NASCAR Thunder 2004 Impressions

Recently, we had the opportunity to take an advance look at the upcoming PC version of NASCAR Thunder 2004. The game will feature the authentic NASCAR racing circuit in terms of tracks and an updated roster of drivers, but it will also have a number of interesting new options. The game itself is being developed with creative input from James Hawkins, one of the lead designers of the F1 series, but it will also include improved physics and vehicle modeling, as well as an improved career mode.

In the game, you'll be able to rub elbows with more than 60 real-world NASCAR drivers from the bush leagues right on up to the big time. You'll begin the career mode with a single car, though you'll be accompanied by a racing crew that can be ordered to spend its time and efforts (and your money) in research and development in order to improve on one or more aspects of your car. Essentially, you'll play as both a manager and a driver, since you must not only run races, but also earn funds and manage your money. You'll procure these funds by signing on with a specific racing team and by getting your car sponsored with advertisements from about 100 major corporate sponsors, including Valvoline, Lowe's, and UPS. As you become more famous and more accomplished, more-high-profile racing teams and big-money sponsors may approach you and offer you bigger, fatter contracts. You can abandon your previous sponsors and teammates (and strip their logos off of your car), but at the cost of your reputation--if you take the money and run too many times, you might have a hard time getting sponsorship later on down the road.

As we saw, NASCAR Thunder 2004 will also have improved physics and damage modeling. Though the game is intended to be accessible to a wide audience, it will have scalable realism settings so that you can model minute details like tire pressure and fuel usage, if you care to. We also saw specific examples of the new damage model in action--NASCAR 2004 will model actual car frames, axles, and tire mass and weight. You'll be able to break windshields, dent side doors, and tear off bumpers, though on the easiest difficulty settings, peripheral damage will have little to no effect on your car's actual performance.

We also witnessed a few spectacular crashes that caused speeding cars to jackknife and overturn completely when hit hard enough from behind. We were also able to see the game's progressive damage model in action--not only can cars sustain exterior chassis damage, but they can also lose parts, including tires that will roll and bounce realistically around the track. The game will also feature a new flame effect on cars that have sustained severe engine damage--a torn-up vehicle will trail flames and smoke behind it until it can get to the pit and get fixed up. NASCAR Thunder 2004 is scheduled for release this fall.