Topic: Jeep Rock-Crawling Video Game

[chrisfranklin]

(I am putting this here, because its kind of indirectly related to Jeep)

I know there are a few "off-road" 1st person racer video games out there.  But is there anything that does an adequate Jeep Rock Crawling simulation?  Be great if you could run the actual trails before you run the actual trails, so to speak.

I suspect game developers are stuck in a "provincial", "Whatever-is-on-HDTV-or-Movie Screen-We'll-Make-A-Game-Out-Of-It" Mode or in a "Massive-Multiplayer-Monthly-Fee-World-Wide-Play-to-Suicide" kick. 

Video Games arguably brought the Nissan Skyline (GTR) to America.  Maybe they will vicariously bring the idea of Rockcrawling to Jeep owners self-confined to asphalt?   

[bidi]

I doubt they'll ever do anything like that, market is too small!

What you have to think is, how many people actually rock crawl?  Then, how many of those own video game consoles?

Also rock crawling doesn't fit in too well with the 20 second attention span of most teens now-a-days... it's too much thinking, and not enough action.

[chrisfranklin]

I agree the market for such a game seems small. 

Nevertheless, millions of people in the North and South America, Australia, Africa have the "foundation" for a pretty nice off-road build -- Jeeps, Hummers, Pickups, some SUVs etc.  It would let them arm-chair what their own vehicles could do in the hands of different owners

A game player would build his vehicle, run the course, survive without needing to make repairs so he has the money to buy more parts.  Of course the trails would become increasingly treacherous.  And of course, if you rolled bad off a "cliff" or rock you'd be back to zero in the game.  Kind of like building a house of cards. 


I would antipate that the trails would be somewhat exaggerated in their hazards
Obviously, though you could include environments based on more well known trails, even naming those levels as such.  You could network the game -- you have to winch somebody else up to keep the group together

But I think ultimately you'd get to a point where the game would allow you to literally design trails -- climbs, rocks, mud, etc -- that have no basis in reality. That might be fairly amusing.  It could give people ideas for the creation of real-life private trails that incorporate some of these unusual game elements.

Keep in mind though, this game would be about making the trails in one piece.  You as the driver would have to manage the risks involved in running all the trails, up through the hardest stuff.  If you do, you win, if you don't you lose.

I can already visualize the marketing of the game:  Real life video images of rock-crawling in the South West U.S., Mexico, Central or South America.  Then clips of your vehicle in the game. 

Could include a code that would open a scene in which Jeeps chase down litigious environmentalists.  That'd be the bonus round.    

[Jeffy]

I think a true rockcrawling game would be rather boring.  There have been offroad games that are more orented towards the technical side rather then arcade style but those are far and few.  No one wants to spend 20 minutes playing and only gew several feet from where they started.

This is why the artificial Rockcrawling competitions are more popular.  First they don't have to hike into the backwoods and sit at one spot to see a hand full of Jeeps go by in a 24hr period.  Secondly, the competitions are fast pace with a decent likely hood of carnage.  Thirdly, people are lazy.  They want it now.

For an offroad game, I'm kinda partial to Colin McRae's Dirt.  Here's a game like what you're suggesting though, http://pc.ign.com/objects/965/965046.html.  Not much interest in it and he got pushed back.

There was also an older game called Screamer 4x4 which was a bit similar.

Then there is another one called UAZ Racing.  I think it's more like a Rally/Safari style racing.

[chrisfranklin]

In real life, the risk driving rocky trails is financial for the most part.  Since its mostly high-schoolers, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s to even a few seniors driving the trails, you are talking about a mostly an adult audience and playgroup base, one that is likely working and has money.   

Perhaps a real-life element should be brought in to this Rock-Crawling video game:  Financial risk.  You ante up actual dollars to play.  If you bust your ride on the trail, then you lose money.  If you make it through, then your avatar wife girlfriend lets you buy more stuff and try the harder trails.   

Come on help me out here.  I'd play this thing. 

Maybe it'd even be a kids game.  You are under 16 don't have your license, want to drive a Jeep, nobody in your family has one, how the heck else are you going to get any frame of reference but by playing a game? 

Maybe that's it, market it as a kids game, educational even.  Then the adult off-roaders check it out and say, "oh, your little game is actually pretty technical Jimmy kind of like driving the trails.." Then the kids like, "Dad, what's a Dana 60?"   "How do you drive a water crossing?"  "What's an Approach Angle?" 

I personally think there is something here, would have to find the market (besides me) and make a business case for it.  Hell though, pilots have flight simulations, why wouldn't an adult Jeep owner want a Rockcrawling simulation?  Think its the smart kids who might have some fun on somethng like that -- future aeronautical/mechanical engineers and so forth

[chrisfranklin]

Hadn't heard about the Motor4x PC game.  They're calling it a "racing" game I guess; you must move pretty quickly in it.  Doesn't sound like rock-crawling though. 

[Jeffy]

Hadn't heard about the Motor4x PC game.  They're calling it a "racing" game I guess; you must move pretty quickly in it.  Doesn't sound like rock-crawling though. 

No one will play a game without a reward.  If you don't call it a race and make it a leisurely travel then what's the point?  Might as well be playing Sims.  There is a rudimentary MMORPG out there already as well.

[chrisfranklin]

No one will play a game without a reward.  If you don't call it a race and make it a leisurely travel then what's the point?  Might as well be playing Sims.  There is a rudimentary MMORPG out there already as well.

Sure there's a game reward, just in points. 

Heck, Jeffy, I am just going to sell my Jeep and play Sims then if that's all that rockcrawling equates to -- leisurely travel.

I'd personally say its more an exercise in risk management.  So, then would be the game, just with a point reward framework and the use of  actual, well-known off road trails (don't believe these trail names are trademarked under the software category either). 

And, the game would sell itself to some extent.  You have a major trails in the U.S. Some people would probably buy the game to see if art adequately imitates "life" -- their local black diamond trail -- so to speak.     

I'd buy it, but whether it would be ideally executed by the manufacturer or at all ingenious or creative, that's a different story. 

But I say put it to a poll.  I'd say at least 20% of drivers on 4Banger or maybe JeepForum might be interested in such a game.  Mall crawler interest in the game?   Probably 80% 

[Mozman68]

That game looks kewl....as long as there is free roam and I can drive the vehicle off a cliff at full speed.

I like games where I can just drive around like a mad man and see how well I can crash....one of the reasons why I love the GTA games so much.

[chardrc]

ive had 4 offroad games in my life... first i had test drive offroad 1 and 3 they are now old and really old and are basically dirt racing with some jumps and you can upgrade your vehicles (test drive offroad 1 had lifted silverado, jeep wrangler, land rover defender 90, and a hummer ,and test drive off road 3 had allot of vehicles including 2 wranglers (4banger and 4liter), a grand Cherokee and i think a Cherokee. i couldn't list all the vehicles but there are allot)

as for more technical games the next one that comes to mind is jeep evo 4x4 2, it was a free promotional jeep game contest, with a few tracks from 4x4 evo2 (never bought the full game cuz im too cheep.)  the promotional one had 4 tracks, jeep 101, moab, Rubicon trail, i forget the last ones name but it had woods, rooks, and rivers) , it had every tj jeep model and a liberty, gc, and if you got the codes you can unlock a mb and extras to put on your jeep. overall the game was fun but if you went to fast and hit something you would start bouncing like crazy... and the winch would bounce you around. but for the price (free) it was amazing but it is getting older now. good luck finding anywhere to download it. although if there is a newer version of the evo game that would be worth looking into.

the last game i had was cabela's 4x4 off-road Adventure it was made in 2001 and they where anal about trying to be realistic and i think they overdid it. you could run out of gas, overheat, brake your vehicle by crashing too much. i basically gave up on the game after the first 3 levels. but it is a good game and now with my longer attention span i may try it again... so a newer version of this game may be worth looking at also.


sorry for the ubber long post about relatively old games but it may help.. hopefully.

[chrisfranklin]

ive had 4 offroad games in my life... first i had test drive offroad 1 and 3 they are now old and really old and are basically dirt racing with some jumps and you can upgrade your vehicles (test drive offroad 1 had lifted silverado, jeep wrangler, land rover defender 90, and a hummer ,and test drive off road 3 had allot of vehicles including 2 wranglers (4banger and 4liter), a grand Cherokee and i think a Cherokee. i couldn't list all the vehicles but there are allot)

as for more technical games the next one that comes to mind is jeep evo 4x4 2, it was a free promotional jeep game contest, with a few tracks from 4x4 evo2 (never bought the full game cuz im too cheep.)  the promotional one had 4 tracks, jeep 101, moab, Rubicon trail, i forget the last ones name but it had woods, rooks, and rivers) , it had every tj jeep model and a liberty, gc, and if you got the codes you can unlock a mb and extras to put on your jeep. overall the game was fun but if you went to fast and hit something you would start bouncing like crazy... and the winch would bounce you around. but for the price (free) it was amazing but it is getting older now. good luck finding anywhere to download it. although if there is a newer version of the evo game that would be worth looking into.

the last game i had was cabela's 4x4 off-road Adventure it was made in 2001 and they where anal about trying to be realistic and i think they overdid it. you could run out of gas, overheat, brake your vehicle by crashing too much. i basically gave up on the game after the first 3 levels. but it is a good game and now with my longer attention span i may try it again... so a newer version of this game may be worth looking at also.


sorry for the ubber long post about relatively old games but it may help.. hopefully.

I like the sound of those.  I want to see that JeepEvo2 promo and game; Cabella's too.  See if can download or hunt for and old copy for cheap.   

[Jeffy]

Evo 4x4 was OK but still more of a race.  The freebee Jeep one was more of a promotion without the time clock.  Still you could get stuck in some unrealistic situations which were annoying.  Like wedging the Jeep between two rocks and then having it roll over for no apparent reason.  Or having it bounce several feet off the ground as you try to ram your way out.  Or better yet having the rock fly up into the air...

I still think Screamer 4x4 was a better game although, no official Jeeps.

[Tsd]

I few weeks ago i saw this:

http://www.easyco-games.com/projects.html

Looks really cool

[chardrc]

ya ther jeep evo does like to forget about gravity... but i love going down rivers swamping the jeep and reviving it when the hood goes above water line... i think i have the installer on my computer somewhere if someone has a place to put it... i got it from a evo 4x4 fan forum website place.. Google that.. but you will ahve to suck up to the admin to get enough credits to download the game 

[chrisfranklin]

My friends, the weaknesses we find in previous 4x4 games are the feedback that builds a great 4x4 Rockcrawling game!  Well, at least theoretically. 

A rockcrawling game -- slow etc. -- would be hampered by lack of seat of pants feedback.  You play the game, you couldn't really detect wheel slippage except that you are not getting any where, the fact that you are at dangerous angles would have to be conveyed visually instead of by feel unless you used one of those full fized flight simulator contraptions used at theme parks or as museum rides. 

Of course, I have seen some guys in real life cheese-out (jealousy on my part) and incorporate cameras in the underbody and an in-cab video monitor to gauge the proximity of tires, diffs, axles to rocks etc.  You could incorporate that perspective in a game -- if it hasn't been done already which I suspect it has.