MTM2.com

The original "other games" topic started by Trip I think... was getting long, but I had a mail from Clever's today that might be of interest to some (OOPS in particular). I wrote asking for any news regarding 4x4 Trophy and got this reply:

"Of course we have development news for you.
1. In the past few weeks we've been working on the different language demos, but the release date of these demos is up to our publisher.

2. There is one little thing that changed, the name of the game. This is the final. - We hope. )
The name is 'Screamer 4x4', but in Germany it is 'Bleifuss offroad'.

I will send you a mail when the demo will be available to download.

We hope you could try the game soon.

Cheers,

Csaba Berényi
- Clever's -"




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Keep on Monster Truckin'

EmceeMart

yeah it was me who started the other one...screamer 4x4? that's a pretty whack name, i liked 4x4 trophy better



[This message has been edited by Trip (edited 24-09-2000).]

Hmm, not sure if I like their choice of names. It dont sounds more like a fantasy based game more the a Sim type.

I wonder why there is no info on physics & game play.

EmceeMart, why dont you send him/them a link to this string. I'm sure others will have plenty to say & maybe they can get a little feed back or offer sone info on the game.

OK J&J... sent the link

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Keep on Monster Truckin'

EmceeMart

Funnily enough, I was looking at Screamer Rally when I was at Virgin's site the other day to see if they had any info about Clever's game (Virgin are publishing it).... it did'nt click (the Screamer name) until I saw your post WK.

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Keep on Monster Truckin'

EmceeMart

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
EmceeMart, why dont you send him/them a link to this string. I'm sure others will have plenty to say & maybe they can get a little feed back or offer sone info on the game.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi,

He gave me the link.

My name is Csaba Berényi. I am a programmer working on Screamer 4x4 and I am here to answer your questions.




[This message has been edited by tschirke (edited 25-09-2000).]

I'm sure Csaba won't mind me sharing this with you guys (it'll save him having to type it all again)

"I enclosed a picture from the demo, which will explain details about the final version.

Editability: sorry, but we are not going to release any tool we've used to create Screamer 4x4. Because of the nature of our renderer and physics engine these tools are too complex to use (sometimes even for us too ).

What we used:
For 3D modelling we've used 3D Studio Max and Alias Wavefornt's Maya.
2D texture painting... etc. Metacreations' Painter 6.
Sound editing: Soundforge (I do not know the exact version)
And we have inhouse tools (for editing car physics, bulding terrains, trophies...)

The price. I don't know exactly. It is up to Virgin.

Availablity: Screamer 4x4 will be out soon. (We are almost ready). And will be spread all over the world."

and here's a screenshot from the demo:

<IMG SRC="http://emcee4.tripod.com/cleverpic.jpg" border=0>




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Keep on Monster Truckin'

EmceeMart

Heres some info that I found about the game. It should be interesting. The graphics on 4x4 Evo look better IMHO, but this report states that you will see damage. I wonder how they got away with that?
http://www.ga-source.com/all/news/bits/08+25+2000/7:45:32.shtml

4x4 Trophy Coming, First Screenshots
GA-Sports has the first details and screenshots from Channel 42 and Clevers Development's upcoming rally-style off-road racer, 4x4 Trophy.
4x4 Trophy is a rally-style off-road simulation, which will feature a host of officially licensed vehicles, including the Chrysler Jeep Cherokee, Toyota Landcruiser, Mitsubishi Shogun, Mercedes G Wagon and Landrover Defender, to name but a few. Each vehicle will come complete with its own driving mechanics and dynamics, offering a completely different driving experience dependant on the choice of vehicle. In addition, bonus vehicles such as the Toyota HiLux Pickup, Big Foot version and the RABA Hungarian Military Truck become unlocked on completion of specific goals, increasing the replay value.

With over 60 courses spread across six different terrains awaiting each challenger 4x4 Trophy offers accurate off-road physics model, coupled with realistic weather effects. As vehicles pound their way through dynamic tracks, picking up damage along the way, they'll reflect the racing conditions visibly, with weather damage affecting the way each looks and drives. The effect is so convincing that a sudden downpour can clean the bodywork - though making the course much muddier in the process.

Single-player modes include Tutorial, Free Drive, Trophy, Championship and Pathfinder modes, offering a host of timed and untimed races on fixed and open courses. Multiplayer options - for up to four simultaneous drivers - range from the astonishing King of the Hill and Destruction challenges, to more straightforward Offroad Rally, Catchup and First to Point races.

4x4 Trophy is being published for the PC by Virgin Interactive for a fall 2000 release.


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Hmm, what i don't like at Screamer 4x4 (1st of all, the name) is that the graphics look too spikey. The terrain and the trucks (not alot at the trucks, but look at the terrain) look kinda spikey. Don't u agree ???


LMAO, we getting ourself into another game while waiting for 4x4 Evo. lol

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http://www.stas.net/fila

Idle hands, are the devils playground!

Fila

>>LMAO, we getting ourself into another game while waiting for 4x4 Evo. lol<<

Hmmmm, maybe this topic should be moved to General Discussion, Phin?

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Keep on Monster Truckin'

EmceeMart

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>

Editability: sorry, but we are not going to release any tool we've used to create Screamer 4x4. Because of the nature of our renderer and physics engine these tools are too complex to use (sometimes even for us too ).[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hmmm, not good. No edit = quick death. Also dont ever under estimate gamers. Just because it is or seems extreamly diffcult to use dont mean it's above our heads.


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
What we used:
For 3D modelling we've used 3D Studio Max and Alias Wavefornt's Maya.
2D texture painting... etc. Metacreations' Painter 6.

[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have 2 of the 3 & I'm sure the 2d textures could be made with any high end graphics program so I'd be set. Might wanna reconsider releasing those compiling tools.]

In this day & age why would any game be made so that users cant expand on it? Truly not the best of moves. Which sells better, a game with no add-ons avaiable or one that has hundreds of tracks & truck just waiting to be down loaded? Better yet which game's sequal sells better? The one that was played then beaten & put on a shelf or the one that got played & played & played until the sequal came out?

Just my 2 cents


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JNJ's Truckstop <IMG SRC="http://smilecwm.tripod.com/cwm2/puke.gif" border=0>

Yup, very good point. MTM2 is played even now because of the addon tracks. If not, i am pretty sure now it would be around 5 peeps in the room instead of the usual 100.

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http://www.stas.net/fila

Idle hands, are the devils playground!

Fila

Textures, of course everyone could make textures, with a program of one's choice. But in one car there are 12 textures (dirt, mud, inside, outside...), but and here's the point we need to compile them into a specific format (anyone could do this), but you need to set several parameters, by hand.

Editors:
I wrote complex, because it is. We do have about 50 or more physical parameters for a car, including numerous function curves. It took us about a week or so to insert a car into the game, when the modell is totally ready in 3d. (It would be too complex to explain why the editors are complex... )

Modelling:
We use those programs, because we've found them useful. Our cars are built up about 2500+ polygons, plus the inner view. You need several special modelling tchniques, to set up the phisycal model.


About the gameplay. Belive me this game a never seen before type game. It is not racing, not rally ... It is difficult to tell what this game is. According to one of our testers "It's first of it's kind".

Terrains:
They are spikey, because we had to make a decision wether the game is smooth, with really high polygon count, or be a little more "spikey" and playable on today's 3d hardware. On the other hand This game has to be spikey. U must drive thru hills, rocks, etc... and those things aren't really smooth.

Cheers,
Csaba

I know they aren't smooth. But they aren't spikey (except the rock mountains). ANd btw, thnx for clearing me out with the spikey terrain


TO answer this topic, my ALL-TIME Favourite game is...... Settlers 2. ty ty

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http://www.stas.net/fila

Idle hands, are the devils playground!

Fila

so which of the many links do i need to click on to get the demo? i wanna try it out. i think the jeep looks cool. and add-ons may be hard but someof these ppl are good at that kind of stuff. if it is too hard then no one will use it, and that will probably sove the problem right there.

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drive drIVE DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, but at the moment there's no demo available for international users.

We have discussed the "editor problem" and we could possibly make a special "user friendly" version, that allows users to create their own trophies.

dang, i thought that picture was a demo. and if he got it on the net then everyone can get it. but that is good about the editor.

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drive drIVE DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

H2O... the pic was from the "soon to be released demo"... sorry if you got the wrong idea.

tschirke... when you say "We have discussed the "editor problem" and we could possibly make a special "user friendly" version, that allows users to create their own trophies."

By "trophies" do you mean tracks?

"User friendly" sounds good... so there MAY be some possibility of editability?

What I'd like to know though, is who's calling the shots here - the Virgin Marketing people or Clevers? (as far as what the game is called or what else is included).

Just thinking aloud.

I for one, am curious to see this game. Not necessarily to compare it to 4x4 Evo, but to experience as a different game with a different approach.



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Keep on Monster Truckin'

EmceeMart

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by EmceeMart:
<B>
By "trophies" do you mean tracks?

"User friendly" sounds good... so there MAY be some possibility of editability?
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The game is created after real 4x4 trophies. You must follow a pre-defined track, thru the actual terrain. (no roads) These are what we call trophies. You're alone on the track. Your only enemy is time and penalty points. You need to use exensively transfer case and differential locks. The trophies are organized into championships. You can drive only on those trophies that you have completed before on the championships.

Editability means you can place your own trophies on the track and drive on them.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>
What I'd like to know though, is who's calling the shots here - the Virgin Marketing people or Clevers? (as far as what the game is called or what else is included).

Just thinking aloud.
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am not quite sure about what this means (language problems ). Would you repeat it in my level ?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>
I for one, am curious to see this game. Not necessarily to compare it to 4x4 Evo, but to experience as a different game with a different approach.
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am glad to hear that. We think that these games could not necessarely be compared, because they are different. We've created a hardcore off-road simulator (with arcade elements) with real car* and rigid body physics, to drive slowly (very slowly) thru hills, rocks, etc... As I saw 4x4 evo is more like a racing type arcade game. So how one could compare? BTW I like 4x4 evo, the look, the game, but I am not too good in it (shame on me). (I used to go slow with a SUV and the others are always too good for

me).


*-We have modelled how a car is really working. It has an engine that could stop and you can use the starter to make it work again, you can use engine brake to slow down your movement, you can use clutch and if you're lame the motor stops. The drivetrain modell is accurate. You can select 4WD or 2WD, we have real gear ratios. (In a nutshell)

"we have real gear ratios. (In a nutshell)"

Wouldn't they be better off in a gear box? Heehee

By "who's calling the shots" I meant who determines what is included in the finished product - the developers/programmers or the publisher? That's all.

BTW I'm glad to hear you're not too good at 4x4, 'cos nor am I!


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Keep on Monster Truckin'

EmceeMart