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[Antiserum]

I don't play much racing games (well it's down to Mario kart wii really). Is similar drift mechanic usual in other racing games? What do you as players feel about drifting vs automatic?
I'm working on a pet project, and am unsure whether to include drift or not; so I would like to hear from the community what it has to say. I doubt my "expertise" in playing just one racing game counts for much

[jotapeh]

Most games give at least some small amount of drift, but some take it to a whole new level. For an example of the extreme drifting, check out OutRun Online Arcade:





I can't think of any examples of the opposite (100% 'sticky' steering,) but if memory serves the old "Test Drive" series for PlayStation was fairly sticky.

In general I think players enjoy more drift than less.. if you ever had to fight for Yoshi in Super Mario Kart you know what I mean. It provides for a more gradual feedback and allows a gradation of error correction. Sticky steering is less forgiving.

That said, I think OutRun Online Arcade takes it a *bit* too far.

[chumez]

I'd take CTR (crash team racing) as an example. While you're drifting (powersliding)
you can hit L1 to "boost", i.e. to produce additional acceleration which gives
you speed for some time.

If you boost in regular intervals for a period of time you can achieve
greater "fire", i.e. longer lasting high speed. Interesting drifting system
in my opinion that is key to outspeeding other players.

You can check it out, if you haven't played it

[BoxedLunch]

I'm pretty sure that in modnation racers, drifting was essential. Often it was the best way to weave between traps and into shortcuts. It was easily the best aspect of the game's racing in my opinion. In fact there was even a bitch of a level based entirely around drifting.

here's a video of it:

[Antiserum]

Thanks guys. I'm in love with ModNation Racers, and I like its drift system even more than MKW. So from what I get, in general - players like to be able to drift.
Aside from drifting and slipstreaming, are there any other very common mechanics used in racing games? I liked MKW's tricks (made on jumps), and am thinking a similarly used hover mechanic might be fun in addition or completely replacing the drift system...?

[starsrift]

The drift courses were possibly the most fun parts of the NFS Underground series.

I'd venture to say that it'd be much harder to have a fun racing game without drift, because drift is a form of feedback to the player that they are going really f*cking fast, fast enough that their velocity overrides traction.

[Core Xii]

I'd take CTR (crash team racing) as an example. While you're drifting (powersliding)
you can hit L1 to "boost", i.e. to produce additional acceleration which gives
you speed for some time.

I absolutely hate that. When sliding is the fastest method of travel, you get "snaking", which looks stupid as hell; I.e. players sliding repeatedly, on each side of the road in turn. Mario Kart DS had this problem and it completely ruined the game for me. Driving straight forward should always be the fastest way.

[gimymblert]

Keep pushing the same button to win is a weak gameplay

There is nothing to do in the game but taking turn, how unfunny. That's why drifting and snaking is great, you have something to do! I barely play racing game because they are boring car porn, I don't find car sexy enough to masturbate like a GT5 fan.

However I'm working on a Racing game right now, I have reviewed the strategy of many racing game. Aside from aspiration there isn't much gameplay and enjoyment mostly came from turn, setting overwhelming parameters and car porn. Actually general strategy tips are two lines deep (take corner close + occasionally crash to skip portion of circuit). Game like mario kart or F zero have multiple pages dedicate to only one trick.

Game like F zero and mario kart became insanely popular because of the frame based input system where you have something to do while driving, and there is fierce competition still going for even the oldest to cram some more ms (especially the most complex of them: MK Snes and his fame pixel precision).

Burnout also introduce adrenaline gauge with circulation and risk taking to gain boost. F zero X also have the neat risk/reward damage vs boost gauge and truly dangerous track that exploit 3D in new way (there is a "vertical inertia" gameplay).

But I understand the purity of the "Silly looking" argument, game are also role play, it does not matter if the game is fun and deep if there is a fucking Pikachu in my game, I do not empathize but i understand (smash bros suffer the same).

Fortunately I was able to find a niche of straight line racer like http://mmohut.com/review/nitto-1320-legends where there is enough data to build straight line gameplay. Now I don't have to design a game where nothing happen except having the best car or the best setting, I can have skill in every moment of play. No silly role breaking trick, straight racing gameplay!

Unfortunately My team did not back up the move, they are the programmers and this is their first game, I had to go KISS, we don't even have multiplayer and AI, fortunately we have ghost and I had to base all my gameplay on that.

[the_dannobot]

dude if you're making a racing game, there are BUNCH more important issues you need to sort out before you worry about whether or not there will be drifting.  For example, will the Calvin decals on the back of the cars be pissing on Ford or Chevy?  Will the empties rattlin around the back seat be Bud Light or Miller Lite?  Will the player have a Camel or a Marloboro 100 dangling from their lips as they tell the state trooper to kiss their ass?

You need to nail down all this stuff for your racing game before you start worrying about things like drving.

cheers!

[Paint by Numbers]

cheers!