I wouldn't count SUMO out as they did the Virtua Tennis port to PSP, so they obviously know what they're doing, plus they have teh experience of handling the original Outrun2 port.

My worry is that in the process of moving away from similar hardware to the arcade, changes will not be limited to the presentation. I really hope they don't start dicking about with the game by adding in tuning features and all that other garbage you get with Need for Speed Underground et al.

Just keep it simple please, I want Canonball Run style road racing in Ferraris, Outrun2 style, nothing more Thanks

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

It could go two ways.

1. they'll (the porters) will have to program it properly this time, instead of psuedo squeezing it, making for a better experience all round.

2. it'll be a steaming pile of rubbish because the hardware is so different the porter won't have a clue where to start or finish.

The PS2 and especially the PSP aren't reknown for their visual vibrancy, but considering what SEGA are chucking out with Ryu ga gotoku and Sega Rally 2006, and its not some horrendous yank programming farm, it might be fine.

Also, in a beard stroking way, and this is my diagnosis of most game games, is would OutRun2 be anyworse for being in wireframe, and I think it'd be brilliant in wireframe, the fun and energetic nature would still be great.

might be my gaming heritage though. background could be blue and everything!

Proper wireframe, I'd still play it, but it would be nowhere near as much fun.

BUT. If they made it like Rez with all those cool visual effects then that could be something spectacular.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Rez contains lotsa wireframe (and flat shading) as it is.

I'd go for wireframes any day, be a nice extra. I'm sure Xbox Moto GP as a visual 'filter' that does something like this.

My brain, because I'm really clever, fills in the gaps.

It'd be interesting to see what the technical possibilities are of, how would you say, ripping off OutRun2 into a wireframe, cuboid racing affair.

Thinking about it, most of Sega's 3d arcade games would be fine in wireframe, Sega Rally, Virtua Fighter, Virtual On... after all your brain merely breaks it into the constituent gameplay parts anyways.

Yeah that would be cool, but I think Jib had something much more basic in mind. Think Hard Driving - Shading + Outrun2

I want a BBC B port and possibly a BBC Master version with more "coloUrs".

Any BASIC that spells coloUr is fundamentally broken.

In fact, this is a good indicator of which 8 bit machines to avoid.

BBC system was very logical though wasn't it. My dad always banged on about how accessible it was or some such.

Back on topic. Does the PSP have pressure sensitive buttons? I don't think so which will make Outrun2 unplayable on the PSP.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Accessible to anyone not wanting to play video games. The main selling point I think.

I'm fairly sure the buttons are all digital. They could always go for accel on the nub, but that would be painful to play.

And PS2, give that man a lolly.

Wheel only.

You only ever get two levels of analogue pressure supported really on ps2 pads.... squish and squish a bit harder.

You could do the analogue steering and acceleration on the sticks easy enough for the ps2. The PSP however would need a redesign.

But as we all know, wheels are the only way to play driving games. The Logitech Driving Force Pro is looking all the more useful. Not that Sega Rally 1995 and 2006 aren't a good enough reason.

Yeah but you could buy a real car for the same money, not a very good one mind, probably only an oxidised and beat up old red VW Golf MkII.

Actually that gives me an idea...

Old Banger + 42" Plasma + Driving Force gubbins + Washing machine motor for force feedback = Ultimate Outrun2 cab.

You'd have to cut the steering column and disconnect the gear linkage plus do some other work to integrate the motor, plasma and Logitech wheel with the car.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

sore sore point. My oxidized mkII golf is now in car heaven, along with my oxidized grey/silver Aston Maestro I use to drive.

Now I have a completely uninteresting T reg Ford Focus Diesel... I'm thinking of buying a grey suit, and think rimmed glasses.

But you raising the PSP/PS2 control input mechanisms is valid....

Focus is a good car (we have one), but for the love of all that is Holy why did you get a diesel? I know that they are now supposed to be 'good', but you'll never get over the limitations of the power drop off it's thermodynamically impossible.

They do stick like glue though you have to push really hard before you start to get some understeer. Best FF car I've driven by miles.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

It was an economic test, and 1.8 "turbo". Something that OutRun2 in all its splendor fails to capitalise on.

Instead of points, you get fuel tokens... HOW COOL IS THAT!?

So between each stage you have to fill up, and depending how well you drive... and so on and so forth.

Basically trundling in 5th gear at 20miles perhour gets "teh W1n".

http://www.sega-europe.com/en/NewsStory/926.htm

SUMO then....

Sumo

What say we have a whip round and buy them a QA department for Christmas?

PC though - could this be a Lindbergh port?

Cards on the table time.

OutRun2 is a great game. The Xbox port is slightly on the shoddy side of shoddy.

Virtua Tennis 2 is a great game. The PSP port is slightly on the shoddy side of shoddy.

The games are great, dispite the port, although the port being better might have made a better experience.

3rd time lucky?

Although like you say, a PC version would be top banana. GT Force Pro alround, except on the PSP... mind you that does HAVE a USB port.

Hmm... if it does support a force feedback steering wheel, then the dream could become a reality.

The game might literally be able to drive itself.

My cards on the table I will give SUMO maximum kudos if they can make this game work on the PSP. I shudder when thinking about taking the first corner using the nub. It's almost impossible to pick a line and hold it with the nub, it just sticks and slides without warning. You have to sort of jab away at it, which won't work with Outrun2 imo.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

I'm just considering how funny it'd be to hook up a GT Force Pro and a PSP...

Papercut, do you have a USB A to miniUSB adapter... a comedy OutRun2 mockup is definitely needed here...

No I don't, sadly...

I do have a Saturn s-video cable though.

Whilst trying to find Outrun2 Coast 2 Coast Street on the sega.jp site I found this:

http://www.sega.co.jp/ps2/getaway/home.html

Sega publishing Sony Europe games?!? Eh?

My mind says there s foggy precedence for that, but WHAT?!

Free kevlar jacket... how funny is that? almost as funny as this

http://www.sega-europe.com/en/NewsStory/926.htm

Sony Europe publishing Sega games over here (Rez, Space Channel 5, Ecco, F355).

Interview with Sumo:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=62337

doesn't sound very promising. I read the word 're-work' and think 'break'.

No Force Feedback on the PS2 - what the FUCK?

Cheap crappy cash-in.....

El bastido von Bron

...because using a wheel on a driving is silly isn't it...

Foools

It'll be a rolling FMV with a 2d sprite overlayed.

Official fan lash out from me.

We need evidence to the contray, but reading between the lines means they guffed it.

Also, choice of handling model??!

NO!

OutRun2SP is an upgrade gosh darnit.... no?

You sound drunk right there.

Oh come on. You're both being a tad negative. Aside from the lack of wheel support on PS2, it sounds superb.

I'm not expecting miracles from the PSP, there's no way you could make it look as good as the arcade.

It sounds like they're concentrating their efforts in all the right places. For a start they've identified getting the control right on the Sony hardwares as a problem area they've been working on.

I have high hopes...

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Personally I can’t wait for a new Outrun (on Xbox). Outrun and Street fighter are the only two games I have played consistently since release.

After reading many posts recently on them others sites… It makes me laugh to see so many people banging on about how they love Outrun2 on the Xbox, yet didn’t find the bugs that were apparent within hours of buying the game or just don’t mind because as far as they see it "doesn’t effect the game". This isn’t yet another dig at Sumo, but I think it shows a lot of people didn’t put much time into the game. Its one of them games people love to talk about but no one plays, and it makes me quite angry at times.

“Let them play Need For Speed: Rape Yo Mamma” - Marie Antoinette

I've not played it anywhere near as much as you and there are a few niggles in single player and some huge great bugs over live and linkup.

What have you found in the game that bugs you or do I need to dig through GHZ to find out

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

I don’t think I said anything about it on Greenhillzone. I have a small list of things, but I am over it now and despite how it may come across, I am glad that I can play Outrun2 at home. I think they did a fantastic job for the most part.

But the main two bugs are TT record bugs. They don’t save online or off line in the games gallery. That is a big bug for what is effectively a TT game.

Edit:
Not that I have a problem with people using the game socially, that’s what online gaming should be about, and Outrun2 is a nice pick up and play game that’s very accommodating for new players. But a few times I’ve played with a few of them guys from Rllmuk and I remember once they were laughing at this other player for taking the corners properly and then went on to discuss how they would never practise a game like this because “it isn’t deep” and its just a bit of “arcade fun” that they “couldn’t possibly play for more then an hour a week” because it gets dull… that doesn’t say OutRun love to me.

Lecture time.

OutRun2SP is an arcade game... that unless I am still drunk has a "Steer Wheel". "Steering Wheels" can be found in automobiles and the arcade freaking cabinet... the arcade game is forever entwined with the wheel, and not including "Wheel Support" is like smashing the Arcade cabinet, setting fire to it, and feeding it to a cow.

Effectively, OutRun2SP without a wheel, is not OutRun2SP, it would be some arsey version that has been cobbled together for a bizarre marketing exercise. Naturally, playing the game on a control pad, isn't entirely evil, however, the implication is such that SUMO are not being entirely faithful to the franchise, hence, hitherto, therefore, veryly, my expectations for said OutRun2006: Coast 2 Coast has been vastly and irreperairily impaired, like acid in the eyes.

They just about managed OutRun2 on the Xbox, the SAME hardware, minus some memory.... They are gonna have to leave alot of brown envelopes, or actually pull themselves out of the self congratualatory rut they made for theselves and make a decent PORT of a brilliant game!

Nnnnnnrrrrrgggggggghh.... hhhheeeeeyaaaahhh

Yeah, I can only see special tours being broken, on past record.

PC version seems like the safest choice, at least that would be patchable.

Here's some eyewash for you Jib.

note the deliberate absence of the word "wheel" from the response. I would be very suprised if they didn't support full force feedback wheels on the PC version and as Paper says it would be patchable later if they left it out.

I can't begin to guess what "technical reasons" they might have for not supporting force feedback on the PS2, but I will be amazed if there isn't wheel support in some form. Don't most wheels have a hardware FF default where it simply tries to centre the wheel? At the end of the day it's just another controller if you don't use the software FF functionality assuming there's no significant overhead for using the USB port over the regular joypad slot.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Damn their ambiguous marketing speak.

OK ok, I'll slide for a while... Xbox OutRun2 didn't have ForceFeedback, but I thought it was because Microsoft are incompetent fools... but there is this wierd ForceFeedback patent floating that seems to be stopping people from doing it.

The GT Force Pro is USB thats the way it plugs in, and is PC compatible... hence I is buying on for the Sega Rally 2006 innit geeza.

But still you'd think y'know, Sony, Sega, Wheels, just all a bit wrong.

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Sega had the patent on FF wheels. Now that would be ironic.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Nah, its some litigious Yank company... as you'd expect.

Its not the FF patent.

I imagine it comes down to paying for the Logitech FF library.

18 Wheeler supports FF, but that was ported by Acclaim Cheltenham.

Hmm didn't know that. How does King of Route 66 feel? was it ported by the same team? I didn't even realise '66 had a home release until I stumbled across the box in Game the other day.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

King of Route 66 was Acclaim as well? I didn't realise that, it is Sega published. Yeah, thats FF too.

http://www.sega-europe.com/en/Game/257.htm

Ambiguous screenshots there.

16:9 stuff must be PSP, 4:3 stuff PC or PS2 dev kit caps.

The PSP screens look excellent. Look at the draw distance

:jawdrop:
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♦
"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"

Well, screenshots are screenshots....

I'm wearing my incredible sceptic hat with this entire operation. Something elusive about the whole project. It just doesn't make any sense, not even "Sega Sense".

As for the PSP version, its going to have to do something physically impossible to be worth the effort... hokey linkup options and portabilty aren't good enough for me. Its all about the control. I think it could be pulled off, but only as a novelty extra.

I had a quick razz on OutRun2 last night on me new Tele, and playing with the stick just wasn't involving enough, too sterile. Emulation of wheelage just isn't worth my valuable and aloof time.

I've become incredibly exacting about control input on games, someone should write an uninteresting thesis about the combination of game and interface. But I am currently in the camp that, to play a game properly, you need a quality and involving interface... and when it comes to Arcade Car game conversions, you gotta have the wheel.

Not sure I'd be happy with an approximation. But then Sega Rally on the Saturn was a whole different gig to the arcade, it could in fairness still be a "good game" but not "the game".

Ramble aside. It'll have to tear my eyes off and wheel spin on my vacuous head to make me finally plumb for a PSP.

Exactly - shot your own whole argument down in flames, right there. SR on the Saturn was sublime. I don't have problems with an 'incorrect' interface, as long as it's implemented correctly.

Also, I don't understand the OR2 hate on here. I loved it had had no issues with the analogue handling. Then again, I don't drive a car in real life so don't know what I'm talking about

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♦
"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"

Stream of consciousness there, yeah, I waffled myself from a comment, into a reasoned debate with myself again...

I don't HATE OutRun2 at all, no no no that's all wrong. I just think SUMO didn't do the best job they should've done, and what made it worse was they were exceptionally pleased with themselves, externally at least. And that goes for all the other output they've been porting recently.

We can start on the driving gag again though...

In the end we can all agree as long as it's a good game, what's the problem? None. We are agreed. Agreed?

I keep getting my head on the wrong way with these thar computer games. I shall judge the game on its own merits when I get to play it.

Consider this, FZeroGX with a pad is an almost completely different game with the wheel, more difficult and more entertaining (until you break the wheel).

Fret not, it's nothing like real life

Wheels are nice, but I can live with an analogue stick provided it has been properly implemented. Also setting up a wheel is a pain in the backside and I've never achieved a decent driving position with any of the wheels I've had over the years.

Treb, we all love Outrun2. The hate concerns the PS2 and PSP analogue interface. It's no secret that both are decidedly average at best and when you've been used to the luxury of the XBox pad the thought of drifting on the Dual Shock 2 fills me with some dread: blending out of a drift is tricky enough on the XBox.

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Well it's official now there's an XBox version of Coast 2 Coast in development. This throws the whole thing out of balance.

What will be included in the PSP - PS2 linkup? Will the XBox version be more faithful to the arcade? Will the PC version be optimised?

It's all a bit of a mess really :?

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"For the next year most of the 360s will end up in the hands of the hardcore gamers because they are the most eager ones. So the first wave of software will reflect that." - Gerhard Florin, Head of EA Europe

Well exactly.... consumers won't know what's going on. That's why it smells odd.

I reckon we should lay low till March, then we'll find out.

Besides isn't the PS3 coming out in April'ish?

Gonna be a hectic year for this kind of shenanigan.

Well, like or hate the conversions, buying the XB version over the PS2 version is pretty much a no-brainer. Especially factoring-in L!ve.

I'll buy the PSP version so you lot don't have to, and tell you it's ace, regardless of whether it actually is or not

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♦
"Obviously some sort of anti-menstrual reference in the world of gay utopian fantasy"