Any chance of a physics "update"?

[Biggles]

I feel fairly sure that Shift started out with more sim physics & was then deliberately dumbed down to appeal to a mass market. Is there any chance EA would unleash the sim hidden within, by releasing a physics update?

I've commented before on the weird experience of driving around the "Carousel" corner at Road America - you seem to slide without actually sliding, very strange. I realize now that ALL the sweeping corners in the game are basically the same, it's just that Road America is the most sweepingest corner there is (I haven't bothered with any of the ovals so far - I guess they are probably also super-weird). These corners nakedly expose the bizarre effect of having the "sticky assist" in Shift: no matter how hard you push, the car continues to grip, even while it makes frantic sliding sounds.

Come on EA: PLEASE, GIVE US A PHYSICS UPDATE!

 

[CodeRedR51]

I think it's fine as it is. Having said that, I'm playing on a Sixaxis controller so I can't say anything for those using a wheel. But I feel it's pretty "sim" as it is.

 

[JosVerstappen]

buy a PC.

 

[Terronium-12]

buy a PC.

And that's helpful because....?

I agree with Biggles, head over to the official Shift forum there are plenty of people pissed about the utter rush job and whatever other bull:censored: Shift is full of. There's even one person threatening to sue them.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Yes please. Patch Pro mode to be the real sim it's supposed to be.

I find it funny that GTSP can be more of a sim with digital controls than Shift with a DFGT.

I like Shift. I really do. It does get a lot right. It just needs to be a proper sim to make it really right. Well that and some bug fixes.

 

[Hun200kmh]

I have Shift stored (shelved) right now. But I'll keep a close eye in this forum, checking news of a possible physics "update" that could transform this game.

 

[CodeRedR51]

There's even one person threatening to sue them.

I'm sorry, but if your life is so sad that you have to sue a video game developer over the quality of their game, you really need a new life.👎

 

[Terronium-12]

I'm sorry, but if your life is so sad that you have to sue a video game developer over the quality of their game, you really need a new life.👎

I fail to see how that would make anyone "sad".

Microsoft has been sued over the defective Xbox 360's (more than once), Intel has been sued for so many damn things I don't even want to name one of them. If it's the only means available to open a developer's eyes to abstain from green-lighting half-assed products then so be it.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I fail to see how that would make anyone "sad".

Microsoft has been sued over the defective Xbox 360's (more than once), Intel has been sued for so many damn things I don't even want to name one of them. If it's the only means available to open a developer's eyes to abstain from green-lighting half-assed products then so be it.

I just find it extremely funny that anyone in the world will sue over anything these days. "I'm going to sue McDonalds because they made me fat!"

So what if you have developers that release games every year, or every two years with a few bugs. For people to start suing is ridiculous.

 

[Terronium-12]

I just find it extremely funny that anyone in the world will sue over anything these days. "I'm going to sue McDonalds because they made me fat!"

So what if you have developers that release games every year, or every two years with a few bugs. For people to start suing is ridiculous.

I've always said that myself, actually.

You can sue for anything now. I'm on my way to stand in front of a bus right now and sue for...

I haven't thought it out, yet.

 

[Tetradic]

I fail to see how that would make anyone "sad".

Microsoft has been sued over the defective Xbox 360's (more than once), Intel has been sued for so many damn things I don't even want to name one of them. If it's the only means available to open a developer's eyes to abstain from green-lighting half-assed products then so be it.

Both hardware examples where known iffy manufacture (bottom basement parts) was the issue, not relevant. Being sued for software, especially software that is entertainment based, we aren't talking life and death here, is a abuse of the legal system.

EA typically half-asses everything it does, even the new FIFA game (their flagship product) is iffy in places. Shift is no different. While I enjoy Shift and think it could be better I have nothing I feel I could sue over...nor do I have anything that I feel EA owes me. I got what I expected and enjoying it for what it is.

As for a physics update, one of the things I'd love to see is a full "pro/sim" mode with the physics not watered down and the AI model cleaned up some. That would make the game that much more enjoyable. Does EA owe it to me? Nope. Am I going to loose sleep if it never comes? Nope. The fact that someone from the a EA dev team is even here is shocking to me. The fact they participate and listening to the community is even better. So taking that into consideration I do have my hopes for a game update.

 

[Terronium-12]

Both hardware examples where known iffy manufacture (bottom basement parts) was the issue, not relevant. Being sued for software, especially software that is entertainment based, we aren't talking life and death here, is a abuse of the legal system.

EA typically half-asses everything it does, even the new FIFA game (their flagship product) is iffy in places. Shift is no different. While I enjoy Shift and think it could be better I have nothing I feel I could sue over...nor do I have anything that I feel EA owes me. I got what I expected and enjoying it for what it is.

As for a physics update, one of the things I'd love to see is a full "pro/sim" mode with the physics not watered down and the AI model cleaned up some. That would make the game that much more enjoyable. Does EA owe it to me? Nope. Am I going to loose sleep if it never comes? Nope. The fact that someone from the a EA dev team is even here is shocking to me. The fact they participate and listening to the community is even better. So taking that into consideration I do have my hopes for a game update.

Good point, but Intel has been sued for more than just hardware. They've been sued over....

Getting off topic here, let's just leave it at you have a good point. :tup:

Like I said, yes, you can sue for anything now and it is ridiculous...maybe I'm looking at the possible lawsuit issue through a tinted glass window, where I'm thinking "Perhaps that'll teach them."

Optimistic? Yes.

 

[m00ndancer]

As for a physics update, one of the things I'd love to see is a full "pro/sim" mode with the physics not watered down and the AI model cleaned up some. That would make the game that much more enjoyable. Does EA owe it to me? Nope. Am I going to loose sleep if it never comes? Nope. The fact that someone from the a EA dev team is even here is shocking to me. The fact they participate and listening to the community is even better. So taking that into consideration I do have my hopes for a game update.

Agreed, but I have given up on the PS3 version for now. The PC version is already modded a lot with different slipcurves, adjusted graphics, changed AI and a different single player career. Can't really recommend it to my console friends. Let's hope that the developer team gets permission and money to do a "proper" patch, not just bug fixes.

 

[C5Z06]

I just find it extremely funny that anyone in the world will sue over anything these days. "I'm going to sue McDonalds because they made me fat!"

So what if you have developers that release games every year, or every two years with a few bugs. For people to start suing is ridiculous.

You really have a point here. The kid suing the game publisher because he doesn't like the game or his hardware is not good enough is ridiculous at best, but also a little sad for him if he was indeed serious. He must have been joking because I find it hard to believe someone could think there is some legal ground to stand on. He has better chances suing his mom for buying him the wrong game.

Maybe he should have read the license terms, which are typical for any kind of software: THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. EA SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, MERCHANTABILITY AND NONINFRINGEMENT. Is that so difficult to understand?

What's next? Maybe let's sue American Idol because they really didn't sing that great and people wasted so much time.

Beside that, I think the physics engine in Shift is the best of any racing game on the PC. If they would just fix the annoying bugs I would be happy. And I have no doubt that they will.

Why somebody is so pissed about a game that has made so much progress for racing simulations is a mystery for me. But to each his own.

 

[tinker]

And that's helpful because...?
...and whatever other bull Shift is full of.

Hey Terronium-12 you made up a new expression,
"Bull Shift". Very descriptive of what a lot of the threads in this sub.forum amount to

 

[Terronium-12]

Hm. Bullshift. Nice.

Although I was censoring the dreaded s-word, I hadn't noticed the other s-word.

 

[Biggles]

Thanks for hi-jacking this thread with a philosophical discussion about suing!

It's not about whether we're "owed" a more "sim" version of Shift, it's about whether it already exists "under" the simplified version that has been released, & whether EA would see fit to release an update that enables this underlying more sim version. Given the further delay of GT5, releasing a sim update to Shift would seem to make commercial sense, as I'm sure it would lead a lot of fence-sitters to make the decision to purchase. It would also help to establish Shift as a solid sim title within the wider NFS franchise, which could result in more sales for future iterations of the game.

 

[khtse]

Probably not.

Wait for NFS Shift 2, if the first game sells well. If it does, you will probably see NFS Shift 2 in about a year.

This is the EA way.

 

[ItsHim]

Given the further delay of GT5, releasing a sim update to Shift would seem to make commercial sense,

No, because EA does rather well in the XBox segment and on PC, tries very hard to do better on the Wii in the near future and is loosing grounds on the PS3 anyway - I suspect they have written off Sony after PS2 sales, which were incredibly strong even after the release of the PS3, dropped.

EA tries to position NFS against Codemasters on PC and XBox - and try to offer a more adult approach to casual racing than the incredibly successful Mario Kart Wii.

Simply get over it, if it helps I won't get Forza 3 either and am eagerly awaiting the release of GT5 - my guess: Summer 2010

 

[88c-v Racer]

ever since NFS Underground 2 and NASCAR Thunder 2003 (with the possible exception of Prostreet) EA and cars, racing, auto racing, street racing, etc. should not be used in the same sentence in a positive way.

 

[evilfoxhound]

No, because EA does rather well in the XBox segment and on PC, tries very hard to do better on the Wii in the near future and is loosing grounds on the PS3:

Actually, EA claim that the PS3 makes them the most money (I'll try and find a link to the article)

Also look at the latest worldwide sales for two new EA games:

FIFA 10:

PS3: 780,33

XBOX 360: 567,475


Need For Speed Shift:

PS3: 535,647

XBOX 360: 425,439


So.... you were saying?

 

[ItsHim]

I was saying that if you compare the net revenue from the last 4 or even 5 quarterly statements, you'll find overall copies sold (and revenue) look better on Xbox and PC than on the PS2/3.

To quote EA

(...) These hardware licensors are also among our chief competitors. (...) While we believe that our relationships with our hardware licensors are currently good, the potential for these licensors to delay or refuse to approve or manufacture our products exists.

You don't simply go by what the customers wants, because half of the time the customers doesn't know what he or she actually does want (no matter what PR tells you), so you try to fit in the market. Look at the competition in that segment, and keep in mind the above warning from EA to its shareholders, and you have a pretty good general idea what kind of titles EA is going to commission.

I tried to reason why "better commercial success" by targeting the GT5 fanbase is not very likely.

But, go on, prove me wrong EA

 

[Biggles]

I was saying that if you compare the net revenue from the last 4 or even 5 quarterly statements, you'll find overall copies sold (and revenue) look better on Xbox and PC than on the PS2/3.

To quote EA

Quote:
(...) These hardware licensors are also among our chief competitors. (...) While we believe that our relationships with our hardware licensors are currently good, the potential for these licensors to delay or refuse to approve or manufacture our products exists.
You don't simply go by what the customers wants, because half of the time the customers doesn't know what he or she actually does want (no matter what PR tells you), so you try to fit in the market. Look at the competition in that segment, and keep in mind the above warning from EA to its shareholders, and you have a pretty good general idea what kind of titles EA is going to commission.

I tried to reason why "better commercial success" by targeting the GT5 fanbase is not very likely.

But, go on, prove me wrong EA

I can't claim to understand much about the way the video game industry operates, however the argument, as you have presented it, doesn't make much sense to me.

It seems that EA has chosen to produce a range of different products under the NFS banner. Shift represents the more "sim" end of that range, perhaps somewhere between Grid & GT. As such it competes to some degree with both those franchises. It also competes with another hardware licensor/competitor: Microsoft/Turn10/Forza. Releasing Shift just a few weeks before the release of Forza certainly leaves Shift vulnerable in the 360 world, but the (further) delay of GT5 gives it a long period where it doesn't have to compete with Sony/PD's product. A more sim Shift would have to compete with both Forza & (eventually) GT5, but at this point it would have better traction (pardon the pun) against PS/GT5 than against Turn10/Forza3.

In any case, "unleashing the sim within" Shift (assuming that it were possible) would presumably be done across all the platforms. As another physics option it appeal to more hardcore racers without alienating more casual racers.

 

[TrievelA7X]

I see it like this: I deserve my money back, due to the game not functioning properly, yes, I do. I bought it under the implied impression that it would work, and I could do certain things in it, things it claims I can on the case. Some of these things, like tuning certain cars, I cannot, because then they sit there on the line revving up and down and never leaving.
I'm also generally dissatisfied with it as well.
Now, EA will not be giving me a refund, I'm sure, so what I'll do is wait and see if they fix it, if they don't, I'll never be buying an NFS game again, and I'll be badmouthing their games for the rest of my gaming life. Hey, I've already made sure they lost 1 sale, to my brother in law, might be able to deny them a second to my brother and his girlfriend, if I find out either is interested in it. If I could do more I would, but I can't.
For those thinking and saying, "I'm enjoying it for what it is", or "why get so upset", I'll tell you why: Because it's getting worse. These companies are making more and more generally half-assed games, among other things, that are getting to be just awful. You just wait, GT1 was the only glitch free real GT game so far, we'll have waited 6 years, and GT5's going to have bugs too.
Why will it have bugs? Because rather than deliver a perfectly good game, with x amount of content, and then simply build more on to make a better game later, they decided to rush through, pile masses of content onto the first real game for this system, and won't do proper testing before they release it, because they drug their feet for so long. Now it'll come out, once again I won't buy it for a while, but this time I'll be coming into forums chuckling at all the "omg! the bugs are everywhere!, call the exterminator!" remarks that will surely fill the pages of this forum.