Computer + Video Games - Commodore Is Awesome

ard Dnvin was originally
H 4, developed as a real droving
simulator. designed to help Pear
ners get the feel of what it's like
to be behind the wheel of a car
However, halfway through de
welopment. the programming
team vvisely decided that the r-chine
would make far more
money if it was turned into a
coin-op so they beefed up the
specifications of the car, added
speed and stunt tracks and created
the highest-grossing arcade
game of all time
The coin-op is an impressive
beast, and features very fast
filled. 3D polygon graphics that
create a real-world environment
There are options that let
you select an automatic or manual
five-speed gearbox, and the
car handles very realistically So
how the hell has it been
squeezed into an STo Read on
and find out
As in the arcade game you re
given the choice of an automatic
or manual gearbox Automatic is
a must for beginners Cocky drivers
who opt for manual gear
change can use the keyboard or
a Joystick lust like a real stickshift
You can also use a loystick
or keyboard for steering, but
the mouse gives the best feedback
and provides the best feeling
of really driving
Once you've got the controls
sussed it's onto the race There
are two tracks to drive on, stunt
and speed. and the rules are
simple • lust drive through one
of the checkpoints down the
road before the clock runs out
to gain extra time As long as
you keep on going through
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threej you can keep on going
But be prepared to put your
foot down. 'cos the time limits
get tighter and tighter'
Just like on real life, it 1, the
other road users who make life
difficult Cars and trucks cruise
the tracks in both directions and
while they don't actually drive
dangerously. they do get in the
way something chronic When
the clock is ticking down you
have to be prepared for some
pretty hairy overtaking, and if
there's anything coming in the
opposite direction KAPLOOIE
1 Its almost worth crashing.
though. because whenever you
total the car on a building or another
vehicle, fly off the loopthe•loop.
fail to make the jump
over the bridge, the crash is replayed
from a remote angle so
you can see exactly how you just
hospitalized yourself'
At the start of a game, you're
given a lap time target Beat it
- 4
1 1
and you get the chance to challenge
the legendary Phantom
Photon, a mean computer
driver who'll give you a very fast
one-lap race around the course
Beat horn to the finishing post
and your winning lap is kept in
memory as the next lap time target
• beat your own record and
you actually challenge yourself
to a race, with the computer car
exactly reproducing your winning
lap Brilliant. eh?
Programmer Juergen Friedrich
has worked miracles in
1)1 1