14-11-2004 06:12									#1
	"Sense of speed" - WTF? Increase Your PM Length

Why is it that so many reviewers will write about a racing game's "sense of speed"?

Isn't that, programming-wise, a case of simply having the background defile faster anyway?

Last edited by Oncle Boris on 14-11-2004 at 06:24

	14-11-2004 06:14									#2
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

I'd interpret it as a flow of gameplay, the pace at which stuff happens. In a very speedy game, events are thrown at you all the time, like in some shooters where you've barely finished one firefight when the next one already erupts.

	14-11-2004 06:24									#3
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Oh wait, I meant to talk about racing games.

	14-11-2004 06:28									#4
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Oh. Then I'm pretty much as miffed as you are, to be honest.

	14-11-2004 21:06									#5
	Re: "Sense of speed" - WTF? Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Oncle Boris Why is it that so many reviewers will write about a racing game's "sense of speed"? Isn't that, programming-wise, a case of simply having the background defile faster anyway?

In some games, you can be going 110 MPH and "feel" like you are really going half that; in others, such as Need for Speed Underground, there is a good sense of speed - everything around you begins to blur, making it harder to see and react to things as they come up.

	15-11-2004 00:19									#6
	Increase Your PM Length

There definitely is a sense of speed that can be discerned. It's partly graphical, and partly gameplay I'd say.

	15-11-2004 00:31									#7
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Yeah, I agree that it's something you can feel, but why is it that some would not get it right? Isn't it easy to just blur the background and make it move faster?

	15-11-2004 00:37									#8
	Remove this text

Do you remember Motorhead? You felt like you were travelling at 1000 miles per hour in that game, and it wasn't just whizzy graphics.

	15-11-2004 02:00									#9
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

And on the other scale you had games like 'Baja Buggies' or 'Pitstop' that even when the speedometer said you were doing a few hundred kph, it felt more 20kph

	15-11-2004 02:33									#10
	Full PM-box? Change here!

quote: Originally posted by Oncle Boris Yeah, I agree that it's something you can feel, but why is it that some would not get it right? Isn't it easy to just blur the background and make it move faster?

I don't think it is simply a matter of graphics though. I think it is also largely affected by how the game controls. The background can be blurry and fly by at incredible rates, but I think if to control the car, you only have to hit a turn button like two three times per second, and if you don't have to correct your moves, oversteers, etc, you won't feel the speed. On the other hand, if as you speed up in the game, you also have to speed up as far as hitting the buttons is concerned, then you would have a better sense of speed, and would enjoy the game more. IMO.

	15-11-2004 08:36									#11
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

quote: Originally posted by DrSpike Do you remember Motorhead? You felt like you were travelling at 1000 miles per hour in that game, and it wasn't just whizzy graphics.

The name reminds me of something but I've never tried it.

	15-11-2004 08:37									#12
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

quote: Originally posted by vovan I don't think it is simply a matter of graphics though. I think it is also largely affected by how the game controls. The background can be blurry and fly by at incredible rates, but I think if to control the car, you only have to hit a turn button like two three times per second, and if you don't have to correct your moves, oversteers, etc, you won't feel the speed. On the other hand, if as you speed up in the game, you also have to speed up as far as hitting the buttons is concerned, then you would have a better sense of speed, and would enjoy the game more. IMO.

Hmmm... so this would mean that creating a genuine sense of speed is really a challenge...

	15-11-2004 21:13									#13
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

quote: Originally posted by Oncle Boris The name reminds me of something but I've never tried it.

Don't know about you, but the name reminds me of this.

quote: Originally posted by Oncle Boris Hmmm... so this would mean that creating a genuine sense of speed is really a challenge...

Well, the way I figure it, if it wasn't a challenge, then every idiot who got their game to be published would get it right. But there are way too many counter-examples in the real world, unfortunately.

	16-11-2004 00:15									#14
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Indeed. It's easy to say the game gives a sense of speed, but less easy to make it that way on purpose.