DiRT Rally DiRT Rally out on Steam Early Access

[Alex Franchini]

Codemasters has surprised everyone with today's launch of Dirt Rally on Steam, under the Early Access label.

Judging from the official Steam Announcement, Dirt Rally features at launch (which is right now) 17 cars and 36 stages taken from 3 different locations (Monte Carlo, Acropolis and Wales).

SEE ALSO: Brand New Community Made DiRT Rally Videos

As you can see from the announcement, one of the biggest bullet points is "Simulation Handling". While we still haven't tried it yet, Codemasters definitely seems to be aiming for a more unforgiving driving model, with a "brand new model that simulates everything from the way the surface of the road behaves to limited slip differentials." Exactly how sim-like it will be remains to be seen, but it's indeed a good start.

Dirt Rally will also feature asynchronous events, team management providing improved repair times, league support.

Dirt Rally is currently in Early Access and available for the price of 26,99€, and it's going to receive new content in the form of cars, tracks and features for free.

Are you surprised as well by the Codies' announcement? Let us know your opinion in the comments!

 

[ZethGAF]

Not having much luck finding good settings for my T300. Would love to hear from someone else with a similar setup. Maybe we should start a wheel settings thread?

 

[Amedeo Fiorella]

One quick question:
Is there the possibility to hide the virtual steering wheel and driver arms (as in rf2, AC etc)?

 

[RaceNut]

I think the Rally market is hungry for a decent Rally title and this may be a chance to push for some of the things we'd like to see improved or included. Of course, it's early access and I think Codies are trying a different approach in this segment.

I'll be giving it a try tonight.

 

[Tom Blackett]

to buy or not to buy, that is the question! looks good on the vids....

 

[Martin Larsen]

How is the career mode in this game? Guess the career mode is not complete yet since is early access, but atleas how it is so far..

 

[MrPix]

Downloaded with high hopes...

Fanatec CSWv2 question: I get vibrations and surface info transmitted through the wheel OK, but seem to be lacking any steering FFB other than that. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Filip Carlén]

Hope it's good and it's using F1 2015 engine, not 2014.

Waiting for first impressions!

They are using the old engine, which not is the same as F1 2015, but the game still looks really good! A lot of gameplay is posted on Youtube, here is Jimmy Broadbent impression: Mod-edit: http://www.racedepartment.com/threads/dirt-rally-videos.104624/

Have you ever heard a more happy racer?

 

[museumsteve]

No clutch and no H-shift, this is codies aiming for a sim

 

[woz9us]

Just a quick update after my first rally.

We have to remember here that this is an early access build and things will improve.

It took me around 7 minutes to complete my first rally stage and in that time I think I blinked about 3 times; you really have to think about what you're going to do in 3 corners time, my concentration levels match what they are when I play RBR (which I suck at btw).

The game looks really good, I had to turn the settings down from Ultra to High to maintain 60fps, it sounds great too.

The force feedback on my Thrustmaster TX was frankly awful, I ran 360 deg rotation, I refuse to go any lower as it's a rally car after all, I want to be throwing the wheel around a bit, but only in heavy lateral load moments did I feel anything, I really hope they get on to this as a priority because no matter how good a game looks, if it doesn't feel right then what's the point, right?

I like the clean menus and overall layout for now, and the HUD when racing is also a step forward from DiRT 3 - more rally focused which is what we want! The colourful sketch style corner icons feel like they don't belong, I would much prefer a simple arrow with a number next to it, however this is again a step forward from the rotation style track map from previous DiRT games.

On the whole, first impressions are mixed, but I am left hopeful that this will evolve in to something rally sim fans have been wanting for years.

 

[Gary Horneck]

My Fanatec CSR wheel feels like crap. It defaults to Elite wheel in setup, no way to change that. Jerky steering as a result (I hope its the wheel settings). I have dual GTX 780's and it stutters quite badly. No manual shifter we know, triple screen support seems good. Not useable till my wheel is supported as my control is funky.

 

[Ville-Samuli Mutanen]

One fast onboard run through Sweet Lamb at night.

Edit: Sorry @Bram Hengeveld . Moved video for the RaceTube.

 

[ZethGAF]

No clutch and no H-shift, this is codies aiming for a sim

H shifter working fine for me. No clutch at the moment, but it might be due to my pedals using an adapter. I'm sure it will be sorted shortly.

 

[Jan Mikuž]

One fast onboard run through Sweet Lamb at night.

Edit: Sorry @Bram Hengeveld . Moved video for the RaceTube.

Looks like it's lacking a bit of sense of speed and acceleration. Looks to me like you are driving through sand rather than on hard gravel. Am i right or does it actually feel fine in game ?

 

[Ole Marius Myrvold]

Weeey, game innstalled!

 

[Dazmaniac]

Not sure how to take Warren's post, lol.

Started off - On the whole I am happy.

4 paragraphs later - On the whole, first impressions are mixed.



I bought in to the EA anyways, lol. Man can never have too many driving titles.

Just hope it gets more regular updates than Wreckfest.

 

[Flammenjc]

Looks, great, sounds great, but on G25/G27 at least it leaves alot to be desired in FFB. Could blow up if it gets the right ammount of tweaking and attention, definately has potential

 

[SandroX]

Looks like this game dont have FFB at all, only vibration... sad.

 

[woz9us]

Not sure how to take Warren's post, lol.

Started off - On the whole I am happy.

4 paragraphs later - On the whole, first impressions are mixed.



I bought in to the EA anyways, lol. Man can never have too many driving titles.

Just hope it gets more regular updates than Wreckfest.

Haha, I should've proof read it! On the whole I am embarrassed right now

 

[yusupov]

Looks, great, sounds great, but on G25/G27 at least it leaves alot to be desired in FFB. Could blow up if it gets the right ammount of tweaking and attention, definately has potential

struggling to see where that potential is. ffb & physics are essentially non-existent. the only thing ive noticed is that the breaks do lock, tho in a manner in which you cant feel the bite point at all so its impossible to have ABS off. everything else (well that included) i could feel with a controller. could prob drive as well w/ keyboard, physics are that dead.

 

[Ole Marius Myrvold]

So, first impressions are...

• FFB isn't there, or, the F is there, not the FB. There is a lot of force, no feedback.
  
• Either the speeds are to low, grip to good, or brakes to good. I'm not sure what yet. But it feels like I can brake way to close to the corners, both in the Gr.A and 2010's cars. The Gr.B 4WD felt better there, but I need some more testing with those.
  
• The Monte-Carlo stages... I thought I chose Col de Turini up, and down, but I never came to the mytical "flat" on the top there. Also, when I braked it felt like I had tarmac-tyres (on the snow), it just sailed, but when I released them, it was grippy as ****. So I don't know
  
• No chance to change tyres, that was a big disappointment!

Will test more through the night though

BTW: Who got the H-Pattern to work? I cannot get it to work, no clutch either O.o