Jun 232014
 
Can Co-Op Modes Work in Racing Games?

Several high-profile racing games are slated to come out this fall, including The Crew and Forza Horizon 2. Each offers its own focus and unique features, but one subject has been touched on repeatedly as these titles approach completion: community. With both touting their particular takes on social interaction and player collaboration, an interesting question comes to the fore. Interacting [Read more…]

Jun 102014
 
Forza Horizon 2 and Project CARS at E3 2014

Ah, E3. That magical time of year when we all run around in happy circles upon learning of small changes to our favorite gaming genres and franchises, then promptly turn around and accuse everything else of being the same as last year. A time when gauntlets are thrown, promises are made, and forums light up with an extra level of [Read more…]

May 122014
 
Project CARS: The Perfect Racing Sim at the Perfect Time?

When it comes to the new generation of game consoles, racing sim fans have had plenty to complain about. Xbox One owners have arguably been in the best shape thanks to Forza 5, but the continued lack of dynamic weather and night racing has been a perennial point of contention. The PS4 crowd has had it even worse, with Driveclub [Read more…]

Apr 282014
 
Game Review: Trials Fusion

In recent years, driving games have embraced a jack-of-all-trades attitude.  You’ll sell more copies if you can be everything to everyone, or so the thinking goes.  Start with an enormous range of vehicles, tracks, and game modes, and add on an array of assists that allow players of any skill level to enjoy the game.  The result is a huge [Read more…]

Apr 142014
 
New Tracks Keep Forza Motorsport 5 Alive

Many gamers can recall the first day they played a new title.  The excitement of playing an A-list release on day one has a habit of staying in our memories, as does the joy of finding a sleeper hit in the bargain bin.  What’s often less memorable is the last day of a game’s lifespan.  Unless it’s an epic rage [Read more…]

Mar 312014
 
Like It or Not, Hybrid Engines Saved Formula 1

Two races into the season, the topic of conversation in Formula 1 remains the new engines.  Considering the reduced noise the turbocharged V6 units make, one could say that the arguments over their merits have become louder than the engines themselves.  However, for all the salvos exchanged between critics and proponents of the new regulations, there is one overriding fact [Read more…]

Mar 172014
 
Lessons Learned at the 2014 Australian Grand Prix

As the first race in a season full of new technical regulations, the Australian Grand Prix was always going to be a learning experience for everyone involved.  Now that the champagne has been uncorked and the teams have moved on to the next venue, it’s time to take a look at what we learned from the start of F1’s new [Read more…]

Feb 032014
 
F1 Pre-Season, Round One: This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

This year’s first F1 pre-season test wrapped up last Friday, and the four-day session in Spain has given the sport’s fans plenty to argue about.  We’ve learned what the new cars look like, and gotten our first impression of how well new engines are working.  In both an aesthetic and mechanical sense, it’s not a pretty picture for a number [Read more…]

Dec 162013
 
2014 Series Preview: Formula 1

Following on the heels of last week’s IndyCar preview, it seems only right that I continue this series with the most popular open-cockpit series everywhere outside the US: Formula 1.  What is it? With millions of fans around the globe and roots reaching back to the early days of motorsport, Formula 1 is widely considered the world’s most popular racing [Read more…]

Dec 092013
 
2014 Series Preview: IndyCar

Winter’s not a great time to be a racing fan.  Tracks go quiet as cars are retired to their team headquarters, while engineers dream of new aerodynamic improvements.  To keep us all entertained while we wait for green flags to start waving, I’ll be writing season previews for some of next year’s most entertaining racing disciplines.  First up: the IZOD [Read more…]