The heat is back... a new Daytona USA title for arcades in the works

[tankuroded]

A new Daytona USA title for the arcades is in the works and will be unveiled in the IAAPA show within 2 weeks of this writing. Prepare for a rolling start once again...

 

[glassjaw]

I almost just made a new thread about this, because searching "Daytona USA 3" wasn't bringing up this thread, but it's a good thing I didn't! I'm beyond excited for this. I've been waiting for a new Daytona for nearly 20 years. Daytona 1 is my favorite game of all time save for Scud Race, and I never though we'd see a third happen. Very early impressions are in after the first day at the IAAPA Expo. I can't wait until we have some gameplay and more details. Also, for what it's worth, I wrote about Daytona 3 last week, before today's semi-reveal, so please excuse the shameless plug.

All I can discern from the images is they've got a Gen 6-esque NASCAR sporting a retro Hornet livery, which is pretty cool!

 

[JohnBM01]

Okay. Poking around YouTube, I tried to look up more info on Daytona USA 3. There are some videos with prototypes of the new Daytona USA. It looks like the game will retain its classic look and feel and not try to be hyper-realistic or anything. Of course, remember I'm discussing YouTube, meaning there is an unwritten rule of "pretty or dislike." So of course you'll have people who are "butthurt" and whiny because the graphics don't look amazing.

SEGA kind of made Daytona look like an intermediate rather than a superspeedway. Daytona International Speedway is included, but be disappointed if you're expecting a true-to-life re-creation of Daytona. It is much like (if you've ever played it or seen it) how Indy 500 had the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but not really an exact replica of it. Imagine if Daytona in this game was really where you could go full throttle for about the entire length of the course, or maybe with minimal braking. Even in prototype form, I am plenty pleased with the graphical detail in the videos.

One thing that is a bit concerning is that at least this prototype model has a sequential shift rather than the four-speed "H" shifter on a number of arcades. I am not really bothered about it, but it is something worth noting. I've even heard very weak renditions of "Let's Go Away" in two different videos. Probably just stick to the classic theme. You know... that Daytona USA fans can relate to. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if someone came up with a dubstep remix of "Let's Go Away" that could probably find its way into the game (I have nothing against dubstep or any variation of it. I'm just saying...).

Maybe my final thoughts are that the way Daytona USA 3 is shaping up, it almost seems as if SEGA never lost their swagger in making racing games. It really seems like old school SEGA in a new school realm. Some people are probably sad you have to go to the arcades rather than play it at home. And let's face it- Daytona USA was never meant to be very realistic or anything. It's just another racing game about just that- racing, and the joy of racing. Even for someone who classifies as a sim racer, not many racing games simply about the joy of high-speed action are out there. Everything's gone the way mostly of realism with not many games simply about stupidly going fast. So I'm intrigued about this new age Daytona USA.

 

[glassjaw]

The latest posts on Sega Amusement's Facebook page (which I would link except I'm using my phone right now) indicate they have decided to drop the "3" from the title, which I feel is a very smart move considering there appears to be nothing truly new or iterative about this game (aside from a couple modern stock car bodies). Even the version of Daytona which @JohnBM01 referred to is literally Three Seven Speedway, with DIS scenery around it. The other "new" track appears to be a reversed or mirrored version of Dinosaur Canyon, so it stands to reason that the last new track is a take off of Sea Side Street Galaxy.

The upshot of all of this, of course, is that this is a remaster, not a new game. Nothing I've seen yet indicates this is anything other than Daytona 1, gussied up with Unreal Engine 3 visuals. Which makes sense considering Sega Amusements UK built this practically on their own off of Daytona 1's physics and framework, with limited input from the original team. This isn't like Sega Rally Revo/SR3, which was a new game built from the ground up by Sega Racing Studio. This is just a reskin.

Which is fine, of course. But it was dishonest to market it as a sequel, so I'm glad they've dropped the number. Ultimately I am not excited to play this game, nor will I seek it out knowing what I know about it now.

 

[JohnBM01]

You know, I'm actually going to agree this is a good move to market it as a fairly new game rather than any kind of sequel. We would see the return of certain cars and tracks if it had been considered a sequel. I didn't really see too much to think this is a completely new Daytona USA title. So I'm guessing the new title will be "Daytona Championship USA," since we're getting rid of the "3" from the previous title? I still think this will be a pretty fun game.