I've started re-playing TDU2, mostly because I bought the TDU2 Casino thing. Most of what I've played was slot machines and a one game of Roulette.
I had put it away for quite some time, having got caught up in compulsively trying to level up in NFS and GT5, but when the new packs came out I felt bugged to go investigate - as well, I had read about the DLC in these Forums. After I actually got to downloading the new stuff (pretty much all of it) I began playing again, and in fact, for the first time went Online - my PS3 finally, after a long spell, plugged into a wall instead of stuttering intermittently over WiFi.
I was quite surprised to find the Site busy, TBH, I expected to find it deserted. It
is a huge smorgasbord of cultures, judging by the linguistical static off the earphones, and some nice people around, too - and by 'nice' I don't mean milksops, but decent, intelligent, cultured people with manners social enough to get the best out of the Game.
I, boldly, plunged right in without a thought, and while I was clearly visible as present, Online, stayed off the beaten tracks, and moseyed around for a bit, accepted some challenges, 'ghost-parked' in front of my Homes or at the Airport till I became a little more well-known to some of the 'personalities' in the area. I have noticed that some players only stay in their own territories - at least whenever I was around; I did continue to play a lot after that, but had to give up due to pressure from extended workloads.
When I did enter the Casino for the first time I was blown away - while the whole experience is still a little 'videogamish' - the idea of filling the loading time with a Flight sequence, and instilling the whole 'vacation/Casino/get-away and kick-back' mood in the player, and all the other voice/music/visual and POV cues are good enough to generate 'gambling' excitement - you are right away in a 'Win or Lose' sceanario.
I was a total noob standing there taking everything in, and the occasional player walked up to me and checked me over; some emoted, some just stared. Having cased the joint, I picked up some chips, went over to the Bar, downed a few cocktails to try and level up, and then ducked into the clothing store. Some good stuff in there - and I believe the Trophy clothes are in there, too. Next, I took the stairs, walked the length of the hallways checking out the signs over the various rooms. I went up to the Bouncers in front of the VIP rooms and stared them in the face. Luckily, they ignored me. I didn't try to get past them - I am no where near the levels needed - which pees me off since I got invited a lot to the higher level rooms afterwards, and had to refuse ignominiously. I went off to the Slots and played every different Machine, till I settled on using the ones I liked - but now I only play the Slots for the R8.
I ventured into the Roulette and also the Cash Poker Rooms, and did hang out a bunch there. Being the nosey guy I am, when I first walk into a room I walk around and check everything out - every plant, light and view-from-window. I get the odd stand-and-stare from a player now and then, but otherwise everybody I have met in the rooms have been really cool. It's here that I have been invited several times into other player's Homes, and also to play in other rooms.
Most players dress for the occasion but the odd character comes in in leathers and a helmet - as if needing a sudden gambling fix at a high-class casino in the middle of an adventure tour.

In a strange way, this game also grooms the behaviour of people IRL.
Or is it the
other way around?
Money, is the thing. It's hard to make money in this game. By the rules, anyway. However, I must assume that some have used the odd glitch to rake up the millions to come and high-roll it in the Casino.
But, here's the irony,
John: I have noticed it's the ones desperately making the small bets and winning that are the one's enjoying it the most; adrenaline-pumped and high-as-kites. The one's throwing hundreds of thousands on bets just shrug it off when they lose, and are mostly non-committal when they win.
I even did that two-lap time trial around the casino island in the Audi R8 convertible. Pretty cool.
Call it ego - I want to see my name up on that Board.

I gave it one shot - low 3.00s. The next time I went in, I took the car around twice; mid 2.00s. I need to clip off 20 secs on each lap. I can do it. I will. I must.

I am playing to set aside a couple of hours
just for that mission.
Initially, I was thinking this would be a good way to grind a bit in the game. Not that I actually condone grinding, but it's tough to get money in this game unless you do the Solar Crown races and stuff. There are still a few objectives I can still realistically accomplish in this game. It's just tough to do so with only so much money.
Money is as hard to get legally as it is IRL. I'm buying, selling, challenging/rechallinging, event-racing, and even gambling - any way to make money. Urgh!
Well, anyway, I own several houses, and a fleet of fancy vehicles. That's a little better than I have IRL.
Hey! Isn't that what a game is all about? That you can get together with others and play 'Pretend'?
BTW - if you
do decide to form a Club, and head it up as the President, you can be sure I'll join up with you, and maybe we can also persuade others here to join up with us, too; scheduling Club Times will ensure we actually meet as a group and go take over those Islands.
