I’ve always felt that car games have reached the ceiling of what was possible, gameplay-wise. There’ are only so many ways that a developer can make a car handle as realistically as possible, with the next big advancements being visual. And man oh man, Project Cars looks like the sexiest racer hitting the market soon.
Here’s some actual gameplay from upcoming circuit racer Project Cars, so you can see what I’m on about:
Developed by the team at Slightly Mad Studios, the same chaps behind Need For Speed: Shift, it’s a crowdfunded racing game through and through. And it just looks sublime. Just look at all those little details. The marks on the tarmac. A slight nick here and there on the paintwork. There’s a ton of little details that folks won’t notice, and that just says quality to me.
Slightly Mad has been working on the game for years now, and they’ve got it locked down for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Wii U. Throw in some support for 4K TVs and the virtually real Oculus Rift headgear and I think we’ve got a new tech demo that hopefully handles as good as it looks.
It’s a damn good time to be a racing game fan right now. Between new entries in the Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport franchises, there’s also an online MMO in the works that goes by the name of World of Speed. Which Slightly Mad also happens to be working on.
I play my games a quarter mile at a time at the rate that racing games are popping up.
Last Updated: February 14, 2014
Unavengedavo
February 14, 2014 at 14:12
Wait, is the header real or in game? I am so confused…
TiMsTeR1033
February 14, 2014 at 14:13
I think In game man! This game looks epic! this and a decent steering wheel and pedals plus gear stick addon would be amazing!
DBL_ZA
February 14, 2014 at 14:29
It is indeed in-game. They have made a big noise about realism and that has filtered through to the visuals
General JJ the ashamed
February 14, 2014 at 15:03
They said Shift was going to realistic and look how far from the truth that turned out to be. So not holding thumbs for realism on this one.
Acornbread
February 14, 2014 at 18:50
Shift was nearly awesome until EA leaned on the studio to make the game more accessible. Very sad, it had potential. But this game looks to be special, they have the creative freedom to create what they want to.
General JJ the ashamed
February 17, 2014 at 07:25
This one just sounds a bit too in-between for me, just like shift. For now I’ll stick to Assetto Corsa for realism and wait for The Crew for arcade fun.
Acornbread
February 17, 2014 at 07:51
AC is amazing. 🙂 Main reason I’m hopeful about Project CARS is their (uncertain) intent to create a proper rally mode down the line. I don’t have much faith in Codemasters doing anything worthwhile with DiRT 4 but I hope I’m wrong.
General JJ the ashamed
February 18, 2014 at 15:23
I’ve lost all faith in Codemasters for both their road and dirt games.
Spathi
February 14, 2014 at 14:19
Anyone here have experience with Project Cars? I hated the steering delay and floaty feeling in Shift, want to know if it is also present in Project Cars?
Stephen Snook
February 14, 2014 at 14:27
Its different to shift, but it’s still half sim, allowing for quick turning. It’s closer to gran turismo in that sense.
Spathi
February 14, 2014 at 14:56
Okay cool. As long as the steering delay is gone, I’ll be a happy chappie!
Acornbread
February 17, 2014 at 07:54
Do you know of any possibility to get in on the beta? Or is it closed for good? 🙁
Spartan POItjie
February 14, 2014 at 14:22
A real proud moment when you are related to someone on the dev team of such a awesome looking game.
Unavengedavo
February 14, 2014 at 14:32
Hey guys… gog.com has a V-day promotion… http://www.gog.com/promo/valentines_day_promo_140214
And If you have the cash to fork our for some awesome games, please also help these guys out!
http://www.lazygamer.net/general-news/help-these-two-locals-become-game-developers/
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 14, 2014 at 14:36
And don’t forget dungeon keeper free on GOG.
RIGHT NOW
Unavengedavo
February 14, 2014 at 14:38
Lol, got that already… Along with Dungeon Keeper 2 and System Shock 2 for $1.49 each 😀
Today was a good day 😛
Skyblue
February 14, 2014 at 19:10
+1000 upvotes for System Shock 2. I actually payed the initial $10 price tag the day it was released a few months back. I could finally play a version fixed for modern rigs without workarounds.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 14, 2014 at 14:32
There’s no denying it. It looks good
General JJ the ashamed
February 14, 2014 at 14:58
I really just can’t get myself excited for this one.
General JJ the ashamed
February 14, 2014 at 15:00
With The Crew coming, there is no way that I’ll get World Of Speed (besides the fact that I won’t spend R5 on another NFS)
Acornbread
February 17, 2014 at 07:53
You didn’t enjoy Rivals?
Matthew Holliday
February 17, 2014 at 11:36
Rivals was pretty, and the easy drifting was fun, aside from that its wasnt really an engaging game.The pc port was so bad, I had finished the game befor i discovered were the exit button was. having to alt+f4 the game whenever i wanted out was a tad annoying.
and the driving controls were so unresponsive, i felt like i was driving a bus.
Acornbread
February 18, 2014 at 15:42
All valid points but I think it’s quite fun, honestly enjoyed it more than any NFS since the first Most Wanted. And those cut scenes were so terrible they were actually cool in a perverse way. 😛
General JJ the ashamed
February 18, 2014 at 15:24
It had no manual transmission option.
I can’t enjoy a driving game if I don’t have that option at least.
Acornbread
February 18, 2014 at 15:45
Didn’t bother me, it was a fun alternative to sim racing. 🙂 Anyway, with so much nitrous on tap, shifting would quickly become tedious.
trueLies
February 14, 2014 at 15:53
Forza and NFS clone, all show and no go welcome to track mania nations HD edition.
Skyblue
February 14, 2014 at 19:12
Tonsil point. Forza and Gran Turismo are are very similar in physics and handling. NFS is nowhere near the same category. I suggest you actually play games before bundling them together.
Matthew Holliday
February 17, 2014 at 11:32
NFS is so pretty though!
a game as pretty as NFS, but as good a driving sim as GT/Forza, sounds like a sweet deal.