14 DAY TRIAL // Those who are eagerly waiting for Codemasters' Colin McRae: DIRT know that the game is set for launch this September for the Xbox 360. What some of them might not know is that the highly anticipated rally-racing-title features an impressing damage system, possible only with the help of Codemasters' proprietary engine, Neon, and? a PS3. The developer has rolled out some impressive PS3 gameplay footage, which they kind of messed up at the end... You'll see.
Leaving aside that the video says loud and clear (actually reads) Coming Soon to PlayStation 3, Codemasters left the Xbox 360 pack shot there (pictured left). OK, that's the mistake they did, moving on now. Thanks to a spectacular damage system, gamers will experience the game's high impact moments through detailed visuals, force feedback steering wheel functionality and a top-spec audio system exclusive to the format, the official report informs.
Also, the official report offering the damage video says that in any mode, on any surface, the car handling is sublime, while the physics system are thrillingly accurate and the damage effects are devastating. Generally, I don't get too excited reading about such impressive features in a press release, but having seen the video myself, I have to say the description is pretty accurate.
As for Colin McRae: DIRT's damage system, it delivers the most detailed vehicle and environment damage effects, the soft body damage system replicates perfect deformation on any vehicle from any impact - from a paint scrape to a roof crumpling to the roll cage. Entire wheel and spring tyre sections can rip off spoilers and bumpers can snap into separate pieces.
Just check out the metal fence bending and trembling right after impact. Have you ever seen anything more realistic in a racing-sim? I must say, a much as I love the Gran Turismo franchise, having seen what Colin McRae: DIRT can do, I might just convert myself to it.
And here's where the realism comes from. The same report reveals that each individual car is modeled to a fine degree of accuracy, with car specific weak points and strengths, ensuring that they will break, bend, warp and disintegrate realistically and in fantastic detail. The engine is also said to provide for a totally destructible environment, thanks to dynamic physics on track objects. For example: crash into a wall at speed and it will smash into its individual bricks and stones, while branches will snap off trees, flying onto your opponent's windscreen and signposts.
Codemasters also assure fans that Colin McRae: DIRT will be compatible with many wheels originally purchased for PlayStation2, also being fully configurable from action assignments to steering linearity, dead zones and saturation.
If you've missed the link above, taking you to the video showing off an impressive damage system and featuring a developer's diary, HERE it is again. Enjoy!