You'll Be Racing Through India and Canada in DriveClub on PS4

Around the world in three laps

by Sammy Barker Wed 7th Aug 2013

Evolution Studios promised that DriveClub would take us on a world tour when the PlayStation 4 launch title was first announced, but so far we’ve only got a glimpse at muggy old Scotland. That’s because the developer has been busy beavering away on some more exotic locations behind closed doors – including Canada and India.

And judging by a recently published article on The Guardian’s website, the Runcorn-based racing studio will be silencing its critics at GamesCom later this month. "All of the detail that we're putting in is equivalent to PC first-person shooters," technical art director Alex Perkins told the publication. "And then we're throwing a whole dynamic lighting system over the top."

DriveClub was criticised at E3 for failing to live up to the promise of its initial unveiling, but it sounds like the game has come on leaps and bounds since its showing in Los Angeles. We’ll let you read the full article – it’s an excellent piece – but apparently the developer’s spent months investigating accurate vegetation, and even the behaviour of clouds.

“One of the big things that we're trying to do with the game, is to keep things as dynamic and changeable as possible,” added Perkins, referring to the racer’s ambitious lighting system. “The whole look and feel of the game changes dramatically based on the cloud covering – there's massive variation every time that you play.”

It all continues to sound incredibly impressive – but now the developer needs to deliver on that promise. Evolution Studios has a habit of making late sprints to the finish line, so we’ve got our fingers crossed that DriveClub is going to properly blow us away at GamesCom. If it ends up looking as good as it sounds, then it’s going to be glorious.

[source theguardian.com]

As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale.

1
get2sammyb
Wed 7th Aug 2013

The game that they're pitching really does sound incredible. If the lighting system really is as dynamic as they're claiming, you'll be essentially be able to race at any time of the day in any cloud conditions, and it will look perfectly natural. That will give the game TONS of replayability, because there will be basically infinite combinations.

They just need to show it, I think. At GamesCom, I'd like to see all three tracks that we know about — India, Canada, and Scotland — but I want them to show them at different times of the day.

The thing that reassures me about this game is that the studio seems completely unfazed by the criticism it got at E3. It's almost as if it knows that it's going to come good in the end. I guess it could be putting on a brave face, but I don't think that's the case.

Honestly, I've never wanted a game to come good more than this, though. It sounds amazing on paper.

2
ViciousDS
Wed 7th Aug 2013

For each country, there are many miles of landscape, loaded with authentic local detail. Most of the circuits are inspired by real-life roads and the local street racing routes the researchers learned about. "All the detail we're putting in is equivalent to PC first-person shooters," says technical art director, Alex Perkins. "And then we're throwing a whole dynamic lighting system over the top."

As Perkins shows me the India circuit, he points out a drive along a river bed, through a valley of looming rock walls and out along a concrete overpass: "We've picked locations; and seasons that are indicative of the locations," he says. "I can think of three roads that we went along in this location that looked just like this; it's about capturing the soul of the roads and the networks". The seasonal element is important. Apparently, all the vegetation is accurate to the locations and the time of year – even the cloud movement is all real ("With summer clouds in the UK, the average lifespan is about eight minutes," Perkins points out nonchalantly at one point during the demo).

please be open world....it just sounds so perfect for it!

In the gameplay demo i saw so many branching roads they literally could half throw in free roam and it would work.

3
get2sammyb
Wed 7th Aug 2013

@ViciousDS Nah, I don't think it's going to be open world. Even in the Scotland track, though, you can see they're trying to build these enormous vistas. It's pretty impressive - but Scotland looked kinda bland. Hopefully the other locations are more lively.

4
ViciousDS
Thu 8th Aug 2013

@get2sammyb i also noticed red roads....or roads that split off from the track.....so many of these tracks have the same layouts but extend to other areas.....they honestly could make an open world game.

I am excited for the crew, but nothing has ever beat the original sense when i first played test drive unlimited. It wasn't complicated no over tuning, no insane modifications, no body kits..........just simple open world racing and it still is to this date the best open world racer i have ever played.

5
Daryusp
Thu 8th Aug 2013

If at Gamescom, Driveclub proves to be as amazing as they say it is, I will most definitely b picking up the full version. If not, I'll just wait for the crew to come out before I pick up my next racing title.

6
Dolphan2388
Thu 8th Aug 2013

I'm happy this game comes with the subscription to ps plus even though its going to be lacking some content. Sony is planing to sell a lot of dlc with basically having it as a free to play with ps plus. I'm looking forward to gamescom to see more of this game if their previous games are anything to go by I'm positive evolution will make a great game.

7
Luigi_Skywalker
Thu 8th Aug 2013

My only concern is the campaign structure of the game. They have been very vauge about what it is you do in the game. I know u can pose challenges to other players- but is there an actual campaign?