Ah, racing is in the air as next-gen racing is less than two weeks away. The only next-gen system not included in the NASCAR 08 release is the Nintendo Wii. Although with the release of the Wii Wheel, Nintendo Wii'ers can expect something in the near future. PS3 and Xbox 360 gamers have a lot to look forward to with NASCAR 08.
All 22 Nascar Nextel Cup tracks are in the game as well as multiple other Busch tracks that the Nascar Sprint Cup Series also runs. EA will also provide downloadable content through Xbox Live Marketplace, a feature PS3 gamers will be lacking due to the limited use of Sony's online functionality. That could change through use of the HOME network as EA becomes more comfortable with it but Sony fans shouldn't expect anything right away as far as updates.
EA will feature over 60 drivers in their new racer. Drivers excluded from the list include:
1) Carl Edwards #99/#60 - Office Depot, Roush/Fenway Racing, Ford Fusion
Edwards is the most notable from the list. Edwards will not be shipped with his car or name in the game due to him having a sponsorship and exclusivity deal with plug and play games. This prevents him from being in any games other than plug and play branded forms of software. There is no word when his deal with plug and play expires.
2) Ward Burton #4 - State Water Heaters, Morgan McClure Motorsports, Chevrolete Monte Carlo SS
Burton also did not make the cut. No information has been provided as to why he didn't make the list.
3) Kenny Wallace #78 - Furniture Row, Front Row Motorsports, Chevrolete Monte Carlo SS
Wallace has appeard in past NASCAR games but has been limited to the Busch Series. No reason has been presented as to why Wallace cannot be featured in the Cup Series but it's my guess that Front Row Motorsports' ownership has refused to sign away any rights to putting their car or Wallace in the game. While not confirmed (as most Busch drivers are not usually mentioned or known till after the release), it would be our guess that since he is not running in the Busch series this season, that he would be left out of the game.
4) Johnny Sauter #70 - Yellow Transportation, Haas CNC Racing, Chevrolete Monte Carlo SS
Sauter's absence is surprising. He has run within the top 35 this season and has shown that he can compete, and has done so on a full-time basis for Haas CNC racing. Their is no rhyme or reason as to his absence and why teammate #66 Jeff Green made it in. This could change with the addition of downloadable content.
5) Boris Said #60 Sobe - No Fear Racing, Ford Fusion
Said ran in the Budweiser Shootout in Febuary but participates on road courses more than regular oval tracks. His absence isn't surprising but he could also show up in the Busch Series or through downloadable content at some point.
Other notables would be #49 Mike Bliss, #80 Aric Armarola (Joe Gibbs Racing). Most of these drivers are either part-time Busch Series drivers or guys that have ran enough to have been considered for the game.
We can expect a handful of drivers from the Busch and Truck series to make the game's driver list but it won't be full rosters, which is everone's wish but it might not be feasably possible with the way contracts and deals are worked out.
NASCAR 08 will tailor towards both sim and arcade gamers in the sense that you can set up your game anyway you choose. Sim enthusiasts can set it up to race and entire 300,400, or 500 mile race, with cautions and black flags on while arcade guys can skip practice and all the sim features and just jump right in for a quick race around the track.
EA has been listening to the gamers and seems to be making all the right moves. This year, after years of complaining, EA has expanded the online field of drivers from four to tweleve. It might not be a reality to go with 43 guys on the next gen platform as of yet, but we are going to get closer with each step. The added functionality of cautions and black flags to online play will help keep races in a sim format and punish those who don't abide by the rules or continue to cause wrecks.
The EA locker feature will allow you to upload and download setups from your friends and share setups on certain tracks if your having a hard time adjusting.
Tuneable options include over 40 diffrent changes to make your car handle the way you want it to...
Basic
- Gearing
- Handling
- Downforce
- Suspension
Aero
- Front Splitter (COT)
- Fender Flare (Standard Car)
- Grille Tape
- Rear Spoiler (Standard Car)
- Rear Wing (COT)
Suspension
- Front/Rear Sway Bar
- Bump
- Rebound
- Spring
- Ride Height
- Track Bar (Rear Wheels)
Tires
- Front/Rear Toe In
- Cold/Hot Pressure
- Camber
- Caster (Front Wheels)
Weight Distribution
- Front Left/Right Weight
- Rear Left/Right Weight
- Wedge
- Front Bias
- Left Bias
These are some of the options you will be able to adjust on the current Cup car along with the "Car of Tommarow".
I for one am looking foward to the release of this game and it should make for a much more enjoyable racing experience, both online and off. The best racing game to date for a sim Nascar racing expierance remains NASCAR Racing 2003, from papyrus games. The Lead developer on NR 2003 is the lead developer for NASCAR 08, which should make things that much better for everyone involved.
The Official Sportsgamer NASCAR League is close to full on the Cup Series but there will be prizes and gifts to be won on the Busch and Truck Series levels as well. Visit www.nascarxbl360.com for more information and to get involved. We run 50% of the normal race length for races. The XBL Cup series runs on Sunday nights at 9pm Eastern time, the XBL Busch series runs on Saturday at 9pm, and the the Trucks on Thursday night at 9pm. We are running a NR 2003 League Friday nights at 9:15pm with practice lasting 45 mintuets, qualifying follows, then a 10 minute happy hour, and then we race by 10pm. Race leangth will vary from track to track.
EA's NASCAR 08 releases onto Xbox 360, PS3 and PS2 on July 24th.
