The wait for Need for Speed Shift is over, at least if you´re living in North America, as EA’s newest Need for Speed Shift title is available for purchase since this morning.
European buyers will have to wait two additional days until the Europe launch on Thursday but there’s some stuff to pass by the waiting time as Gametrailers has released a video review you can check out below.
Furthermore, PC Games Hardware has put together an interesting article comparing the various detail levels of the PC version and the needed specs to run Shift in full glory. If you´re planning to go for one of the console versions, this article compares Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 graphics to help you make up your mind which version to get.
Speaking of console versions, EA has also given release dates for the console demo versions as the Xbox 360 demo will be coming October 2nd while the Playstation 3 version will be released a day earlier on October 1st. No word has yet been given on the PC demo version, VirtualR will be having a full review of the PC version in a few days.
navalhawkeye
September 15th, 2009 at 19:51
And it is crap. I’ve been talking to one of my friends and he said it is very similar to GRID even with all the aids off. Drifting everywhere. (Xbox 360).
Couth
September 15th, 2009 at 19:52
I pre purchased from the eastore.com and it’s still not available for download. Lame. What are you doing EA???
And naval your friend has no idea what he’s saying
MadCat360
September 15th, 2009 at 19:55
Great reviews all around. I have faith in this one. Too bad GameFly isn’t sending me my copy yet… But that’s okay. My Fanatec wheel won’t be coming till the end of the month anyway.
free2game365
September 15th, 2009 at 20:04
I like how before it was “all platforms pre-release demo” now it’s downgraded to “console only demo after release”
hypertek
September 15th, 2009 at 20:17
wait a few hours til we see some real reviews. im sure simracingtonight will have a review this week
Mr. A
September 15th, 2009 at 20:22
My copy was sent today, so it should arrive tomorrow. I can’t wait to try it.
JimmyB
September 15th, 2009 at 20:26
I’m still undecided at this point, but here’s a pretty good video of the PC version, using a wheel and what looks like no assists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EErfROk_r2c&fmt=18
I really hope there’s a demo for PC at some point.
GeraArg
September 15th, 2009 at 20:40
No demo?
zudthespud
September 15th, 2009 at 20:48
It looks good but i’m not sold on it yet. When the price drops a bit i’ll pick it up, right now i’m waiting for GT for the PSP and forza 3.
carbonfibre
September 15th, 2009 at 20:52
Prepare the car.
nakke
September 15th, 2009 at 21:07
Thanks for the link JimmyB, looks pretty good I think!
UncleChuckle
September 15th, 2009 at 21:36
Truth time. Excited to find out which side of the argument was right. And if I’m wrong, I still have no intention of buying it because it’s EA.
TopChancer
September 15th, 2009 at 21:42
Well I picked it up for the 360 (getting a free copy for PC hopefully), and after setting it to PRO with all assists off, it feels great. You certainly have to brake and get your line right for the corners otherwise you will be in trouble. The only aspect that seems slightly exaggerated is the weight-transfer.
Unfortunately, until I get receive the Fanatec 911 Turbo S wheel I ordered (sold my G25 a few weeks back), it is hard to accurately judge the physics when playing with a controller. The inputs are a bit sensitive with the controller, I can sense steering a high powered car later on in the game may present a challenge.
mike
September 15th, 2009 at 21:49
if that is using wheel then wow it drives like crap in corners…
Skazz
September 15th, 2009 at 21:58
The PC specs analysis is most excellent. My current PC should do just fine. PC version it is :)
I wonder what the simmer reviews will be like, but irrespective of that this one’s a definite purchase for me. “pure simulator” or not, it looks like a whole lot of fun.
DW
September 15th, 2009 at 22:01
Nice video. Can’t wait till Thursday. Hope ATI fix their drivers quickly :)
UncleChuckle
September 15th, 2009 at 22:39
It’s up on torrent sites already. Copy protection FTW once again!
Reading comments around the net… General opinion seems to be “It’s typical NFS” and not very good.
Howie47
September 15th, 2009 at 22:46
I just dragged myself away from 3 hrs. of testing it. PC version. I love it. The physics (most important to us) is fantastic. I got the Megane and the Cobalt both at level 1 upgrade. They drive totally different. You can really maneuver the car’s around the track. The new tire model they bragged about; really shines. It takes a little getting used to the physics. But after a about an hour, I love them. The UI is to arcadish. But the game play is fun.
What no “TrackIR”. Thought I saw it being used in many of those videos? That sucks. Kind of heavy on the hardware. It drops down into the 40’s at race start, and seems to be locked on 60. I’m using a G25, dual monitors in span, at 2560X1024. I’d say get it. You’ll love it. The racing is superb! Darn, I got to walk the dog. Oh you’ll love the AI!
joseki
September 15th, 2009 at 23:05
But what if it appears to be an awesome semisim? Isn’t it just sensible to buy it and support EA’s new direction? (It could of course be utter crap and then best way to show EA’s failure is to leave it to shelf)
Der_KHAN
September 15th, 2009 at 23:06
i just did a lap at the nordschleife with the nissan sx200. just a time trial. one single lap. … i got promoted to level 4 of 50 right away and my driving was bad… very bad.
why was my driving bad you ask? because the controls are complete crap. even worse than in Race Driver GRID! it’s impossible to drive in a straight line! you have to make corrections all the time because the sensivity of the steering axis is completely borked up and the car keeps wobbling from left to right for no reason. i’ve tried adjusting the controls but it doesn’t help.
i wouldnt mind so much that the layout of the track was completely wrong in many sections, but the cars are just uncontrollable! i recommend every sim driver to stay away from this game.
nakke
September 15th, 2009 at 23:10
Just had a quick 30-minute spin in it… and I’ve got to say I don’t really like it at all. Seems to be the same floaty-drifty shit as GRiD, with monkies on crack who do their best to ram into you at every moment as competitors. Sigh. The most miniscule steering corrections on my MS FFB Wheel result in the in-game wheel moving left and right like crazy, but at least it seems like the “actual” wheel isn’t turned more than I turn it.
Maybe I’ll like it more tomorrow after some more time with it.
Howie47
September 15th, 2009 at 23:15
Well, you must think I’m totally nuts or lying then. I didn’t have any trouble with my G25, as you stated? The AI are a little to easy. At least at the level of the championship I’m at. The FF was too heavy to start. I turned it down to level 5. I’m on Pro level. No aids. It’s wonnnnnderfullll.
Howie47
September 15th, 2009 at 23:17
Oh, and steering sensivity is adjustable. Did you miss that before you went of on the game????
DW
September 15th, 2009 at 23:40
A previous reviewer very familiar with the Ring in both GT4 and GTR Evo complemented the accuracy of the Ring in Shift. I don’t think Der_KHAN is a reliable reviewer :) And we know the guys who made the tracks – they don’t get the layout completely wrong.
logos
September 15th, 2009 at 23:43
Here is a thread with NFS Shift user reviews (from gtplanet):
http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=120148&page=3
The reviews are more than 90% positive.
carbonfibre
September 15th, 2009 at 23:49
Sounds exactly how road cars should behave on stock suspension, excellent!
How can it be typical NFS when there’s no neon lights and little visual upgrades?
If this is the same general opinion on the actual driving model then this is another good bit of news.
Everybody knows NFS fans have no driving skill, they have the same mentality of those people in RL who whine and moan when life’s too difficult.
Sounds like there’s a learning curve, more excellent news!
The controls being worse than GRID is also good news, arcade controls for arcade games = good, arcade controls for simulator = rubbish. I know how rubbish rFactor is with a keyboard, this is all good stuff so far.
UncleChuckle
September 15th, 2009 at 23:52
Nope. Though my not buying it has nothing to do with the quality, and everything to do with EA’s ethics. (Or lack thereof.)
DeadStar
September 15th, 2009 at 23:53
I Played the it’s single-player career today for 3 hours straight on my PC and I think it is extremely fun to drive, very accessible game for everyone not just Sim Racers and easily customizable for optimal driving experience. It supports all popular wheels, the Graphics are excellent but obviously not as good as preview screenshots. The Physics engine is also flexible and you can adjust the assists according to your skill levels. Best of all is that that it is NOTHING LIKE GRID except maybe the looks. But it feels indeed more like a game made by former GTR 2 co-developers mixed with trademark coolness of NFS Series. This game is no doubt the Best NFS game ever and that alone is enough for purchase.
Get it Now if you can it is a must have game for everyone who likes racing and Online will be even better I am sure. 10/10 from me and EA you are forgiven for your sins of the past.
Zenitchik
September 16th, 2009 at 00:02
Took ½ an hour to calibrate for a decent feel due to the ridiculous video intros.
Have someone found a decent combination for the controls?
It feels like it should be used with a keyboard, even when setting deadzones to 0 and sensetivity to 100
well, it’s better than NFS underground
captain_underpants
September 16th, 2009 at 00:15
It’s not a deal breaker for me, but why-oh-why do games developers go on about making it a realistic experience, and then dump lens flare all over the screen? MY EYES DON’T GET LENS FLARE, PEOPLE!
I’ve noticed this a few times in the many Shift previews. The developers even said that they watched a lot of in-car footage to try and reproduce it. Please, stop trying to reproduce camera effects, and start trying to reproduce what an unaugmented human eye sees. I guess it’s harder to empirically reproduce, but ditching lens flare would be a good start. Besides, professional photographers HATE lens flare, and try to avoid it.
Apart from that fairly minor niggle, the game looks like pure win. Can’t wait to try it.
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 00:21
I just did a two lap race. It is exactly like the other Sim’s. So “Der_KHAN” must have an agenda to sabotage “Shift”.
Oh and I was only able to beat two of the 15 AI. So they are pretty good. I have hundreds of laps at the “Green Hell”. These two in the Cobalt were a real work out. Just as you would imagine. Definitely not for casual arcade drivers!
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 00:24
What wheel are you using? I didn’t change my G25 profile. It is set for the HistoryX mod; at 900 degrees. Feels VERY GOOD to me.
Der_KHAN
September 16th, 2009 at 00:31
as i said, i’ve tried adjusting the controls but it didn’t help. and yes, also the sensivity and speed sensivity setting.
in iracing, rfactor and GTR evo the steering feels natural. just like in a real car. shift gets nowhere near that. in every sim i know 50% sensivity equals linear. but in shift you can set it to 50, 20, 70, … whatnot… it still doesn’t feel right.
ok, they didn’t mistake a right corner for a left corner. so it’s not completely wrong i guess. but as far as i can tell the shape of some corners is far off from the original. the hocheichen and kesselchen area for example. i’ve also run some quick laps at laguna seca and corners 4,5,9 and 10 also seemed wrong.
i’m not trying to bash this game. you get the idea what the tracks are like in reality. but you don’t get the idea of driving a real car. this is definitely not what the sim community has been waiting for.
drowsy
September 16th, 2009 at 00:32
My results so far have been pretty similar to Zenitchik’s and Der_KHAN’s. The game feels like absolute crap, no matter what kind of settings I put in. It might just be that it doesn’t support my Thrustmaster F430 at all, or it might be that I just don’t like the physics. It’s just weird that turning even slightly on a straight (and we’re talking 10-15 degrees) puts the car into a slide. I can also drive through slow corners (like the last two corners in Silverstone) in a slide at 160-200km/h because there’s endless sideways grip and the cars just won’t spin (and yeah, this is with all aids off).
Oh well, maybe I’m just doing something wrong. Or maybe the game just sucks. We’ll see.
Klaas Jan
September 16th, 2009 at 00:36
Tried the pirated PC version and I´m glad I didn´t buy it.
This game does not deserve a place here at virtualr. Nice arcade racer for the occasional half hour of spare time at best…
Der_KHAN
September 16th, 2009 at 00:39
not at all. i was looking forward to this. a motivating single player mode is what i’m missing desperately from all the sims.
i find it hard to believe that you got the controls to work right. but lets give it a try. what sensivity settings do you use and how many degrees of rotation do you use on the G25?
Mr. A
September 16th, 2009 at 00:52
I find it quite interesting that people here are having complete opposite experiences with this game so far. I can’t wait until tomorrow to see for myself what it’s like.
Zenitchik
September 16th, 2009 at 01:02
Howie, I use DFGT. I set it to around 360 and the car can now turn properly, Yeay!
Setting speed steering to 0 helped a lot, too!
now the only thing is, it locks the tires, when I apply just 10% breaking :S
and If they just made a decent menu for us humans who use PC :D
when Blur is set to off, it revieals the Nordschlife as something that they just bought from simbin, why not? :P
The game looks like a merge of nfs undercover and race 07 engine. GFX have been improved to a whole new level, stuff like dirt, smoke, textures and the overall look of a car is just fantastic.
Hard to say the same about physics, because of the settings fiddling.
Last and not least, take a lambo and just accelerate into someones behind, the car will be catapulted over your roof. Opponents cars feel like they are weightless.
Sorry, for the poor english :(
NitroStar
September 16th, 2009 at 01:14
I just picked pc version up. Scared about my sidewinder not feeling right from previous posts now. Im on phone now. Will post up my experience later.
JAGUAR1977
September 16th, 2009 at 01:15
The vast majority of first hand reviews rate NFS Shift highly, praising it’s sim handling model.
Then you come to VR, were the biggest critics of the game reside, and see people comparing it Grid and old NFS titles.
People can draw their own conclusions.
UncleChuckle
September 16th, 2009 at 01:20
I’d trust people on here more than I’d trust pretty much any other site, as folk here are more discerning about what constitutes a good racer.
I want arcade racing, I have Burnout. (Still pisses off that’s an EA game, but I got it for next to nothing on my Xbox.)
Husky42
September 16th, 2009 at 01:24
I was optimistic that all my harsh criticisms of this Arcade non Sim would be wrong, but sadly they were all spot on.
The physics point blank are not Sim in the slightest. This is a game for kids and people who like to go fast and hit shit. Its Arcade to the fullest extent.
Do not get me wrong, it is fun.. when viewed with the opinion that it is Arcade. It really is a fun game indeed but its not sim in the way I had hoped for reading dev comments and support.
I love how the devs said this and that about the physics and it pretty much was all lie and marketing bullshit. I’m pretty disappointed i bought this game.
Once again, burned and lied to by Game Dev’s and EA – And people question piracy. I wanted so much for this game to blow my socks off and it fails so short :(
Oh well at least we have new models for GTR2 and Rfactor lol
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 01:35
Are you kidding, no one has lazer scanned Nordschlife. Untill some one does, we don’t know the exact layout. Again, the FF is about as good as any. I drive them all.
Mark
September 16th, 2009 at 01:38
I’m with you Howie
People comparing the handling to grid or Arcade have absolutely 0.0000000 idea what they are talking about. It feels like an big update to what GTL was, driving/tire model is absolutely fantastic.
Track are as accurate as SMS tracks always has been (more or less ok ;) ), problem is the higher FOV, hope someone finds a way in the files of the game, so we can alter it.
There’s a lot and I mean a lot wrong with this game, the person who came up with the resolution/AA/AF idea should be send to Siberia for example, but the physics are definitely not part of it, they are
and make this game actually worth a purchase.
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 01:38
900 degrees. I never touched the sensitivatiy. So they are all default. Just lowered the FF power to level 5. G25, Make sure you set the Control menu to your type of wheel. Every thing seems to be pre-set.
Cenotaph
September 16th, 2009 at 01:41
Ok, I’ve been checking this site for quite a long time and now i decided to register to give my point of view on this game cause i got my hands on a copy and been trying it for the past hour.
IMO, this is not a sim, i was pessimistic when IGN said the physics were worse than those of Forza or GT5, because those games arent exactly hardcore simulators either, and it turns out they were pretty much right.
Im using the default settings for my wheel (Momo Racing) so i take it that SMS wants the game experience to be just like the one i had and the first impression is that this game has many strong points (Visuals, Sound, Tracks, Cars, Setups for all popular wheels), but physics is not one of those.
Basically, it just doesnt allow you to drive cleanly. it keeps you way too busy under braking and turning with unnatural oversteer, i can’t feel the weight of the car like i do in gtr evolution, rfactor or gtr2. Im not an hardcore sim racer, ill admit, but this game doesnt feel right to me.
Maybe someone with a lil more experience will correct me, so take this as you will.
Jack_NL
September 16th, 2009 at 01:42
Speechless and so confussed for now with all reports lol
wanted to pick up the game tomorrow
Husky42
September 16th, 2009 at 01:42
we dont know the exact layout?
Are you serious?
LMFAO!!! You understand how much time Simbin spent at the track right, mapping everything and using GPS maps for Elevation, not to mention the numerous laps and video they were provided. Believe it or not the Simbin Layout is one of the most accurate that has been produced. It looks horrible out of box definitely, but the layout itself is pretty dang spot on. I just cannot wait to see the RF version based on the GTR Evo version that is being redone adding proper advertisements and such, the team chose to do that because it has the most accurate layout released to date.
Laser Scanning is great for bumps and potholes and elevation changes, but even then with the scanning due to engine limitations you can see where corners were cut in the I-Racing titles, yes Laser Scanned tracks are the best way to go about it because it accurate reflects every little bit of geometry, but GPS mapping combined with onboards, and actual track time come very close (as is demonstrated in the simbin title) I’ve not driven more then Laguna in Shift yet. But its nice.
I’m still trying to tweak this game, I think it can be more GTR2 like with some more front end adjustments but as of right now, it still does not quite compare IMO
Husky42
September 16th, 2009 at 01:48
Really?
You mean all my track time means nothing?
My time spent working for my uncles friends on stock cars, having driven NHRA Super Gas and building engines and tubs doesnt matter?
Years of being an Automotive enthusiast and general fan of cars. Driving as many cars as i can year by year means nothing?
Um ok…
ral42
September 16th, 2009 at 01:49
Mmmmn… sounds like this game is a pass, as expected. But I’m still looking forward to reading the VirtualR review.
JAGUAR1977
September 16th, 2009 at 01:58
The vitrial to shoot down this game comes across in each post, they cannot wait to describe it as arcade/console trash and laughably compare it with Grid, Burnout etc. In their rush to slate the game they come out with sweeping generalisations that discredit’s much of what they say.
Excuse me if, in the face of glowing reviews from every quarter, I cannot take seriously the very same people who where slamming this game the moment it was announced.
On other ‘console sim’ sites the reviews and first hand opinions are far more detailed, you get genuine insight into the game and it’s handling model, ironic considering the PC sim world puts themselves on a pedestal and tries to discredit others.
Then again I saw similar ‘experts’ rushing to slam GTR2 and it’s ‘unrealistic’ handling/tyre model, criticising Simbim for dumbing down the title from GTR1. Looking back does anyone now seriously rate GTR1 above GTR2, that certainly wasn’t the case back at launch.
drowsy
September 16th, 2009 at 02:06
You actually summed it up really nicely there.
I really wanted to like this. I really did. The singleplayer experience in Simbin’s products is pretty poor and I’m not a huge multiplayer racer. I really liked Test Drive Unlimited, which wasn’t a simulator, but the cars still felt close enough to, well, cars. In Shift, not so much.
UncleChuckle
September 16th, 2009 at 02:13
Jaguar:
Console sim? That’s an oxymoron if ever there was one.
Here, in our little corner of simdom, we were fed a lot of promises from Ian Bell I think it was that, by and large, look like he was pissing on our heads and telling us it was raining. I am looking forward to Forza because I know what to expect. No claims have been made that it’ll be a match for Evo, GTR2 etc… Turn 10 have not answered the sim community with promises of a great sim engine etc… Therefore I am not expecting it to be like GTR2, Evo, GTL etc…
If bold claims of amazing physics hadn’t been made by certain liars at the developer, than I believe the sim community would be giving this game the attention it deserves. That being none. (From a sim racing perspective.)
I really fail to see what point you’re making. Game sites NOT dedicated to sim racing are saying it’s good. Well of course they are, IT’S A BLOODY GAME! The discussion here isn’t in regards to whether it’s a good or bad GAME. It’s whether the simulation and physics can be considered close to what we were promised, and it would appear they can’t. It’s how it stands up as a SIM! Yes, it may be a fine game. That isn’t the argument, and if you believe it is, you’ve clearly missed the point.
I have never once criticized Simbin physics. I think the physics whiners with GTR2 were idiots. People who’d never raced saying how unrealistic they were, when actual GT racers said they were pretty accurate.
There’s a difference between “These physics aren’t right” and “These physics are wrong!” Tyre physics may be off in GTR2. I don’t care, I enjoy it as it feels right to me. Codemasters on the other hand make games that just feel wrong. You don’t have to race cars to know when physics are flat out WRONG, so I truly fail to see why you are taking such issue with hardcore simmers saying the physics are crap unless, of course, you’re a plant from EA sent to deflect criticism over the lies the community was apparently told.
In which case I see completely what you’re trying to do.
And the word is “vitriol”. If you’re going to use big words to bitch at someone, at least spell them right if you want to be taken seriously.
JAGUAR1977
September 16th, 2009 at 02:38
I am a hardcore simmer, that’s why I can spot laughable attempts to try and slot this game in alongside Grid and Burnout, not that this wasn’t predictable the moment the title was announced.
Then you see criticism of track accuracy, yet so many on the PC are based on decade old models, while some of the very best are from the guys at SMS and their former games GTR1, GTL, and GTR2.
Go ahead and dismiss the praise/criticism from other sources, it just so happens these reports are far more in depth, from a sim perspective, and tell you far more than the quick, dismissive reports I’ve read above.
Then you have the strange comments about EA and ‘lying’ developers, no agendas there, right!
Paul Kelly
September 16th, 2009 at 02:45
This site started out as a PC sim racing blog. Maybe you haven’t been here since the start like some of us.
I trust the opinions of hardcore simmers and racing gamers here WAY more than a reviewer at mainstream site that played the game for maybe an hour before writing his review. To that reviewer, Shift is just another title in a stack of games that needs to be reviewed.
And since it’s an EA game, scores will be generous. Every major site wants to stay on the EA PR gravy train, getting favorable treatment with advance videos, screenies, junkets to conventions, etc. EA is the colossus, so most sites want to kiss its ass.
TopChancer
September 16th, 2009 at 02:52
I am less enthusiast about Shift now after a few hours. I will reserve my final judgement until I get a chance to play the game with a wheel. Even with the steering sensitivity set to 1%, the steering input is still too sensitive for my taste, though maybe there is other factors playing a part in this.
The cars seem to lose grip way too soon and they appear to turn on a central pivot point, slap bang in the middle of the car.
I hope the clever modders out there can tinker with the PC version, I do feel there is some potential to get more sim-style behaviour out of this game.
mattabater
September 16th, 2009 at 03:03
wow the EA bashings got a nice roll on, i still have to say i have faith in that Swedish game reviewer coz he seemed to know what he was talking about and he was saying the tyre physics were better than that of gt legends i kinda belived that since i already knew Eero Piitulainen was working on them. i dunno what to make of some of these comments to be honest they seem a bit console tardish many examples but lets take the first comment (xbox360) in brackets beep beep beep warning step away from the vehicle
.
wims
September 16th, 2009 at 03:04
Felt alot like Richard Burns Rally and Drivers Republic. The game itself isnt that great, not something for league racing, but the driving model was very interesting. I’d like to see this engine in a proper sim made for simracers, not console kids
Cenotaph
September 16th, 2009 at 03:31
Okay, so i messed a bit with the deadzone and sensitivity settings to match more those that i used with gtr2 and rFactor and i felt happier playing the game, no doubt about it.
But I still feel the physics aren’t exactly spot on. the same criticism i expressed earlier still applies, only not so much pronounced. This is, however, a very fun game and every one should give it a shot.
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 03:49
Montoya
September 16th, 2009 at 03:55
Uhm… I don’t really want to get involved in this interesting discussion, nor do I want to give away much from my review. But let me just say this:
Howie, I can see how you like the game and enjoy it… but saying it has physics even remotely close to iRacing? Sorry, but no. Don’t confuse people who are trying to decide wheter or not to get Shift with statements like this.
It’s nowhere close to iRacing in any respect when it comes to physics. I don’t even mean that in a bad way because it is not meant to be.
linkinstreet
September 16th, 2009 at 04:03
Kinda have a love and hate relationship with it right now
anyways initial review
http://wakarimasenlol.com/2009/09/16/need-for-speed-shift-a-quick-review/3350
JAGUAR1977
September 16th, 2009 at 04:11
I’ve been here since almost day one, and played PC sims for many years previous. I know from experience the Simbin vs rFactor vs iRacing vs LFS debates, or how GTR1 can go from being top dog just a few years back, to looking seriously flawed today.
There are mods with serious physics flaws and tracks that only have a passing resemblence to the real thing, yet somehow they can still be enjoyed in the sim world and aren’t dismissed out of hand.
With such differing views about very similar PC sims, it’s no suprise ’sims’ which have their roots on consoles are easy targets. Why is there a need to paint things simply as sim vs arcade, you hear people talk about rFactor generally, yet for every fantastic mod like HistoricX, there are half dozen others that aren’t a patch on GT5P, some of which are still popular.
As for reviews, I’m talking about first hand views from those who play everything from iRacing to NFS, in other words they have a wide range of experience and benchmarks.
FJH
September 16th, 2009 at 04:13
Tried installing this game on two computers, one with vista, the other with xp. Both machines had menu scrolling problems and my momo racing wheel would not work right with either. Also, the vista computer showed a black screen with two guages at the bottom of the screen when I finally got to actual gameplay. Both computers are way above minimum specs. For now. I have to say this game is a total waste, at least for me.
TopChancer
September 16th, 2009 at 04:24
I had a G25, sold it and currently waiting for a Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo S Wheel. So no wheel at the moment, and I certainly hope its as good as you say with one.
traind
September 16th, 2009 at 04:55
Sounds like my issue too.
I have a 2009 pc that plays everything else and a G25. I installed the game but my keyboard arrows do not effectively scroll the cursor on the menu items and you can’t use your mouse (argh!) The arrows get the cursor moving for a second but then it goes right back to the top. Very weird. In gameplay, it doesn’t recognize the G25 automatically and I can’t really navigate to change options. When I did (through much trial and error) the G25 was selectable but it didn’t work in gameplay. I sent EA an e-mail–hope they have a remedy at some point.
I avoided pc gaming for a long time due to these issues and came back for racing games. Simbin titles work great, and so do most of the mods I have downloaded. But this experience is giving me the old frustration I used to have with PCs. And from a new game! I am disappointed because the game looks fun, the graphics (even the little I saw of my failed attempt to play the game) are better than any other racing title on PC by some margin, and I dont care if it is a perfect sim or not at this point–I just want to play it. There is room in my gaming time for games with simulation type physics but that are also more relaxed around the edges so you can play and have some fun without having every element trying to approach real life. We already have some great full sim titles to play…although one with the car selection and graphics of of SHIFT on PC would be nice.
phil23
September 16th, 2009 at 05:02
I’ve heard it’s an issue with the D-Pad on the wheel that’s causing the scrolling in menus. Try pressing the bottom of the D-Pad and see if it stops the scrolling
felipe
September 16th, 2009 at 05:03
most casual racers are very happy with this title normally they go bashing sim racing games from the word go that said I guess this title is what they are used to like! I’m downloading the PC version now if its good I’ll buy original if not I’ll just delete it!
Montoya why don’t we hear anything here regarding Supercar Challenge for the PS3?? It’s way better than your loved GT5p and it has better handling physics than any pc sim!!! PS3 is no ordinary console people should understand what it’s capable of!
wims
September 16th, 2009 at 05:05
Traind: I think that could be cause by the wheel or pedals not being completely still. If you try to press your pedals or steer the wheel in the menus, does that move the cursor?
Sommergemüse
September 16th, 2009 at 05:14
Hello!
Okay after 5 hours testing Shift:
(It’s my personal opinion)
Yeah!
I really like it!!
The first minutes was bad because I play GTR Evolution and the steering is different…
But then: Help Shift makes me addictive !!
Okay I write my pros & contras:
Pro:
- The Engine Sounds are amazing
- The Graphics are great (I really like the reflections)
- The Pro Mode rules without driving aids – perfect Simulation/Arcade Hybrid
- Every car has it own characteristic
- Nice Body Kits, I don’t miss the old underground tuning
- Really good Nordschleife, but I would remove the wrong ads
Contra:
- I play on middle AI difficult – to easy
- The opponents ‘parks’ on hard corners
- The Cursor for the color wheel is toooo fast!
- No Rain, No Night
- The LAN Mode isn’t present (that’s not nice)
- Load times could be shorter but okay
- Drifting (I think I have to train this but really really hard)
My Rating so far after first 5 hours: 85% (+ 8% when the LAN-Patch is released)
Please don’t cry, my English is not very well, if some sentences are wrong ;)
FJH
September 16th, 2009 at 05:35
Traind: You have all the same problems that I have. I did find that I could scroll the menus by holding down the brake pedal. Weird, huh. But this makes it not possible to set my wheel manually and the game presets for my wheel do not work right. I have uninstalled the game from both computers and will most likely take it back or maybe try again tomorrow.
linkinstreet
September 16th, 2009 at 05:47
Try unpluggin your G25, and plug it in another USB port. Sometimes it just works
traind
September 16th, 2009 at 05:56
First, thanks for all the suggestions from various posters…it’s getting late but I will try these tomorrow. Seconds, FJH, where did you buy it that you could return it?
Cenotaph
September 16th, 2009 at 07:04
The menus scroll automatically because you can actually navigate them with the wheel. So, let’s say, your X axis is not at the center in neutral position, the menus will keep going as if you were pressing left or right depends on either its positive or negative X. If you have the Y axis on negative instead of zero its equivalent to pressing the up key and so on.
sometimes when u plug the wheel it doesnt calibrate properly from the beginning so just make sure you turn the wheel all the way left and right and keep it at the center and press all your pedals and leave them in a resting position and your issues with the menus should go away.
It kinda annoyed me at first, but i figured it out a few minutes later and now i navigate the menus with my wheel which is kinda cool. Don’t really need the keyboard for anything.
mikeahowski
September 16th, 2009 at 07:04
Just a note for anyone using a G25, this game seems to work well if it’s at 900 degrees. I turn my G25 down to about 250 degrees when I play F1 mods on GTR2, and if you try that in Shift it’s WAY too sensitve even with the sensitivty all the way down.
I was really disappointed with this game at first but as you try more cars it seems much better. I started with the S2000 and it was all over the place and frustrating. I then got into a BMW 335 and it was great, also the Mitsubishi evo is a blast to drive.
Although it’s not a “Sim” like Rfactor or GTR2 (didnt expect it to be) it is quite fun! Just have to tweak the steering to your liking.
JasonSix
September 16th, 2009 at 07:30
Thanks Cenotaph, I’m having the same issue and will give it a try.
DevonK
September 16th, 2009 at 08:18
The steering wheel/pedal control of menu selection is a “feature” of other NFS titles as well. It can be usually fixed by toggling the combined pedals option to its other position in the game controller CP; I have also found that just alt-tabbing out of and back into the game solves the problem with some games.
MadCat360
September 16th, 2009 at 08:29
I’m always curious to know what exactly constitutes a sim in people’s eyes. How do you guys gauge what is and isn’t a sim? Every time I see comments about games “not being a sim” all I ever see is vague generalizations with nothing really specific.
I haven’t played the game yet, so I can’t comment, but everything I’ve seen so far says to me that it’s a sim (for instance the devs comments about the engine, modeling tire flex, contact area, weight transfer and real-world suspension geometry, and the gameplay videos I’ve seen, looking at braking points, cornering speeds and straight line speeds).
BSR-WiX
September 16th, 2009 at 08:45
The fact that allot of people on forums and blogs have never seen a real world GT or Touring car up close, let alone driven one, And have no idea about the concept of virtual physics and tire models, and the limitations or complexity of game engine/System performance, but yet seem to be born as experts in the field, never stops to amaze me. its human nature i think. Sometimes these comments provide me with a Deja Vu. Back when i was young, i spend 10 years in competition Motorcross. I can stll remember how most people that did never ride a dirt bike in a competitive field, let alone a technical circuit, where always the first to come and tell me what i did wrong, what i should do, and what i should buy. i called them ” vapor hero´s” back then. It seems that the Sim Scene is being flooded with Vapor Heroes these days.
After a quick tryout, Shift is not my thing. I am to passionate about iRacing.
But lets face it, Shift is a beautifull game and SMS has put a whole lot of work in it. So for those who are into this kind of Racer, it will be a blast.
They are not going to give a F..k whats in the forums and blogs.
And right they are.
Husky42
September 16th, 2009 at 09:10
What is interesting about your comment is i grew up around racing. Have Driven NHRA and am quite passionate about track days. I’ve driven in street car form two Ferrari’s. We rented a F355 for a day (me and my best friend) in Portland and took it through the passes, the other was F550 back in Kansas. However the F550 experience is not quite fair as i knew little about high performance motors and I was only 16 at the time. My room mate has a Cayman S and I’ve driven it now a few times and got him to take it to PIR for a track day in which I was able to go a few laps on track with the car. This is pretty much the extent of any form of “super car” driving I have ever done but it is a lot more then many would have been provided the chance. I raced a YZ 80 when I was just a youngin so its cool to see another person who has done the same, and i agree some people just open their mouths all too frequently (me included) However my dedication to vehicle dynamics has always been there and only grown. So considering early on this game models stock cars, several of which I have driven. The MX5 (car im currnely racing with in game) a Mustang, although not a Shelby. Just a GT with roush super charger. A Corolla GTS AE86 – Almost bought this one, but opted for my Celica because I could not see the plus in getting a Corrola when I disliked drifting and the “tuner” scene.
The sim scene as far as being flooded with “vapor heroes” is complete bullshit on your part for assuming posters do not have any experience. Several users and people I’m in contact with everyday are real life SCCA participants and own some very nice vehicles that are track tuned.
To completely disregard opinion of others without knowing their background is rather ridiculous.
All that said the more time I am giving shift I really am starting to enjoy it. But as a title that is not a Sim in the ways that Rfactor and GTR2 are. It is a very polished product and now with some time i’m quite happy i purchased it. That elise invitional was pretty fun, but I am annoyed that all the races so far are 2 friggin laps and by the first corner I’ve already shot post everybody.
I had some controller issues but since then sorted it, some more adjustment and the game will come alive even more. I do reccomend people adjust the settings as i started out of the box but with some tweaking the controls felt a lot better.
I’m not going to get as fanboy about it as Howie47 is, seeing as its quite obvious he is just overhyping it but it is a solid title and well worth the purchase if you enjoy other games such as Forza, GT5P and the like.
MadCat360
September 16th, 2009 at 10:01
Would you say it’s on par with Forza 2/GT5P? Or below/inbetween the two?
Not even sure why I’m asking haha, I’ll have the game in my hands in 2 days.
BSR-WiX
September 16th, 2009 at 10:04
Husky42: .. while you are at it, you sort of prove my point…
I said… ” allot of people” and then you jump at the opportunity to show the world what a hero you are. :-) using words as ” Bullshit” ….
hmmm . I guess a man can only be as great as his ego.
Sensekhmet
September 16th, 2009 at 10:22
It’s interesting to see the contrasting reviews. The game comes out over here on the 18th. Guess the real issue for me will be weather to plug in my DFGT or play it with keyboard.
Der_KHAN
September 16th, 2009 at 10:49
how you can hype this game as a great sim is beyond me. what is this? viral marketing? it has to be because it’s complete bs!
i’ve tried the standard g25 preset with FFB reduced to 5. at that setting i have almost no force in the wheel. it actually helps, because the ffb is so bad that it keeps you from steering precisely. the effects are good but the steering weight acts totally weird.
and with 900 degrees enabled i have to turn the wheel 90° for just the slightest corners. but reducing it to 360, 270 or 200 also doesn’t help. it’s just impossible to drive a precise line. … the steering seems to be reduced to a few steps. slight steering, medium steering and hard steering. and you have to wobble the wheel from left to right all the time to jump between these steps.
since i received $50.000 for a single lap of time attack at the ring i bought an audi s4. now audis may not be the sportiest cars, but the steering is superb! in shift however, i can’t even drive in a straight line. it’s ridiculous.
f0xx
September 16th, 2009 at 10:55
Der KHAN do you have the latest Logitech drivers? I mean the 5.07?
There must be a way to drive straight lines if theres ppl doing it…be patient.
There must be way of having good FFB feel if theres ppl having it…be patient…
…and so on.
Husky42
September 16th, 2009 at 11:07
What type of hero is that? None what so ever nor do i claim anything of the sort. I simply state there are many people who have seat time in performance cars and who also do track days. NHRA experience in all its glory does nothing for track guys or experience.
I simply state that your making a generalization about posters without knowing their backgrounds. When you get the attitude that everybody else has the attitude or problem when judging a title well it stinks and it is a generalization and assumption based on comments of others.
And by using words as bullshit well it is bullshit. I think it so funny people get their panties in a bunch and think that a person who uses a word that some of society has deemed to be “foul” must be some sort of individual lacking education or proper upbringing. I assure you that is not the case. I’m just a prick lo.
Anyways, this is really about the game and not people shall we move forward?
To answer MadCat360’s question. I would fairly place it above Forza 2 and GT5P. My time with Forza is very limited though as only my friend has a 360. I stick with the PS3.
The more I play this I would say it is maybe closer to GTR2/GTL then the others but does quite match up on the overall feeling. Like I also said, i regret saying I should take it back as it needed more time and fidgeting with to get right, it is quite a good title and well worth the purchase even if it is not quite a “sim”
Der_KHAN
September 16th, 2009 at 11:09
im running the 5.04 and it works great on every sim. only GRID and Shift are problematic
Gaiajohan
September 16th, 2009 at 11:11
It should come here asap with a pre-order.
Not sure yet how I’ll drive it. Porsche 911 Turbo wheel, XBOX controller or Rumblepad 2. Lookin forward to it.
BSR-WiX
September 16th, 2009 at 11:20
Husky42: idd ..we should move forward. back to the game.
f0xx
September 16th, 2009 at 11:30
Just do it DER Khan!
Updated drivers (usually) come with (big) gifts ;)
Niksounds
September 16th, 2009 at 11:34
I agree 100%
Here all are experts.. all GT drivers..
This is a sad human reality.. talking “A VANVERA”
ForzaBarca88
September 16th, 2009 at 11:37
Still waiting for my copy to arrive, the comments here are amusing but clearly more than a little biased (and that goes both ways). Sommergemüse thanks for your mini review, thats about what im expecting when they finally get around to delivering the damn thing to me ><
Swifta
September 16th, 2009 at 12:02
K, guys, I’ve signed up just so I can express a non-biased opinion on the game. I have no agenda and purchased the game because I believed some of the hyped reviews that it got! With all that out of the way here is my conclusion:
I personally can’t stand it. Spent 3 hours with it and now giving it to a buddy to try and see what he thinks…
Yeah every car handles different but who cares if none of them have any real feel of actual weight to them? Just because the car slides out on every corner doesn’t mean that it’s realistic physics.
Now guys I’m not some race car driver like some of you on here claim to be.. but I’ve had my fair share of league races in rfactor and gtr2 and the physics just “felt” right to me. The physics in this feel halfway right at best… as in … ugh IDK! I want to say GRID but most of you will just laugh at me… whatever.
I guess I’m pretty upset because I purchased it based on mainly the Swedish review… only to start it up and immediately want to turn it off because of the commentator who talks to you like you’re a complete MORON! As soon as that happen I knew it was over… lol… I found that playing with my wired xbox controller to be easier than driving with my G25…
I don’t know what version some of you are playing to even have courage to say this game reminds you of GTL and GTR2… that’s just pure craziness!
You TRUE simmers out there will come to the same conclusion for sure.. minutes of play will give it all away…
It’s a shame really because the game is absolutely beautiful.. the car models are outstanding and the tracks are really high detail…
In the end I have no one to blame but myself for not pirating the damn thing since they didn’t release a demo before I spent my hard earned cash on something I wont be playing… ugh.. back to GTR EVO I guess.
steve30x
September 16th, 2009 at 12:07
I have that problem also. Its the brake pedal acting as an up arrow in the menu’s. I have to depress the brake pedal for the menus to respond. The only way to counteract this is use combined pedal mode unfortunately.
Anyway I played this for four hours last night and I had great fun. I dont hav the problem with my G25 like some of you have. But the physics area bit off. The cars understeer way too early in my opinion.
f0xx
September 16th, 2009 at 12:14
All sorts of opinions here…guess I’ll have to test it for myself….since theres no demo I can hmmmmmm..
The only thing I dont want is that constant oversteer GRID gameplay…
steve30x
September 16th, 2009 at 12:23
Just looked for the 5.07 driver for my G25 and its not available on the logitech site.
nakke
September 16th, 2009 at 12:27
BSR-WiX… are you saying people shouldn’t have opinions about the game’s physics because they aren’t real-world professional drivers who own all the cars?
Obviously their opinions might not be based on real-world facts; how real cars handle, but why does that mean they can’t say the opinions? Do you have to be Quentin Tarantino in order to be able to criticise a movie?
Gaiajohan
September 16th, 2009 at 12:32
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/441/5184&cl=nl,nl?osid=1
voilá
Just look in G27 drivers.
donbobo
September 16th, 2009 at 12:59
To everyone posting feedback about NFS shift.
Are you all using Pro mode with assists off?
Have you unlocked any GT class cars yet? as I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the GT cars have the best physics considering SMS history.
steve30x
September 16th, 2009 at 13:06
Thank you but I found the driver on their FTP site. This 5.07 driver helped with the menu problem and gave sightly better FFB but my FPS dropped a bit with this driver too.
@Donbobo : I am using pro mode with just abs enabled. All other aids are turned off.
Husky42
September 16th, 2009 at 13:10
Um duh (as far as the pro mod comments are concerned lol :D)
And I’m only at Tier 3 right now and just got there, took me an hour to figure out the drifting and realized i could just cheat the points by handbraking and going sideways by the clip markers lol
I have to say after getting into this it really is good. I suggest everybody gives it some time and move up the rankings and try a few dif cars.
Right now im having a blast in my Cayman S and although it handles little like a real cayman s does but it is great fun. Once i through out my let downs on this not being a hardcore sim it became much more enjoyable. It really is a good game. I feel really bad for being so harsh on it early on lol
But i still stand by my original comments. This is NOT a sim. There is too much lacking in the physics department and teh cars lack overall feeling, but fun it is for sure.
BSR-WiX
September 16th, 2009 at 13:24
Surely not. I dont see the part where i stated that people should not have an opinion. i stated allot of people seem experts in the realistic-unrealistic region.
Its easy to critisize a game producer. while we forget what a task it is to build a game or sim. Its human nature to give our own opinions a bit of a head start.
Thats my opinion. :-)
drowsy
September 16th, 2009 at 13:29
Well, I gave the game another shot and it just still feels bad. It’s like, when I’m turning my wheel, the first 20 degrees matches very nicely with the game, but if I turn any more than that, the car just goes into a slide. And I can just go around corners sliding like that, going way too fast because the car can’t spin and has ridiculous sideways grip. It’s really annoying actually. I doubt it’s a hardware issue either since I’ve seen a lot of videos on Youtube of the PC version, and every single one of them has the same thing happening. For some reason a lot of people just seem to like that. Again, I wasn’t expecting this game to be a pure simulation, but I did expect the cars to behave car-like. They just don’t. At all.
But I guess the game is just no my cup of tea.
Jack_NL
September 16th, 2009 at 13:35
what about that Lan Patch?
there is now not a way through internet to race online ?
F1Racer
September 16th, 2009 at 13:39
This all seems much simpler for me.
To me, Shift has great looking cars and tracks, great sounds and career mode is rather neat.
Annoyances are:-
- AI cars almost stopping in tight turns
- Lens flare which you can’t turn off and is pointless unless you are driving through a camera lens
- No mouse support in menus (thanks to having consoles ports and laziness)
- Can’t turn off that dreadful music in replays, cannot save replays, some loading times are quite long and the intro video and safety reminder on loading, not forgetting the ‘which language to you want the game in today’ at the start is all a pain in the arse.
Physics are slap bang in the middle of sim and arcade (as we interpret the meanings – even though everyones interpretations of those words are totally different.).
Its a fun drive, can be challenging at times but no, its no rF, GTL or GTR2.
Someone earlier said the menu’s are arcade. I’m still trying to work out what that means. The only ‘arcade’ menu’s Ive ever seen are “One or Two Players” and “Please Insert Coins”
Anyone who was expecting a sim must have believed the hype. Shame on you.
But its not arcade either. No way.
Arcade to me, is Outrun, Space Invaders and Galaga. THAT’s arcade.
You wouldn’t find Shift as a coin-op machine.
I’m on the fence with Shift but I’m on the positive side of that fence.
It’s not a game I regret buying and you can have a good time with it.
Jeez though, that Honda S2000 likes to have its rear end going first though.
Niksounds
September 16th, 2009 at 13:41
nakke:
“BSR-WiX… are you saying people shouldn’t have opinions about the game’s physics because they aren’t real-world professional drivers who own all the cars?
Obviously their opinions might not be based on real-world facts; how real cars handle, but why does that mean they can’t say the opinions? Do you have to be Quentin Tarantino in order to be able to criticise a movie?”
Man.. have you idea how much grip, components can TWIST the car’s behavior?
i repeat.. here all are expert gt and supercars drivers
donbobo
September 16th, 2009 at 13:42
Ok, thank you for your comments.
How would say the physics compare to other console racers which is effectively what Shift is, a console game released on PC. Where would it slot in against these other console games which I’ve ranked in order of physics based on my own experience with these games.
1. Race Pro
2. GT5P (Pro mode)
3. Forza 2
Husky42
September 16th, 2009 at 13:51
Its hard to say really, I’ve not driven Race Pro at all. But Shift is better then GT5P which I have. So without having Race Pro i cannot really give an accurate claim as to how good it is compared to it.
I will say that Shift slots in under GTR2/GTL – Shift is more forgiving but the cars do spin quite easily – Go drive the various RWD cars and you will be pleasantly surprised. The FWD cars are pretty sticky and pull you everywhere, you can just feel it. Nice thing i noticed vs the Miata and my Mustang is the Mustang you power out of a corner your ending up with a lot of induced oversteer (this is how it should be IMO) The Miata on the other hand is a point and shoot car, you can power out of a corner and simply fly. The physics are still definately dumbed down but this title is quite good.
I really do feel quite bad about all my negative comments based on early play, sitting down with it all night allowed me to judge it better.
Anyways, im off to do all my invitationals. All the time trials are kinda difficult on pro mode :D
Arnold Carter Wong
September 16th, 2009 at 13:55
the steering wheel behaves like a gamepad in the game…….with all the possible settings……….
Well, I have to say iRacing is way easier than this one.
gtrNL
September 16th, 2009 at 14:07
Woow, 100+ comments in less then 24 hours, a new record???
Anyway, since I don’t have internet at home I have to download the game here at school (thank god, because it’s much faster here then back home (hitting 2 mb/sec on a regular basis)).
Will post a small review tomorrow when the teacher isn’t looking :P
nakke
September 16th, 2009 at 14:08
BSR-WiX: allright, then I misinterpreted your message. Easy to do that on the internet.
Btw, I’m getting pretty horrid performance. Intel Q9450, HD4890 1GB, 8GB ram, Win7 64bit… and my fps is in the 20s sometimes with everything at medium. Uggggh. Any tips?
Edit: seems like it’s a common problem with ATI cards. One would have though they would have gotten the fixes into the 9.9 catalysts… apparently not. Well, hopefully they’ll release bugfix drivers asap.
Warming for the gameplay a bit more after tweaking the sensitivity settings. Still seems like the in-game wheel can never be “1:1″ to what you do on your wheel, it always lags a bit behind/is “smoothed”, but at least the driving feels better when I turned down the sensitivity.
mrwout
September 16th, 2009 at 14:25
here’s my opinion:
It is a great racing game, but as a sim it is flawed.
This is what they accually promised us, its a sim inspired racing game. They said it would be pick-up and play, authentic and they didn’t want it to become frustrating because of the difficulty (thus saying their aim wasnt to make a simracer) Well appart from the fact that you can get pretty frustrated when the weel settings are all weird, but when you get them right it really is a blast. But yet again it is no sim, and it never claimed to be.
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 14:27
Maybe my enthusiasm has over whelmed me? Or maybe the iRacing enthusiast just won’t let their crown and glory be challenged by the likes of an EA arcade game with a better tire model. NO amount of “Reviews” will tell. Only time will. Every one should test it themselves, and not just for one hour. It takes longer then that to get used to a different physics model then what you are used to. So every one, make up your own mind. Or just buy it. It’s only 40.USD. The price of two iRacing trackes.
Paul Kelly
September 16th, 2009 at 14:57
Honestly, give it a rest, Howie. No one is comparing Shift to iRacing except you.
They’re comparing it to other relaxed sims such as Forza, GTP5 and Race Pro.
drowsy
September 16th, 2009 at 15:13
Well, another two hours of racing and I still can’t understand why the cars behave the way they do. I have yet to see any video material of anyone driving the game and it looking in any way realistic, either. It’s just weird that there’s a handful of people vehemently defending the game’s physics and claiming that they are right there with the best sims.
So, if anyone could be so kind as to record some video of them driving the game, I’d be happy to be proven wrong. I just haven’t managed to make the cars feel like cars yet, and I’m a guy that managed to enjoy the driving model of games like Forza 2, TDU and Race Pro enormously so I’m not a console hater or anything.
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 15:28
http://forum.racedepartment.com/need-speed-shift/23401-proof-life-feedback-2.html Watch the vid posted by “Tobias Kluge”.
Klaas Jan
September 16th, 2009 at 15:31
This is what Mr. Bell said about Shift earlier…
Ian Bell, “Additionally, we have been
extremely fortunate to have been provided with detailed racing telemetry data from certain racing teams, which allows us to reverse engineer the nuances of a track’s character through studying suspension movement, braking points, and g-forces on the real racing cars. It’s not enough to simply get measurements and photos. If you want to recreate the experience, you have to know the subtleties of the track’s surface contained in these data treasures that even laser scanning can’t deliver. It does no good to know about a 5mm bump in the track if you have no data to show how it makes a car react. And the reaction, the experience, is what truly matters.”
http://www.needforspeed.com/portal/site/nfs/news/details?contentId=24686067b3232210VgnVCM1000006017780aRCRD
Must be a secret mode you can unlock somehow, I haven’t found this in Shift yet…
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 15:37
There always has be the first kid to scream out. “The Empire has no cloths”!
drowsy
September 16th, 2009 at 15:40
That looks exactly like it does when I’m driving. Absolutely no weight and the car just slides around.
Meh, I’ll just never like this game, sadly. I really wanted to finally move to a 21st century graphics engine from the age-old gmotor2, but SMS screwed up the physics so completely that it’s just not an option.
Crazy Bored
September 16th, 2009 at 15:44
While that video looks and sounds awesome, I would prefer to see one where the driver knows how to drive well. It’s extremely hard to draw any conclusions from someone that is sloppy, espcially getting off the brakes and onto the throttle.
BNR32
September 16th, 2009 at 16:01
I don’t know what kind of rock you have been living under, because this pile of arcade poo-poo was heavily marketed as being a simulator by EA. GTR developers, Eero-whoever doing physics and so on were their trump cards to get sim gamers interested in it. And they did, and they believed it.
Oh well, I knew it was doing to be arcade the moment it was announced, and now I can finally say: I TOLD YOU!
Mr. A
September 16th, 2009 at 16:04
I’ve played it for a couple of hours now and I’m not quite sure what to think of it yet. The physics seems kind of semi-simish (compared to our “regular” pc sims), they are definitely not anywhere near Grid’s physics, but it feels strange somehow. No feel of weight distribution has been mentioned, which I’ll have to agree with and somehow it just feels very hard to drive cleanly.
I’ve also been playing Dirt 2 lately, and while the physics in that game belong in the arcade category, it still feels “right” somehow and the FFB is quite good (and I’ll mention that I absolutely hated the physics in the first Dirt-game and the physics in Grid).
But I’ve been having quite fun so far with it anyway, we’ll see how long this game will be able to keep my attention.
wims
September 16th, 2009 at 16:13
Posted by Husky : “I will say that Shift slots in under GTR2/GTL – Shift is more forgiving but the cars do spin quite easily”
This is a good thing. They didnt just artificially increase the grip like they did in GTR2. Its actually possible to spin the cars in this game unlike GTR2. While there’s still tons of grip.
Paul Kelly
September 16th, 2009 at 16:13
That would be “The Emperor has no clothes,” Howie, not “The Empire has no cloths.”
You continue to auger yourself deeper into the ground with each post. Continue, if you will.
drdryvillage
September 16th, 2009 at 16:22
lol
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 16:24
“Crazy Board”, is a mental condition where in the victims can’t really enjoy anything because of their mental attitude. Sorry, you choose the tag.
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 16:27
That is “argue” not auger. (and dumb pun) A little bit of the kettle calling the pot black. I’d say. Well it is talking against the “stone wall” to most of the old set in thier ways, simhasbeens. So keep on stone walling. If it makes you feel good.
Bekim
September 16th, 2009 at 16:28
Guys the physics feel great, I don’t know what some people mean when they say its arcade, it definitely isn’t. Yeah fine it’s no rFactor, but it’s up there with GT5:P and Forza and definitely feels good. I rank this game very highly. Drive it with a G25 on pro mode, as long as you have the settings for the G25 right, it feels FANTASTIC!
The first invitational event you get with the Lotus at the Nurburgring just felt so right and so exhilarating. I could feel the understeer, the oversteer, getting shift lock when downshifting without heel and toe, steering goes light and snaps etc…It’s great fun to drive and realistic with 900 steering too as long as you set it up right.
Chrisuu01
September 16th, 2009 at 16:31
And those settings are BTW is the PS3 FFB and menus any drufrent from PC?
seamonster
September 16th, 2009 at 16:42
Shift has never been meant as pure simulation! The debate is pointless.
1UP: If someone’s getting into Need for Speed for the first time, what can they expect?
Jesse Abney: We want new fans to experience authentic racing, so we built an authentic racing game. But it’s not a simulation game. It’s not a grind; it’s not overly punishing to the point that you lose sight of what’s fun.
Raikku
September 16th, 2009 at 16:47
There’s only one thing which affect to choosing between Xbox and PS3 versions. And it’s a fact that G25 work with PS3…
This time I don’t give a shit if graphics are better with Xbox.
Zorlac
September 16th, 2009 at 16:47
So I picked up the game late last night, installed this morning, and Im liking it a lot.
The Good:
The graphics are very good. Thank god its nothing like Grid, which is so overdone with the bloom and blurry textures etc. Blimey have always done amazing cockpits, and Shift is no exception. They are on par with GTR2. The textures are nice and sharp, especially track textures. The trees might look a bit cartoonish, but overall the whole world looks very nice.
The game runs very good on my system, a C2D 1.8ghz E4300, 2gb ram and an 8800GT 512mb. Im playing at native res of 1680×1050 with all settings on high except AA. Thats turned off because I get a bit of stutter. Its weird, its smooth, I’d say damn near 60fps (certainly seemed like it during the time trial on The Mother), but sometimes has these hiccups with a lot of action, as if its not done loading everything. Nothing bad, but I would think adding 2x AA might make it a bit more annoying. But I have 4xAF. Game looks and runs very good. If you can run Grid nicely, you’ll have absolutely no problems with Shift. I’m very happy it runs so well on my system. Also I’m on Windows 7 RC2 64bit, no problems with installing or stability so far.
Another Blimey mark is the sound design. The sounds of the cars what I’ve heard so far is excellent. On par if not exceeding GTR2/Race in some aspects, and kicks Grid’s sorry ass all over the place. The 1st car you race, the BMW M3 GTR sounds excellent, snarling V8 that really comes through the speakers. I bought my 1st car, the BMW 135i and it too sounds great. Cant wait to get into the Zonda and Gallardo.
Tracks seem accurate compared to games like GTR2, Race07/Evo. Being as I’ve never been on the actual Nord or Laguna Seca I cant comment as to the accuracy in real life but they look and feel good to me. Nord is a bit more spruced up that the excellent version GTR Evo, more backround stuff like ppl and objects.
Ok, the handling is what everyone wants to know. Its not like Grid, which is a good thing to me (yes, Im pissing on Grid a lot). I will say it does feel *almost* like a very dumbed down version of GTR2. What I mean is that it kinda feels like a Blimey game as far as certain characteristics of how you go over bumps, kinda steer, kinda accelerate and kinda brake in corners. Kinda kinda kinda. Keep in mind I’m playing on Pro mode with all assists off, and it still feels easy. Its better than any of the last couple of NFS games, and as far as an console racer which this is its much better than most I’ve played.
When you start to lose it, you need to manhandle the car to get it back straight. Sliding around corners is very easy, practically effortless but rather fun. Accel and braking is good, but steering I have a problem with. GTR2/Race07/Evo, the steering is very very precise. In Shift when you turn hard the steering wheel seems to move slowly, its far too casual in both the look of the wheel in cockpit, and driving. The first 30-40% of steering into a corner feel pretty good all things considered, but when you wanna turn hard, the car feels like it oversteers too much and its easy to start losing it.
Note that I’m playing on an Xbox 360 gamepad, and I play GTR2/rFactor etc on hardcore settings without issue. Some ppl have said adjust sensitivity helps things greatly, so I’ll have to tweak the settings a bit to see if that helps. Anyway the handling is much better than any of the last NFS games, and much more better than Grid. Its no GTR2 and that’s not what its supposed to be, but overall I don’t mind it. Its not as arcadey as say Burnout Paradise. I’d say its closer to GTR2 with very easy assists even in pro mode.
Graphically I said the game looks great, but one thing I don’t like is the blur effect. When you go faster, reaching like 80mph or so, the foreground in the cockpit, i.e. the wheel, gauges, dashboard etc go out of focus while the track ahead stays in focus. Its like a depth of field effect to simulate tunnel vision or something. Its neat I suppose, but I’d rather have an option to turn it off, which you cant.
The Bad
While the game should work fine with the Xbox 360 gamepad, I use the much better XBCD custom drivers. I was able to map the controls fine, however 2 issues. One is that there is no option look left or right. I don’t know how this is not in the game, maybe I skipped that part but I dunno. That seems silly to me. And force feedback cannot be turned off. Oh you can turn it off in the menu, it says as much. But the feedback still remains, and its terrible. Felt like I was holding a weedtrimmer the whole time I was racing. Had to open the XBCD setup util and turn off feedback all together. I only want to feel crashes/bumping into cars, or when I go over the bumpers or off track. But in Shift it will be at 100% whenever you turn. If anyone has an Xbox gamepad with the default drivers installed let me know if it does the same. Perhaps this is just an XBCD issue, but there are no advanced force feedback options to fine tune it like you get in Race07/Evo.
Thats about it really, thought I would hate the physics, but knowing beforehand that the game wasn’t supposed to be a GTR2 clone, it seems like a fun game, going back to what NFS was all about before it got crap. Its the best arcade-ish driving game I’ve played in a long time that’s for sure. Haven’t bothered with the online portion though, I’ll fool around with that later tonight. But so far so good, I’m digging it a lot. It should be easy enough for the console casual racer crowd, but appease the more hardcore simmers if they’re reasonable.
Btw, Spa Francorchamps looks amazing! Lots of fun to drive on that one.
JimmyB
September 16th, 2009 at 17:11
Is there an option to turn off the cockpit steering wheel on PC? I always find it really distracting when the in-game wheel doesn’t even remotely match up with what I’m doing.
At the moment I’m tempted to just take the plunge and buy this. Some of the videos I’ve seen look pretty damn good to me. While most of the impressions I’ve read have been really positive, there’s still a lot of people apparently having issues with the control settings. I’d rather not spend hours tweaking sensitivities and deadzones just to get the game to feel right.
logos
September 16th, 2009 at 17:14
Try to increase/decrease steering lock from the individual car setup. Usually, the same thing happens in other sims if the steering wheel angle (from the driver options) is too low, and the steering lock in car setup is too high (and vice versa).
Bekim
September 16th, 2009 at 17:16
I noticed it is easier in the start, especially with the BMW 135i since I also picked that as my start car. Later on when you get into a Gallardo or high powered machines, it’s a very different feeling. You also said you played with a pad, when playing with a g25, you can feel everything as long as you set it up right. If your still at the start and with the BMW, go into time attack mode with a s2000 and notice the difference right away. With the BMW I can take some corners with almost full grip, where if I took a corner with a s2000 and accelerate it tends to be a bit snappy and kicks the back end out. You have to try it with a G25, feels amazing. I’m not trying to tell people there wrong or anything of that sort to “debate” over the game, I just want people to enjoy the game like I am. The cars feel great.
I’m playing the PC Version. I was mucking around for quite some time testing and trying out different settings, I still want to play with the deadzone settings too but what I have so far feels great.
LOGITECH PROFILER:
Overall Effects – 102%
Spring Effect – 0%
Damper Effect – 0%
Enable Centering Spring UNTICKED and left to 100%
900%
leave everything else as is.
IN GAME:
Pick the G25 Seperate Pedals preset.
Adjust Controls screen:
Steering Deadzone – 0%
Accelerator Deadzone – 5%
Brake Deadzone – 5%
Clutch – 5%
Steering Sensitivity – 100%
Accel Sens – 50%
Brake Sens – 50%
Clutch Sens – 50%
Speed Sensitive Steering – 0%
Force Feedback – 9
Turning Lock – 100%
Inverse Shifting – Off
I have set steering sensitivity to 100% because when at the default 50%, it required too much steering into turns which was very unrealistic, otherwise I had to set it to 720 degrees in the profiler but I much rather 900.
wims
September 16th, 2009 at 17:24
Putting steering sensitivity on anything other than 50% will make the steering non linear. If you got a steering wheel then keep it at 50% AT ALL TIMES. use other things like car setup and number of degrees in the controler control panel to adjust how much wheel travel is needed to turn the front wheels
jux
September 16th, 2009 at 17:35
I spent a few hours with the game, and wasn’t impressed.
Overall the car handling physics seem to be good, especially for a non-hardcore racing game, but otherwise the game fails in almost every category if you judge it as a simulator, and some of the “cool” features are stupid enough to almost kill the game completely. One example is the blurring of the dashboard as your car approaches top speed. It looks and feels completely unnatural, and as far as I could tell, it cannot be disabled. Crash physics as well as the graphical crash effects are a joke. The sounds engine is bad (couldn’t determine position of other cars based on their engine sound), force feedback wasn’t even close to the standard set by many of the leading simulators, no FOV adjustment, etc.
If you are looking for a realistic driving experience similar to LFS, netKar Pro or iRacing, don’t waste your money or time on this. The physics and graphics engine might have potential for a sim, but as it is, Shift is just a semi-realistic racing game ruined by lots of different design issues.
nakke
September 16th, 2009 at 17:43
You can’t make that up…
mrwout
September 16th, 2009 at 17:56
I accually read it in an interview about a month ago, begore that I also thought they were trying to sell it as a sim.
Don’t really know where I read it :p coz i got it was a google result :p The qoute from Jesse Anbey in Seamonsters post was accually part of that interview and kinda sums it up :) So it’s not only me who read that :p
Paul Kelly
September 16th, 2009 at 18:04
No, Howie. It’s auger. An auger is an integral part of a drill, so it fits perfectly with my implication that you’re drilling yourself into the ground with every post.
Funny you call me a sim-has-been. I started with console games back in the 1980s with Pole Position on the Atari 2600 and didn’t move to PC sims until 2005. I have WAY more experience in Consoleland than on PC’s, although I’ve played most major PC sims of the last 10 years since I made the switch.
But hey, if your fantasy fits, live it!
Paul Kelly
September 16th, 2009 at 18:05
No doubt. That is a MAJOR plus for the PS3.
Paul Kelly
September 16th, 2009 at 18:08
That’s the same profile that works well with Logitech wheels and Simbin and ISI games such as GTR 2, RACE and rFactor, so that’s cool it also works well with this game.
I use nearly the same setup for iRacing with my DFP. Only difference is 103 percent overall effects.
gpfan
September 16th, 2009 at 18:17
The best game of the genre i´ve played!!! In pro mode i have a good feel but it´s so fare from a simulation game like rFactor + Mod Endurance Series.
But for a good couple of hours i had good driving with it!! Good step foward in this racing game genre…..
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 18:26
If you want quicker steering response, as many have said is needed. Then lower your turning radius to 600-720.
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 18:31
“Back in the day”, definitely the words of some one living in the past.
Oh, that is why I said it was a “dumb pun”. Doesn’t come close to rhyming.
Just to clue you in on your obvious delusion. ALL driving Sims are fantasy!
Grow up.
spliff
September 16th, 2009 at 18:31
@Der_Khan (and all others in his footsteps):
thanks for your very objective information. but we don’t need to hear it. just don’t tell poeple to stay away from something YOU dont like. you people are so… ah, screw it.
damn why do they release it on the 17th in europe. GRR. :-)
Sensekhmet
September 16th, 2009 at 18:50
18th in Poland! Probably to grace us with another unbearable, uncomprehensible translation, done by a high schooler who learned English from warez forums and who’s knowledge of motorsport and cars in general is limited to Fast and Furious.
EA Europe must be really poor to ‘grace’ us with such biblical failures of interpreting process.
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 18:51
Most of these people hated this came as soon as it was announced and have not ceased to try and ruin it for others. Then they make girly statements like, “oh I wanted it to be good”, how hypocritical can one get? They stretch the boundaries of credibility to the “Outer Limits”.
MadCat360
September 16th, 2009 at 19:18
That’s good, that’s all I was expecting. Forza 2 may not be as realistic as some PC games, but it still drives really well.
IMO, this game was out to beat Forza and GT, and it looks like they’ve succeeded.
Swifta
September 16th, 2009 at 19:20
No matter what anyone says, people will form their own decisions… I personally can’t stand it.. but the guys next to me loves it… who cares, if you like it enjoy it and stop trying to convince everyone it’s in the same league as GTL and GTR2 cuz it’s NOT!… For me it’s not even in the same league as FORZA 2 and GT5P where you have actual weight and feel for the car your driving… anyways..
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 19:29
Why don’t you take your own advice and stop trying to make others decisions for them?! I’ve read a few remarks in the past from real race divers, (that weren’t some how in league with developers) about most of the various “Sims”.
They usually say something like. Yea is fun, no it isn’t any thing like real racing. Including such games as iRacing. So it all comes down to personal opinion and taste. All the arguing about who drives the most real Sim, is nothing more then a “cock” fight. Probably very amusing to those out side the Sim racing community. Especially real race drivers.
Paul Kelly
September 16th, 2009 at 19:30
Howie, Howie, Howie:
Puns don’t need to rhyme. This isn’t rap; it’s a gaming blog.
And the fantasy isn’t mine: It’s yours. You know, the fantasy that I have no console gaming background and that I’m living in the past because I prefer the most cutting-edge PC sim available on the market over console games right now.
Yeah, that fantasy.
Carry on.
Siggs
September 16th, 2009 at 19:42
This post war is very amusing.
/topic, I’m yet to get a copy, but regardless of the arguements here, I reckon I’ll like it. I like my decidedly arcade nfs games(the half decent ones), something people here seem to be incapable of doing.
JasonSix
September 16th, 2009 at 19:45
FIX for the scrolling G25 problem:
download and run the Wingman Clear Calibration Utility
http://www.wingmanteam.com/latest_software/gadgets.htm
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 19:46
Please read to your favvvoriit Rap music.
Paul Kelly fell on his belly, cause he couldn’t make his pun rhyme.
He thinks iRacing is cutting edge, so he took a pledge
to make believe it is real.
All his friends joined in
to partake of his sin
They all now think. They are the Kings knights
and defenders of the faith.
But the truth shall prevail lifting the vail.
revealing the Kings fools.
JAGUAR1977
September 16th, 2009 at 19:46
In my experience my two best sim experiences are HistoricX on rFactor and the Mitsubishi Evo 9 MR on GT5P, which was similar to my actual car. Some would strongly argue GT5P has no right to be classed alongside HistoricX, yet my real life and GT5P experiences suggest it should be.
IMO if GT5P, Forza 3, Shift etc. were mods there wouldn’t be such a fuss, you find bigger handling differences on a mod by mod basis than you see in these games.
Paul Kelly
September 16th, 2009 at 19:52
That is brilliant. Somehow, I don’t think NWA, 50 Cent, Jay-Z or Kanye are threatened.
But keep trying. It’s so cool to write like a fool. Hey, that rhymes! Yippee!
Rasmus
September 16th, 2009 at 19:59
Guys, guys, guys (ESPECIALLY Howie and Paul Kelly)… Stop fighting like 5 year olds and grow up. If you really aren’t 5 year olds? Sometimes, I have my doubts.
I had hoped to find statements about the game and tips for good G25 and in-game settings here in these comments. All the gems that some people post get lost in the flame wars between certain members. FOCUS on the game/sim/whatever you call it, please. Grow up.
Der_KHAN
September 16th, 2009 at 20:11
I’m sorry. Virtualr started out to become “the leading news resource for the sim racing community” with a focus on GTR2 and rFactor Mods as well as news about iRacing. I was under the impression that the readers here consider themselves sim racers. when i run a sim i want it to give me the most realistic experience possible. it’s about getting an understanding of what real world racing is like. it was rfactor that made me realize how crazy and fast formula one really is and that made it much more fascinating for me. i’ve never had so much respect for race drivers before. also my real world driving skills have improved massively since i began racing gt cars in sims. you can learn so much and take it to the road.
when Ian Bell and others claimed that Shift would raise the bar for sim racing i was hoping that we would get up-to-date graphics and that the sim community would grow. but it looks like it was all fake.
i have given detailed info about my steering problems, because i’m still hoping that someone might provide me with a satisfying setup. or maybe there will be a patch from SMS or a modding group at some time. i’d love to play a nice single player career mode for a change.
Paul Kelly
September 16th, 2009 at 20:14
10-4. You’re right. Sorry. I’m done flaming with Howie.
stabiz
September 16th, 2009 at 20:30
Okay, I got to try the PS3 version with my brother, and are there anybody here who have tried both PS3 and PC or XBox and PC verions? Do they differ at all? Not that I expect so, but that is the only thing that can explain those who hail it as a great racing sim. What I tried was something that felt like a softer version of Gran Turismo with semi proper tire physics. Big let down.
And, Howie, best physics ever? The crazy part is that you probably mean it too.
f0xx
September 16th, 2009 at 21:00
Bla bla bla…guys this is NEED FOR SPEED. and probably the best one so far..stop arguing about stupid facts/non-facts.
Sensekhmet
September 16th, 2009 at 21:14
No modern sim presents the ‘racing world’ or ‘performance driver world view’ or whatever you want to call it correctly. You will not understand these concepts fully if your contact with it is limited only to a sim. If you did, you’d be actually grateful it does not. It’s not always cool or great. It takes a toll on you. Physically and psychically. Sometimes your personal life takes a hit. And sometimes you die.
Also, I hope you are not serious about taking your computer game skills on the road. It might feel like real but it is NOT. What we are playing are games, not military grade simulators pilots in training use.
As mentioned before, it’s only an opinion, my opinion. But as both a competitor and a FIA licensed marshall/official I’ve seen a bit of the racing world. It can be beautiful and extremely ugly, but it always draws some people in like a black hole, like hard drugs. I’m one of them.
Sodapop
September 16th, 2009 at 21:33
I live my life a quarter mile at a time. Nothing else matters: not the mortgage, not the store, not my team and all their bullshit. For those ten seconds or less, I’m free.
Sorry that’s all I got from your post.
hypertek
September 16th, 2009 at 21:45
just tried it on my pc, it feels just like prostreet, same menu feel, buy your car, race to unlock more. Its just like prostreet but with a more professional euro attitude instead of the amateur environment you where placed in prostreet.
You may play it for a week tops, then put it down because it will get repeative.
Rasmus
September 16th, 2009 at 21:53
So, I’ve tried it now.
My PC isn’t good enough to run it at an acceptable level, so I’m uninstalling it right now.
But the racing I did in it was quite fun. I’m sure that with a little tweaking in the setup of the game and your wheel, it will be good fun.
In my opinion it is, however, not as realistic as fx. rFactor or GTR2. But it is still a fun drive. I think that if you’re optimistic and don’t limit yourself to always driving what is the most realistic thing you can get, you will definitely have some fun with this game.
Don’t take it for more than it is… And just enjoy the game, instead of bitching about what it’s not.
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 21:59
This is all about driving and racing. That’s why we like racing simulators. If you like that. You won’t be putting down this game any time soon. I just have to rest my arms every now and then.
hypertek
September 16th, 2009 at 22:01
just tried it on my pc with logitech G25, it feels just like prostreet, same menu feel, buy your car, race to unlock more. Its just like prostreet but with a more professional euro attitude instead of the amateur “coming up racer who starts off with a junky s13″ environment you where placed in prostreet.
You may play it for a week tops, then put it down because it will get repeative. If your one of those people who liked prostreet and grid you may love this.. Grid’s graphics where horribly soaked in hdr bloom which people mistake for eye candy, Shift’s graphics are good…
You can turn off the race line, turn off the speed blur, but the steering feedback just doesnt feel right imo, its not aggressive enough.
The car modding is ok, same old crappy nasty bodykits that make you wonder where did they get the idea and nasty fictional car skins *Fidanza on a lambo?”. Did notice the pulled fenders being with the bodykit and stuff like chuki sideskirts and kouki front bumper on the s13.
I can see the price dropping of this game as time goes by as every need for speed game does in 3 months or so, tho people will buy it because of the hype and what they believe is a good racing game.
No race qualifying but like anyone takes the time to do that anyways, even tho thats like a requirement for a sim game.
Everytime i start the pc game, it always asks you what language do you want today lol
and you have to watch that annoying wheel animation every time. Dunno if the console game always asks you that or not.
Something someone mentioned , was that how the announcer talks to you like your a moron lol. Sometimes the AI cars slow down alot for a corner lol
is it worth $60 or so? Hmm i would pass
is it worth $20 later in a few months? Yes, but that time you might not wanna play it lol
Sensekhmet
September 16th, 2009 at 22:02
That is your problem I guess.
Winning or racing itself is not what I live for (that is a philosophical issue), but motorsport is what I consider to be and want to stay an important part of my life. A bit more than just a hobby.
creatorex
September 16th, 2009 at 22:25
Hi all,
I belong to those who likes everything that sounds good, feels good, and looks good. I belong to Iracing, Rfactor, LFS, GTR2 and etc. communities and I’m a virtual driving practitioner of course. I also drive when possible cars in real permanent tracks; from a Clio cup car to a BMW formula. So I have to say that reality it’s reality and virtual it’s virtual. Some sims gets closer to many real physics in many aspects but all of them are peculiar and have a different taste. For me Iracing, NetkarPro and Piboso WRS are sims with a very accurate and clear concept regarding simulation. LFS is in the middle (I’m not convinced ragarding physics). Others such SIMBIN, GTR2 and Rfactor are a little bit different but acceptable because the feeling and reactions are comparable in a certain level to real and to the top sims. And now comes this NFS shift. It took to me a little while to own the driving style for this game/sim. In example iracing, netkar and WRS for me are not just games are more a sim than a game.
Regarding shift I like physics because reactions are not 100% simulation as we know in netkar, iracing and etc but contains a big dosis of what’s needed to handle a car in a real simulator. It’s not easy to drive going to the limit and this let’s say 80% of simulation in combination with its amazing graphics and effects it’s something even I enjoy and I share my sim time with everything that feels good, sounds good and looks good. I miss some things such as qualy, boxes, etc. But for those who heard this game it’s like GRID; NOOO it’s much better in graphics and physics are closer to a sim. For me it’s a big jump to scape from arcade. So arcade gamers may find here a step to sim stage. So if SIM community grows our hobby will get better and better.
This game is fun, sounds good, feels good and loks good with a GTX260 of course. So people who wants to buy buy it. Good game and close to a sim. It’s my opinion guys.
And please use a driving wheel with pedals!!!!!!!!!
And guys things sometimes aren’t just good/bad, best/worse… are just different and every individual likes will fit in any or many.. or not? :-) So think about the lot of people behind the job done (mods, commercial games, etc.)
Regards, B.
gpfan
September 16th, 2009 at 22:49
Man i´m 110% with you!!!!
BSR-Fonzie
September 16th, 2009 at 23:01
agreed 100%
I love the game, its very good fun.
Sensekhmet
September 16th, 2009 at 23:27
Opinion is opinion: it depedns on each person’s perception but how can the reviews be SO different?
carbonfibre
September 16th, 2009 at 23:32
Has anyone looked into the installation files yet? What is the folder structure like? gMotor like layout?
How are the cars/sounds/tracks packaged, what are their file extensions?
Has anybody identified any “notepad compatible” configuration files?
Howie47
September 16th, 2009 at 23:36
Maybe I’m a little over enthusiastic. But unlike some of these guys, I’ve got to test the physics for some time before I can come to a exact decision. Any way didn’t I say, “maybe or might be”. Had to bring some balance to their, “it’s totally arcade” BS.
Mr. A
September 17th, 2009 at 00:05
Pretty much all content has a filetype called “.bff”. There are separate track files for regular race and drift. Car-files (which are also .bff) are split in two. One file for the car model and one for the cockpit it seems.
Graphics and control-settings are stored in xml-files. The profile-file has no file ending and can be opened in notepad and parts of it is in clear text, but I haven’t been able to understand much of it yet (it’s about 2MB in size).
Btw, those with separete H-shifters might wanna check out the controller files in the shift>ControllerDefaults>PC folder. There are entries in the files for separate gears there, so you might be able setup your custom shifters.
Edit: I just saw that settings for separate gears are available in the in game menus, didn’t see that first time I was configuring my controls.
NitroStar
September 17th, 2009 at 00:31
I have a GTX 260 with AMD 5800. Runs GTR2, rFactor, and Evo great! NFS Shift seems to be stuck around 27-34 fps no matter what I do. Turn v-sync off, change detail settings, change AA and AF. Can’t even tell when I go from v-sync on to v-sync off. Any ideas?
F1Racer
September 17th, 2009 at 00:34
Because reviews are simply another persons opinion. (Unless they’re getting a back-hander).
traind
September 17th, 2009 at 00:35
Yes, that original comment is spot on, although my ability to play Shift correctly is still not resolved (maybe tonight).
I really like the distinction between Simulations (however accurate they might be) and simulation games. Shift seems like a simulation game where as iRacing is a simulation to me. Both are games in practice for most of us as we don’t make our living racing cars. But the intent behind them is different from each of the creators. Of course NFS has to satisfy the gamer community and has a different intent than a simulation like iRacing. both share some of the same qualities with regard to approach and design but their audiences are vastly different and so the end product is quite different too. They both pay attention to realistic physics but one tries to replicate it at all costs and one pays homage to it while trying to entertain a much less committed audience.
Some of us here on this board appreciate both types of approaches, others do not. There is no right or wrong, just personal preference.
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 01:09
I’d hate to see this forum taken over by one side or the other. Keep up the reporting of all racing games. After all, if the front wheels steer and the brake and gas pedals works. It simulates driving to some degree. The community as a whole will decide how much it’s worth. By using it or tossing it aside. It won’t be hype that keeps it alive. So just keep reporting the facts the best you can. Thanks
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 01:15
Doesn’t the minimum requirements call for a dual core CPU? This game is a newer generation then the ones you mention. You’ll have to get a dual core.
Another 50 dollars or so.
Husky42
September 17th, 2009 at 01:23
A 5800 is a dual core. Though admittedly not a great one it is still a competent CPU in the budget market. And it does overclock decently enough.
Husky42
September 17th, 2009 at 01:27
But all you have done is reported hype. Of course, religious people do have to believe the hype when its surrounded by lies and fallacy lol
(a joke) do not get your panties knotted up, im just poking fun.
Its a good game people, go buy it.
It is not what the devs stated it would be by “being better then anything released or coming out” but it is a great title.
creatorex was correct and fair in his assesment and so far he sums it up the best out of anybody here.
stabiz
September 17th, 2009 at 01:28
What is the comment record here at VirtualR? This must be up there.
DRat
September 17th, 2009 at 01:36
These responses, as a group, are pretty bizarre. But in comparison to most other sim racing forum topics of note, it’s quite predictable.
I had sorta hoped to get an idea whether this is worth buying or not, but it appears that I’ll just have to dole out the money and try it out myself. Considering that it costs no more than a nice dinner for two or a family restaurant dinner for four, some people are certainly getting out of sorts over their expectations not matching the reality they bought.
For gosh sake, it’s just a game. If you don’t like it, just say so and then go fire up iRacing or rFactor or whatever. There have been numerous “sims” released over the last 15 years that were incredibly poor, and there have been several released as “games” that were pretty decent simulations. If I don’t like NFSshift, I’ll give it to a friend or neighbor who will enjoy it, then work out my frustrations returning to racing the AI at Janakkala in GPL.
Husky42
September 17th, 2009 at 01:48
It is a good game, it really is. Thats all i really can say, it is money well spent. It will keep you busy and IMO has good re-playability though I’m at Teir 3 i’ve gone back to Teir 1 and am doing the time attacks now, plus the invitationals are fun. with the AI on hard you will struggle guaranteed :)
Its noat a I-racing kill,er Rfactor Killer or GTR2/GTL killer – But it is the best NFS ever released (i never bought pu/underground/carbon/mw as that street stuff is not really good for me) But comparing it ot NFS PU (the best NFS title IMO) this is well ahead of that. It really does mix arcade and sim it is like an introduction to sim racing and when you put the Ai on hard and turn all assist off it is more closer to a sim then an arcade/normal nfs like game.
But i really do not want to sound like I’m praising it. It has its flaws, but they can be overlooked because it is great fun.
Montoya
September 17th, 2009 at 01:51
132 was the old record, this could be the first one to reach 200
smashingpunk007
September 17th, 2009 at 02:11
Funny how popular Shift is at “sim game” websites.
Anyways there is a driver issue with ATI cards, so those of us with ATI cards have to wait for the new drivers if its unplayable at the moment. I’ll play it later once the new drivers are out since 15-23 fps is unplayable for me. Hopefully the game gets a nice hefty patch for PC.
Sodapop
September 17th, 2009 at 02:46
Not really that quote is from the movie “The Fast and the Furious,” a movie that takes itself a bit more seriously than it should. Much like your post. Hardly anyone on these forums fancy themselves a real pro race driver. We’re just grown ups who work day jobs who will most likely never touch an F1 racer. Some of us like to pretend though so we seek out the hardest core sims we can find.
I don’t care if it doesn’t meet your definition of “fun.” I’m not looking for something “psychically” taxing either. I don’t want to be able to tell the future, I want to pretend to race cars for a little bit without getting arrested for street racing.
Now does driving proper sims make you a better driver? I think it does because I’m living proof. I used to be so nervous when driving, now I’m calm and collected. I think racing sims had a great deal to do with that.
DeadStar
September 17th, 2009 at 03:30
NFS Shift is going to reach 200 comments I will make sure of that
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 04:12
Isn’t that cute. You found some one you agree with. Guess you got a real consensus going on! How Ironic some of YOU keep bringing up religion and then accuse me of being religious.
Did you actually say some thing? Or are you just adding to the post toll?
MadCat360
September 17th, 2009 at 05:28
Guys, guys. This is getting quite ridiculous.
carbonfibre
September 17th, 2009 at 06:04
I disagree! This is very unridiculous.
7 more to go…
captain_underpants
September 17th, 2009 at 06:23
I’m kinda new here, but I’ve been following the NFS:S saga for a while now. I’ve enjoyed NFS titles in the past, so I’m very interested in this new iteration.
One thing I’ve observed – I’m not sure EA can be held entirely responsible for the high expectations people have with this game. Yeah, they flogged the PR machine to death, but much of the speculation about how ’simmy’ it would be seems to have stemmed from the association between SMS and Simbin, and generated entirely by commenters every time another Shift promo popped up. I honestly don’t recall ever hearing a word from EA or SMS saying it would be a full-on sim.
Not that EA aren’t full of s*it or anything. I was amused to note that when I checked the Shift website last week, the game was referred to as ‘Award Winning’. How do unreleased games win awards?
At the very least, the game is out now, so maybe after VirtualR post their review (when we’ll do all this again), it’ll drop off the radar and we’ll see an end to the angst.
TopChancer
September 17th, 2009 at 06:52
Even though I am disappointed in the handling model (its highly exaggerated to constantly give the ‘on the edge’ feeling), the physics engine has promise. The game handles bumps and grooves in the road surface quite realistically, and cars react convincingly when driven over kerbs/curbs. Again I hope the PC modders of the world can work on it somehow.
Despite its flaws I’m still enjoying the game. Shift’s version of the Nords is quite convincing. It has a fairly accurate layout (maybe a little too flat), and driving through the dense, shadow-filled forest is very enjoyable and immersive.
eddiespag
September 17th, 2009 at 07:01
This is ‘Need For Speed’. Hardcore simulation it is not, nor will it ever be. It’s genre is fantasy racing to create an adrenaline filled immersive experience. It is the best iteration yet of, ‘Need For Speed’. I guarantee you that EA would not have been happy if it would have turned out like a GTR3, rFactor2 or netKar Pro. Their intention was to bring up the GAME level of this title to new heights. That they succeeded in this regard is obvious. SMS was given an opportunity (a lucky break) to use their expertise to achieve a top notch level of a driving GAME.
The intent hopefully is to bring a greater audience into driving games and hopefully closer to our beloved ’sim racing’. Only by doing this will we increase our pool of simulation drivers with the next generation and thus grow our community. It is only with this growth that we will be able to support and ensure the growth, and mabye even the survival, of simulation programs to come.
You can’t ‘put the cart before the horse’, and in this regard EA and SMS paid heed to this. If sales are good and Shift succeeds, thus increasing the pool of drivers, then maybe EA will green light the next project. That being a hardcore simulation. They will then tell SMS, “Okay boys, show us what you really got. Bring on ‘Ferrari Project’ or GT Racing!”.
For this reason I will support with a purchase, even though I am not a ‘Need For Speeder’. I want to help ensure the growth and evolution of our beloved sport of simracing in any way possible.
Husky42
September 17th, 2009 at 07:39
Meh Religion can choke on my left nut, I was just poking fun at your “lord and savior comment” Its a great game but not a sim, and i agreed with the poster big flipping deal.
Dont like what i have to say do not comment, or ignore it. Hell I like poking fun at you, your a hype machine loving god fearing idiot :)
Now can we get back to the game? You know the one that is fun for a meet in the middle arcade/sim hybrid that falls flat on its face in terms of handling (in the sim department) Its a great title, just not as sim as was promised.
And to the person saying the devs did not promise a sim – yes they did. They said this would have the most advance engine in use then any other title out or coming out. And if it is and in use, well the physics side of things were completely lost. Its fun but needs help.
ermax18
September 17th, 2009 at 08:28
WARNING!!!!!!! Don’t buy this game. I can’t stress this enough. This game is so far from a sim. Anyone here that has said it is has lost ALL credibility. This game is horrible. There are so many aids turned on even when they are all turned off. It is pathetic. You are completely disconnected from the car. And all the videos are aggravating. Not being able to exit from that first trial run is stupid. I had graphics problems which took tons of trial and error to fix. You can’t just load the game and hit the track. You have to wait through all the stupid intro videos that we have all ready seen 500 times here on VR just to get to the trail race to find the video is still messed up. Then you have to Alt+Tab and then kill it with the taskman because the is no way to exit out of that first trial race.
That was by far the worst purchase of my life hands down. Can someone please give me back the past 3 hours I just wasted.
Oh also, don’t play this pathetic game for to long or it will completely mess up your ability to race in a real sim. I will probably blow my league race tomorrow night.
Sorry to rant.. I am just a little pissed right now.
Sensekhmet
September 17th, 2009 at 08:34
I know where the quote’s from (duh). My post was too serious? Since when it’s wrong to treat something seriously? If I did come off as some motorsport Yoda, well, that was unintentional and false, my fault. But I am serious about (legal/real) racing – for me, being serious about something does not mean not having fun and not treating stuff with a healthy distance: I’m not a fanatic (I hate fanatics).
Second part of your post… I really don’t know what you mean. I stated that seriously engaging in racing requires some sacrifices, but that’s true of any sport, so…
Thrid part: we can argue till we die. I’m a living proof that competition driving in real life and in sims has few things in common. I never make the mistakes I do in sims in real racing, and vice versa. In real life I’m smooth and do few serious mistakes, in sims I’m a joke: stringning 3 crash-free laps is something special. I sim race since 2003 and improvements are just not coming when I can feel improving in real life. Virtual talent wall?
ermax18
September 17th, 2009 at 08:41
I also loved the disclaimer when you start the game that says to take your racing to the track and always wear a helmet. As if any kid that plays this game will ever hit a real track. The disclaimer should read something more like this. “warning. This is not reality. Do not expect your real life car to drive by it’s self”
I must say it looks very nice though.
stabiz
September 17th, 2009 at 09:16
DING-DING! 201! (sorry)
captain_underpants
September 17th, 2009 at 09:20
Actually, stabiz, I think yours was 200th.
Let’s see an iRacing thread beat that . -runs away-
Sensekhmet
September 17th, 2009 at 09:22
Ouch
ForzaBarca88
September 17th, 2009 at 09:35
Finally got it this afternoon and gave it a run for about 3 hrs. Thoughts so far…
Pros
-graphics and sounds, especially on the cars
-physics are decent in pro mode. Its definitely a sim, just not as realistic as our PC sims.
-tracks are generally pretty good, although there are definitely some inaccuracies
-Good fun once you get past the annoying cutscenes
Cons
. Although to be fair this might be because there is an aggressive driving aspect to the game which some might be interested in. Still shocking though.
-The thing drives like shit with a g25 with the default ingame g25 setup. Took me an hr of steady tweaking to get it drivable, but it still doesnt quite feel natural.
-car setup options are quite limited
-FFB is there but feels rather canned. Didnt find it very useful at all.
-The AI. Think rfactor but with aggression turned up to 563432423% and AI mistakes set to a similar number
-user interface. I HAVE A MOUSE, LET ME ****ING USE IT!
Thats all so far, I think ill persevere with it because its actually a damn fine racing game. Not to mention Nordschleife is bloody addictive
But if you’re anal about physics, you’d be best off not buying it. Or atleast waiting till the demo comes out.
Shum94
September 17th, 2009 at 09:52
“physics are decent in pro mode. Its definitely a sim, just not as realistic as our PC sims”
What pot do you smoke ? I’m intrested
Sensekhmet
September 17th, 2009 at 10:06
Guys, did anybody tried playing it with *gulp* a keayboard? Maybe is’t a flawed semi-sim but a pretty fun keyboard racing game?
ForzaBarca88
September 17th, 2009 at 10:09
None of your business mate. But judging by your smugness I’d lay off whatever it is that you’re smoking. Or atleast I’m hoping its caused by something you smoke, the alternatives aint very good
F1Racer
September 17th, 2009 at 10:33
First one to lay a hand on me will get a swift kick in the jewels.
F1Racer
September 17th, 2009 at 10:45
Pretty much agree with ForzaBarca88’s take on it and eddiespag.
It’s good to see some more thought out comments amongst the trash here. So many posts here just wasted on people venting their anger at the game or bickering with each other.
I can’t believe some people out there actually expected an up to date replacement for GTR2/rFactor etc. Never gonna happen my friend.
Shift does what it says on the box. OK compared to what we’re used to in our world, it has some annoyances and it’s not a sim to replace what we use now.
But you can’t slate it for that. It was never meant to replace GTR2/Evo/rFactor.
This game really isn’t for us. Its for a larger audience. The only difference with Shift is that it does lean more in our direction than any other NFS game has.
I think the fact that SMS did the game made people thought they were going to get something sim-like.
Well, yes, it is a sim. Agaim, it simulates motor racing. It does that pretty well but it has a lot of bells, whistles and flashes to keep the consolers happy.
I mean a fairground swing in Spa ? Since when ??
SMS if you can hear me, if you even make a patch for this game.. please let us turn off music in replays, allow a fixed TV cam in replays instead of it switching to the same old views at the same parts of the track. That gets beyonw repetitive and also slow down the colour picker circle,
There is no doubt there is hours of fun to be had with Shift. I was hours on it last night and I was enjoying it.
I dont have hardly any FFB in my G25 though despite following the settings and advice here. I now also get a little play in my steering when it’s centred despite not having any deadzone. I want more FFB !!
This isn’t arcade in my opinion. Its far too advanced for that. Its not hardcore sim either and I’m fine with that because I never expected it to be.
Its right in the middle of a sim-leaning and a lot of fun. That’s cool for me.
Glad I got it. Oh and regardless of layout accuracy, the tracks look amazing.
Husky42
September 17th, 2009 at 10:58
And we have a winner!
This title is flawed in several areas but i expect a patch for some of those, just try the Carrera GT in the invetational – it feels like your driving a bunny rabit the car hops so much (not experienced this with any other car)
I’d like to be able to turn a lot of the post processing off myself as the cars have halos and just look weird but really people who want a hardcore sim need to look elsewhere. But if you can live with the best NFS title ever released and something that sits in the middle of sim/arcade then buy this game already. If anything you will at least get your moneys worth.
Jack_NL
September 17th, 2009 at 11:43
Funny enough i like it as a Game!
(more to add to the confusion lol)
bought the game yesterday and was playing for hours
steering is a bid wierd (G25 @ 550 degrees) sometimes
but its driveable imho
take the GT cars to Spa for example
a Tip to skip intro’s and music (also in Replay’s!) is to call the Movies/ Audio folders different
(need to find out if only the replay music can be left out)
Do really hope this game is modable by some genuises!
45 euro is still a lot of money for just to see if you like a game or not imo
Its that the “Demo” i downloaded was corrupt otherwhise i sure tested it before,
but with Husky42 later comments my mind was set to get the game
Mandrake
September 17th, 2009 at 12:37
I’m not gonna talk about the physics of this game, but I do have a question about the AI.
Does anybody else think the AI on hard mode is totally useless? Not that they are too weak or strong, but it appears they run at 5000% agression. I tried to master the DB9 invitational on the London track. Gave up after like 20 attempts and switched the AI to middle because on Hard I was driving in black&white only. (Black and White because I was crashed all the time)
I also hate to see the AI cheating…..I am driving at the limit round a corner and I get overtaken on the outside through the gravel by the AI, how realistic is that?
Bekim
September 17th, 2009 at 12:41
Your taking it far too seriously. it looks and feels good, sounds great, overall a fantastic game. Many people are enjoying it. I didn’t experience no graphics problems as many others haven’t, maybe it’s something with your setup and not the game. Also you can skip the video’s. :S
Your telling people to stay away from the game because you don’t like it and because you ran into problems. Let people form their own opinions, so far the majority of people are enjoying it and not taking it so seriously, not expecting a simulator like the many PC ones. It’s only a game, your abit too serious about it saying it’s going to screw up your “league racing”.
Mr. A
September 17th, 2009 at 13:11
I agree Mandrake, the AI is pretty much useless.
A quick example:
I was doing race at Donnington and an AI who was a bit in front of me made a mistake (they seem to do that frighteningly often) in the corner before the long straight. He was out on the straight before me but of course I was easily gaining on him. I probably had about double the speed as him when I caught up on the straight, and just when I was about to pass him he thinks it’s a good idea to suddenly swerve right in front of me and block….
Mandrake
September 17th, 2009 at 13:26
Yea, that’s what happens way too often. I am happy I am still rated as a precise driver, I sometimes find it way easier to gain points being agressive……even if I do not want to.
(Since when is drafting agressive?)
Mr. A
September 17th, 2009 at 13:33
Racing against the AI in Shift is quite like racing on any standard public multiplayer server.
ermax18
September 17th, 2009 at 13:39
Many people are having the “black screen” problem. Google it. There is a long thread on the EA forum about it with no responses. And no you can’t skip the intro video for the very first race. You know the race in the BMW. This wouldn’t be a big deal if you didn’t have the “black screen” problem. I was forced to watch that intro video 50 times. I am not faulting the game over the black screen problem though. The physics are number one. If they where up to the task then I would be willing to overlook the other problems. Like I do with all of rFactor’s bugs.
The AI blows too. At RA I had the AI blow past me into T1 and then plant the brakes after the exit of the turn for no reason. It wasn’t braking because it was coming in to hot. The turn was over before he brake checked me.
It would be interesting to see how many people in here the think this is a sim are using gamepads.
I just with Ian didn’t try to fool people into thinking this was a sim. All that hype about the original SimBin guys splitting off because they wanted to stick to their roots and build a true sim and then all they can give us is this?
BTW, what is wrong with me sharing my opinion? Isn’t that what the comments section is all about? What if I said it was the greatest game ever? Would you approve that?
Jack_NL
September 17th, 2009 at 13:39
I only mis the constant swearing :)
Mandrake
September 17th, 2009 at 14:34
The swearing comes from my side :D My GF came by yesterday asking: Are you okay honey? Stop screaming like a mad man, the neighbors will hear you xD
Bekim
September 17th, 2009 at 14:35
No, opinions are fine but you were saying WARNING!! telling people not to bother with this game because you don’t like it that’s all I was saying. Fair enough if you don’t like it. I’m sorry to hear about the graphical problems and trying to fix it would do your head in. I personally never expected this to be a sim, but to have a realistic enough feel to the cars but still fun to drive and that’s exactly how it turned out. It FEELS great to drive (I play with a G25) even if it’s not a sim, and you know yourself that it’s not a sim and never expect it to be, it is great fun to drive. That’s me though, others like you may not like it but you can’t please everyone. I still prefer playing GT5:P over shift and not even that is a full sim but it feels great and realistic enough to have a blast.
ermax18
September 17th, 2009 at 15:04
I expected a sim. Coming from the creators of GTR2003, GTR, GTL and GTR2 and then having Ian Bell talking about how it will be a sim. I guess I put to much trust in these guys based on previous games from them. But when it comes right down to it SimBin didn’t develop any of those games. It was ISI’s engine, all they did was add content. I should have known they where incapable of developing there own physics engine from scratch. I had high hopes that this would be an arcade game when aids where on and a sim when aids where off. I am dieing to have a true sim with graphics on par with GT5 and the likes. I guess I will just have to set my sights back on rFactor2.
F1Racer
September 17th, 2009 at 15:06
Heh y’know I dunno wtf I typed there :) I meant to say “Its right in the middle, with a bias leaning towards a sim and a lot of fun. ”
Something like that. ermax’s post was a laugh. I think he`d have typed all that nonsense in red with font size 96 if he could :)
Bekim
September 17th, 2009 at 15:13
That’s fair enough however GTR2 wasn’t much of a sim. I mean without any mod cars or anything just the standard GTR2, you can’t even spin the car doing donuts and not that that’s all I look for when playing a game lol but if a physics engine can’t allow you to do a simple donut, it’s not very real in my opinion. I also want a sim with graphics, content and a good career like GT5 but none exist. When GT5 comes out that will be it for me I guess. Who knows what we can expect but as GT5:P stands, it still has very good physics, just the sounds are lacking.
NitroStar
September 17th, 2009 at 15:42
Let me try that again. I have a nVidia GTX 260/216 using new 190.62 drivers. AMD Dual Core 5800+, 4GB ram. Scores 12,000 in 3DMark06. I said that I can not tell when I turn v-sync on or off. In ANY other game it makes a HUGE difference in frame rates. I can turn the detail settings in game to high, medium, and some to low and still not see but a 5fps change. It is stuck anywhere from 27-32 fps. This system is clean and ONLY sim racing titles are installed. NO junk programs. ONLY used for racing. Only 27 processes running after boot up. I’m very good at tweaking previous sim files for better fps. Just curiuos where most of you are starting out at. For guys that are running good fps, what’s your 3DMark06 score? My rig scores 12,000. Maybe this will clear it up for a lot of people wanting this title or having fps issues.
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 15:43
While there is some truth to what you say. The AI at least can make it through the first corner. But they are almost as mean spirited as some of the posters here. You scrap their space a little and their all over you like maggots on a garbage pile. The AI have a least average intelligence. Can’t say the same for real drivers on public servers!
One more time for those who read the last post first. This SIM rocks. I may have the newest and best tire model, (physics) ever devised. Hope this is what rFactor2 is working on as well.
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 15:47
Do you have the AMD dual core Optimizer installed? Other wise you only running on 1 core.
ermax18
September 17th, 2009 at 15:59
Ahh, you must have had aids on or something because it is incredibly easy to spin in GTR2. Especially if your trying to. Now spinning in Shift is another story. You can get completely sideways in the grass and not go around. You can get punted by the AI and not go around. It is a joke. This is wish all aids off.
traind
September 17th, 2009 at 16:26
I had the menu scrolling issue on the PC version using a G25 and it is now resolved. Not sure what was the exact fix but following advice here is what I did: made sure to launch Shift from the Logitech profiler and I switched the G25 USB cable to another socket too. After that it worked fine. No scrolling issues, G25 could be adjusted etc.
as far as the game goes, now that I ‘ve played it, I agree with most posters here… Shift is a more of a game, not a highly focused simulation, but it leans toward the sim side of the spectrum and is fun. The graphics are terrific. I haven’t played GT5P in a while so I’m not sure exactly how this compares but this is the only other ’sim-leaning’ game currently out that is in the GT5P class graphically. Those comments are from the PC version with settings on high. The sound is very good, the car selection is very good but I have only driven about 5 cars at this point.
No, this game will not replace your Simbin/RFactor/iRacing simulation of choice. It really wasn’t intended to either. Eddiespag’s post above captured some great observations on this point and should be read by all. This was a great chance for SMS with a major gaming franchise and they have really succeeded very well if you view it from a NFS historical perspective.
Hopefully this will give them the financial stability needed to give us a game like we imagine GTR3 should be, simulation focused, great graphics etc. Maybe Ferrari Project will be that next step in 2010?
NitroStar
September 17th, 2009 at 16:34
Didn’t have it installed, installed it. No difference in 3Dmark06. Still 11,200. You didn’t mention your 3dmark06 score. And specs please.
jux
September 17th, 2009 at 17:08
Tire model seems to be okay, but so it is in netKar Pro, rFactor (and derivatives), LFS and iRacing.
Unfortunately, tire modeling is the only arguably realistic aspect of Shift if you look at it as a sim. Just about all other features of a racing simulator are done in a much more realistic way in all the major PC sims.
As a single-player racing game Shift fails for me most importantly due to the implementation of the AI, as described by another person above. On medium level, the game is easy as hell, but on hard level, the races are mostly exercises in frustration dealing with a stupidly aggressive AI – a situation not helped by the non-existent damage modeling that in a realistic sim would curb their aggression a bit.
F1Racer
September 17th, 2009 at 17:29
OK, SAY BYE BYE TO REPLAY MUSIC !
If you go into Shift’s ‘Audio’ folder, then rename the Music folder to whatever ‘Musicx’ for example. Then no more music during replays. YAY
I have music off in game anyway.
Jack_NL
September 17th, 2009 at 17:53
Here some info for the ones that stiil need to start with the game
Do it also on the Movies folder BEY BEY INTRO”S
Did someone with brains and knowledge allready had a peak in the configfile for the G25?
at the bottom of that file are some interesting settings
rumbleforce set to 0, gonna see what it does at 5 in a moment
steeringwheellock that is set to 270
Bekim
September 17th, 2009 at 18:05
lol I’m not that stupid. I had all aids off, full simulation and yes its easy to spin around a corner with too much throttle, but doing a proper donut is impossible. Just like you can’t do a donut in GT4.
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 18:07
I don’t remember for sure. Some thing like yours. The 3Dmark06 doesn’t need the otimizer. It is just for games that can use dual core. Sorry I don’t know what your system problem is. EVGA 360 216, AMD 3 core at 3.6 mz. Running at 2560X1024 everything (high).
F1Racer
September 17th, 2009 at 18:13
Whats all this nonsense with spinning ?
Of course you can doughnut in GTR2, you want a video ?
Or course you can spin in Shift. Get a Honda S2000, turn quick into a medium speed corner, don’t bother correcting it and you will spin. If you don’t then you’re not going quick enough to justify owning a racing game.
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 18:15
I’m just talking about the physics when I say Sim. No it doesn’t have pit stops, dynamic tire modeling, weather, day to night, dynamic track surfaces, or pit stops. Falls way short of a real racing simulator. Also it has to much lateral grip. So the cars don’t spin out unless induced with the throttle. But I would make the trade of cars that feel like the are on rubber instead of the marshmallow feel of so many highly toted Sims. Which never regain grip once they are in a slide. Here is a vid I made to try and show this. Maybe as We climb the ladder in the game. That lateral grip will drop down some. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xair49_need-for-speed-shift-lateral-grip-t_videogames
By the way, I don’t have the problem conquering the AI that you do. Guess I have more time on public servers then you. At least the AI can make it through the first turn. LOL
ermax18
September 17th, 2009 at 18:54
I don’t think the AMD dual core Optimizer is needed as of XP SP3. It isn’t needed on Vista or Win7 either. I don’t keep up with AMB much anymore. I jumped ship back to Intel when the Cores came out.
carbonfibre
September 17th, 2009 at 19:06
Ars posted an honest review: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/reviews/2009/09/buying-your-way-to-the-end-a-need-for-speed-shift-review.ars
I’m planning on it. I’d like to see if I can set a better lap time with my G25 or with my awesome FlatOut skills on Pro mode.
DeadStar
September 17th, 2009 at 20:02
Here is an interesting interview with NFS Shift producer:
http://dualshockers.com/2009/09/need-for-speed-shift-event/
orubasarot
September 17th, 2009 at 20:16
what a piece of shit, it was seriously not worth the download
they don’t let you adjust or even touch the wheel settings and controls until you go through a time attack and a first race, obviously with embarassing results since the sensitivity is all screwed up, it took 30 minutes of watching lame ass videos and listening to reality TV shit sound effects to finally set things up to be playable with a G25
the AI agressiveness isn’t INTENSE and IN YOUR FACE, it’s just outright stupid, why the hell would anyone wreck the shit out of an amateur “first race” driver in a loaned car
and what deaf reviewer praised the audio? what kind of trashy computer speakers do you need to think that clipped compressed and resampled audio sounds good? this game has some of the worst audio ever, far, far worse than amateur GTR Evo mods
unbelievable trash, no simulation, no arcade, no production values, just racing purgatory
and I was so excited too, thinking finally I have a PC (aspiring) sim with console production values and modern graphics, i was willing to ignore physics flaws but this is too much, cutting a corner through grass, downhill, at an angle, at high speed, while being wrecked into from the side and you just recover like it’s nothing, like you have no inertia or weight, hell you don’t even recover because you never lost it in the first place
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 20:23
Good wheel settings. G25 Go to tunning/steering wheel icon/ adjust the steering lock too: 18 Then set your wheel to 600 degrees. Feels Good to me.
carbonfibre
September 17th, 2009 at 20:35
Q. How does support look for this game?
A. We plan on having much post-launch DLC available. This will include new game modes amongst other things. We plan on supporting the game with DLC for 24 to 36 months, so don’t expect a new Need for Speed game next year.
Sensekhmet
September 17th, 2009 at 20:53
Yeah, from my experience racing games which are absolutely s**t when trying to play them with a wheel, are actually pretty good beer & chips late evening fun with the kayboard. Including the rubbished GRID (guys, turn off the ’stability control’ aid… does it oversteer now? thought so).
F1Racer
September 17th, 2009 at 22:52
Anyone here missing the NFS:Shift preview videos now ?
mrwout
September 17th, 2009 at 23:01
after playing this game for a couple of hours now just one major anoyance remains for me… the overly agressive AI. On most of the circuits i can live with it but on the circuits with really thin roads its terrible coz you’ve got to get past them without them going all suicidal on your ass and trying to kill you in the process.
Doesn’t really sound like realistic racing behabiour to me :s
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 23:09
When I’m done playing it. Next year. I’ll make some videos. Great action, suburb racing. You got to like it.
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 23:11
I smell Le Mans. Any one want to take a bet?
Howie47
September 17th, 2009 at 23:16
Plenty of user made movies here: http://forum.racedepartment.com/need-speed-shift/23474-movies-thread.html#post398202
donbobo
September 18th, 2009 at 00:17
Just played this online and there was zero lag for me, really smooth.
Only problem you cannot select what handling model to use when you create a game so I don’t know what it’s set at for online games, maybe it mirrors your single player settings?
It’s a shame you cannot force Pro handling and no assists though.
Sensekhmet
September 18th, 2009 at 00:35
That is a bummer.
carbonfibre
September 18th, 2009 at 00:48
Ok first impressions, I’m going straight to physics as everything else seems to be perfect except for the menu freezing bug.
I couldn’t make up my mind about the physics engine with such poor default FFB terrible awful deadzones. There is a distinct floaty detached feeling from the cars but I put this down to the FFB at first. I followed some advice here when I started I put my G25 to 900 degrees – bad advice, I couldn’t get around tight corners and any corrections needed excessive man-handling, which wasn’t fun.
I find my self having to predict inputs required to stop the car swaying on the straights, something I would expect from drifting cars in rFactor. It’s certainly more difficult than it should be. More difficult to drive and more fatiguing than real life.
That’s a minus point for realism right there and it seems that in a quest to make it more realistic they made it unnecessarily difficult in some regards. If you are having trouble holding cars in a straight line in SHIFT I don’t blame you.
So anyway I instantly went to rectify this issue by going to the only player config located in “my documents” – this however cannot be edited since it then corrupts the save file.
So then I went into ControllerDefaultsPC and imported by rFactor settings into the various fields in “vehicleset_pc_custom_wheel” and saved it. Among key things: Exponent=”0.780000″ GripFactor=”1.000000″ – so all FFB is from front wheels only and I also changed anything to do with deadzone to 0.000000. Then I found anything to do with Dampening and changed all that to 0.000000 as well.
Went back into game, loaded this blank control list re-entered all the inputs and it’s safe to say I did notice a difference! I now feel more connected to an actual steering rack, which good enough for me though the weight transfers is still a little too pronounced so far, and I can’t feel tyre grip levels that well. Needs adjusting later.
There are some more features that rFactor doesn’t have in the config and features including stationary forces on the steering wheel, Like iRacing and Leo’s FFB plugin. A lot of experimentation is needed and I’ll say Shift is keeping my enthusiasm for this testing atm because there is some simulation aspect that the physics engine clearly has. Whether this engine can be exploited unfairly using digital inputs from a keyboard remains in question.
So now I’m beginning my test, stock S2000 around Laguna Seca, Pro mode, Auto gearbox for balance reasons. G25 vs Keyboard and no practise.
anton
September 18th, 2009 at 01:02
a very very stupid AI integrated
F1Racer
September 18th, 2009 at 01:09
Well its official. The worst and most frustrating track to race at is London.
News is coming in that whoever designed that track has cemented the reason why there will never be a Grand Prix there and he has been tortured and sent to the Clinic For Rejects in the Motorsports Industry, joining the recently admitted Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds.
Trying to battle past 15 psychotic AI while doing over 200mph down a stretch of London road only to find that some dick-stain placed a double chicane there which no-one else seems to need to brake for (no evidence of car brake lights coming on in front of me). Then another long straight which leads to a semmingly impossible braking area into a double left hander not forgetting to drag all the tyres you hit along the way.
Compared to any of the other tracks I’ve been on so far, this one has the most pathetic layout of any track on planet Earth that has had the name ‘racing circuit’ applied to it.
Oh and here’s something… I go to do a hotlap run on a track I have NEVER EVER raced on in this game before (or ever anywhere). It tells me by showing me two ticks that I have mastered two corners.
Hmmm must have been when I cycled around earlier to get a ‘feel’ for the track.
Having said that the figure 8 track is a blast. One car got hit there and ended up sticking halfway into the ground and couldn’t get out. Nice bug.
riches
September 18th, 2009 at 01:54
First Impression from a PC Racer.
All the great graphics we seen the last half year are the infinite cutscenes before and after each race.
Till you get fed up with all those endless video’s
The game it self looks ok, but less intense as the video footage we all have seen.
FFB is quite lame. Do not have the idea i’m connected with the car.
On top of that, it brings most videocards on it’s knees.
My overclocked NV GTX 260 on a 24″ is having trouble for maintaning 60fps with medium/high settings.
Not the most fluid sensation.
Overall, maybe the console version is better.
Not a title for hardened simracers.
In my opinion…
F1Racer
September 18th, 2009 at 02:32
It was never meant to be so I hope you weren’t expecting that.
carbonfibre
September 18th, 2009 at 04:29
Ok here’s my results under much testing:
Overall, Keyboard controls on Pro mode matches my times set on a G25. The chance of me spinning out in corners on the keyboard without stability control is higher than if I were using a wheel. But the chance of spinning out is still high when using a G25 due to lack of FFB feeling. With no stability control, I’d rather be using a steering wheel. But in order to match times set by keyboard you need to really push the car, so it’s a trade off between faster response with a keyboard but more consistency with a wheel.
The trouble is this oversteer mechanic. You need to oversteer in nearly every corner to reach optimum cornering ability and very often with the keyboard I can brake into the corner, holding left or right then apply gas and the car will magically stick to this optimum angle but the turn in must be perfect otherwise you spin out.
I couldn’t complete any decent laps without stability control with the keyboard without at least messing up 1 corner frequently but it did set 1:57.240 (stock S2000/Pro/No Aids) on Laguna Seca in the end versus my best time 1:54.530 (stock S2000/Pro/No Aids) with the G25.
In short tracks like Alpental my best time 54.480 was done with the keyboard (stock S2000/Pro/stability control only) My best with the G25 was 55.230 (stock S2000/Pro/stability control only) Turning stability control off, I couldn’t match the time again.
Unlike rFactor you need to turn off stability control to get car unsettled and induce over-steer yourself with a variety of real life methods, and in turn shave a few seconds of lap times.
In Shift, the cars get unsettled and induce over-steer unnaturally without effort simply by “turning more”. Only stability control in Shift works like a cheat to stop you over-steering into a spin. It’s quicker just use max lock for every corner and skid around it without a problem.
Racing lines are messy with keyboard controls but performance isn’t hindered without a steering wheel.
Jack_NL
September 18th, 2009 at 12:22
So it seems the Game (PC) is rushed out for the set release date?
I sure do hope SMS is gonna work on it more to make it perfect as it can be!?
come with some info please!
their must be at least one SMS employee reading here
I remember when GTR came out, the dev team was working 24/7 on patches,
heck they brought a patch out on christmas day if i remember correct!
f0xx
September 18th, 2009 at 12:29
Yeah, it looks like they had a problem of some sort but they had to respect the release date. The demo delay is a bit fishy.
I have a feeling they’re going to release some patches/fixes briefly..
(massive conspiration in here
)
Mr. A
September 18th, 2009 at 12:31
I just keep wondering, is this what Ferrari Project would have felt like to play…
And I’m gonna try out that little wheel tweak you posted Carbonfibre, every little bit the FFB can be improved is a big plus. Thanks
ForzaBarca88
September 18th, 2009 at 12:47
Yup I’m hoping theyre working on a patch as we speak, theres some pretty annoying issues at the moment. Although for whatever reason most games these days seem to hae an abundance of bugs on first release.
Controller and AI issues aside, the damn cockpit blur is doing my head in ><
6e66o
September 18th, 2009 at 12:55
demo is available @ needforspeed.com
Jack_NL
September 18th, 2009 at 13:03
Here 2 more postings i found on NoGrip about FFB regarding Shift
Gonna try the settings Carbon posted too
I asked where to get that manual and if he wants to share the settings if its for a G25
read the different fora (NG RSC) there is alway’s some info
Mr. A
September 18th, 2009 at 13:46
I have copied over most of the values from the default G25 FFB from GTR Evo and the FFB seems to have improved. I am now much more confident about what the car is doing and a lot more consistent.
sediol
September 18th, 2009 at 14:18
DEMO (1,1GB):
http://www.needforspeed.com/web/nfs/downloads?p_p_id=nfsdownload_WAR_nfscportlets&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_nfsdownload_WAR_nfscportlets_action=list
According to a user at EA forums the changes in the demo are et al.:
- The mouse works to change menu items and select things
- The driving force GT (and G27) have entries in the controller section)
Tracks: London and Spa
Cars: Dodge Viper, Lotus Elise, BMW M3, Nissan GTR and Pagani Zonda
spamsac
September 18th, 2009 at 14:20
Has anyone complaining about handling/feel had a play with the car set ups yet?
Klaas Jan
September 18th, 2009 at 15:13
So there’s mouse support in the demo but not in the game itself? WTF?
Howie47
September 18th, 2009 at 15:19
I’ll tell you WTF. If you read the interview with the developer posted above. He said they had to rush it out the door to meet the deadline. This certainly means there will be a patch. Personally I would rather have it now in is present form. Then have to wait the three months he said the could have used for more development time.
Jack_NL
September 18th, 2009 at 15:44
Great!
can you post the lines that you changed!
Howie47
September 18th, 2009 at 16:12
Most the frustration and anger about physics and bad steering is due to the unfamiliarity with a new and different UI. This same thing happens every time their is a new racing game. People get all bent out of shape, start editing files, damn the physics and the game; all because they aren’t familiar with the UI. If you know which in game and Wheel force feedback parameters to change. You can get the wheel exactly how you want it. There is a big variation!
Just a hint where to look in game.
Options/(adjust controls) Turning lock, Steering sensitivity, Speed sensitivity, FF amount,
In the Car Tunning: Steering lock, for each individual car.
And for those who got all bent out of shape and said you can’t turn off the “Best Line”, it is in the “HUD” section.
It should only take a few game restarts to get it all dialed in just the way you like it. If you show just a tiny bit of patients. Thanks
FooAtari
September 18th, 2009 at 16:14
…
Ill have the less buggy game thanks
Andrew McP
September 18th, 2009 at 16:32
deleted
Andrew McP
September 18th, 2009 at 16:33
deleted
Klaas Jan
September 18th, 2009 at 16:43
ROFLMAO.
carbonfibre
September 18th, 2009 at 17:51
If you actually look into the config files your recognise quite a few entries are exactly the same as your standard gMotor engine including all the canned FFB effects settings. Don’t mistake that we haven’t found the simple options available in the UI lol, we are the skilled simracers from Virtualr. Notepad haxing is second nature.
Zenitchik
September 18th, 2009 at 18:46
Why did I subscribed to this post!
Please explain your logic here!
The UI is a complete degradation. I spent more time looking at loading screen than I ever did with any previous sim combined. This game is a disaster from the UI/usability perspective. And the same comment from the spotter guy on every start gets on your nerves. This game is obviously not meant to be played for more than 2 hours.
the car handling is hardly at the level of Gran Turismo, the slower cars are slightly different, the fastest cars are basically the same.
actually the only good thing about is game, is the gfx. It looks like a new gen of gMotor. Obviously they did a great job here.
If you watch MTV for 8 hours a day or you like pinks on speedTV, this is for you.
F1Racer
September 18th, 2009 at 18:56
Has anyone copied their driver profile to another computer (with Shift installed on it obviously) ?
Just to see if the profiles are not fixed to that specific computer or game.
f0xx
September 18th, 2009 at 19:11
Glad you didnt buy it unpatient man.
Howie47
September 18th, 2009 at 19:33
You all sound like a bunch of cry babies and mommas boys.
donbobo
September 18th, 2009 at 20:34
Quick question….
How do you look left and right in cockpit view?
I have the PC version and cannot find any option in controls to map buttons for looking around the cockpit.
Is it possible?
Jack_NL
September 18th, 2009 at 20:40
with the keypad key’s 8 4 6 2
- and + seems to be different steady track can views
but when using them in replay’s I cant go back to the TV view
Howie47
September 18th, 2009 at 21:05
In the presentation videos they are using TrackIR. Because they are looking all over the cockpit. So hopefully it will be in the patch. If you don’t have that, maybe a file can be edited to your controller buttons?
JAGUAR1977
September 18th, 2009 at 21:08
A huge response to this game, no one can deny that. That tells me PC sim gamers are desperate for genuinly new titles.
All I will say is if you took the slightest enjoyment out of NFS Shift, make sure you own a PS3 for GT5, better physics than NFS Shift, more cars, tracks, head tracking etc.
linkinstreet
September 19th, 2009 at 01:23
Far from it. we just needs some mild sims, that’=s all. if we want better physics, we already has iRacing, rFactor, GTR2, etc, which is much better than GT5, and also has free head tracking softwares that we can use like FreeTrack
DRat
September 19th, 2009 at 03:59
Ok. Got NFS:S, tried it out, overall pretty darn good game, except that my system does not meet minimum specs. The result of that was intermittent CTD’s, but as far as I can see with all aids turned off the game is quite enjoyable. I’ve got parts for a mobo, GTX260, and dual core upgrade on the way, and that ought to make it a lot of fun (as well as allow me to boost the performance of all existing sims on the machine).
We just need to have an option to turn off the intro videos – all other upgrades would be gravy at this point. I’m not worried that it is not a great simulation, as it is really a lot of fun and the graphics are unmatched by anything we’ve had on the PC to date.
F1Racer
September 19th, 2009 at 11:49
NP, Just open up your NFS:Shift folder, go into Movies folder, rename attract.bik and Franchise_Ident.bik (e.g. attract.bik_noplay)
That will kill the 2 main into vids without stopping play of the in-game ones which you don’t really want to stop.
Husky42
September 19th, 2009 at 12:47
fanyboy fanboy whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do with the real simmers come for you, fanboy fanboy whatcha gonna do!
Your the ONLY person defending this title as a Sim.. Its pretty fucking funny. Now you gonna give me a reach around?
In the famous words of Duke Nukem… Blow it out your ass!
Jack_NL
September 19th, 2009 at 12:57
replay music can be lowerd by the racemusic slider lol
oh its not sorry
Mr. A
September 19th, 2009 at 13:24
Ok, here are the FFB settings I’ve changed, it’s pretty much just a copy and paste of the values from GTR Evolution’s standard G25 FFB settings. To me the FFB feels much better with these settings.
If you wanna try it, just replace the affected lines in the custom wheel xml-file. Then you’ll have to change to the custom wheel preset ingame and assign controls and steering sensitivities and so on again to your preference.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?tdqxwjzjinx