[Official] DiRT 2

By san.W10
in Gamers' Hangout

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

rajputwarrior

Posted
Posted

played it, don't know if i like it more then dirt 1 though. The handling is definitely close to grid's, just a bit "heavier" if you know what i mean. Cars like to power slide more. It's cool how the game says your name though (mine at least, first game that has ever been able to do that).

Driving inside the car (dash view) is AMAZING. It's definitely the best dash view game i have played. When you are playing a night course that has puddles it's really cool because the water hits your windshield and you are literally blinded until the wipers do their thing.

The game is gorgeous looking. I don't understand what people's beef's are when it comes to the graphics. I am playing a a 42 inch 720p plasma and it looks amazing. Definitely a step up from GRID and DIRT 1.

The menu's are really slick, really like them. The co-drivers are a lot better. The game is better (IMO) then DIRT 1, but i don't know if i like it more then DIRT 1.

I am enjoying it so far, but now i am curious to see what EA does with NFS.

Grand Master

DrunknMunky Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted
Awesome game, currently at level 11 but I have no money to buy any new cars for the pro events.

For those of you who are wondering how big the install is on PS3 it is 3984MB. :)

More than half the game :o

Graphics are definitely nicer than Dirt 1's, there's no doubt about that. However, in the very first race there is puddle of water at the start and the reflection on it looks like ass. Some of the other water areas do too, but that one stayed in my mind cause it was the very first race and normally that's supposed to be the "show off" level in games.

Water looks fantastic inside the car splashing up on the windscreen. I still stand by my previous comment this camera view can give Forza 3 and GT5 a run for it's money. Overall it might not be better, but for a multiplatform game it looks great.

DiRT 1's menus are easily better. I think those are my fav menus in games ever. The whole stadium / music festival vibe is cool. Not putting it down, it's really nice, but from a design perspective I think Dirt 1 wipes the floor with it.

@Garrett, agree with you on the name thing, GRiD does it as well. It's so awesome hearing the game call out " Hey Monkey Munky!" :D

Mentor

san.W10

Posted
  • Author
Posted

SPOILER

3904239076_f06884fec4.jpg

The Colin McRae Challenge Event Revealed

Part 1.

Today we’re going to reveal the Colin McRae Challenge – a unique event in Colin McRae: DiRT 2, and a tribute to the late, great man himself.

Colin was an inspiring figure to motorsport fans and gamers around the world. His ‘on the edge’ (and often over it!) driving style endeared him to millions, and we at Codemasters were privileged to work closely with him over 10 years of Colin McRae racing games, where his knowledge, technical expertise and enthusiasm for gaming was invaluable, and irreplaceable. We wanted to do something special, beyond honouring his memory by continuing to use his name in the game’s title (a decision taken in conjunction with his family) but by celebrating his life throughout the game.

First we’ve created a challenge that is DiRT 2’s pinnacle event. And it’s something a little bit special, a bit different, and we hope he would have liked it. The event is inspired by 2008’s Colin McRae Forest Stages, where rally stars from across the world came together in Colin’s memory, including former World Rally Champions Ari Vatanen,Bj?rn Waldeg?rd and Hannu Mikkola, Alistair and Jimmy McRae, Kris Meeke, Ken Block and Travis Pastrana and many more to race the special stage, many in Ford Escort MKIIs. Check out this

of the day and some of the stars racing. Those Escorts sounds amazing.

So here it is: the Colin McRae Challenge - a spectacular 3 stage Rally set across Malaysia, Croatia and China featuring a line up of Colin’s family and friends from across the world of motorsport, presented by The Colin McRae Vision charity.

You’ll get to race against former WRC Champion Ari Vatanen, legendary motorbike racer Valentino Rossi and former F1 driver David Coulthard in this unique event. Once you’ve competed in it, you unlock the Colin McRae Tribute video which celebrates some of Colin’s finest, most exciting, and most sideways moments!

The car you’re racing? Colin’s Ford Escort MKII! Check out the story of how Colin was involved in developing this vehicle with DJM motorsport here.

Colin McRae Challenge Competitors:

1. Jimmy McRae – Colin’s father and 5 times British Champion rally driver. Good interview here.

2. Alistair McRae – Colin’s brother and rally driver – here’s him pulling off some amazing donuts during this killer run.

3. Ari Vatanen – legendary former WRC champion – check out this famous Pike’s Peek run here.

4. David Coulthard – F1 driver and close friend, who raced in the Japan Suzuka Grand Prix in 2007 wearing a unique helmet in tribute to Colin.

5. Valentino Rossi – ‘The Doctor’ is one the leading stars of world motorsport who famously raced against Colin in 2005. He might have been in a better car though!

6. Dario Franchitti – Scottish Indy car driver, the most successful British driver in the US, and friend of Colin. Insane crash here.

7. Ken Block – Colin was Ken’s inspiration for getting into Rally, became a mentor figure to him and they competed against each other at X Games.

8. You!

<snipped>

As well as this key event, we also have a lot of references to Colin and his career peppered throughout the game – some subtle which you’ll have to keep your eye out for, some less so. A good example is that the first car you unlock in the game is the Subaru Impreza STI Group N carrying the No Fear Livery from X Games XIII, and if you’ve got a DiRT save on your system, you’ll also get the Gold No Fear livery he sported in X Games XII where he went into a huge barrel roll after a jump, landed on his tyres and immediately drove off, narrowly missing out on the win. There’s not many drivers who would have been thinking about whether they could still race on while they were upside down! Classic McRae. Other vehicles include that Escort MK II and the Colin McRae R4, plus you’ll find liveries, images and video clips throughout the game.

read the rest + Part 2 here

3903457589_ee21d6567f.jpg

Grand Master

+Mystic MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted
DiRT 1's menus are easily better. I think those are my fav menus in games ever. The whole stadium / music festival vibe is cool. Not putting it down, it's really nice, but from a design perspective I think Dirt 1 wipes the floor with it.

@Garrett, agree with you on the name thing, GRiD does it as well. It's so awesome hearing the game call out " Hey Monkey Munky!" :D

I don't think anybody will argue with that, but I don't know if any other game will actually beat that (it was just that awesome). Either way though, you have to give them some credit for a menu design like this just because it is pretty original and fun.

About the level 11 comment, I'm just about there and I just got the game. You win one race and you level up so 11 isn't anything special. To me it looks like this will have less maps than Dirt 1 though. :(

Lastly, do many of the races seem a lot shorter?

Grand Master

Unimatrix Xero

Posted
Posted

well just spent the last hour giving is a good old bash, and i must admit im really really liking it, when i unlocked the female co-driver i thought sweet some class in the car, but she seems a little nervous when she speaks, and sometimes a little hesitant in saying the corner id's so i switched back to the scottish guy! :)

but apart from that very good game and very impressed, roll on Shift next week :D

Experienced

solardog

Posted
Posted
well just spent the last hour giving is a good old bash, and i must admit im really really liking it, when i unlocked the female co-driver i thought sweet some class in the car, but she seems a little nervous when she speaks, and sometimes a little hesitant in saying the corner id's so i switched back to the scottish guy! :)

but apart from that very good game and very impressed, roll on Shift next week :D

Aw crap, this is one of those games Im gonna have to buy to find out for myself. There are a few people on every forum I go to that are my "guinea pigs", and you are one of those on this board. If you say you are really really liking it then Im gonna have to check it out. Last chance Codemasters.... dangit, I say that every time.

Grand Master

+Mystic MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted
well just spent the last hour giving is a good old bash, and i must admit im really really liking it, when i unlocked the female co-driver i thought sweet some class in the car, but she seems a little nervous when she speaks, and sometimes a little hesitant in saying the corner id's so i switched back to the scottish guy! :)

but apart from that very good game and very impressed, roll on Shift next week :D

I completely forgot about changing the co driver. The girl is getting quite annoying especially when I wreck. For instance, I flipped the car and basically destroyed the entire thing and was able to keep driving. My female co driver said while flipping through the air that it was "just a scratch". :p

the more i play this game the more i like it.

It's definitely harder then the last one (comparing hardest difficulty to hardest difficulty). It may not be a great game, but it's pretty good.

Yep, no contest there. I haven't won a race on the hardest difficulty yet.

Grand Master

JMann Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

I purchased this game yesterday, and ended up playing it all day nearly. I think the Graphics are a vast improvement on the previous, especially of you take in to account the scenery around you (although it can be hard as you fly by at 100mph ;) ).

From what I can last remember, I am on level 19 now but according to my Statistics I am only 26% complete - so hopefully there is still a lot left to do!

Grand Master

Boz

Posted
Posted

Yeah.. dont' know what's with the hate.. this game is a blast. Much better than Dirt 1, graphics and environments look amazing.. the effects, the audio, the feeling of rally driving is unprecedented.

I'm not sorry for getting it at all.. Spent playing like 4 hours playing. Couldn't feel how fast the time passed.

I just don't see how NFS can be better. Really, not only that Dirt 2 has all of the physics and amazing effects as you hit something where it really feels as if you hit something, the interior view is great. They took the best parts from Dirt 1 and Grid and integrated all of it in Dirt 2. As someone said, best in-dash view and experience I've ever played in a game. It's pretty much the real thing as far as how you feel when you drive.

And after all, this game, just like Dirt 1 and Grid is pure arcade. Codemasters know how to make great arcade driving games.

I can honestly say that out of all games coming out I expect Split Second to be the only one who will be on par with Dirt 2 fun factor and most likely surpass it (due to the game being made by the same guys who made Pure which was super fun). I have a feeling that NFS Shift will be another EA failure.

Grand Master

MightyJordan

Posted
Posted
Because CMR isn't an arcade racer and never has been, and never was until Dirt.

That's why we are hating.

Personally, I think DiRT 1 was the perfect mix. It was made a bit easier to pick up and play for the casual players, but it was still real enough to please the sim racers. It also had the ability to do 100 player races online! Obviously, it was all ghosts so the racing was still proper, and you had no gits trying to crash you out by going the wrong way.

Grand Master

DrunknMunky Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

DiRT 1 was a good game, but it's time for them to go back to their roots and give rally fans the game they've been waiting for. Not this watered down tripe for the masses.

Of course like I've said, that won't happen. Wider audience = more potential money to be made. So no doubt they'll keep going down this course of sell out titles.

WRC games are dead as far as I'm concerned (don't even anyone suggest the **** they include in GT games).

CMR '04 = the de facto game :heart:

Grand Master

ViperAFK

Posted
Posted
Yeah.. dont' know what's with the hate.. this game is a blast. Much better than Dirt 1, graphics and environments look amazing.. the effects, the audio, the feeling of rally driving is unprecedented.

I'm not sorry for getting it at all.. Spent playing like 4 hours playing. Couldn't feel how fast the time passed.

I just don't see how NFS can be better. Really, not only that Dirt 2 has all of the physics and amazing effects as you hit something where it really feels as if you hit something, the interior view is great. They took the best parts from Dirt 1 and Grid and integrated all of it in Dirt 2. As someone said, best in-dash view and experience I've ever played in a game. It's pretty much the real thing as far as how you feel when you drive.

And after all, this game, just like Dirt 1 and Grid is pure arcade. Codemasters know how to make great arcade driving games.

I can honestly say that out of all games coming out I expect Split Second to be the only one who will be on par with Dirt 2 fun factor and most likely surpass it (due to the game being made by the same guys who made Pure which was super fun). I have a feeling that NFS Shift will be another EA failure.

NFS shift just got a 9/10 at IGN....

Grand Master

Spookie

Posted
Posted
NFS shift just got a 9/10 at IGN....

Now I've played both it's easy to put these head to head. It's going to come down to which aspect of racing you enjoy more. If you love rally games then get DiRT. If you like both track/road based racing and rally-esq. Get NFS there's no question it's the superior game. The presentation on the menus isn't as slick but the way the car handle and sense of speed is much better.

Mentor

san.W10

Posted
  • Author
Posted

dirt1 was better? :o

did the console version hav different handling physics ... brakes, steering.......?

i just hope codeM dont ruin F1 game by making it worse handling game than grid. :o all for the "mASS". :p

my laptop gfx card gave out in morning, on a weekend :\ damn!

Experienced

solardog

Posted
Posted
DiRT 1 was a good game, but it's time for them to go back to their roots and give rally fans the game they've been waiting for. Not this watered down tripe for the masses.

Of course like I've said, that won't happen. Wider audience = more potential money to be made. So no doubt they'll keep going down this course of sell out titles.

WRC games are dead as far as I'm concerned (don't even anyone suggest the **** they include in GT games).

CMR '04 = the de facto game :heart:

Agree.

Mentor

san.W10

Posted
  • Author
Posted
mASS, lawl, come up with that yourself? :p

Wtf is up with Shift's handling? The game looks great, why did they have to throw it away with GRiD like handling :no:

Thought I finally found an NFS game I'd like..NOPE

:D

WHAT???

grid like?

all those reviews where they compared the game to likes of Forza, GT...

did EA also pay the reviewers? :p

btw, what driver aids are you using?

low TC is a must for gamepad users (atleast in GTR2 :D ).

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Posts

    • The Microsoft Office feature that time forgot

      By Circaflex · Posted

      You still can, its just under the Transform flyout for WordArt now
    • Waymo recalls self-driving software after cars enter closed freeway work zones

      By MrElectrifyer · Posted

      Likely nothing will be done in corporate America, there have been countless Tesla self-driving incidents. Then again, there have also been countless human operated incidents. It's literally daily news here in Canada, to the extent that it's now odd if we get a day where a collision doesn't get announced on the radio throughout the day...
    • SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on

      By Steven P. · Posted

      SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk, mousing around. Apologies for the knife cut across the top of the box; that was my doing, being a bit too heavy-handed with opening up the outer packaging. First up, what's in the box: SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 1x Type-C charging cable User Manual 1-Year Warranty (card) In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official Amazon listing, here are the key features: Full-Hand Air Compression: OS500 wraps your fingers, palm, and wrist with multi-chamber air compression for a complete hand relaxation experience. The extended massage chamber helps cover more of the hand and wrist area than standard palm-only hand massagers Palm Kneading with 6 Modes & 6 Intensities: Built-in palm kneading rollers add a hands-on massage feel, while 6 preset modes and 6 pressure levels let you choose the comfort level that fits your day—from gentle relaxation to a firmer full-hand massage 3 Heat Levels with Cooling Fan: Choose from 104°F, 113°F or 122°F warmth to suit different seasons and comfort preferences. The built-in cooling fan helps reduce stuffiness during heated sessions, keeping your hand feeling fresh and comfortable Easy Visual Display & Smart Timer: The digital image display clearly shows massage area, mode, intensity, heat level, and remaining time at a glance. Select 10, 15, or 20-minute sessions for quick office breaks, evening relaxation, or everyday hand care Rechargeable, Cordless & Comfortable: A 3000mAh battery supports over 90 minutes of full-function use on a full charge, with convenient USB-C charging. The soft inner lining, smooth ABS/PU finish, and premium black-gold design make OS500 ideal for home, office, or gifting With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. I gave it a try on both left and right hands, and as you can maybe see from the above YouTube Short, (sorry for the shaky video), my whole hand fits in, but my wrist barely enters the Hand Massager. I was able to push through a bit more with my fingertips extending out the other end to get a bit of massaging on the start of my wrist. Usage For some reason, there is a strap that is very difficult to fasten to my wrist with one hand. I am not sure what function it has, and it isn't mentioned in the user manual. The only thing I could find was in the product images that claimed "wrist precision". Unlike the Bob and Brad Hand Massager, this device does not massage the wrist anyway, even though a "wrist mode" is mentioned, which must be for smaller hands than I have, as it is mainly intended for the hand and fingers. In addition, for its steeper price, there are no disposable gloves provided in the box, which is a bit of an issue considering the internal cover (which appears to be elasticated nylon) cannot be removed for washing; so you are left with only one choice: always thoroughly wash your hands before using it. I can imagine this thing getting a bit grimy after a period of use, and that is a bit of a shame. With that said, the buttons on the device, from left to right, do the following: Heat button: 3-level heat control at 104°F, 113°F, or 122°F Mode button: Auto mode Circular mode Soothing mode Relax mode Palm and fingers mode Palm and wrist mode Intensity button: from (First-time users) 15Ka, 25Ka, 35Ka, 45Ka, 55Ka, 60Ka (Intensive relief) Knead button: on or off (6 pressure levels) Power button: Long-press to turn on or off Cooling button: turn on or off the cooling fan Also, in the product imagery, it states there are 36 "custom modes," but nowhere is it listed what these modes are. I can only imagine that they mean a combination of all of the above settings in different intensity levels. The device itself seems to rely on a single "kneading" mechanism located at the palm area of the hand, which spins when in use, and the other massage features are mainly utilized through the air sacs, increasing and decreasing at various levels on the hand and fingers. I am not sure it offered too much relief for someone who is typing and operating a mouse for hours at a time; further testing may be required. It does feel nice, though. Finally, you may be wondering how this fits into the scope of a tech website? Well, let me tell you something: sometimes I sit for up to 15 hours working on Neowin, and although I take breaks in between, it takes a toll on my body. I think in the immediate absence of a partner to apply relief, a good massager like this Hand Massager can shed the strains of the day in just a couple of 15-minute bursts. On the official website, this has an MSRP of $99.99, but luckily for our readers, it is selling at $10 off for just $89.99 right now on Amazon. SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 for $89.99 (with $10 off coupon), $99.99 MSRP For me, this gets a thumbs hands(?) down. However, it could be improved by making it so that the protective covering could be removed and thrown into the washing machine, or get yourself some disposable gloves to use with it. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Creative Sound Blaster AE-X PCIe review: your headphones will love it

      By Taliseian · Posted

      Thanks for the info, but I'm still not sure if I need this....
    • We check out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager

      By Steven P. · Posted

      We check out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk; I figured it could offer some neck pain relief. What's in the box: SKG PS700-2 Neck Massager Rechargeable Battery (inside massager) Type-C USB cable User Manual Quick Start guide 1-Year Warranty In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official listing, here are the key features: Biomimetic Kneading & High Torque Motor: Designed with innovative biomimetic kneading heads that perfectly simulate the touch of human hands. Powered by a high-torque motor, this massager delivers powerful and precise deep tissue relief to effectively target stiff neck muscles and release built-up tension Soothing Heat & Integrated Sound Relaxation: Experience the ultimate Relaxationation with our dual-action approach. The soothing heat function gently warms your neck, while the built-in sound Relaxation provides calming audio tracks, helping you achieve a state of mindfulness and mental tranquility during your physical massage Cordless Convenience & Travel-Ready & Father's Day Gifts: Crafted for maximum portability and ease of use. Its lightweight, cordless design allows you to enjoy a premium massage anywhere without the hassle of tangled wires-whether you're taking a quick break at your desk or winding down at home Versatile Relief for Home & Office: An essential wellness companion for office workers, gamers, frequent travelers, or anyone looking to integrate mindfulness into their daily routine. It seamlessly fits into your lifestyle, providing instant neck relief whenever and wherever you need it Safe & Premium Materials: Manufactured with high-quality, skin-friendly materials to ensure a safe and comfortable experience without irritation. SKG backs this device with dedicated customer service, making it a thoughtful tech-health gift for family and friends App & Bluetooth Music Control: Connect via Bluetooth to control your massage settings through the dedicated app and enjoy your favorite music during your massage session for a fully customizable and immersive relaxation experience Red Light Warmth Technology: Features advanced red light warmth technology that penetrates deep into neck muscles to enhance blood circulation and provide soothing comfort while relieving muscle tension and stiffness Design With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. SKG does not say what materials are used to make the neck massager. However, on the product website, it mentions "soft-touch silicone" with what looks like PU leather cushioning, with the rest being mostly made up of plastics. On the inside of the massager, there are two "biomimetic kneading heads" that are motorized for the different styles of massage, which are not actually listed at all in the paper user manual, but the standard included modes are: De-stress mode, Mediation mode, Relax mode, Shiatsu mode. The massager looks quite premium and is actually very comfortable to wear. This massager is small and light enough to go anywhere, as it doesn't get in the way of anything, so I was able to use it in the chair while writing this review. Unlike the back massager, SKG does not warn in the user guide not to use it for more than 30 minutes a day (or two 15-minute sessions). However, there is a long laundry list of important safeguards to consider before and during the use of the device, and it is warned that the neck massager is not waterproof. It also includes a 1,400mAh battery with a rated power of 14W and input of 5V, which is the standard for up to USB 3.0 power (although the Amperage is not mentioned at all). SKG does not say how long it takes to charge, but a quick calculation at 2A (if that is what it is) would mean it would take roughly 1.5 hrs to charge from empty. In any case, the light around the button changes from orange to green on a full charge. In addition, it is not possible to use the device while it is charging. On the right of the neck massager is the On/Off and modes button, which also acts as a joystick. You can operate all the modes directly from the power button, as well as the app, which I'll get into a bit later: Push up: Short press to adjust Heat levels On/Off button: long press Mode Switching: Short press (while in operation) ➕ Push left: increase Music volume ➖ push right: decrease Music volume Push down: Short-press to turn Music on or off The massager defaults to De-stress mode, and it is not stated anywhere if the neck massager has overheat protection. This time around, regarding heat, the only detail I could find is that it has "triple action soothing heat." The temperature stages are not listed anywhere in the paper manual, Amazon listing, or official website. The heat levels can be adjusted through the app or directly on the device using the joystick button. Usage There's also the SKG Health app, which makes using the massager far easier than feeling around for the button on the side of your neck. If the app is stopped, you are required to log in with a verification code over email, which I am not too pleased with, as this means it will only work that way for however long SKG decides to support it through said app. However, I was not able to get the app to connect to the OS500, which I have reported back to my contact. Bluetooth appeared to be working on the neck massager as it became available to pair with my phone, but the SKG app failed to discover it. Before I forget, there's also a switch next to the USB charging port to deactivate and activate the Voice Prompt, which, when enabled, audibly tells the user when switching intensities, modes, or connecting to the app and informs when the massages start and are completed. That said, on to my likes and dislikes, which are listed below. What I didn't like Unable to connect the Neck Massager to the app Use through the mobile app relies on continued support from SKG What I liked Can be used without the app Cordless use Light and comfortable to wear Heat is also quite comfortable Where to buy: According to the official website, this has an MSRP of $249.99, but is currently $50 (on Amazon). To sweeten the deal a bit more, there's also an in-page coupon that knocks a further $20 off the price. SKG PS700-2 Neck Massager for $179.99 on Amazon (was $199.99) Apply the in-page $20 off coupon for the final price of $179.99 Just like the back massager, this gets a confused thumbs up (due to the cost). However, I cannot rate it through app usage as it failed to connect. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Recent Achievements

    • Dedicated
      Almohandis earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Dedicated
      JuvenileDelinquent earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • First Post
      DrWankel earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      DrWankel earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Week One Done
      Supreme Spray LV earned a badge
      Week One Done

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      505
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      184
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      85
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      78
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      76
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!