CTIA 2005 Andretti Racing 3D Hands-On

SAN FRANCISCO--Andretti Racing 3D doesn't have much to do with its PlayStation forebear, save for what looks like a similar poly count. The game runs phenomenally well, with a frame rate vastly superior to previous Swerve3D engine efforts. The game's handling was forgiving, but playability, not realism, should be the primary consideration in the development of a mobile sports game. Superscape seems to be on track with Andretti Racing 3D. They even got us to say "3D" four times in a single paragraph, although this last instance was kind of a freebie.

Andretti Racing features nine unique tracks and three championship series. Through some crazy algorithm that Superscape termed "multiplication," that makes for 27 individual races. We played only the first of these, and found that our F1 vehicle all but steered for us. Braking was semiautomated, as was acceleration. On straightaways, however, we would slam on the accelerator, reaching speeds nearing 200mph. The accompanying engine scream sounded convincingly powerful, and the graphics engine never missed a step on our LG VX8000. The speed was further exaggerated by the game's first-person perspective.

In case you're looking to take your racing to the next level, Andretti Racing offers three racing-school courses. The first of these helps you find your line on a track by painting one over the entire course. The second teaches you when and where to accelerate. Finally, a drive test determines whether you've got the chops to drive with the best. You can earn cash by performing well in these trials, which can be reinvested into your vehicle.

Andretti Racing 3D is shaping up to be a tremendous technical achievement. We're happy to see that the Swerve engine's second revision is such a marked improvement. Look for Andretti to arrive on Verizon and other carriers in November of this year.