When you think of NASCAR, you probably think of one of two things: speed and
the men racing the cars. NASCAR Thunder 2003 has some changes in store for
you this year that will help bring more of each into the racing game.
The
first thing you'll notice about the 2003 version of the game is the upgrade of
the graphics and game physics. Many of these changes have been made to
convey a greater sense of speed to the player. Road surface blur, dynamic
shadows and reflections on the car bodies, and wall and fence effects are just
some of the things that will help to make you feel that you are actually driving
a car at over 200 MPH. The game physics now feature dynamic tire grip and
wear patterns, collision physics, and handling and suspension behavior. As
cars are damaged, you'll see sparks fly, tires shred, and car parts on the
track, and will have to compensate for the decrease in control. If this
all seems like too much simulation for you, you have no need to worry. The
game's adjustable difficulty controls will allow you to play the game as a fun
arcade racer, even showing you the driving lines and braking points on the track
if you want.
The NASCAR license means that you'll be able to race on all 23 Winston Cup
tracks - 14 of which support day and night racing. You'll also be racing
against the sport's famous drivers, and will be able to instantly recognize the
same cars that you see when you watch the races on TV - a total of 125 cars and
75 drivers in all. You'll even have the opportunity to race against some
of the legendary drivers of the game who have retired from active competition.
Richard Petty himself will tell you about the background of the tracks and teach
you the best way to drive them.
NASCAR Thunder 2003 will also come with full Internet support. You'll
be able to download customized and updated car skins - and even create your own
if you like. You can even race against up to 15 other players online using
the GameSpy player matching network.
NASCAR Thunder is due to be released on September 23, 2002.
