Trackmania (Nations Forever, FREE game, Download or Be Banned)

Some new info has popped up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TM Wiki entry

Coppers

The use of Coppers in Trackmania United is more important than ever before. They will act as an in game currency to reward players as they progress through the game.

Players will start with 50 coppers which they can use to buy new videos, cars, tracks and even replays all within the game. Extra coppers can be earned by playing through the game in solo mode and competing online. Coppers can also buy entry into tournaments with the winner taking away the jackpot. Members of a group can also spread royalties from community projects splitting the coppers evenly.

It is likely that coppers will still be used to restrict the sizes of maps.
ManiaZones

ManiaZones group players by geographical location. The master server will group players online by area and as their classification improves they will challenge others from around their country then by continent and eventually the world.

* The system will also support groups of players who are friends or in the same clan.
* A new improved rating system (ManiaStars)
* Forums will also be included and will use the ManiaZones to group players. (Unconfirmed)
* A new news portal will give players information about current events.
* Every player will have a date of birth based on their registration date.

ManiaCode

In-game download system.

ManiaLink

Every Trackmania United player will have their own personal webpage similar to the ones used over at myspace.com The page will display stats and creations as well as other social networking features.

The ManiaLink system will be used to find the best community sites easily.
Track Editor

* Double the number of blocks and four moods for the Stadium environment.
* Larger build area for TMO & TMS (30x30 upgraded to 45x45)
* Building rules will be relaxed.
* Enhanced MediaTracker with new cinematic sequences.
* Integration of music, pictures and videos to further enrich your tracks.

Solo

* Ghosts of top players will be included with tracks to race in solo mode.

Multiplayer

* Enhanced online features from TMN will be integrated into TMU
* Players will be able to respawn in all environments.
* Game modes will remain unchanged.

Quote:

Further Information

* Players who own TMO and/or TMS can merge their account with United. This is likely to include the transfer of ManiaStars.
* Starforce will still be used but hopefully will be less strict.
* Car model importer feature
* Owners of TMO/TMS will have to buy a new copy of TMU but will be able to merge accounts into one.
* All environments will support checkpoint re-spawns
* There are no new blocks or graphical improvements for the TMO/TMS environments.
* Nadeo spent more time on TMU than on TMS.
* The game is aimed at TMN players but TMO/TMS players who go online are likely to upgrade too.
* The current TMO, TMS and TMN master servers will remain online.

Beta 1 - Private test. (Complete)
Beta 2 - Around 10 keys were given out on 16/09/06 after minigames on tm-forum. (In progress)
Beta 3 - Larger test with 5,000 beta-testers. (Starting on October, 26)

Sounds like what I expected. Not a huge amount new outside of mixing environments (omg) and some serious community integration.

That said, Starforce still being used is a gigantic kick in the nuts. I can only hope there will be another publisher to get this game (steam plz), somehow, or that Starforce will not suck by the time TMU is out. I'm just setting myself up for disappointment.

* Starforce will still be used but hopefully will be less strict.

No sale right there. They are seriously insane to keep that viral garbage.

I think it's a publisher thing more than anything; all enlight/deep silver/whatever games use it, which blows.

Steam version, please.

X360 port plz.

Barring that, a Steam release would be fine, too. None of this Starforce-enabled bullshit.

Starforce, again, means no sale. Dammit, I want this game! Add my vote to the call for a 360 version, if it's not been registered yet.

James

Damn this Starforce shit to hell. UbiSoft and JoWood dropped it awhile back and now use other means of DRM. Why not use Safedisc instead?

http://tmu.gamesplanet.com/campagne/...jeu=Trackmania

OMG It's out.

Digital distribution FTW.

(They're only selling 10,000 copies online, and this game won't be released in American stores until February)

SF? No SF? Damn. I really don't see how it could have it. I'm tempted.

I think Nations had a version of Starforce, even though it was download-only. I'd assume this is the same way.