Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown - Environment Newsletter

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The TDU Team had released their second newsletter in a series of newsletter that preceeds the release of the upcoming open world, MMORPG like racing game, TDU:SC. This one focuses more on Hong Kong Island and what they're offering with it.

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It is confirmed again that the island is recreated at a 1:1 scale, but more than just that, the letter states that landmarks and landscapes have been reproduced faithfully. But what about the road network, I hear some of you ask ? Well, from what we can gather from this newsletter, it seems they're generally reproducing all the existing roads while taking some liberties to make them more interesting from a gameplay perspective (such as widening some small streets and alleys so cars can actually fit through), and add more by transforming hiking paths into mountain dirt roads for example - which is reminiscent of what has been done in the previous games.

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The map will feature over 600km / 370 miles of unique roads, some of it not being shown on your GPS, and the game will encourage you to explore all of it to find various activities and rewards. Once again, it seems like some older cars will only be obtainable if you find a number of wrecks scattered across the 14 districts of the island. All that exploration will be done with a dynamic time of day progression and weather system. Rain is said to "have a significant impact" on the driving experience, with the TDU team referencing to the possibility of even needing to change tyres and gear ratios, which hints at significantly more advanced tuning possibilities that TDU1 and TDU2. The damage model could be more advanced as well, since the letter is talking about the possibility to repair your car at gas stations, much like in the latest Need for Speed games, but we have no clue pointing to the presence or absence of mechanical damage so far.

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The game should come out towards the end of the year, or early 2024, which will put it in direct competition to The Crew: Motorfest. Which of these two games are you more excited about so far?
About author
GT-Alex
Global motorsports enjoyer, long time simracer, Gran Turismo veteran, I've been driving alongside top drivers since the dawn of online pro leagues on Gran Turismo, and qualified for the only cancelled FIA GTC World Tour. I've left aside competitive driving in 2020 to dedicate myself to IGTL, a simracing organisation hosting high quality events for pro racers and customers, to create with friends the kind of events we wished we could have had. We strive to provide the best events for drivers and the best content for viewers, and want to help the simracing scene grow and shine further in the global esports scene.

Comments

we really need actual gameplay because just from these screenshots i can't say i am impressed if you look at what FH5 brings to the table visually.
Indeed, we need to see real gameplay. I think the screenshots look good but I was expecting more urban environements (we only see a gas station there), especially because urban environments bring something different than the other open world games which use 90% freeways gameplay. I expect something closer to the good old NFS Underground2 and Street Racing Syndicate in this game. I assume these screenshots with dirt tracks are used to appeal the Forza Horizon fans but I don't see the point, it would be better to show things FH doesn't already do.

I want to see a gameplay with races between huge buildings, races in the harbour between containers, not another "travelling agency game" like FH or the Crew (I don't state they are bad, I enjoyed the Crew 1 for this aspect and, if I had enough time, I'd like to play the FH series).

I think it is a good idea to go to a urban area with real streets and avoid the "freeway inside the city" NFS syndrome (since NFSMW). There's a lot to enjoy in racing in a big realistic city, like in the GTA style of games ; at last a real driving game uses this idea years after NFSU2 and Street Racing Syndicate...

Hyped by the idea, not hyped by these screenshots, we need gameplay. I really don't understand why with such a different product, by nature, the editor doesn't communicate about what new is brought on the table instead of trying to place the game as just a FH competitor. What would interest me for example is whether the developers are going to implement the track generator from V Rally 4 (which was a really clever feature). This would be a huge point to differentiate the game from the others, providing infinite instant races possibilities.
 
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Sorry for the off topic comment but rfactor 2 dropped an update and that is not in the RD News


update with IA improvements, HUD Overhaul and the New F-E car as DLC content (for those who care)
And with 3 "zeros" of the steering wheel on the Trustmaster T300 (in the center, maximum left and maximum right) :mad:
 
Oh yeah, just realized that. Yep, expect stuttering graphics and atrocious wheels and pedals support.
I don´t have any issues at all with old simucube dd wheel and standalone usb pedals and standalone usb shifter. WRC 10 looks great as well and amazing physics I am actually quite hyped. I don´t expect a hyper simulation from td unlimited 2

As for the crew 2 not really hyped. It´s something that might be fun for 5 hours then you are done.
 
Why do people talk as if TDU has always been a hardcore sim genre? Accept that the game is supposed to be a simcade learning more on arcade.

The game looks great on pics, but im very wary of the lack of gameplay footage.
 
Which of these two games are you more excited about so far?

Is there a third option? Like watching paint dry, having the in-laws visit or stepping in dog turd? Cuz any of those are more exciting than either of these mediocre not-even-worth-90%-off-Steam-sale games...
 
Which of these two games are you more excited about so far?

Is there a third option? Like watching paint dry, having the in-laws visit or stepping in dog turd? Cuz any of those are more exciting than either of these mediocre not-even-worth-90%-off-Steam-sale games...
Wow, if those are the only other things in your life……………….
 
Wow, if those are the only other things in your life……………….
Ok I admit I went a bit far. To be fair, it would have to be ALL THREE of those things happening at the same time for it to be more interesting than those two games. They won't be THAT bad :p
 

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Alexandre Tonini
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