Toca 4 announced at long last

[jonboy1066]

At last the wait is over for an announcement just got to wait for the game now!

Codemasters' Race Driver series, which has always focused on the British Touring Car Championships, is expanding to simulate more racing events around the world.

Due for release in 2008 for "leading console platforms" and PC, Race Driver One features "the most extensive range of events in the series", with races taking place in Europe, the US and Japan. The game will combine "official circuit-based championships with road races and urban street competitions."

Codemasters said Race Driver One is "set to do for circuit racing what dirt has done for offroad racing" at Code07, a press event held earlier this week.

"Combining our racing heritage with the Neon engine, Race Driver One will create a world that goes far beyond the traditional boundaries of motorsport gaming, taking players from the most prestigious race circuits to road and street events around the globe", said executive producer, Gavin Raeburn.

"A completely fresh career structure will engage players in an unprecedented range of racing styles as they build a team capable of becoming number one. The Neon engine will be expanded to deliver a new level of visual detail, physics and an astonishing car damage system."

No in-game footage was shown, but a short video showed some of the cars that will be in the new game, including exotic super cars like Ferrari and slick Japanese racers like the Toyota Supra. More is promised in coming weeks.


Codemasters has announced it has a triple-whammy of new titles in the pipeline for 2008, including a sequel to Operation Flashpoint, an all-new game called Rise of the Argonauts and the latest instalment in the TOCA series. The latter, provisionally titled Race Drive One, will be based on an updated version of the Neon engine that's already causing a stir in Colin McRae DiRT and will take in locations from all across Europe, Japan and the US. In addition to the touring car races made famous in previous games, Race Driver One will also feature new events like street races and urban street competitions, although a Codemasters spokesman was quite adamant it won't follow the same path as Need for Speed Underground.

[felix27]

so do we know if the BTCC will be back in after so many years?!!!!

[jonboy1066]

Not yet but we can hope.

The subject got very tiring over on the Codemasters forum during the leadup to TRD3 and I think they got the message. I spoke to one of Codemasters guys personally at the launch of TRD3 and they did hint towards them thinking they'd dropped a clanger by including DTM instead of BTCC as at that point DTM was about to start with no Opel and BTCC was getting bigger. Now BTCC's popularity has grown so much more I would hope that codies have taken notice.

Now "Race Driver One" (the working title) has it's own thread on Codies forum I have no doubt that the question of BTCC will be raised again and again ad-nauseum and Codies will be unable to answer until just before release but it won't hurt to ask Codies and keep the momentum up and the pressure on...........

[Chef_uk]

so do we know if the BTCC will be back in after so many years?!!!!

Codies didnt renew their licence for BTCC (they owned it for 10 years yet failed to put BTCC in a game for the race driver series) so no it won't be in. I asked Alan about it a few weeks back, his answer is there :)

Street races will make it feel more like underground no matter what they say. TRD3 is great fun and my clan still enjoy races in it even now. circuit and the rally tracks are enough for toca. They should just concentrate on that rather than adding more different types of races.

Note this game will probably come shipped with in-game advertising. TRD3 didn't until the end of last year where new adverts for irrelivant products started to appear. If it does, i won't be touching this with a bargepole.

[jonboy1066]

What do you play TRD3 on Chef? I'm guessing PC as you've mentioned the D.I.G.A

I'll be getting it for PS3 when I eventually get one, hopefully the chance of D.I.G.A on console's will be less, there's none on PS2 Online and I'm hoping it won't happen with PS3.

BTW they've already stated that it's no longer to be referred to as "ToCA" as it's not the title, the game's being refferred to as "Race Driver One" bit of a lame title so hopefully it's just temporary till they think of something better. But losing the ToCA name could be a bad sign for BTCC

[FlashGordon]

I have sent a question to Codemasters them self. I will post a reply if/ when I get one. Hopefully it will say the BTCC will be on it.

[tsunami99]

I have sent a question to Codemasters them self. I will post a reply if/ when I get one. Hopefully it will say the BTCC will be on it.

It won't be. It looks like yet another Race Driver, similar to the previous titles with a few more cars and tracks, but with better car physics

[felix27]

looks like its back to the old toca race driver 1 to play BTCC again then but the alfas are just so easy to win with!

[Robbo]

no matter what extra content they add to these Race Driver games theyre always crap

[jonboy1066]

I have sent a question to Codemasters them self. I will post a reply if/ when I get one. Hopefully it will say the BTCC will be on it.

Don't hold your breath the stuff that's been said in the press releases is all you're going to know for some time, the rest is still secret and won't be divulged to anyone yet.


Basically I've been told that anything not in that press release has to be considered secret.

This is partially why I've not opened an RDOne forum- it would indicate we're ready to talk a bit more in depth about it, which we aren't yet.

So, really, that's all I can say at this point. And anyone who's been around these forums long enough should know I'm not about to make a commitment to reveal stuff at a later date because then peoipel start countdown websites, putting it in diaries and then getting terribly annoyed when it doesn't happen.

So talk amongst yourselves and speculate, but for now there really isn;t a lot I can say.



no matter what extra content they add to these Race Driver games theyre always crap


No they're not! They're the best racing sims available today for any console by far. I've had a ball in the last 18 months organising and participating in many online Championships using Formula BMW, V8 Supercars, HPDC,DTM,VX220's,Seat Cupra's, Clio's, FPA, F3, to name just a few on TRD's 2 & 3.
Granted that the offline career gets a bit frustrating and the Sim mode is arcadey but get online turn ProSim on and you have a game that can rival GTL for handling with the added bonus of real championships with real licensed cars.

[Chef_uk]

What do you play TRD3 on Chef? I'm guessing PC as you've mentioned the D.I.G.A

Yup PC. The Momo Racing wheel from logitech helps me shave 3 seconds off my lap times :)

There is/was actually a BTCC mod for RD3 on the pc. a guy called Sarcophocis made it but was forced to shut his operations down due to copyright infringement. From the releases he did get out, he had all of last seasons cars and liveries done with some tweaking to how the cars handled.

[jonboy1066]

Yeah Sarcophagus' mod did look clever I didn't know he'd been shut down though. My Logitech Driving Force Pro has shaved a second or so off so far but I'm still gettting used to it.:D

[felix27]

the driving games are great the clios become so addictive!

[mattlovestbs]

the driving games are great the clios become so addictive!

they do - the Clios are the only championship on ToCA 3 that i will put up with having a full length, 35 lap race for!!!

[Robbo]

If you want a proper racing game not some crappy thing trying to be a good proper racing game buy either:

rFactor or GTR2

[jonboy1066]

I can't cos I choose not to play games on my PC so ToCA or "Race Driver" games are the only ones we can get they're almost as good anyway and by no means "crappy"

I'm getting tired of all these narrow minded PC gamers and they're derogatory comments about a game that's just fine and handles as well in ProSim as any SimBin game.

I didn't create this thread for other people to slag off a game that they haven't even seen yet so if you wanna discuss GTR or rFactor, go make your own thread please, I accept that they are better games if you have a PC that can run them but lots of people out there don't and so use their consoles to the best possible effect.

[Robbo]

oh hardly seein as the handling on Race Driver 3 is like a drunk person has taken over your computer and most modern pc's nowadays can play those games

[Chef_uk]

There will always be a split faction with regards to toca and the simbin games. Yes its true GTR2, Live for speed, Netkar, are all much more superior to any toca game and that they can all be modified with new tracks skins etc. But the fact remains the toca series is a great stepping stone in to simulated racing games and if some choose to stop at the toca door, then so be it. No need to get the knives out.

If it wasnt for toca, i would never of heard of GTR2 or Live For Speed. Nor would i of even been interested in a simulated racing game.

That said, i find i can only play the simbin games for no more than an hour before i get stressed to hell cause i'm 5 seconds slower than everyone else. Whereas RD3 i can play all night long winning most races and find i get more fun from it with my clan mates on vent.

[Robbo]

Thats because games like GTR2, rFactor and LFS are about having the knowledge of how to set up a race car to keep you on the pace aswell as being a proper SIMULATOR

[Chef_uk]

Thats because games like GTR2, rFactor and LFS are about having the knowledge of how to set up a race car to keep you on the pace aswell as being a proper SIMULATOR

See, you didn't meantion anything about the handling in that sentence ;) but your totally right. I know absolutely nothing about the setups and thats where i lose out.

[tommoore]

Ive played TRD2 and 3, and I honestly believe that they are backward steps from TRD1 and World touring cars. I just hope from all the negative comments on the official forums after TRD3s release has been read by codemasters.
On a slightly different note has any manufactureres given sony licences to put touring cars in the next Gran Turismo, and have a championship for tourers like the DTM, as I brought the WTCC bmw on GT4, then had no races to put it in

[mattkerry91]

GT 4 on PS2, thats a real racing game, has got a few touring cars on it, no BTCC or anything like that but it is the best out there by a mile

[gt3point0]

Yeah Sarcophagus' mod did look clever I didn't know he'd been shut down though. My Logitech Driving Force Pro has shaved a second or so off so far but I'm still gettting used to it.:D

I downloaded the mod and it was very good , then the next time I looked Sarcophagus had removed all his links and all his posts on the Codemasters site .It looks like the BTCC got really heavy with him (see link)

http://reg.3dactionplanet.gamespy.com/btccmod/index.html

Well I think the BTCC is shooting itself in the foot with these of heavy handed tactics I would think that a sport that Gets Zero coveridge in the Mainstrem Media would wellcome all the free advertising help it could get.

[Chef_uk]

I downloaded the mod and it was very good , then the next time I looked Sarcophagus had removed all his links and all his posts on the Codemasters site .It looks like the BTCC got really heavy with him (see link)

http://reg.3dactionplanet.gamespy.com/btccmod/index.html

Well I think the BTCC is shooting itself in the foot with these of heavy handed tactics I would think that a sport that Gets Zero coveridge in the Mainstrem Media would wellcome all the free advertising help it could get.

It wouldn't make good business sense. If they let the licence be a free for all, then no one would buy it (as in game developers).

It's a shame that Sarc choose the Toca engine for his mod as codies were very tight on releasing any form of SDK for it. As such it wasn't a straight forward install for users. Had the mod of been made on one of the other games who's SDK's are freely available, then we may of seen how popular a BTCC game would be. Then it may of gained some media attention.

[felix27]

as I brought the WTCC bmw on GT4, then had no races to put it in

i think GT2 had a supertouring class and that was awsome because there was all the british touring cars! there was a DTM in the german races?

[jonboy1066]

GT 4 on PS2, thats a real racing game, has got a few touring cars on it, no BTCC or anything like that but it is the best out there by a mile



HaHa you are kidding right?

GT4 was a good driving game and a very pretty looking game in it's time like all the Gran Turismo series but it had very little to do with racing.

Gran Turismo:

5 AI cars that give up as soon as you overtake them.
5 AI cars that are way too easy to overtake, stick slowly to a single racing line and very rarely make a mistake (If ever)
No (official and fully working) Online capability
No Damage
No Penalties
No mention of racing in the title "The Real Driving Simulator"

ToCA RD 3/4
Up to 21 AI cars that hang on doggedly to their position and try to repass if they lose a spot.
AI that can be very difficult to overtake, adjust their lines according to what you're doing and do make mistakes including some that send them into the pits to retire and others that take out other AI cars.
The best online function available for any racing game on PS2 & 3 (Possibly any game ATM) and arguably right up there with the best of the sims out there on PC
Damage which although there's room for improvement is right up there with the best of them.
Penalties which may be a bit harsh at certain tracks but at least they are there and you can race around them if you know where the hotspots are.
The mention of racing clearly in the title "The Ultimate Racing Simulator" I know you GTR2 playing PC peeps will let out a belly laugh at that overambitious title but it is the Ultimate racing Sim for PS2 and XBox users.

Granted there's a lot of room for improvement as there is with every game available for every platform but I believe it was a massive step in the right direction compared to ToCA World Touring cars and ToCA RD which themselves had great features but IMO were a giant step back from ToCA Touring Cars 2.

TRD3 is also about knowing how to set the car up (although not to such intricate detail as GTR2,GTL etc) you need to change Downforce levels, gear ratios, anti roll bars, tyre compounds and profiles, brake balance, suspension strength and dampers, toe and Cambers to be competetive in a race.

And the handling in Pro Sim is nothing like a drunk person taking over your computer, perhaps Robbo was drunk when he played the game (If he's ever actually bothered to play it)

Those of you who read my DiRT review will know I was a visitor at Codemasters HQ two weeks ago, played DiRT (which uses the new NEON engine that runs "Race Driver One") and had a tour of the facility. While I was there I saw pictures on the walls of (I can only assume as they had the title "Race Driver 4" written on them) Race Driver One images as well as had a sneaky peak at one of the programmers computers which had some very nice looking pics of different race cars in different enviroments. And I can tell you that if RDOne looks like that and drives as well as DiRT then we've got a fantastic game to look forward to next year.

[tsunami99]

HaHa you are kidding right?

GT4 was a good driving game and a very pretty looking game in it's time like all the Gran Turismo series but it had very little to do with racing.

Gran Turismo:

5 AI cars that give up as soon as you overtake them.
5 AI cars that are way too easy to overtake, stick slowly to a single racing line and very rarely make a mistake (If ever)
No (official and fully working) Online capability
No Damage
No Penalties
No mention of racing in the title "The Real Driving Simulator"

ToCA RD 3/4
Up to 21 AI cars that hang on doggedly to their position and try to repass if they lose a spot.
AI that can be very difficult to overtake, adjust their lines according to what you're doing and do make mistakes including some that send them into the pits to retire and others that take out other AI cars.
The best online function available for any racing game on PS2 & 3 (Possibly any game ATM) and arguably right up there with the best of the sims out there on PC
Damage which although there's room for improvement is right up there with the best of them.
Penalties which may be a bit harsh at certain tracks but at least they are there and you can race around them if you know where the hotspots are.
The mention of racing clearly in the title "The Ultimate Racing Simulator" I know you GTR2 playing PC peeps will let out a belly laugh at that overambitious title but it is the Ultimate racing Sim for PS2 and XBox users.

Granted there's a lot of room for improvement as there is with every game available for every platform but I believe it was a massive step in the right direction compared to ToCA World Touring cars and ToCA RD which themselves had great features but IMO were a giant step back from ToCA Touring Cars 2.

TRD3 is also about knowing how to set the car up (although not to such intricate detail as GTR2,GTL etc) you need to change Downforce levels, gear ratios, anti roll bars, tyre compounds and profiles, brake balance, suspension strength and dampers, toe and Cambers to be competetive in a race.

And the handling in Pro Sim is nothing like a drunk person taking over your computer, perhaps Robbo was drunk when he played the game (If he's ever actually bothered to play it)

Those of you who read my DiRT review will know I was a visitor at Codemasters HQ two weeks ago, played DiRT (which uses the new NEON engine that runs "Race Driver One") and had a tour of the facility. While I was there I saw pictures on the walls of (I can only assume as they had the title "Race Driver 4" written on them) Race Driver One images as well as had a sneaky peak at one of the programmers computers which had some very nice looking pics of different race cars in different enviroments. And I can tell you that if RDOne looks like that and drives as well as DiRT then we've got a fantastic game to look forward to next year.

Their good in different ways.

Graphically Gran Turismo 4 wipes the floor with anything else, the handling is better as well.

In terms of the on track racing it is poor but nothing has been as good as Toca 2 was on the PC in that department.

[ted]

l wish a developer would release a racing game were we can spend hours designing every bit of detail on made up tracks and cars.

[felix27]

i think toca should have a budjet aswell so if you run up the back of someone you have to pay for the damage onto your car! almost haalf way between race and team manager! the further you go the more budjet!

i know its a touchy point but driver injuries because to make it a real race track enviroment if you roll off at paddock hill at 150 you could be out of action for the hole season? then it would make stupid moves look less viable!

drivers points aswell insted of stupid black flags everytime you go off come back on last and still get a warning

[bringbacktheolddays]

just buy THE RACE WTCC on the pc 25 plus on grid!!!!!!!!!!!