I will start with the visuals, since that is what most people notice first. They are underwhelming at best. I understand this is a Massively Multiplayer Online title, I really do. If any of you have played EVE you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say they could do better with the visuals in NFS: World. If you have not played EVE look for some in game screen shots and I am certain you will agree with me. Another example to look at for visual styling and quality is the new Lego Universe MMO, which is also still in beta.

Moving on from visuals I would like to talk about controls. The game is set up to use a keyboard and mouse since it is a PC title. Most people would opt for a console controller in my opinion though. I connected my wired Xbox 360 controller and the game had no problems recognizing it. That being said I was trying to use regular console NFS controls which works fine until you try to use the handbrake. It’s not clunky or in the wrong spot or anything like that, it is just completely missing. They have also added this item icon in the bottom left corner of your screen which seems like it would work with the 360 controller’s d-pad. Such does not seem to be the case, at least in my experience. The standard nitrous button from the console title does override using the nitrous item from the item selector. I might also mention that the item selector changes based on whether you are racing, in a pursuit or just driving.

Speaking of pursuits, races, and free roam; there are skills you can learn in each category. That’s right, skills. These skills do things like make your car 5% faster (in races) or 25% heavier in collisions (in pursuit). I am not sure if the skills will carry over from game mode to game mode. For instance if you learn the skill to make your car faster does that make your car faster all the time or just in a race?

I am sure by now your slightly confused. Learning a skill to make your car faster? What about power mods? Gone. Yep, gone. The only modifications you can do, from what I have seen in the beta involve paint and vinyls. The modification system is the whole point of Need for Speed. I was quite upset with the new system.

Lastly I want to talk about the physics. I started with a Mazda Speed3. The police (which are all NPCs) drive Dodge Chargers. If I T-bone a charger at full speed the side deforms a bit and it flips onto one side and out of my way, a little too easy in my opinion with the Speed3. With a nitrous boost the Charger will flip through the air. My favorite Need for Speed title in terms of collision physics was Most Wanted. The weight of a car really mattered. Which is why my blockade runner in NFS: MW was an Aston Martin.

Anyway, at this point I would not count out the idea of a Need for Speed MMO; I think they might be on to something. It seems like it could be fun. In the final game they need to allow players the modding powers granted to them in titles like Most Wanted or Carbon. Forget leveling to get a faster car by percentage. Leveling up should just allow you to access better cars and parts. That basic formula works in the other titles, assuming beating a racer is like leveling, and it will work here. In all I would give this game another chance provided some changes are made.

Oh and one more thing…

…I WANT A FREAKING HAND BRAKE!!!

Like Hoggles, I am still alive. There will be some new models in the game so keep an eye out. Hope you are all looking forward to playing again.

New Model for Broken Unity

This is one of the 28 new models we have already added to the game.

Read the following instructions for channing the radio welcome message:

Changing the Opening Screen

With the main unit switched on after pressing the Power button, once the key is turned from the ACC position to the off position and back to ACC again, “Scion” is displayed as the Opening Screen. Users can edit the text themselves to make another Opening Screen, as an alternate to the default “Scion” display. Up to a maximum of 16 characters can be displayed. The procedure is described below.

Section 1: Moving to “Customize Mode” to Enable Editing

1. With the main unit on, turn the key from the ACC position to the off position.
2. On the main unit, press and hold MUTE button then turn the to ACC. The horizontal line in the LCD display will start flashing.
3. Within 15 sec. after confirming the horizontal line is flashing, press and hold the PRESET 1 button then turn the key to OFF position. (If 15 sec. elapses before you complete the button presses, “TIME OUT” will be displayed and the unit will beep twice. If this occurs, repeat the procedure from Step 1).

This completes the shifting to the customize mode.

Section 2: Editing the Text

After Completing the shift to customize mode, a flashing cursor shows the letter that can be edited by selecting a letter starting from “A”. The letter selection method is described below. The time allowed for editing is limited to 60 sec.

1. Press the PRESET 3 or 4 buttons to change the flashing letter by displaying other letters one by one. The letters will change continuously if you press and hold the PRESET 3 or 4 button. List of letters and numbers that can be selected.

• Upper case letters (A to Z)
• Lower case letters (a to z)
• Numbers 0 to 9, spaces, symbols (!”# and so on)

1. With the character that you want to select displayed, press the PRESET 6 button to select it. After selecting the character, the cursor moves to the tight so you can edit the next character. After you select the 16th character, the entire line starts flashing. To delete a selected character, press the PRESET 5 button. After you delete a character the cursor shifts left so you can edit the previous character. If you delete all of the text you can edit from the first character.
2. After you are finished selecting the text for the line, press and hold down the PRESET 6 button. The selected text string is registered as the Opening Screen. The customize mode ends and the registered text string is displayed for 6 sec.

NOTICE:

• If the unit leaves the customize mode during editing, repeat procedure from section 1 step 2.
• If the edit is registered with no new text the original Opening Screen, “Scion”, will be restored.

Section 3:

The next time the ACC is switched on, the text edited by the user will be displayed

NOTICE:

To avoid draining the battery, do not leave the car audio on longer than necessary when the engine is not running.

My only problems with this one are your time limit and the fact that a normal human operates the ignition key and radio with the same hand. Toyota wants you to both at the same time. Other than that the English annoys me. Yes the whole this is word for word. If you don’t find yourself saying WTF Toyota yet try this next one. This is from the cars security system manual.

PROGRAMMING:

The SCION – Security is factory-set to not Passively Arm. To change the system’s operation for Passive Arming operation, as well as adjust the Entry Dela time, follow the procedure below. For more information on this feature, please refer to page 7.

PASSIVE ARMING ON/OFF SELECTION, ENTRY DELAY TIME SELECTION:

1. Before you begin: Open the driver’s door. Close the remaining doors and the trunk or hatch. Unlock all doors with the inside lock switch. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
2. Insert and remove the key from the ignition key cylinder 3 times; this must be completed within 5 seconds.

Star the Programming Procedure. (Complete these steps within 40 seconds.)

1. Close the driver’s door.
2. Lock and unlock all doors 3 times by key or remote control.
3. Open and close the driver’s door.
4. Lock, then Unlock the driver’s door inside lock button 3 times.
5. Open the driver’s door.
6. THe system locks the door in 2 seconds; if this does not happen start over.
7. Unlock the driver’s door knob.

Select the Operating Mode and Complete the Programming Procedure.

1. Close then Open the driver’s door: 2 times = Passive Arming OFF; 3 times = Passive Arming ON, 0 Sec. Entry Delay; 4 times Passive Arming ON, 15 Sec. Entry Delay; 5 times = Passive Arming ON, 30 Sec. Entry Delay.
2. Lock then Unlock the driver’s door inside lock button 1 time.
3. The system locks the door in 2 seconds; if this does not happen, start over. Programming is now complete.

Well, well, well…

One: I am reminded of the definition of insanity.

Two: I don’t want to play a freakin’ game, I just want to set my alarm.

WTF Toyota? Can’t I just get a set button or something. geeze.

Oh and one other note, the car feakin’ says Scion all over the damn place. I count at lest 6 off the top of my head. I feel like they are advertising, even though I already bought the car.

I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea here though, I love the car. I think the car is a great value for what I got and I trust it will run for a good long time.

Well I think that about wraps up this rant.

While you are still polluting you are at least polluting less. According to the article a proficient manual drive can reduce their carbon emissions by two thirds of a metric ton. If your good your car’s fuel economy could improve by about fifteen percent. Manuals are more expensive to make but dealers charge on average $800 to $1,200 less for them because they don’t have the automatic transmission which is considered a creature comfort. It makes sense too, according to the MSN Money article only 9% of the cars sold today in the US are manuals. The article also notes that the number is expected to drop to 6% by 2012.

The article also mentions that on average your run of the mill car thieves do not know how to drive a manual. The article makes reference to a post on “Just Wondering…” that says you can learn to drive a manual in 45 minutes, assuming you know how to drive a car already. I agree, it is easy. If you know my uncle I am sure you have heard him say the same thing. He always used to tell me that when he taught me how to drive a manual and I always disagreed. I can see the error of my ways now, it is easy you just need to practice. When you get it down it is way more fun. Just knowing I can down shift and get an extra boost of power to blow past someone makes it worth it. I can also remember before I started driving a manual I used to give hell to those people that are always rolling backwards at traffic lights, now I am one of those people. I don’t know why I do it, half the time I don’t even realize I am doing it. It just seems to be something you do. So to all those people I used to criticize for it, I am sorry.

One more quick note, Read the article on “Just Wondering…” there are a couple bits that I found comical. Like #11 in the Driving on Hills section.

Here’s a sample from the album.

EDIT: I just pre-ordered the album. So I wont be buying it the day it comes out. Signed poster, I think it’s worth waiting a couple of days.