NASCAR The Game 2011 News Post

NASCAR The Game 2011 Q&A and Impressions

12:47 PM - March 24, 2011 by bluengold34_OS

I received the game this morning at 9 AM. Please keep in mind, I have only raced 4 times so far and practiced at another.

I am going to answer as many questions as I can that have already been asked, then will keep posting impressions and answer as many questions as I can. I have my PS3 in my office hooked up to the same monitor as my PC, so I have to switch over, so If I don't immediately respond to something, it's because I am on the PS3.

On to the questions, from the other topic.

I wanna know how are the Graphics compared to NASCAR 09? I really can't get a good grasp from the videos. Thanks.

IMO the graphics are a bit better than NASCAR 09. NASCAR 09 was a nice looking game, but I think NTG11 does a better job here. There is a very natural, organic look to it, almost like MLB The Show has. The color palate is there, but it's not too crisp, or overdone.

The car models are nicely executed, and tracks look beautiful.

1. I think we are all wondering about the difficulty of the game and if what we saw in the videos was on some easier level. Is the game more realistic than what the videos may have lead us to believe?

2. Is there a true career mode, or is it just a season, and how does that work?

3. Do you get the sense that you are at 30+ different tracks, or does it feel like most of the tracks run about the same?

1. I set the difficulty for the AI on the highest at Tally, Daytona, and Texas. They were very competitive at Tally and Daytona, and Texas were just better than me....flat out! What I really like so far about the AI, is that they are aggressive, but not cheap. They understand that you are also on the track, and try to be cautious of their surroundings. They did bump draft with me at Tally and Daytona, and I could do the same with them...and there was no sign of them being disturbed by it.

2. Have not jumped into career mode as of yet, but will give it a run as the day progresses.

3. There was a nice difference in the feel from Atlanta, Texas, Daytona and Tally. They didn't feel that same at all, and based off early impressions, they did a nice job trying to individualize and realistically replicate each track.

Pre-race presentation-Is there a full pace lap with the driver/grid position rundown like EA did a few years back? Very tv-style touch that was very nice. Also, any featured drivers pre-race?

Wreck/caution-how long is it between the wreck, caution and going into the pace lap? Time enough to 'go thru' the wreck if it happened up in front and you're in the back of the pack, or just 'there's a wreck' and then two seconds later in the caution lap?

Keep in mind, I have not done season or career, but in "race now" option, there was no pre-race or any presentation. It literally took you to the race about 100 yards away from the start finish line.

In regards to wrecking, you get to watch the whole wreck. It doesn't take you away to a cut scene instantly. I was in one at Tally, and it seemed like it lasted 20 seconds, and I was in one at Texas, and it only lasted about 10 seconds. Then it gives you the option to pit under caution...if you choose no, it takes to a few seconds before the green flag drops again.

I am very curious about the realism of the track surface. For example, Are there bumps in on the lowside of turns 1 and 2 at Las Vegas? Do the bumps upset the car and make you create a setup that can handle those bumps?

That leads to my other question. How much does messing with the setup actually change the feel of the car? When the track rubbers up, does the car get tighter?

From what I have seen, the bumps feel like they are barely noticeable. I felt a little bit at Daytona in turns 3 going into 4(keep in mind its still Daytona 10 on my copy) but nothing that really forced me to white knuckle the wheel at all. When an AI car gets into you, you notice that a lot more than any bumps on the track surface. If you're hoping to really feel the surface bumps and have it effect the car....probably not going to be real happy.

I will say the the driving model is really well done though, and you truly feel connected to the track surface.

Ok, going to go test some more, and try to get some photos, but videos may be very difficult. I am trying to find a way to do it right now. I will be back in a few to answer some more questions and give some solid impressions.

Game: NASCAR The Game 2011Reader Score: 4/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Wii / Xbox 360Votes for game: 15 - View All

NASCAR The Game 2011 Videos

Member Comments

# 1021 buckeye02 @ 03/29/11 06:02 PM

Ive raced 6 online races. Never raced in a room with more than 5 people. Bump drafting is near impossible unless both of you have great connection. I wanted a Nascar game so bad that i just had to get it. Even when reading all of the negative reviews on here.

I can confirm the caution not comming out as it should. Seems like their needs to be at least 3 cars spinning for the caution to come out. I wanted to test something out, so i decided to sit in the middle of the track at a complete stop. The caution never came out until i was going the wrong way for about 5 sec.

The fact that the career mode is only 1 year is the dagger in this game for me. I dont get their logic naming a mode "career mode" when its only 1 year. The difference in single player mode and career mode is that in career, you can be yourslef.

Sponsors also suck. None of them are big name sponsors. Their all sponsorships that go on the front quarterpanle of the car. If i had Nascar 09 i'd probabky play that instead.

# 1022 buckeye02 @ 03/29/11 06:04 PM

When racing Talladega some of the AI cars slow down for no apparent reason near the start finish line. Anyone else see this? Im on PS3 btw

# 1023 Kingsly9 @ 03/29/11 06:05 PM

Here we go,

There is some rather large issues on the online side of things and with regards to cautions but, this is really an amazing game and I by no means am bashing this. They knocked the offline side of this OUT OF THE PARK! Heres what I posted on the official forums:

Alright well, there is some HUGE online problems with this game that need to be addressed ASAP. Eutechnyx guys, great game like really its amazing! You have a lot of positives but also a lot of negatives. Online, we need to be able to select what driver we want to use not just using our career car. There should be no time limit for online lobbies. I expeianced a pretty insane glitch where there was me and 2 other cars running in a room with 12 people joined into it. the other 9 drivers were all over the track acting like pylons we have to dodge. Other then that and a few other minor bugs you guys truly have a terrific game and I know NTG 2012 is going to be AMAZING. Thanks for this game and please, get this stuff fixed soon. Definitely before the DLC in May/June.

# 1024 candlechips @ 03/29/11 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCrouch


	If you already know this, I apologize, but a Sprint Cup car will have camber settings that literally rotate the top of the tire in or out, so that when you are under weight at speed in a corner, the tire rotates back to being flat. This creates an issue where the car will naturally pull to the left on a straight, since it's built to turn left. That requires a driver to pull to the right to compensate while going down a straight. If you're not accustomed to that, it can create a 'fishtail wiggle' as you go back and forth trying to keep it straight. On a gamepad especially you have to get used to moving the stick over about 5 degrees all the time just to go straight--and some tracks are worse than others.

Tire stagger (tire circumference differential) and caster "split" (more angle on right side) can make the car feel a little weird on the straights as well. In comparison to the corners, chassis load is also very low on the backstretch. I even heard real drivers at the 2011 Daytona 500 talk about the car being more difficult to drive on the straits while push-drafting.

# 1025 �nima @ 03/29/11 06:07 PM

I've been racing in a lobby with four or five other good racers for three hours and I'm loving this game to death.

Get a crowd of the right people who communicate and race right and there is a lot of fun to be had.

# 1026 Roggie @ 03/29/11 06:08 PM

I just ran the Daytona 500. x3 wear, 20 laps. I pit on lap 14, because I was out front all race, so no drafting to extend fuel. (First race, didn't realize I had to have it on very hard for myself to get a challenge). Lap 15, the ENTIRE FIELD tries to pit at the same time. Huge wreck from everyone running into each other. Restart, NOBODY pits under caution. Wreck AGAIN from everyone trying to pit. Same thing happens after that restart, but one of the five or six cars who was able to pit had taken the white flag so there's no GWC...

That was ridiculous...

# 1027 TCrouch @ 03/29/11 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candlechips


	Tire stagger (tire circumference differential) and caster "split" (more angle on right side) can make the car feel a little weird on the straights as well. Chassis load is very low on the backstretch in comparison to the corners as well. I even heard real drivers at this years Daytona 500 talk about the car being more difficult to drive on the straits while push-drafting.

Yep, exactly. I just figured I'd throw out the biggest factor, since stagger is typically mandated now and can't be messed with anyway, but you're 100% right...but you already knew that lol

# 1028 candlechips @ 03/29/11 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCrouch


	Yep, exactly. I just figured I'd throw out the biggest factor, since stagger is typically mandated now and can't be messed with anyway, but you're 100% right...but you already knew that lol

Yeah, years of tinkering with NR2003, etc setups has been quite the educational experience.

# 1029 bluengold34_OS @ 03/29/11 06:19 PM

I hope no one feels I mislead them at all here, I was giving my honest impression's of how I felt about this game(PS3 version). I posted the video's last night of me racing, and nothing was doctored at all. It sounds like the 360 version is really having some issues though. I will also say that since I got the patch, every time a caution should have come out, it did.

I still love this game for the exact same reason I did yesterday, and the day before. On the hard-core mode(which I understand they took out of the 360 patch)with no assists on, it is challenging to win, and a lot of fun.

I explained that career mode was thin on options, and I only raced 1 time on-line, but that one time was very smooth and we finished the race with no issues. I also explained the create-a car had no decals, but was just like forza.

I have no interest at all if someone buys this game or not, but I gave my true, honest impressions of what I played on the PS3. I still feel like it's the best NASCAR game to date on a console, and I will not back down from that.

I am not pointing fingers at anyone at all, but I will stand by my word and how I feel about this game. I do not bow to the pressure of how the majority feels, and I am no conformist.

# 1030 goosedawg68 @ 03/29/11 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingsly9


	Here we go, There is some rather large issues on the online side of things and with regards to cautions but, this is really an amazing game and I by no means am bashing this. They knocked the offline side of this OUT OF THE PARK! Heres what I posted on the official forums: Alright well, there is some HUGE online problems with this game that need to be addressed ASAP. Eutechnyx guys, great game like really its amazing! You have a lot of positives but also a lot of negatives. Online, we need to be able to select what driver we want to use not just using our career car. There should be no time limit for online lobbies. I expeianced a pretty insane glitch where there was me and 2 other cars running in a room with 12 people joined into it. the other 9 drivers were all over the track acting like pylons we have to dodge. Other then that and a few other minor bugs you guys truly have a terrific game and I know NTG 2012 is going to be AMAZING. Thanks for this game and please, get this stuff fixed soon. Definitely before the DLC in May/June.

Since I will be racing mostly offline, I probably haven't wasted my money?

# 1031 UGA14 @ 03/29/11 06:22 PM

Online on PS3 is atrocious. You Papyrus fans wondering if this is finally it after so many years, no. Not even close. Before the human even gets control of the car I've seen a car thrown completely off the track and flipped on top of another car... the starts are not at all tight and I end up seconds behind the leader even starting 3rd. Are you kidding? Do they test games anymore??

# 1032 RynoAid @ 03/29/11 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UGA14


	Online on PS3 is atrocious. You Papyrus fans wondering if this is finally it after so many years, no. Not even close. Before the human even gets control of the car I've seen a car thrown completely off the track and flipped on top of another car... the starts are not at all tight and I end up seconds behind the leader even starting 3rd. Are you kidding? Do they test games anymore??

this has been my online experience so far... I'm 360.

# 1033 the_serz88 @ 03/29/11 06:24 PM

I think as far as this game goes it was great idea, bad execution. For example, create-a-car, but no way to share cars; career mode, but all it really consists of is 36 straight single player races; better A.I. than EA, but cautions are poorly detected and the field bunches up in the corners (just had it happen at Daytona). I've played the game for about 3 hours now and feel like it will "get me by" as far as a next-gen NASCAR game goes. I only dropped $36 for it on Amazon cuz I had a gift card but I feel like I should have put it towards another copy of NR2003 since I can't seem to find my disc anymore.

# 1034 jct32 @ 03/29/11 06:27 PM

Online has its issues, yellows aren't too great. I have come from our league we had on NASCAR 09 where we had user called cautions, so no biggie too me on these cautions. The whole trying to get everyone in at the same time thing will be the worst. If you know how to run you will blow away the field. Online has lots of potential and if they would allow us to have a little more customization for our settings example wear rate it would be amazing online from what I've experienced. I've only done fields of about 3 or 4 though.

# 1035 jct32 @ 03/29/11 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jct32


	Online has its issues, yellows aren't too great. I have come from our league we had on NASCAR 09 where we had user called cautions, so no biggie too me on these cautions. The whole trying to get everyone in at the same time thing will be the worst. If you know how to run you will blow away the field. Online has lots of potential and if they would allow us to have a little more customization for our settings example wear rate it would be amazing online from what I've experienced. I've only done fields of about 3 or 4 though.

I take back customization thing, I didn't realize you could do that in a private lobby. I think if we can get a good group the online experience could be pretty great. I haven't had some of the issues like the car flipping at start like the others so I have a pretty high opinion of online right now.

# 1036 petty43 @ 03/29/11 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UGA14


	Online on PS3 is atrocious. You Papyrus fans wondering if this is finally it after so many years, no. Not even close. Before the human even gets control of the car I've seen a car thrown completely off the track and flipped on top of another car... the starts are not at all tight and I end up seconds behind the leader even starting 3rd. Are you kidding? Do they test games anymore??

Online or offline both has major problems.I got to play about 3 hrs today.I love nascar and I love gaming.been waiting on this game for a long time.and I have been trying to stay positive but how can they release a game in this shape .its ok its one season.they told us that.the cars do drive good.but some tracks are impossible to play due to bunching up in the corners,half the field can crash with no caution,caution lights stay on.some tracks you cab lap the sit on the pole and lap the field,other tracks you can't even keep up,on the same setting.bristol is impossible to play and online is useless,I really do hope they can fix this because we have waited so long.I don't think I have ever seen a game released with this many problems ever.

Sent from my PB99400 using Tapatalk

# 1037 vegaas @ 03/29/11 06:36 PM

Wow, what a difference a day makes! On my way to work this morning I was 100% positive that I was picking up this game on the way home and WWE All-Stars wasnt even on my radar.
Now at the end of the day, reading all these issues has me on the fence about the game. Then I see a thread about All-Stars, its sounding like the best wrestling game since No Mercy.
Not sure what I do now.

# 1038 RunN1st @ 03/29/11 06:40 PM

Thanks for the impressions, guys. My copy isn't suppose to arrive until later this afternoon and I won't be jumping on until later on tonight... However, I'm on the fence on whether or not I should open it.

WWE All-Stars and Shift 2 have my attention.

# 1039 �nima @ 03/29/11 06:41 PM

Playing in a private lobby with good drivers is the way to go. There are still a lot of bugs though.

I feel bad for Eutechnyx, really I do. There's a great racing game here. It is just BURIED in launch day bugs that are going to turn a lot of people off.

I hope people give them time to work through this over the next month or two.

# 1040 TCrouch @ 03/29/11 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluengold34_OS


	I hope no one feels I mislead them at all here, I was giving my honest impression's of how I felt about this game(PS3 version). I posted the video's last night of me racing, and nothing was doctored at all. It sounds like the 360 version is really having some issues though. I will also say that since I got the patch, every time a caution should have come out, it did. I still love this game for the exact same reason I did yesterday, and the day before. On the hard-core mode(which I understand they took out of the 360 patch)with no assists on, it is challenging to win, and a lot of fun. I explained that career mode was thin on options, and I only raced 1 time on-line, but that one time was very smooth and we finished the race with no issues. I also explained the create-a car had no decals, but was just like forza. I have no interest at all if someone buys this game or not, but I gave my true, honest impressions of what I played on the PS3. I still feel like it's the best NASCAR game to date on a console, and I will not back down from that. I am not pointing fingers at anyone at all, but I will stand by my word and how I feel about this game. I do not bow to the pressure of how the majority feels, and I am no conformist.

I wouldn't think that at all. Your opinion and impressions are yours, and you're entitled to them. I don't think this is necessarily a busted game or anything, because I've only run a handful of races. It just has me pretty concerned, but if something was taken out of the 360 patch, then I'm not sure what else they may have done to it. It seems to drive pretty nicely, but I'll find out more tonight for sure.

Like you said before, everybody is going to have their own opinion. I think I can have some fun with the game, and I'm not going to go screaming from the mountaintops about how "wrong" your opinion is

I didn't even touch career mode or mess with any options as I only had an hour, so I may end up absolutely loving it after 15 races tonight. So, personally, I don't think you did anything misleading at all.

I've been there. Had a ton of fun in a game, reported on what I was seeing (stuff like Madden and NASCAR 09, Forza, etc), only to have the masses rip it to pieces once it releases. People just don't understand that what they do may not be exactly what you did, so they might see something different.

I have no clue how the AI could be like what I saw consistently and not be noticed, so I'm hoping it was just an aberration and I'll take back everything I said by tomorrow. But I'm just a little underwhelmed at this point.

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