full multiplayer lobbies, or millions of Driver Network photos/replays on social media are each the individual things that will make us smile when the game is released."
And while its in a crowded market with the likes of Forza Horizon 2 and Driveclub getting good feedback on PS4 and Xbox One, he believes Project CARS will stand out come May.
He said: "Both of those titles - and The Crew - are in the action/arcade space.
"So the experience you get there is careening around an open world or drifting for points or doing missions for cash etc.. and gradually grinding through the game to unlock the good stuff.
"And, as experienced racing fans and gamers we’ve done that many times over the years and our own habits and the way people
play games compared to all the other digital diversions like Twitter and OnDemand TV and browsing sub-Reddits has changed too so Project CARS reflects that.
"It’s at the Forza/Gran Turismo end of the spectrum (ie.. an accurate recreation of motorsports and the true handling/sound/visuals of cars) that breaks the mould of the usual grind for Cash or XP by having a career mode that let’s you choose your starting point from any of the motorsports on offer and encourages you to make your own decisions on where you go, how you climb, what you strive for just like real drivers do.
"And with content then coming out for the game on a regular basis that adds even more opportunities and variety, it’s an intense and authentic experience really built for the future."
He added: "We’re a full simulation - the cars are the the most accurate digital recreations out there, we have more track locations than the competition, the physics are next-gen and extremely complex.
"The lighting and weather system are dynamic and based off real-world data and the mapping of the near-solar system.
"We run at 12K resolution and on virtual reality devices, we support more than 30 wheels, and provide a truly authentic experience such that even the real racing drivers are now using it as practice for the real thing.
"But equally, we haven’t forgotten our work on
Need For Speed.
"So you have full control over how authentic the handling is, the onscreen guides to aid you around the track, driving assists, where you start your career (in slower/more manageable karts, or straight in at the deep end of supercars and prototypes).
"In fact the first thing the game will ask you is “Whereabouts do you think you lie on the racing spectrum?” and it’ll tailor various bits of the game to your particular preference and skill level.
"All these little things we hope make the game more inclusive and accessible to newcomers whilst still providing veteran racers with something bespoke to their level of experience."
Project CARS is out mid-May on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/tech/431942/Project-Cars-exclusive-Makers-promise-Destiny-like-experience