Shift 2 has raised the bar...

[GumShoe]

After seeing the first revealed details, Forza 4 is going to really have to do something quite inventive with the career structure or game modes for me to not just think of it as Forza 3.2. Same with the next GT, or any other racer.

I didn't think you could do much with the on track action coming from the past games, but Shift 2 really showed how incredibly immersive and intense the on track stuff can be in a game. Then add in the addictive Autolog and the beautifully done night racing, helmet cam is awesome, plus little things like rubble and leaves being kicked up, crazy crash damage etc.

I'd say, other than the few issues that are being patched (1.03 out in a week or two), the new features are all well done and none of them just feel 'tacked on' or rushed *cough* GT5 *cough*.

So what do you think, has Shift 2 done the job of forcing the competition to really lift their game? Do you have higher expectations for the competition to meet because of Shift 2?

 

[McLaren]

The intensity & immersion of track racing was nailed by Shift 2, and frankly, I can't explain how they've done it. Maybe it's the track mods you can do, the helmet cam, the racing, the sounds, or maybe all of them.

GT & Forza have done such similar things, but EA really knocked the feeling of racing on a track out with this title. 👍

 

[Spoil-t]

EA does nothing to make games good. They just rake in the money. Thank SMS for this game & not EA.

 

[FinnZevo]

Shift 2 has raised the bar!! I love the helmet cam, the FF feels great now after the patch...GT5 feels like a nice Sunday cruise compared to shift 2..Helmet cam is truly amazing!! ,it has made me a better racer!!!!

 

[LegendaryNiNJA]

Gt5 is a good game for like the first few weeks, after that its pretty dry. I think shift raised the bar, physics need some more tweeking, but the racing is amazingly tuning, and to mr they have cars I wont to drive.

To me from the little gameplay vid of forza4 that was leaked, it looks more of the same, with more cars on track and updated graphic.

I dont want to sound like im bashing, gt or forza but I think shift.just has an fun factor that those dont.

 

[McLaren]

EA does nothing to make games good. They just rake in the money. Thank SMS for this game & not EA.

If you're one of those folks who think EA is nothing but a greedy, evil giant, then that's your stance.

I retain my opinion that EA/SMS still did a fantastic job with this game.

 

[Spoil-t]

EA Publishes games. They don't make them but they did rush them to be released. cough..........Undercover...........cough

Now they said they aren't going to interfere with game development anymore & so far Shift 2 is proving it.

 

[McLaren]

EA Publishes games. They don't make them but they did rush them to be released. cough..........Undercover...........cough

BlackBox is just as much to blame for their games as EA. They've done nothing but downhill work after Hot Pursuit II, imo.

Now they said they aren't going to interfere with game development anymore & so far Shift 2 is proving it.

They are still responsible for the marketing & funding to help get the game where it is.

Regardless, my point is that the game was done well, overall.

 

[Spagetti69]

Now they said they aren't going to interfere with game development anymore

Where did they say that?

 

[Spoil-t]

Last year's E3.

 

[Spoil-t]

BlackBox is just as much to blame for their games as EA. They've done nothing but downhill work after Hot Pursuit II, imo.

But EA is to blame not BB. Once this gen hit EA went with the rush out, patch later method. HP2 to Most Wanted were very well made games. After that it was a dive.

 

[McLaren]

But EA is to blame not BB. Once this gen hit EA went with the rush out, patch later method. HP2 to Most Wanted were very well made games. After that it was a dive.

So I can't give some sort of credit to EA for Shift 2 because SMS developed it, yet the blame for everything after Most Wanted to Hot Pursuit lies with EA, & not the developer.

Sorry, but your obvious distaste for EA doesn't excuse the fact that BlackBox is as much to blame for the gameplay as you blame EA for.

 

[Spoil-t]

Hey, this will be settled in November when The Run comes out. EA gave BB 4 years to make it instead of the rushed 1 year.

 

[Spagetti69]

Hey, this will be settled in November when The Run comes out. EA gave BB 4 years to make it instead of the rushed 1 year.

So they gave them that grace 3 years ago, if I'm following this correctly.

A year ago they said they are going to stop interfering.

Something doesn't add up there.

 

[McLaren]

Hey, this will be settled in November when The Run comes out. EA gave BB 4 years to make it instead of the rushed 1 year.

You do realize BB had actually been working on NFS World since Undercover & have been working on The Run for around 2 or so years instead of the usual 1.

 

[boxox]

I don't think it was so much BB's fault - as terrible as the last few retail outings were (and that they managed to bungle even their small contribution to the first Shift). I think they were just run into the ground by EA - look at the timeframe between their game releases on wikipedia.

Shift > Shift 2 was 18 months, which probably just about killed the guys who worked on it, and that was a game where they could substancially re-use a lot of content.

Undercover - November 18, 2008

ProStreet - November 14, 2007

Carbon - October 31, 2006

Most Wanted - May 25, 2005

Underground 2 - May 25, 2004

Underground - May 6, 2003

Hot Pursuit 2 - October 1, 2002

Bear in mind that as you go back a lot of these are from when there were rather more more platforms to service and some got staggered weeks/months past the first ship date. Seriously. For some people, less than 12 months between releases, back to back, without much repeated content, including QA and mastering time. That's unbelievable.

 

[NLxAROSA]

Shift 2 definitely raised the bar. Autolog and the career events are awesome! Telemetry and live tuning are also very nice. The physiscs are miles beyond GT5, which is unfortunately ruined for many of the cars with crappy setups and iffy FFB. But if they manage to iron the last two out for a successor (Shift 3 or some other title), it will be the top of the class. 👍

 

[TheTechnobear]

Agreed... Shift 2 has definitely shown how to get atmosphere in the cockpit!

I think we have been lucky, some really good titles of late.
Dirt3, gt5, F1 2010, fm3 all have added something.

Im intrigued , are we going to have this split of encyclopedic games (gt5/fm3) and more focused titles shift2 / f1 / dirt3?

I hope so, personally, I don't need 1000s of cars (but can understand those that like this),
But want a more realistic race... I think at the moment a combo of shift 2 + f1 2010 would be bliss, I love f1 career and elements that surround the race, give me flags, ppits and tyre changes please

 

[FLX1981]

The creativity and out-of-the-box thinking of SMS with Shift 2 is amazing, imho. I dont think others can just blatantly copy those features, though. Most of the unique features that make Shift 2 so immersive would be out of place in Forza or GT5.

The glorious shouting mechanic sound of Shift 2, the helmet cam, the spectacular crashes... doesnt really fit with the sterile worlds of Forza and GT. Both of them need to step up their AI game and need to imply something like Autolog though, of course.

Forza 4 doesnt really convince me, tbh. The menus look cool but I m not into the whole kinect stuff and the rest looks more like Forza 3.5 instead of a real step forward.

 

[Spagetti69]

I never knew the menus for Forza 4 were available to see.

Could you tell me where to look please.

Thanks.

 

[FLX1981]

Ehh, I meant the part where you can explore the car and the information and details get visualized on the fly like in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEhOiYVxcEg

Sorry wasnt too sharply formulated!

 

[Spagetti69]

Ok no probs. I've seen that too.
Hard to tell what the final game is like from that TBH

 

[UkHardcore23]

EA does nothing to make games good. They just rake in the money. Thank SMS for this game & not EA.

EA financed the project and gave SMS the opportunity to step up into the big game of the gaming world where millions instead of thousands play their game! Major props for EA 👍

 

[Spoil-t]

You do realize BB had actually been working on NFS World since Undercover & have been working on The Run for around 2 or so years instead of the usual 1.

EA Singapore was also developing it with BB plus a vast amount of the game is reused from previous NFS titles.

And to add BB did start The Run after Undercover & was working with DICE in the development. This is pretty smart to have two devs co-op a game.

 

[alfaV6boy]

Simply this is the best RACING game on the platforms right now. Yes they marketed it against GT5 and FM3, they had to, what would of been the point in marketing it against Race Pro or GRiD, both ageing games.

Shift 2 isnt like GT5 of FM3 despite the fact it has cars and tracks, Shift 2 is the console game Race Pro SHOULD of been.

I absolutely cained FM3 from the day of release till the day i got SHift 2...... i still stick on FM3 but Shift 2 gave me something i realised i was missing from FM3 and GT5....

RACING.....................

And amazing AI.....which do jostle and barge and harry you, which correct me if i'm wrong is racing in itself.......just watch Hamilton at Monaco 2011 for proof of that!!!! lol.

 

[RomKnight]

Just tried the McLaren F1.... This and the Pagani Cinque are an absolute joy to drive with cockpit cams.

They even handle VERY well stock. Fun guaranteed or your money back.

Also, Night and Dusk are simply BEAUTIFUL on any track with this cars.

Even with all the quirks, its impossible not to like this game 2 👍

 

[plate88]

SU2 has definitely raised the bar. Autolog is brilliant for this game and brings a community of racers together for some on the edge racing.

If SMS can get online fixed up a bit would add a whole other level to the fold.

Slowly the SU2 community is growing which is great. Hopefully SMS can keep adding useful additions to the already awesome game.

 

[MikeK]

Shift 2 = racing sim

GT/Forza = driving sim. Racing is just context to oogle cars.

Therefore, GT/Forza won't do anything different as a result of Shift 2 because to them, Shift is a "different game".

 

[RomKnight]

Agreed. GT5 simply can't capture the fun and excitement of racing very well.

I'd would go further and say
"GT5 simply can't capture the fun and excitement of racing at all"

I have never sweated playing a racing game until Shift 2 even if at some point I struggled with GT5 (FGT events)

 

[alfaV6boy]

I'd would go further and say
"GT5 simply can't capture the fun and excitement of racing at all"

I have never sweated playing a racing game until Shift 2 even if at some point I struggled with GT5 (FGT events)

Spot on, i have literally done this and also i have been leading a race had a AI car catch me up on my tail then for the last lap actually over thought and panicked at every corner!! Even though for first 3 laps i was driving perfectly! Very real feelings which all add up to a gaming experience of excellence surely! SMS have with Shift 2 nailed the 'feeling' of racing and being a race driver and also almost made me realise truly why i loved gaming in the first place!!

FUN !!!

Add to this DLC which adds to the career (Turn 10 you need to do this)
full on wide body kits (again turn 10 take note)

Turn 10 got alot of flack from people for having certain shopping cars being able to beat 'super cars' online etc.....
Now as we know you can in real life take any shell of a car and then pretty much make it obscenely fast, sadly what Turn 10 didnt do when they allowed this was the body kit which would accompany this transformation...

i.e in SHIFT2 you can see the MK1 golf hyper car is a hyper car, in FM3 it still looks like a shopping car!

That's a big difference and one FM4 needs......