Source: Needforspeed.com
Recently Ian Bell, Slightly Mad Studios (makers of Need For Speed SHIFT) sat down with us and talked about their latest game.
How will the damage effect car performance in "Pro Mode"?There are four levels to the driving model, and all driving models give you the choice of using visual damage only or 'full' (performance) damage. Again, the engine supports any level of realistic visual to physical damage but we will be tuning the levels to ensure a fun experience. Bumpers will fly off, hoods will be popped open, doors will be bashed in, and if you've got full damage on, your suspension will bend, your steering will pull or get sloppy, and your engine will be destroyed, barely limping around to the end of the race. We made the decision to keep the focus on action without critically severe punishment, since this is a racing game, not a crashing game. There will be consequences to your actions with full damage on, and it will likely destroy your race, but you will always be able to at least limp across the finish line to collect your profile points.
Great to see that they have brought back the visual damage only for those who like to play for fun, and the full performance damage for those who like a good challenge.
Will each different car model have a dedicated physics file? How many car and physics files are in NFS Shift?Yes, each car has its own unique physics file, plus there are unique files for suspension types, tire types, gearbox types, turbo/supercharger types, engine types, etc. There are more than 500 separate physics files in the game as of now, many with dynamically changing aspects. This huge collection of files allows our physics programmers to create a detailed and realistic simulation of all of the key defining factors in car behaviour and many of the more subtle details that are missed in nearly all racing games. This is the difference that makes a player say "this just feels right!" when playing SHIFT. For example, when the tire sidewalls flex under load in a corner, it minutely changes the shape and location of the tire's contact patch, which in turn changes how the tire grips the tarmac as it strains to keep hold. Without details like this a driving game can still be fun, but it can feel sterile and dead. With SHIFT we're pushing the limits of physics processing on consoles, delivering a racing experience that is alive, gripping, visceral, and believable.
At least now the Audi wont feel like a Challenger, and a Porsche wont feel like a Nissan.
Read the full interview over at Needforspeed.com
Aditionally there are three new screenshots of NFS: Shift
You can check out all NFS: Shift screenshots here.