SDF Sony Defense Force » 2009

Quick Review: Forza 3 Demo (360)

October 2nd, 2009 MitchMcCanan

f3review

After a solid week of playtime I feel the Forza 3 Demo is ready for review. I’d like to start off with the bad because I want this review will be generally positive and free of bias.

The Bad:
- The graphics have not been upgraded at all from Forza 2. In fact I had to double check and make sure I didn’t download the Forza 2 demo by mistake.
- The UI is actually worse in Forza 3 as it’s much, much more cumbersome and takes awhile to get used to.
- The driving model is far more arcadey than I’d like for a sim game and it felt very stiff and sluggish. Imagine playing Rad Racer for the NES but all the cars were underwater and it looked like a Saturday morning cartoon.
- The much hyped “tire physics” left a lot to be desired. And by “a lot to be desired” i mean non-existent.
- Only 8 cars on screen all of which have very, very low polygon counts.
- Aliasing and shimmering across the board. Think Forza 2 but with a more stale color palette.
- Sounds are muddled and not realistic at all.

The Good:
+ It was free.

The Conclusion:
Perhaps the final game will come with an entirely new graphics, physics and sound engine before it’s released. If not, Turn 10 has still built a very competent Xbox 1-era sim racer but I’m not sure if that’s enough anymore. With GT5:Prologue (PS3) and NFS:Shift (PS3) out right now it’s hard to even justify the free download.

SDF Score: 1/10

Posted in Forza 3, GT5, Other Systems, Reviews | 40 Comments »

Forza 2 vs Forza 3

October 2nd, 2009 TimmySDF

Source: www.gamereactor.se

Forza 2.1 confirmed? Is this an overpriced expansion pack ala ODST? SDF will try to get to the bottom of this.

Posted in Forza 3, GT5, Other Systems | 14 Comments »

Confirmed: GT5 to have full car damage, deformation and more

October 1st, 2009 TimmySDF

gt5r

As for the new car, will have representation in vogue the hybrids. Also present will first legendary brands like Lamborghini and Bugatti. Until we have cars from NASCAR and World Rally. Speaking of NASCAR, Yamauchi noted that the deformation and damage in these high-speed races will be absolutely amazing and true to life, with turns, spins, roll, and so on. We will have to see to believe.

Then took a look at another set of game features that he says make Gran Turismo what is today a reference in the world of driving simulations. Arcade and story modes are the same as previous versions, but taken to the next generation. That is, new graphics, new physics, new details. In the shop there will be many parties to improve your cars. The creator was particularly proud of this facet of The Game. We commented that he can change almost every imaginable piece of the vehicle. Not just the typical sections of the engine, brakes, etc. ..

The online mode will have full support. The development team has focused a lot on this. There will be private rooms where you can connect with other players and tournaments closed set, for example. With regard to the shooting mode, Yamauchi told us that this feature, present from Gran Turismo 4 has been improved greatly. It can take pictures at any moment of the race, as well as specially prepared scenarios for this need. We were reminded that the improvement in the modeling (both circuit and car) will thus a delight for fans. On the technical side we said that the photos have a resolution of 8 megapixels.

After the lecture, the lights went to witness in all its splendor the trailer unpublished announced that no one outside those walls had seen so far. It was a moment of excitement because, obviously, everyone wanted to see the deformation and damage.

The video begins with a street circuit and with electronic music in the background. Then we can see the cars, especially new ones at its best going around the track, the GT style of life. We see cars NASCAR, rally, Lamborghinis and Bugattis. We see the pits in full and frenetic action. The images come from the replay mode. We run at night. The modeling is clearly at the level expected. And finally we see the first deformation and cracks on cars. There are a few shouts of excitement among those present. They are short but intense second accident. A lack of a better word, awesome.

We also see a Ferrari with a big city in the background. The camera rises to give a more global perspective. The video ends. The truth is that we are left wanting more. A little short, but intense. When just the trailer, the media present burst into applause greeting. Yamauchi, amid which he said are still working on the night mode to make it as realistic as possible. Not a word of deformations. “I’ll ask after the interview, I thought to myself.

To summarize:
- Day/Night cycles
- Very impressive damage models already
- Totally new physics engine
- Intensive work in the damage/physics/collisions interaction right now
- When the interviewer ask Yamauchi “if knowing his love for perfection, we could hope for perfect collisions, damage and physics associated,” Yamauchi responded: “YES, EXPECT PERFECTION.”

One must wonder though, how could the physics could get any better than what we’ve already seen in Forza 3…

tonyhawkfz3

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fm3dog438

Posted in Forza 3, GT5, Playstation 3 | 11 Comments »

Sales Chart: Uncharted 2 tops Halo 3:ODST

October 1st, 2009 MitchMcCanan

uncharted2vsodst

Uncharted 2 has toppled Halo 3: ODST in a U.S. sales chart and the game isn’t even out yet. Wii is enjoying a temporary sales boost due to Amazon practically giving them away at this point ($50 off in addition to the $50 price cut).

It’s nice to see a well reviewed game destroy a rehashed expansion pack.

Posted in Halo 2.5, Other Systems, Playstation 3, The Slim Effect™ | 15 Comments »