[Sselecta]

Well, I most certainly won't be bothering with this game after the demo.

The damage and the point system doesn't make any sense in Demolition Derby. At all. 8-Ball doesn't even come close to GRID's. Hoonigan and racing events looks kind of meh-ish. Overall, a mediocre game at best with very little replay value.

[Katiegan]

Personally, I love it. Yeah, it's not as good as GRiD and previous DiRT games - but it's a spin-off game. It's not supposed to be a full racing sim. It's not supposed to have rallying in it. It's just a spin-off game, it's not DiRT 4, the DiRT franchise isn't dying. The amount of people I've seen around the internet saying it sucks because of no rallying and saying the DiRT franchise is dead now is really starting to annoy me. It's not a racing sim, it's not supposed to be super realistic. I'm not just saying this because I'm a Block fan either.

[RACECAR]

wolfdragon97

It's not a racing sim, it's not supposed to be super realistic. I'm not just saying this because I'm a Block fan either.

Seems like people just constantly want a reason to bitch at Codemasters.

[II-zOoLoGy-II]

Can anyone who has it confirm whether or not the CSR is officially supported?

Not that I care about this title; just wanting to know of they have made any dent in their lack of wheel support.

[museumsteve]

wolfdragon97

Personally, I love it. Yeah, it's not as good as GRiD and previous DiRT games - but it's a spin-off game. It's not supposed to be a full racing sim. It's not supposed to have rallying in it. It's just a spin-off game, it's not DiRT 4, the DiRT franchise isn't dying. The amount of people I've seen around the internet saying it sucks because of no rallying and saying the DiRT franchise is dead now is really starting to annoy me. It's not a racing sim, it's not supposed to be super realistic. I'm not just saying this because I'm a Block fan either.

The problem I have is that it's just not an exciting demo to play. It's very short on a very small track so you don't get any feeling about how the cars will feel or how competitive the AI will be. The lack of views is naff IMO as a game like this cries out for a cockpit view so you can see cars coming at you. The damage is almost non existent and has no real bearing on the handling which is poor for a game based around demolition derby gameplay.
A demo is supposed to build an appetite for the upcoming game and, for me certainly in this case, it's done the opposite to the point where I'll pick up a secondhand one or wait for the price to drop..which, in this case, will be very quickly in my experience
I'm a massive DiRT fan and have always loved Codies racers and always will, best console racer of all time IMO is Xbox Race Driver 2, but I just didn't feel the love with this demo

[BubbleBelly542]

wolfdragon97

Personally, I love it. Yeah, it's not as good as GRiD and previous DiRT games - but it's a spin-off game. It's not supposed to be a full racing sim. It's not supposed to have rallying in it. It's just a spin-off game, it's not DiRT 4, the DiRT franchise isn't dying. The amount of people I've seen around the internet saying it sucks because of no rallying and saying the DiRT franchise is dead now is really starting to annoy me. It's not a racing sim, it's not supposed to be super realistic. I'm not just saying this because I'm a Block fan either.

Yes, though I think it should have been a GRiD spinoff. Then again, can you do a spinoff of a series that has been neglected for, I'd say 4-5years? (Don't remember when it came out.) Actually, it isn't even a series yet. Oh well, maybe the DiRT name is better known, especially by people who don't play a lot of racing games, just because it's been out there more, so they think it will get more attention.

[Katiegan]

BubbleBelly542

Yes, though I think it should have been a GRiD spinoff. Then again, can you do a spinoff of a series that has been neglected for, I'd say 4-5years? (Don't remember when it came out.) Actually, it isn't even a series yet. Oh well, maybe the DiRT name is better known, especially by people who don't play a lot of racing games, just because it's been out there more, so they think it will get more attention.

It wouldn't really work as a GRiD spin-off because it's a Hoonigan Edition. It's pretty much like a huge DLC for DiRT in a way. It's heavily based around Ken Block, and he doesn't really have anything to do with GRiD. However, a GRiD spin-off game sounds pretty good.

[BubbleBelly542]

wolfdragon97

It wouldn't really work as a GRiD spin-off because it's a Hoonigan Edition. It's pretty much like a huge DLC for DiRT in a way. It's heavily based around Ken Block, and he doesn't really have anything to do with GRiD. However, a GRiD spin-off game sounds pretty good.

But don't you think Hoonigan would have fit better as a GRiD game to begin with, because GRiD had drifting, and that's a very big part of Gymkhana. I don't know, I suppose it fit well with DiRT.

[Dragonistic]

RACECAR

Seems like people just constantly want a reason to bitch at Codemasters.

For me, it's fine being unrealistic so long as it's not doing most of the work for me. I wouldn't call the normal Dirt games realistic but they're better for it, provides a breath of fresh air compared to GT5, however I still have to countersteer and such where in the Showdown demo it just felt a bit to on-rails for me and ultimately lacked challenge. I knew Showdown wasn't aimed for me though, so I got what I expected and I'll wait for Dirt 4.

[BubbleBelly542]

Dragonistic

For me, it's fine being unrealistic so long as it's not doing most of the work for me. I wouldn't call the normal Dirt games realistic but they're better for it, provides a breath of fresh air compared to GT5, however I still have to countersteer and such where in the Showdown demo it just felt a bit to on-rails for me and ultimately lacked challenge. I knew Showdown wasn't aimed for me though, so I got what I expected and I'll wait for Dirt 4.

Wow, mind blown. You're not complaining! Everyone else does, they say what you said but instead of waiting patiently for DiRT 4 they call this the end of the franchise.

[Dragonistic]

If I was to make a more objective complaint it would be that the crashes weren't as spectacular as if you make your own demo derby on Dirt or Grid itself, because the game is designed around you crashing you can't smash in to a guy and slam him in to a wall taking him completely out of the race or vice versa, which gave it more of a visceral feel on the other games as the stakes were much higher. I can see why it is that way, players might feel robbed if they are one-shotted out of a race, but it felt a bit awkward that crashes in the destruction derby of a focused game for carnage were less exciting then those in Grid or Dirt where it's more of an icing on the cake.

Subjectively I feel it might turn out to be too casual for it's own good, where games like Burnout remain challenging for a lasting period for a large variety of skill levels whilst having that arcade fun factor Showdown feels sort of forced and simplistic by comparison. It's alienating alot of gamers by being that way and that might to prove it's downfall but it's not a bad game if it's attracting a fairly sizable audience.

The only real crime if any is using the Dirt name to try and sell it as it detaches itself so far from the main Dirt series it creates an identity crisis as Dirt fans likely won't enjoy this game as much and it could be damaging to the Dirt IP as a whole, then again we've seen this before with Fifa and Fifa Street amongst others so it could be fine if they market it very clearly ("A Dirt game like no other" or some other tag line would be great).

Bottom line, people aren't intended to view this as a sequel. Think of it as Showdown instead of Dirt Showdown and remember who the game is aimed at, it's not bad because you don't like it or because it's unrealistic, it does what it's supposed to do fairly competently but I don't think it's going to be remembered a year from now but how many games aimed at a really casual audience turn in to classics? Fifa Street is a good example of that, it wasn't an awful game and it sold quite well but nobody talks about it and nobody seems to play it for longer then a couple of weeks at best.

[BubbleBelly542]

Dragonistic

players might feel robbed if they are one-shotted out of a race

But that's what happens in all Codemasters racing games online. They should make it that way, then do the same as it is in all the other CM racing games where in single player your car has 10X the strength of the AI. If that's what the bakers need then that's how it should be.

But I suppose people on this site are a bit more into racing than the average racing game player.

[alexnegao]

Dragonistic

If I was to make a more objective complaint it would be that the crashes weren't as spectacular as if you make your own demo derby on Dirt or Grid itself, because the game is designed around you crashing you can't smash in to a guy and slam him in to a wall taking him completely out of the race or vice versa, which gave it more of a visceral feel on the other games as the stakes were much higher. I can see why it is that way, players might feel robbed if they are one-shotted out of a race, but it felt a bit awkward that crashes in the destruction derby of a focused game for carnage were less exciting then those in Grid or Dirt where it's more of an icing on the cake.

Subjectively I feel it might turn out to be too casual for it's own good, where games like Burnout remain challenging for a lasting period for a large variety of skill levels whilst having that arcade fun factor Showdown feels sort of forced and simplistic by comparison. It's alienating alot of gamers by being that way and that might to prove it's downfall but it's not a bad game if it's attracting a fairly sizable audience.

The only real crime if any is using the Dirt name to try and sell it as it detaches itself so far from the main Dirt series it creates an identity crisis as Dirt fans likely won't enjoy this game as much and it could be damaging to the Dirt IP as a whole, then again we've seen this before with Fifa and Fifa Street amongst others so it could be fine if they market it very clearly ("A Dirt game like no other" or some other tag line would be great).

Bottom line, people aren't intended to view this as a sequel. Think of it as Showdown instead of Dirt Showdown and remember who the game is aimed at, it's not bad because you don't like it or because it's unrealistic, it does what it's supposed to do fairly competently but I don't think it's going to be remembered a year from now but how many games aimed at a really casual audience turn in to classics? Fifa Street is a good example of that, it wasn't an awful game and it sold quite well but nobody talks about it and nobody seems to play it for longer then a couple of weeks at best.

But Codemaster is all the time saying that this ain't a Dirt 4, but a Dirt Showdown, really different games.

[Dragonistic]

alexnegao

But Codemaster is all the time saying that this ain't a Dirt 4, but a Dirt Showdown, really different games.

That may be so, but it needs to be clear at the point of sale for those who don't use forums and such as most people who actually want this game probably don't do alot of research on games. The kind of person who doesn't even know the demo is out unless a friend tells them will have no idea what to expect, plenty people in this group like past Dirt games as they weren't super serious and they need to make sure they don't dilute the IPs identity. By being completely crystal at the point of sale, there's no danger of the other marketing being missed or misinterpreted as frankly the only reason I really know prior to demo release is because I watched trailers I only knew were out because of GTP in this very thread (previously I thought we might have another round of Grid Demo Derby but improved physics like Dirt 1 to 2). The only way to be absolutely sure is by not using the Dirt name in the first place, which makes alot of sense seeing as alot of Dirt fans really won't enjoy this game anyway.

I'd like to clarify this isn't (as should be obvious) something I have a problem with, as I posted to begin with I know who this game is aimed at, but as a long term Dirt fan I don't want this game to flop and harm the reputation of other Dirt titles in the future.

[Katiegan]

I think Showdown is a step away from all the previous DiRT games. It's more aimed at having fun, either offline or online. Like I've said before, it's not a whole new DiRT game, it's a DiRT 3 spin-off and really just a big DLC for the game - more or less extra game modes, cars and liveries. I see that a lot of racing sim fans who have loved DiRT for the rallying won't really like it, I mean, a lot of DiRT fans hated the Gymkhana in D3. I doubt this will damage the DiRT series name though.

I think a lot of it has to do with who the game is really based from now. Since the late great Colin McRae died, they can't use his name, so Codemasters have teamed up with Ken Block and are basing their games from him now. Luckily for me I'm a big fan of both McRae and Block, so I love the games either way. For people who are more McRae fans, there's always WRC 2 as well. If you avoid the bugs.... lol.

[TiZzla]

Am I the only one getting a very glitchy online mode? Every few races the points won't add and everyone is stuck on 0 points until the game eventually crashes and freezes.

I'm having more fun offline, and that will get boring eventually. Game is a lot of fun, the damage modelling and crashes are awesome. But if online is going to be weak then it won't be long before I sell my copy...

[BubbleBelly542]

TiZzla

Am I the only one getting a very glitchy online mode? Every few races the points won't add and everyone is stuck on 0 points until the game eventually crashes and freezes.

I'm having more fun offline, and that will get boring eventually. Game is a lot of fun, the damage modelling and crashes are awesome. But if online is going to be weak then it won't be long before I sell my copy...

You're lucky... It got delayed here.

[Antonisbob]

BubbleBelly542

You're lucky... It got delayed here.

That was dumb, eh?

[BubbleBelly542]

Antonisbob

That was dumb, eh?

Why even is it? The game is obviously finished.

[Antonisbob]

I heard it was a business thing? But I can't be too sure.