EA Sports WRC: General Discussion

[m355y]

I hadn’t even noticed they were missing, and only now realise they’re not in DR2.0 either. Fair to say it’s never bothered me much.

 

[UKMikey]

The head to head Special Stages in RalliSport Challenge 2.0 were fun but I imagine the Codies dev team has enough on its plate knocking this game into shape without taking on the additional challenge of modelling completely new locations with a different style of rally driving.

Had they not they may have been able to preserve the Rallycross stages from DR2.0.

 

[Nebuc72]

I quite enjoyed the Super Special Stages in the old Evo Studios PS2 games, but not so much in the more sim aligned rally games.

They've always felt pretty arcadey and gimmicky so I feel they fit those types of games more than they do actual rally sims.. which is odd considering they are in actual WRC but hey-ho.

 

[PJTierney]

At the moment the dev team gets more bang for buck by making standard/long stages and using cut/reversed variants to increase the stage list.

Doesn’t exclude Super Specials in the future (one would also need to consider performance and AI for any side-by-side ones) but it’s likely a lower priority right now vs adding more traditional stages in the future.

 

[SharkyOB]

At the moment the dev team gets more bang for buck by making standard/long stages and using cut/reversed variants to increase the stage list.

Doesn’t exclude Super Specials in the future (one would also need to consider performance and AI for any side-by-side ones) but it’s likely a lower priority right now vs adding more traditional stages in the future.

I'd be happy if the devs never get round to it tbh. They work well at real rallies as they are great for spectators, but they aren't really what rallying is about and they've never been great in rally games.

 

[tbtstt]

I'd be happy if the devs never get round to it tbh. They work well at real rallies as they are great for spectators, but they aren't really what rallying is about and they've never been great in rally games.

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing them at some point if the devs have "spare time" to do them. As you say though, they are typically a gimmick for spectators and I'd personally much rather see the attention given to proper rally stages.

Had they not they may have been able to preserve the Rallycross stages from DR2.0.

It seems increasingly unlikely at present, but I am still clinging onto the hope that the rallycross content from DR2.0 will somehow find its way into a new CM title; either tacked on to EA WRC or as something standalone.

 

[Scaff]

I'd be happy if the devs never get round to it tbh. They work well at real rallies as they are great for spectators, but they aren't really what rallying is about and they've never been great in rally games.

Super Specials have been in the WRC for over 30 years, meaning they have been a part of the championship for longer than they were not a part. If you count the very short single-car Specials they evolved from, they go back even further (I've come across footage from 1983 at Castle Combe - only a decade after the WRC started).



I get an argument for preference, but a claim that they are not what rallying, and particularly the WRC are about is simply not true.

 

[SharkyOB]

Super Specials have been in the WRC for over 30 years, meaning they have been a part of the championship for longer than they were not a part. If you count the very short single-car Specials they evolved from, they go back even further (I've come across footage from 1983 at Castle Combe - only a decade after the WRC started).



I get an argument for preference, but a claim that they are not what rallying, and particularly the WRC are about is simply not true.

Fair enough, but I still think they aren't really what rallying is about. Attacking a crazy country road isn't really the same as doing donuts round a traffic island. Ultimately they are for the spectators rather than the drivers and that's not really the point of a rally game.

 

[tbtstt]

Super Specials have been in the WRC for over 30 years, meaning they have been a part of the championship for longer than they were not a part. If you count the very short single-car Specials they evolved from, they go back even further (I've come across footage from 1983 at Castle Combe - only a decade after the WRC started).



I get an argument for preference, but a claim that they are not what rallying, and particularly the WRC are about is simply not true.

I don't think there is any argument that they have been a part of WRC - and other significant rallies - for a lot of years and I can't deny that I have some fond memories of some of them (1997 Super Special at Silverstone is etched into my memory!) but in my mind they have always been a compromise added in to try purely to make a segment of the rally more accessible to the general public.

Many, many, drivers have directly referred to them as "mickey mouse" stages and, although I do agree that in order to be the best possible rally game, you need every aspect of the sport included, I personally think they are nowhere near as crucial as having the right proper stages, cars, liveries etc. in the game.

 

[space_wadet]

Going by a strict definition of what "pure" rallying is, is a bit of dangerous game. Kenya doesn't really fit the definition, neither do the RX sections in Sardegna and Estonia. Arguably donuts and chicanes added to stages don't either. Real rallies have SSS', so they're a fully fledged part of rallying. Most stages are compromises in some way, and rally wouldn't exist without spectators.

That said I agree SSS shouldn't be a priority, but I do think they're a "nice to have". They're good for breathers in long rallies, as a kind of second shakedown, break in the middle, or even at the end. Even just for variety's sake. I have fond memories of them in CMR 2005.

 

[tbtstt]

Going by a strict definition of what "pure" rallying is, is a bit of dangerous game. Kenya doesn't really fit the definition, neither do the RX sections in Sardegna and Estonia. Arguably donuts and chicanes added to stages don't either. Real rallies have SSS', so they're a fully fledged part of rallying. Most stages are compromises in some way, and rally wouldn't exist without spectators.

Yeah, I agree that the line of "pure" rallying is quite a fine one (and open to a lot of debate!). Using RX sections as part of a bigger stage is less contentious in my mind, as that enclosed section is part of a bigger "proper" rally stage.

The chicanes/donut sections are a necessary evil, purely to bring the average stage speed down. That definitely isn't "pure" rally, but that is a compromise I can (personally) accept if it enables the continued use of the fastest cars.

That said I agree SSS shouldn't be a priority, but I do think they're a "nice to have". They're good for breathers in long rallies, as a kind of second shakedown, break in the middle, or even at the end. Even just for variety's sake. I have fond memories of them in CMR 2005.

Oh yeah, lot of fond memories of them and would be a nice detail to have.

 

[MagpieRacer]

I don't think there is any argument that they have been a part of WRC - and other significant rallies - for a lot of years and I can't deny that I have some fond memories of some of them (1997 Super Special at Silverstone is etched into my memory!) but in my mind they have always been a compromise added in to try purely to make a segment of the rally more accessible to the general public.

Many, many, drivers have directly referred to them as "mickey mouse" stages and, although I do agree that in order to be the best possible rally game, you need every aspect of the sport included, I personally think they are nowhere near as crucial as having the right proper stages, cars, liveries etc. in the game.

Oh man the Silverstone super special was, well, super special.

 

[Dreadmed]

That said I agree SSS shouldn't be a priority, but I do think they're a "nice to have". They're good for breathers in long rallies, as a kind of second shakedown, break in the middle, or even at the end. Even just for variety's sake. I have fond memories of them in CMR 2005.

Aye, I certainly wouldn't mind them as one-off stages to kick things off or as an interlude (they wouldn't be very good as power stages). In Generations I found it a bit irritating when they featured multiple times in the same event.

That said I also agree with PJ in that the priority should definitely be adding more special stages... take Croatia for example, if memory serves at least 6, if not 8 of the 12 total stages use the same section of road on the switchback hill, just with moderately different start and end points. That's one location that definitely needs some love.

 

[Shah1]

What platforms are you guys playing the game on? I can grab a deal on PS5 but not sure if it's a better experience on PC?

 

[Scaff]

My thoughts one year on

 

[PJTierney]

One for the Watch Later list 👍🏻

 

[PJTierney]

What platforms are you guys playing the game on? I can grab a deal on PS5 but not sure if it's a better experience on PC?

PC you can do PC things (light modding, more peripheral support etc.) but console performance is predictable and stable.

No matter where you play the game has crossplay so you won’t miss out on leaderboards or multiplayer.

 

[zaxs]

Today I started playing this game and have a problem with Dualsense settings.
Car is way too sensitive, what settings would you suggest?
I put 40/3

 

[UKMikey]

Still loving the career gameplay loop. Until the other day, at least, when I missed out on the marquee target of beating Toyota Gazoo by a single point on a wet Kudarisawa and Mr Lucre made huge cuts to my budget resulting in me having to make swingeing reductions to my staff and garage.

This year I have to beat Kalle in the main WRC events whilst getting four podium finishes in Group B events and finishing at least third or above in the team championship in Regularity Icons. Adding to the fun, AI drivers like Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans also seem to have upped their game considerably.

Having found out the hard way that you can't buy and sell vehicles mid-championship without forfeiting your progress, I guess the trick is to find a loophole in his requirements so that you can still participate in 1997-2011 regularity events, Group B RWD and the main WRC championship while staying under budget.

After some trial and error I think I can get away with doing the WRC and historic B Tour solo while still keeping two Fabias for the team regularity target. My staff are really being hammered though.

[EDIT] it wouldn't let me back into the Historic RWD Championship because I sold my car. Luckily I was able to buy an M1 Procar and sneak into the RWD Showdown otherwise I would've turned the game into a virtual coaster despite being a digital download

 

[Meythia]

Today I started playing this game and have a problem with Dualsense settings.
Car is way too sensitive, what settings would you suggest?
I put 40/3

I had the impression too, initially, but I think it has more to do with getting accustomed to it, that and maybe figuring out the slightest necessary adjustment you can make to your car to make it drive more to your liking.

 

[PJTierney]

 

[RYAN]

PC you can do PC things (light modding, more peripheral support etc.) but console performance is predictable and stable.

No matter where you play the game has crossplay so you won’t miss out on leaderboards or multiplayer.

In my opinion Modding is one of the aspects where UE5 shines. Just add .pak mod files into the paks folder in EA WRC or in Stalker 2's case just make a ~mods folder (and place the mod .pak files there) and thats it.

 

[PJTierney]

I know where Le Maestros is 😏

 

[UKMikey]

Just saying... Winter 2024 officially ends on March 20 next year