Yep, I think it should be a good balance between realism and arcade(ism?). I think the best balance between realism and arcade racing in an offroad type game so far has to be 1NSANE. The trucks break, wheels fall off, there's real-time damage, tons of rollovers, yet your truck isn't destroyed every 10 seconds. I love the rollover, repair and damage features in it. It allows you to bash up your truck and have the damage as real as you want (realism) but allows you to quickly fix it with a small penalty delay (arcade).
I personally don't like the 'auto-flip-you-back-over-when-you-land-on-your-roof" feature in MTM2, MTM1, and 4x4 Evo. I like having to do it manually.
Along the physics line, make realistic rollovers, cartwheels, and have the trucks bounce when they land off a jump, not just stick to the ground like glue. And PLEASE include some realistic damage. You don't have to go so far as flat tires, but at least let all the parts fall off and get distorted (fenders, bodies, wheels, axles, etc). Also, have the driver realistically reactic to the G-Forces within the truck. 1NSANE does this farely well, although the driver likes to stick body parts through the solid parts of the vehicles, which looks a little odd ;-)
Editors are also VERY important. Track making to me, is just as fun as playing the game. Users need to be able edit every aspect of all the track/truck types in the game. Custom textures, models, etc. However, don't have different speeds for the trucks, and make sure that that can't be edited. I love in MTM1/2 how all the trucks have equal power, just slightly different handling. That makes for much better racing than something like in EVO where, even if you have the best stock truck you can get (and worked dang hard for it) you will still get whipped by the 500mph customs that people have. MTM2 has this nailed.
The game also needs a good UI. I love in MTM2 how you can access all the options and screen from anywhere in the game, including during a race. This is very handy. I also like the in-game calibration for joysticks and wheels.
Ok, game modes... these are some that I think would be cool (I know I'm repeating some).
-Capture The Flag
-King of the Hill
-Something like "destruction mode" in Insane
-Drags
-Trials
-Random Checkpoint Racing
-Rollover Contests (would require realistic physics)
-Destruction Derby (Once your truck is "dead*" you're out. Score points for damaging** opponnents)
-Watch a Game in Progress
-Soccer
-Jump Contests
-Freestyle (would be a wonderfully realistic mode, but not sure how scoring would work)
-Free Roam (no limits, laps, etc.)
-Last Man Standing (ram into opponnents trying to roll them over. Once you tip off of your wheels, you're out)
-Cops N Robbers
-Checkpoint Racing (like in MTM2)
-Baja Racing (checkpoints randomly scattered across a large terrain... like Jamboree in Insane)
It would also be nice if the AI was 'smart' enough to participate in all modes... thus allowing every game mode to be played offline.
*By 'dead' I mean when the truck is no longer able to move. For example, losing all it's wheels, too damaged to be driven, etc.
**I don't think there should be any type of engine damage that would slow the truck down. It would be realistic, but not fun IMO.
I also don't think that independant rear steering would be a good idea either. Yes it would be realistic, but just think if you were using the keyboard. Even on a wheel it would be tough, because you'd have to map more buttons.
Letting us drive wherever we want is probably a given, but it must be included. I HATE being limited to just the track... even MCM/MCM2 not allowing you to leave the track for more than 3 seconds sucked.
Another interesting game mode that might be cool, is racing on water. Not [i]in[/] water, but on it. If you've ever seen those water trycicles with the big plastic yellow paddled wheels, it would be something like that. Your tires would float on the water and be paddle driven. It might suck, but I'm just trying to throw some ideas out there.
That's all for now... if I think of anything else, I'll add it.
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