Independent add-ons

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Most of us probably assume that Polyphony will use the HDD to let us players download new cars and tracks, etc. But this raises a question: will unofficial downloads be possible, similar to game mods with PCs? Will enterprising and capable individuals be able to build cars and even tracks for the game on their own? It probably wouldn't be anywhere near Polyphony's quality, but in good hands such things wouldn't turn out too bad.

What I am getting at is, could the FCA (Ferrari Club of America), for example, theoretically direct themselves to use their resources to build an unofficial Ferrari add-on to GT4?
 
It would be a lot harder to modify a console game than mod a PC game. Assuming that there will be add-ons and support for the HDD for GT4.
 
Support for the HDD in GT4 is confirmed.. All that's been released is that it will "help" online play...
 
Well the GTA Double pack for Xbox has been made modable so that doesn't put GT4 out of the picture but its highly unlikely as no one has done it with any of the other GT's. It would be good but I doubt it will happen.
 
Well if you could it might work by transferring data to your PS2s HDD via USB from PC to PS2 & uploading any new cars. (Which could be created on PC, perhaps in Maya like PD used).

Which would be grrrrrrreaaat............;)


Obviously downloaded cars shouldn't be allowed online in 'standard' games unless PD agreed to 'host' some cars & brand them as official.
 
Originally posted by live4speed
I wouldn't want to have the general public making cars for GT4, you'll start seeing stupid cars that hit 500Mph in 2 seconds and handle better than an F1 car. Keep it all official so it's all real and all up to the same standard.
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Originally posted by live4speed
You can't just ignor thoes models though because other people would be using them online, you'd be linig up for a race at New York and thered be a couple of people in normal GT3 cars, another couple in good quality self made cars and two more in their own creations that can defy the games physics. You couldn't say put something in that would stop people using thoes cars online, even adding Bhp limits and weight limits wouldn't work. It would have to be all downloadble cars online or none at all, theres no inbetween on that thing. Keep it all good quality and real, I can't stress how important that is for the GT series.
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So keep them in 1 player simulation mode only.
I'd be inclined to keep it closed, however. The "general public" does some stupid poopoo (I'd rather censor myself, thanks), look at Wolfenstein on Xbox and Counter Strike. Cheaters and cheating sucks. LOCK GT4 DOWN!
 
Hybrids is fun under right conditions but using them for cheating is ofcourse messed up.
 
So all the downoadable cars can't be used online, great extras to not use much. Just keep all the extra stuff official and high quality, you acheive that by making sure the only people making the extras are paid coders who are told what to make as and when PD get licences for whatever car or track.
 
Hybridding cars still relies on the creation of a data file listing all the relevant information for your car.

Now, if we look at a system like PunkBuster, PunkBuster uses an extensive list of variables within the game engine that will actually affect how the game plays. So, these variables are given safe values; if a client's variable doesn't match the range, they're kicked. GT4 should make use of a similar system in a pre-emptive manner.

When a client attempts to connect to a server, it reads the first lines of the data file for the car the client has selected to use. This allows it to call it's own data file, the values in each file are then compared and if the values in the client's file are outside the legal limits (like a different engine, chassic, wheels, excessive downforce, grip, suspension rates and so on) then the game simply rejects entry. That way new cars can be added officially and hybridders could even bypass the system to host Hybrid races. Anyone keen on cheating is met with an "Connection Refused" message and kicked back to the menu screen. If we could come up with a way to edit cars in the detail we can, I'm sure PD can implement a counter system using the same basis. This way we can get new cars and even tracks, and we can use them online, without comprimising the experience.
 
I'll tell you first hand that there is nothing like downloading more cars and tracks to enhance your racing experience. I've done it with Sports Car GT, NASCAR Racing from Papyrus and Sierra, and others. When you look at it, downloading more stuff means that you will be able to race much more stuff on much more stuff.

But to me, I don't think it could happen. I mean, the games I mentioned earlier, people had access to making cars and tracks for others to download free of charge. But as technology is evolving, the chances of owning a car you REALLY want to have will probably be impossible. What happens if you are running a championship, and you deleted your car or track? It would probably screw up the game. I know from past experiences. So with downloadable content, it's kind of trial and error. Even if it means some of the downloadable content includes NASCAR or other types of oval racing... I mean... NASCAR or other types of NASCAR, I think it will be fun to have them. But in terms of trying to run them, even if they have or have not been seriously tested for crashes or bugs, I don't think it will really happen. Downloadable content is possible, reliabilitiy and adapting it to a console game isn't very possible to me. I think one of the few cases of requiring hardware to make games work is like "Perfect Dark" for the Nintendo 64, where you need that Expansion Pak to basically play the rest of the game.

But to make a long story short, good idea, but questionable.
 

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