Marty_Kojima
New member
Hello my friends. I played this game years ago when was named HEAT Online, Level R, and such. And this week I have been playing it again under the new development. All I can say it's a straight forward, fun game, simple but effective. But if you want this game to succeed, there's a LOT of work to be done.
Before starting, I want to present an example. Drift City is another game from 10 years ago or so. It's another racing MMO that bounces from owner to owner, failing every single year. The game was good and fun when came out in '99 or 2001 (I don't remember), and had lots of fans playing it. But the new developers just got the rights, published the game online and call it a day. Since 3 or 4 years ago, the game have been stable, no new owner, no new developers or shady unknown companies, and lots of players AND money. Why? Because the new owners updated it, and keep doing it. Every single month they add a new car, every single weekend there are events, and much more. So remember, in this era your game needs to have new content, almost on weekly basis, or it's done.
Well, I have lots to cover and probably will forget some points.
--CARS
Aside from the cars the devs want to bring back, this game needs a totally re-design Tier system, prices, performance (I can't stand a shitty Charger has more power and level than a Mustang) and of course, completely new cars that look more like the real counterparts. I don't really care if they are bootleg version of the real one, as long as they look good (take for example GTA V, all cars are replicas but they look nice).
--TUNING
Of course, the tuning system is all broken. Was already lagging behind back in the game launches compared to other racing games, it's not needed to tell you is completely OUTDATED but today's standards. Need rework, the option to add turbos or superchargers (and centrifugal superchargers if possible). Block work, cylinder head work, bigger cams, intakes, exhaust, ECU chips and mapping, timing, etc.
On the visual tuning... just scratch everything that already exists. There barely two or three visual parts that look good... on the entire shop for the entire cars! Needs new bodywork, updated wheels with the option of change the size, offset, adding camber and lips. Car height is a MUST, from slammed to off road, and such. Alphanumerical paint system, able to paint wheels and bodywork separated.
Interior is also a must, been able to change seats, dashboard, steering wheel, strip down the interior or adding a roll cage.
Vinyls should also be reworked. Add some of your designs if you like, but the real vinyls system should be of editable forms (like NFS likes to do) or directly import your own image and upload it (like other mmo games). Having to choose from 5 or 6 existed vinyls is outdated and useless.
--RACE TRACKS AND MODES
Most of the current race tracks and modes are good enough. But would be nice to upgrade some modes. For example Thunder Alley should have some kind of points system, "official" races of 60, 100 or even 200 laps like real life where you need to pay to race, once every weekend or something like that.
Wangan is a nice mode, but also needs work. Add more routes, bigger tracks, AND add NPC cars driving on the same track as you. Just a few are enough to recreate the thrill of the real wangan racing.
A "race" mode should be implemented, using the already existing race tracks (not street tracks), with also official events, points system, categories and such.
Some kind of "by day you race on the track and by night on the streets" type of game that it's so trendy these days.
--EXPLORER
Explorer is a joke. Period. You said earlier free roaming was a mess and it's not coming back. But all I can see is Explorer mode is basically a free roam mode. I'm sure you can get something from it.
--SIMULATION
It's nice already for everyone who likes it, but definitely not the "big gun" of this game. People play this game for fun, so Arcade mode is what most people will choose (and me). If I wanted a realistic driving game, I would just play Assetto Corsa or any other game. So, my suggestion is, don't bother with simulation, just leave it like that. Use your time on other things.
--DRAG
I still have been able to play this mode, nobody does it. Once there are some more cars I'm sure it will be fine.
--DRIFT
Yeah... is also good enough. Not amazing, but can't really thing of anything to improve it.
I will probably add more later. But this is the basics. You (the devs and new owners) need to work hard and update this game, otherwise it will be done in 6 months period. You're competing against triple AAA games like NFS Heat. I know, this is a free game and that one not, but that doesn't matter. In some months it will cost 15 euros (or gb, or usd) and people will prefer to spend a little bit of money and have a really good game. And it's hard for me to tell this, because I have modern NFS games, but that's the truth.
Hope you can keep going and do a good job with this game, that definitely HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL . All I can do is play it and spend some money on the shop, the rest is up to you.
Before starting, I want to present an example. Drift City is another game from 10 years ago or so. It's another racing MMO that bounces from owner to owner, failing every single year. The game was good and fun when came out in '99 or 2001 (I don't remember), and had lots of fans playing it. But the new developers just got the rights, published the game online and call it a day. Since 3 or 4 years ago, the game have been stable, no new owner, no new developers or shady unknown companies, and lots of players AND money. Why? Because the new owners updated it, and keep doing it. Every single month they add a new car, every single weekend there are events, and much more. So remember, in this era your game needs to have new content, almost on weekly basis, or it's done.
Well, I have lots to cover and probably will forget some points.
--CARS
Aside from the cars the devs want to bring back, this game needs a totally re-design Tier system, prices, performance (I can't stand a shitty Charger has more power and level than a Mustang) and of course, completely new cars that look more like the real counterparts. I don't really care if they are bootleg version of the real one, as long as they look good (take for example GTA V, all cars are replicas but they look nice).
--TUNING
Of course, the tuning system is all broken. Was already lagging behind back in the game launches compared to other racing games, it's not needed to tell you is completely OUTDATED but today's standards. Need rework, the option to add turbos or superchargers (and centrifugal superchargers if possible). Block work, cylinder head work, bigger cams, intakes, exhaust, ECU chips and mapping, timing, etc.
On the visual tuning... just scratch everything that already exists. There barely two or three visual parts that look good... on the entire shop for the entire cars! Needs new bodywork, updated wheels with the option of change the size, offset, adding camber and lips. Car height is a MUST, from slammed to off road, and such. Alphanumerical paint system, able to paint wheels and bodywork separated.
Interior is also a must, been able to change seats, dashboard, steering wheel, strip down the interior or adding a roll cage.
Vinyls should also be reworked. Add some of your designs if you like, but the real vinyls system should be of editable forms (like NFS likes to do) or directly import your own image and upload it (like other mmo games). Having to choose from 5 or 6 existed vinyls is outdated and useless.
--RACE TRACKS AND MODES
Most of the current race tracks and modes are good enough. But would be nice to upgrade some modes. For example Thunder Alley should have some kind of points system, "official" races of 60, 100 or even 200 laps like real life where you need to pay to race, once every weekend or something like that.
Wangan is a nice mode, but also needs work. Add more routes, bigger tracks, AND add NPC cars driving on the same track as you. Just a few are enough to recreate the thrill of the real wangan racing.
A "race" mode should be implemented, using the already existing race tracks (not street tracks), with also official events, points system, categories and such.
Some kind of "by day you race on the track and by night on the streets" type of game that it's so trendy these days.
--EXPLORER
Explorer is a joke. Period. You said earlier free roaming was a mess and it's not coming back. But all I can see is Explorer mode is basically a free roam mode. I'm sure you can get something from it.
--SIMULATION
It's nice already for everyone who likes it, but definitely not the "big gun" of this game. People play this game for fun, so Arcade mode is what most people will choose (and me). If I wanted a realistic driving game, I would just play Assetto Corsa or any other game. So, my suggestion is, don't bother with simulation, just leave it like that. Use your time on other things.
--DRAG
I still have been able to play this mode, nobody does it. Once there are some more cars I'm sure it will be fine.
--DRIFT
Yeah... is also good enough. Not amazing, but can't really thing of anything to improve it.
I will probably add more later. But this is the basics. You (the devs and new owners) need to work hard and update this game, otherwise it will be done in 6 months period. You're competing against triple AAA games like NFS Heat. I know, this is a free game and that one not, but that doesn't matter. In some months it will cost 15 euros (or gb, or usd) and people will prefer to spend a little bit of money and have a really good game. And it's hard for me to tell this, because I have modern NFS games, but that's the truth.
Hope you can keep going and do a good job with this game, that definitely HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL . All I can do is play it and spend some money on the shop, the rest is up to you.