Colin McRae: Dirt 2

[Shorty]

Colin McRae: Dirt 2 will be the first Colin McRae game to come out since the man's tragic death in September 2007. He'll still play a part in this game (http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2009/06/18/dirt-2-features-memorial-for-colin-mcrae/) though, as players will be working to qualify for the Colin McRae Memorial Cup and the other drivers will talk about him. The game will include over 40 real-life drivers and over 100 events in nine countries (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/dirt-2-tears-up-the-track-in-latest-trailer?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_joystiq) as well as a ton of cars (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/25/new-dirt-2-trailers-feature-fancy-cars-lots-of-dirt/#continued) including the BMW Z4 coupe, Subaru WRX STi hatch and a bunch of trucks. Dirt 2 will also be one of the first PC games to support DirectX 11 (http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/07/06/dirt-2-pc-delayed-to-december-first-game-announced-for-directx1?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_joystiq).

Colin McRae: Dirt 2 (or just Dirt 2 outside of Europe) will be out on September 11 (no, seriously) for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS and PSP. The PC version will be out in December.

As someone who really enjoyed the previous game, I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel. The graphics look amazing and I'll be interested to see what new cars and events will be in there.

[Surgeon.]

Looks mighty perty.

Didn't really get into the first game after being put off by the arcade feel in the demo. Nonetheless, still interested to see how Dirt 2 turns out.

[SOX]

Can you fly a helicopter??

[AranchineD]

As someone who really enjoyed the previous game, I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel. The graphics look amazing and I'll be interested to see what new cars and events the game will be in it.

Pretty much summed it up for me there, as long as I hear not a single word of "this feature was inspired by Fuel" I'll be excited for the game. >_>

[enrique]

As someone who really enjoyed the previous game, I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel. The graphics look amazing and I'll be interested to see what new cars and events the game will be in it.

Same for me. Should be a day one buy for me. Love the fact you can take a BMW Z4M GT racer offroad, cant wait to to that. :)

[Citizen Erased]

Im confused in why the game still has the Colin McRae in the title, I mean the guy's dead, show some respect codemasters. But I love me a good rally game, so I'll proberly pick it up when it comes out.

[Lazlow]

I found DiRT fun initially, but once i reached the upper tiers it really had nothing new to offer and with a lack of depth on the driving model it became a chore. Plus cars stopping on a dime on a loose dirt surface was too jarring for me.

If DiRT 2 is going to be more of the same, then I'll probably hold out until it's dirt cheap (h)

[freeradical]

Somewhat worried about the apparent 'x games' feel of this game. And WTF!!! There doesnt appear to be any Australian tracks that i can see. Loved the Aussie tracks in DiRT.

[dinopoke]

Im confused in why the game still has the Colin McRae in the title, I mean the guy's dead, show some respect codemasters. But I love me a good rally game, so I'll proberly pick it up when it comes out.

I thought the respect was in keeping his name instead of cutting it off and pretending he never existed. >__>

[Lazlow]

Only in Euro territories. Will be plain ole DiRT here.

[freeradical]

Eurogamers hands on http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/colin-mcrae-dirt-2-article

[Blue]

I thought the respect was in keeping his name instead of cutting it off and pretending he never existed. >__>They were toying with the idea of changing the title to 'Colin McRae: In the DiRT', but thought better of it.

[Lazlow]

Its hard to gauge how much has changed without putting the sequel and original side-by-side, but with DiRT 2 the third game from the same team (after DiRT and GRID), these guys are amongst the best in the business at core driving mechanics.

Haha, depends on how dumbed down your definition of "core driving mechanics" is.

Moreover, Codemasters claims that at a recent event where the game was linked up to ludicrously expensive hydraulic racing simulator, the professional rally drivers beat everyone else by a significant margin.

That's really not an indication of anything to be honest. :/

I don't want to get down on the game, but the fact is DiRT was average and GRiD woeful. As the article says;

On a more mundane level, it's a simple business decision for Codemasters, which wants to make more money Stateside - prior to the original DiRT, sales were declining year-on-year.

and Codemasters' games really started dropping in quality when they started these jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none type games.

I'm sure it'll be a fun little blast, but the fact every article I read tries to pass this off as some realistic representation of motorsport shits me; probably because Richard Burns Rally made them feel small and inadequate.

[Lazlow]

Although this video link in the article is pretty cool;

P0de7m7uU0c

Since when did they start running special stages at the X-Games >_>

No wonder these games are going after the ADHD vote <_<

[Shorty]

I didn't really enjoy RBR, to be honest. Sure, it was realistic, but it had a pretty nasty learning curve and that doesn't necessarily translate into a fun game. DiRT did a much better job of easing you into things.

[Blue]

DiRT was fun, but the redneck buggies and 4WDs put me off, meaning that I still haven't slogged through the career mode. They're there for variety, sure, but I just want to drive rally cars.

[Lazlow]

I didn't really enjoy RBR, to be honest. Sure, it was realistic, but it had a pretty nasty learning curve and that doesn't necessarily translate into a fun game. DiRT did a much better job of easing you into things.

Wuss :p

What was there to ease into though? At no point did I feel challenged :/

Probably why I loved RBR (also helps to have it on PC with a wheel setup >_>), sure it was hard, but it wasn't impossible. It was a great replication of the knife edge balance that is rallying. I got great satisfaction in getting better at it. I didn't get that from DiRT.

I just want to drive rally cars.

Truer words never spoken. DiRT was mired by too much fluff; and DiRT2 seems to want to cram more crap in. Its like buying a bag of mixed lollies just for the licorice.

I'd be quite content if DiRT2 just focused on the WRC/Dakar type of rallying and made the driving model slightly more challenging.

[Blue]

DiRT was easy, because there was no penalty for driving off the track, whereas older, more traditional rally games would stop you dead, or you'd go off a cliff and cop an enormous time penalty. I don't really miss those days to be honest. Rally games were always too dry, at least DiRT tried to make it more exciting, although having bloody Travis Pastrana talking to me constantly gave me the shits.

As you said Laz, give me WRC and Dakar type events, and that's it. No ****ing monster trucks or Motorstorm shit.

They do still have the WRC license, right? Polyphony didn't snag it outright?

[Creedy]

Just watched these 3 videos....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeR4HXTzt80
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQUg3VJlUco&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFuJzEtOw04&feature=related

The first video made me say no.
The second video peaked my interest a tad.
The third video made me say **** no!!!

I'm avoiding this piece of shit.

[Surgeon.]

Not that I want to agree with Creedy, but it does seem that Dirt 2 is trying way to hard to be cool. Xgames, the dash items, Ken Block etc. Just hope there's a decent rally game under all that crap.

Unlike Creedy, I'll reserve judgment until I at least play a demo.

[Shorty]

Man, chuck in some fluffy dice, a googly-eyed dashboard skull and a toy cat and people will go apeshit. :p

I liked the demo vids. The graphics look excellent, the menu system and transitions are interesting, the HUD looks nice and the game seems to be maintaining that balance between simulation and arcade like the others in the series. Of course, I agree with Surgeon in that the real test will be when we get the demo but I certainly wouldn't call it a "piece of shit".

[AranchineD]

I'm along the same lines as Surgeon, I'll wait until I really see how the actual driving is. If it's good then I won't mind all the other stuff, in fact I'll probably get into the whole customising my dashboard thing!

[Shorty]

Speaking of which, the demo comes out today (http://community.codemasters.com/forum/showthread.php?t=373863).

[Antwandemarco]

Long easy left, maybe. In gravel!

GAAAAAAAMMMME OOOVVVVVEEEEEEERR YEAAAAAAAH!













Oh sorry, wrong game...

[TrinityJayOne]

Those looking for the demo need to specifically go to the demo section, it doesn't appear under new arrivals just yet. :confused:

[Citizen Erased]

Played demo, will buy.

[Surgeon.]

Was pretty happy with the demo, although it needs less Ken Blocks head popping up telling me stuff.

[Lazlow]

Does it handle the same? (ie cars still stop on dime on gravel? >_>)

[Antwandemarco]

Perhaps i wont have said that...

[Creedy]

Will try demo out when I get home, it's probably already downloaded. I will be amazed if the demo changes my mind about buying this. I just hate how they are mixing all different motorsports into the franchise.
I think concentrating on various motorsports has the dev team concentrating on to many different handling setups which makes the game as a whole suffer. If they would stick to standard WRC rally I'd imagine the driving model would be much better.

[Shorty]

I disagree. I think you need to go into the demo with an open mind and if it's not working for you, then that's fine. I didn't mind Codemasters expanding the series into other off-road race types. I felt it added a bit of variety, kept things interesting and didn't overly distract from the core rally gameplay. All of the goofy interface trimmings and "X-games" atmosphere is just window dressing.

Having played the demo myself, it took me a little while to get back into the swing of things but once I did, I felt "yeah, this definitely feels like a CMR game" in a good way. I think I'll buy this.

Couple of little things that I didn't like about the demo was the inability to save replays (which continues to be a conspicuous omission considering how much the game seems to lend itself towards generating awesome highlights footage) and the default control scheme needs rearranging (though I only had to change Shift Up to X, Shift Down to A and Handbrake to B).

[Blue]

I disagree. I think you need to go into the demo with an open mind and if it's not working for you, then that's fine. I didn't mind Codemasters expanding the series into other off-road race types. I felt it added a bit of variety, kept things interesting and didn't overly distract from the core rally gameplay. All of the goofy interface trimmings and "X-games" atmosphere is just window dressing.

Having played the demo myself, it took me a little while to get back into the swing of things but once I did, I felt "yeah, this definitely feels like a CMR game" in a good way. I think I'll buy this.At the end of the day, they're all vehicles with four wheels, so if you have a good physics engine, it can be adjusted to imitate vehicles of all shapes and sizes, right?

I haven't grabbed the demo yet. I liked the first one, but never bothered to finish it. While I imagine this one will be fun, look amazing, and be a great game, I don't think I'll buy it. I think Forza 3 will probably be the only driving game I need. Maybe a bargain bin purchase down the line, actually.

[Lazlow]

DiRT 2 = DiRT.

I really can't discern any difference between these two games that is of any merit. Sure its prettier, has more of an X-Games feel (which I'm completely over after Skate 1 & 2), and has the same rewind feature of GRiD. However to its core its an arcade racer, and as such they've done nothing to the actual driving.

I don't find it any fun, because there's no challenge from the actual driving.

EDIT:

Also for some reason the screen kept blacking out.

[dimorphic]

I have downloaded the demo but haven't given it a run yet, but it seems like it would be worth picking up from the videos I've watched so far.

[Stevorooni]

Tried the demo on PS3, looked and played great but it's not on my list of must have games at the moment, so if I pick it up it will be when it's discounted in a sale or something during a release lull.

[Blue]

This is a casual game now. Casual gamers will see it on the shelves and buy it. At least it's a good casual purchase.

[Lazlow]

I certainly hope the quest for American money that is prevalent in GRiD and DiRT will not follow through into Codemasters F1 effort :/

It would be rather silly considering how put off the American market is with F1. But with a new US based team for 2010 (USGP) anything could happen.

[Blue]

I certainly hope the quest for American money that is prevalent in GRiD and DiRT will not follow through into Codemasters F1 effort :/

It would be rather silly considering how put off the American market is with F1. But with a new US based team for 2010 (USGP) anything could happen.God bless the six-car Bridgestone/Michelin debacle from a few years ago, hey? :p

[Revoltix]

I was going to d/l this on 360, but because i'm not a gold member i can't for some dumb-s#!t reason.

Looks like Sony will get my money again (and my d/l) lol

[dimorphic]

I was going to d/l this on 360, but because i'm not a gold member i can't for some dumb-s#!t reason.

Looks like Sony will get my money again (and my d/l) lol

Yeah, for the first seven days of a demo or DLC release it's Gold member exclusive.

[Xanafalgue]

The only thing I liked about the demo was the awesome menu.

[Lazlow]

Personally I hate menus like that. Too many transitions means I get frustrated having to scroll through options.

What's wrong with just a classic list/tree structure?

[Xanafalgue]

Personally I hate menus like that. Too many transitions means I get frustrated having to scroll through options.

What's wrong with just a classic list/tree structure?

Yeah, I know what you mean, I was spamming A after a while in frustration because I just wanted to access my selection. I just thought it captured the atmosphere really well and the presentation is superb.

[Shorty]

http://dirtytats.com/

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/zerosignal/john_stewart_facepalm.jpg

[Shorty]

EB and Kmart have broken street date on this game. JB and GAME will start selling theirs when they get their copies.

[Creedy]

Demo was horrible, hope this put the nail in the coffin for this franchise.
I'm hoping their upcoming F1 game is truly a sim and truly sells well.

Hopefully then Codemasters will make another sim based game around WRC and just care about the European market, forget about America damn it.

[Shorty]

I would have to disagree. Putting the rather goofy dashboard trinkets and X-games "festival"-inspired interface aside, if you enjoyed DiRT then the sequel is just as good in terms of the handling model.

[Citizen Erased]

Im liking the game so far.

[Lazlow]

Does it have any semblance of WRC rallying? If it plays pretty much the same as the first (though I felt the demo had upped the BS factor from Dirt), I might grab it when its cheap, and I'm bored. No point paying full price for half a game.

[Shorty]

It has traditional point-to-point rally racing, but it's not the main focus of the game. I appreciate the variety but it's definitely a matter of taste.

[freeradical]

Didnt think i would like it, but i must be a sucker for any sort of rally game. I likey much.