Colin 4 cancelled for US PS2/PC (still coming on xbox tho)

well thats crap.....

January 29, 2004 - Breaking from tradition (and perhaps common sense) Codemasters has declined to bring the fourth iteration of its flagship racing game, Colin McRae Rally 4, to the PC or PS2 in North America, IGN learned today.



Already available in Europe on all three systems (PS2, PC and Xbox), Colin McRae Rally 4 outperforms its predecessor with more modes of play, more cars to play, a better collision system and an even more enhanced physics system (though it's hard to see how it could be any better).

When IGN contacted Codemasters, a company representative explained that Microsoft did not persuade the veteran English developer to jump the PC and PS2 in North America. Instead, Codemasters explained that Xbox Live was the perfect fit with its online design. Which makes little sense at all. Especially given that the game is already online in Europe for the PC. And the US Xbox version isn't even actually playable online, it just updates stats via Xbox Live.

We'll have more on Colin McRae Rally 4 in the near future, maybe.

Damn it, that's a really misleading thread title :p Anyway, this is absolutely no problem to me, as long as the Xbox version is still coming. I much prefer my racers on the 'Box controller anyway.

Just to beat everyone else...
OMFG M$

I wanted it on ps2 just to keep with continuity and all, but fuck that If I can play it on live...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Opaque

I wanted it on ps2 just to keep with continuity and all, but fuck that If I can play it on live...

---

...but the article says that Live's just for stats, not for play.

I hate life...

Don't. You'll have Sega GT Online. That should...somewhat lessen the pain.

I was worried for a second... but I was going to get the XB version anyway so I don't care.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ChaoofNee

Don't. You'll have Sega GT Online. That should...somewhat lessen the pain.

---

I never really gave the Colin McRae games a try, beyond a demo I'd mess around with and not really get much from. I'd like to do that. Sega GT Online, though... well, at least in-game voice chat is always entertaining, you can bet the game won't. :(

There, I fixed up that misleading thread title. :chick:

Looks good!

http://xboxmedia.ign.com/xbox/image/...090203_010.jpg

http://xboxmedia.ign.com/xbox/image/...090203_002.jpg

http://xboxmedia.ign.com/xbox/image/..._080703_64.jpg

http://xboxmedia.ign.com/xbox/image/..._080703_75.jpg

online stats and custom soundtracks?

Yes please!

Live play would have been better though. That's why Colin is a rental and Rallisport Challenge 2 is a purchase. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cka

There, I fixed up that misleading thread title. :chick:

---

why i had already changed it to say it was still coming out for the xbox?

Well isn't "real" rally racing just one car on the course anyways racing against the clock? It would be cool if you could maybe race against another players ghost ala PGR 2.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Javon_McCloud

Well isn't "real" rally racing just one car on the course anyways racing against the clock?

---

yes

This other rally racing game called Xpand Rally looks good too!

http://www.xboxworld.nl/images/scree...drally_001.jpg
http://www.xboxworld.nl/images/scree...drally_002.jpg
http://www.xboxworld.nl/images/scree...drally_003.jpg
http://www.xboxworld.nl/images/scree...drally_004.jpg
http://www.xboxworld.nl/images/scree...drally_005.jpg
http://www.xboxworld.nl/images/scree...drally_006.jpg
http://www.xboxworld.nl/images/scree...drally_007.jpg
http://www.xboxworld.nl/images/scree...drally_008.jpg
http://www.xboxworld.nl/images/scree...drally_009.jpg

wow, yes it does. lookit that friggin track layout on the last shot!

WTF!!!??:eep:

IS THAT MY XBOX SPORTING THAT KIND OF GRAPHICAL QUALITY??!!

HOLY SHIT! :o

OXM demo impressions - WOW. The visuals are amazing, the dirt build-up on the cars is great, vehicle damage is neat, and I'm driving in a car with the back area of it broken on the left side, causing sparks and stuff. The accent for the guy giving instructions is hard to understand, other than that, no complaints thus far. Can't wait to get this game during the week.

Despite having an aversion to driving sims and practically zero experience when it comes to rally games, I gave this a shot thanks to the $20 price point and am thoroughly addicted.

I played Rallisport Challenge a bit, but I like the feel of CMR a lot better. I was leery about the car tweaking aspects - as a fan of arcade-style racers I just wanna get out and burn rubber - but since it makes such a difference in how your car handles depending on the road surface, it's very important. And quite enjoyable, I'm happy to discover.

And since I'm not very good yet, trying to decide what to repair and how much I should repair between races makes the races pretty darn intense. The car damage physics are amazing, and the game is quite a sight to behold overall.

I also really dig the clean minimalist Euro styling of the game design.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BioMechanic

Despite having an aversion to driving sims and practically zero experience when it comes to rally games, I gave this a shot thanks to the $20 price point and am thoroughly addicted.

---

best thing ive read all day :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BioMechanic

I played Rallisport Challenge a bit, but I like the feel of CMR a lot better.

---

That's because you don't know what the Hell you're talking about. :p

Joking aside, I played the demo on the OXM disc, and I did enjoy myself.

I'm going to have to update my tastes to read: "hates all racing games, except rally racers."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Captain Vegetable

That's because you don't know what the Hell you're talking about. :p

---

Ohhhh is that riiiiiiight. :)

*tosses Veggie into a pit of starving screaming monkey-demons*

Rallisport is a cool game, but I found myself losing interest during the rallycross and ice racing events. If it had been more hill climbing and straight rally events, I might have stuck with it - I liked the hill climbs in particular. The game also seemed a tad...I dunno, maybe the word I'm looking for is flashy? Almost seemed too...clean in spots. CMR has a refined grittiness that I find most appealing. Maybe it's the physics or damage.

I am indeed a novice in the world of virtual rally racing, but Rallisport seems to be less a pure rally experience and more of a racing/rally hybrid, especially after a few days of CMR. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, but in my head, rally = you vs. time/terrain. If I wanna race other cars, I'll load up PGR or Burnout....

$20 is a yum-tastic price. I would probably not purchase this game other wise with Rallisport 2 in the nearish future. I watched my friend play the PC demo of this game and it looks wicked good.

I would like to add that the car-repair shop is brilliantly implemented, and the parts-testing minigames are very cool extras.

I no longer even think about the lack of music. In fact, by this time I'd have turned it off anyway.

I am extra-glad this was $20, because if it had been full price, I'd probably have passed it by and missed out on a completely unexpected surprise.

Last night I took a big jump way too fast, said "oh shit this is bad", and blew two tires when I landed. I finished the rest of the run on the rims, sparks flying everywhere and a too-real horrid grinding sound making me wince.....and still finished with the best time by tenths of a second.

Lovely.

I just went back and reread the thead. It says nothing about custom soundtracks. Does the game have it or is there no music at all?

There's some Euro-style electronica during the menus, but nothing during the races. No custom soundtrack, no in-game music, nada.

I don't miss it though. As I posted, I'd turn off music if it was present.

Nice review, Bio. The lack of music during the demo was neat, as it's one of the few racing games I've played that does that, and here, it works out nicely, as you have to hear the guy mumble incorrect directions to you.

Figured a small bump would be in order as there were a couple detail-oriented items in the review thread.

The prototype parts you test aren't really required to finish the races, although they can help. I also am pretty sure that you can't un-equip them once you unlock them - please correct me if I'm mistaken.

From what I understand, you have to finish 1st or 2nd at the end of every rally to unlock the final Japan stages, which, IMO, are the coolest courses in the game. The heavy-downpour ones have probably the best-looking weather effects I've ever seen, especially when racing in cockpit mode (you can almost feel the rain coming in when your windshield shatters).

Speaking of cockpit mode, you have to race in that perspective during the last Championship.

When I finished 1st overall in 2WD Normal, I unlocked a VW Golf Rallye that has made 2WD Advanced easier than it would have been. Not sure if you unlock it just by finishing...I also unlocked a crazy Citroen truck.

During one of the rallies, I had to leave my bodywork unrepaired in order to fully fix my suspension and cooling system. As a result, my hood flew off during the first jump I took on the next track. Later in the course, when I went over a puddle of standing water, the hot exposed engine blew out a cloud of steam. Love the details.

Had great fun with some rally-newbie friends, racing in cockpit mode and laughing at each other's major-damage replays.

Can someone please explain what the "super special" courses are for?

they are meant for the spectators in a real rally. if one can make to a rally in any of the 14 countries, you pretty much have to hike around a pick a turn or jump or whatever and sit/stand on the side of the road. in an effort to get more people to come out to the races, they build the "super special" stages where the spectators can sit in a stadium like area.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BioMechanic

The prototype parts you test aren't really required to finish the races, although they can help. I also am pretty sure that you can't un-equip them once you unlock them - please correct me if I'm mistaken.

---

I hope this is so. I never got the advanced dampers or the snow tires, although I've done pretty welll without them.

Quote:

---

From what I understand, you have to finish 1st or 2nd at the end of every rally to unlock the final Japan stages, which, IMO, are the coolest courses in the game. The heavy-downpour ones have probably the best-looking weather effects I've ever seen, especially when racing in cockpit mode (you can almost feel the rain coming in when your windshield shatters).

---

Depends. I'm playing through the 4WD rally and I've unlocked all 6 of exery stage except for Britain, which I'm in now. I'm guessing this goes for each category though (2WD, expert, etc).

Quote:

---

Speaking of cockpit mode, you have to race in that perspective during the last Championship.

---

That should be fun for me... :sweat:

Quote:

---

During one of the rallies, I had to leave my bodywork unrepaired in order to fully fix my suspension and cooling system. As a result, my hood flew off during the first jump I took on the next track. Later in the course, when I went over a puddle of standing water, the hot exposed engine blew out a cloud of steam. Love the details.

---

That is sweet as hell. I rolled down a hill in Greece and totally trashed my car. It was fun to see my hood fly off on one jump, the spoiler go on the next, and my cracked rear window shatter when I smacked a wall with my rear bumper.

Quote:

---

Can someone please explain what the "super special" courses are for?

---

I'd like to know as well.