MAMEWorld Forums - News - Re: DU Update: Offroad Thunder

No not necessarily. Those games had a newer technology so it's far more advanced than Race Drivin.

- There are cheesy flash games written that play on Quad core pcs... and yet, none of them approach the mathmatics and physics that are found in Race Drivin.

The mere fact that the technology is newer does not mean squat. What matters is what you DO with that power. AND, how efficient it is.

Another example: You can write a game in a very Basic language, on a seriously hardcore system. Yet, a MUCH older pc could stomp it with a program made in Machine Language (Assembly).

Also, a Dedicated arcade system tends to be much more efficient and utilized than any PC based game systems.
The PC horribly inefficient operation systems coupled with slow bus speeds, translation problems, and much more... make the PC the least optimal system to made efficient software for.

And as Ive said, when you understand what kind of math is done on games like Race Drivin... your head would explode. Calculations of things like individual shock absorbers, rubber tire grip/slip, acceleration & deceleration based on real engines and gear ratios... and much more.

"The engine, transmission control, suspension, and tire physics were modeled in conjunction with Doug Milliken[3] who was listed as a test driver in the game credits. In the 1950s his father William Milliken of Milliken Research led a team at Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory in Buffalo NY USA (later Calspan) that converted aircraft equations of motion to equations of motion for the automobile, and became one of the world's leading experts in car modeling[4]."

So, while a PC may have been capable of similar results to the much older race drivin... You dont see such complexity, control, and realism the Thunder games. They are technically Inferior.

(Mathematics & Physics do not become 'Obsolete' over time)

went to California Speed,
> they lost all the challenge AND the fun. A complete useless flop.

No not at all. You obviously have not play hydro thunder. The vehicles flying physics was that so so incredible it far exceeded to those San Francisco Rush or even Daytona.

- Ohh yes, I was asked to play it while waiting for a movie to start, and reluctantly popped in some change. As expected, it sucked to the point that I didnt even want to finish playing it, less than 1/4 way thru it. I swear, I almost fell asleep when playing that game. Thats how pathetically non-involving it is.

- The shortcut physics of Flight they made is not that complex as you think. Most of it is probably a few collision boxes and very simple mario-jump style formulas.

- You dont wreck if you fall too far. The physics and control of the boat hitting waves isnt anywhere near realistic. Its all dumbed down stuff, not anywhere near real physics.

While Outrun does not have Physics, it at least has fast intense challenge, looks and sounds 1000x better. Rush also has some gameplay challenge, even tho its more relaxed feeling than outrun or daytona. And Daytona, while not as realistic as Race Drivin... its driving physics are good enough to provide great depth of challenge, but not so dumbed down to the point nearly being able to win the game while playing blindfolded.... which is pretty much how easy Hydrothunder is.

If you like your games with a 6yr old difficulty level.. then the Thunder games are perfect for you. For me, its terribly painful... (especially cause the games graphics look so damn ugly)

You obviously have not played Intial D Arcade Stage games, the collision damamges were much more realistic than Daytona.

- We were comparing a useless Pile of Crap that is the Thunder games... to games that actually have depth. Which sadly means, you cant even follow and argument.

Virtua Racing was a much better game than Daytona USA.

- I love VirtuaRacer... but, VR is limited in its depths... and does not take as much to master. It also feels a lot slower in pace... where as Daytona really feels like you are Hauling butt.

Alpine Racer may not have the replay value that you want but it does have gameplay value. One of the best Japanese 3D snow skii games ever made.

- Umm, its one of the ONLY skiing simulators made... so that title is way too easy to be Earned.

Face it. It sucks. It feels NOTHING like real Skiing, its not exciting in the very least bit. Your pulse wont even raise playing it.

There is little thrill like jumping over a huge gaping cliff. There is no real dodging and weaving thru trees and tons of skiiers. No force feedback effects at all.. such as a vibration from hitting a mogul. The hills dont feel steep. The controller is too stiff and does not learn enough... AND it should have been angled to somewhat simulate diving into a deep hill.

At very least, there should have been a course filled with things to weave in and out of. And that wasnt even the case. The hills were pretty much blank and boring as hell.

There are 2D skiing games that evoke more fun and more excitement / challenge / and feeling of skiing than that monster TURD that didnt make POOP for earnings.

I cannot believe directly on this one. Earlier you said the the fall of the arcades was due to poor games made by arcade manufacturers, you are missing the whole point. You just looking in one area. The main reason for the fall of the arcades is game consoles graphics have gotten better because of advancements in technology so consoles graphics are either same or better than the arcades. Online gaming has also increased in popularity where more people are now going online at home or Internets Cafes to do MMO games rather than going to arcade rooms.

- Graphics only go so far. Mario does not have super high tech graphics... but the 2d Marios are some of the most popular and beloved games ever made in history.

At the Arcade, we often got more coin in the older Virtua Racer than the much newwer Rave Racer.

But, I also agree to a certain point. The arcades should have had things that were not easy to get at home... Such as more Motorized cockpits, Stereoscopic 3d displays, surround sound enclosures. Better more realistic controls.
(the shifter on arcade Ridge Racer was a horrible joke)
And much more.

The games got cheaper in quality, easier, boring and lifeless.

Arcades are still popular in Japan. If you want to go to a place where arcades are popular then you should go to Japan.

- Arcades are more popular in Japan merely because of population density. Meaning, 10,000 people will travel down the street in a day, and the people traffic on the worst of days will be good enough to be busy in sales.

Also, arcades are a place where tons of gambling with Pachinko machines is done.. and so that supports the places very well.

Even in Japan, the arcades are not doing as good like they used to do... and are also starting to fall over there too.

Its less about consoles as it is about Poor quality Gimmick games like Alpine Racer.. which after you play it once, you will Never play it again.

And trust me, Im less caring about the fall of arcades as I am the fall of good & original game development. Today, there are very few games worth playing... let alone buying.