Need for Speed Memories
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Need for Speed is one of few computer games that I have always adored. I first heard of the game in early school days long before I got my first computer. My younger brother, who was (and still is) a big car enthusiast, was dazzled by the people’s talk about the game. He bought the CD and asked me to install it for him on our dad’s computer at work.
My dad had to go for a couple of hours every Friday to finish off some paper work in his office, and since he is the head of his department he had keys to all other offices. We joined him several times to enjoy Need for Speed for a limited time while he finished his work.
There were computers everywhere in the building, each with a modem connected to the telephone line. I remember I used to use the internal call redirection inside the department to establish modem-to-modem connections and play the game with my brother. It was a lot of fun :)
Years ago, I had no big interest in cars. I thought of them as a mean of transportation in real life, and merely objects with variable speeds in game. I always thought that the one who keeps his car moving at a higher speed for a longer time will win the race, but I lost most of the time for thinking so. My brother had a deeper knowledge than I had, and always considered gearing and skidding, and was thus “mysteriously” unbeatable back then.
I loved Need for Speed 3 “Hot Pursuit”, 4 “High Stakes”, and 5 “Porsche Unleashed”. I didn’t like the sixth version “Hot Pursuit 2”, and I hated Underground and the following generations because the game went off from focusing on smooth and realistic driving to heavy graphics and complexity. For me, after the Porsche version the game has become like any other obsolete driving game, it lost its taste.
What brought upon Need for Speed and uncovered all those memories is that my brother found an old installation of Porsche Unleashed and started playing it a couple of days ago. Today I had my turn and spent a long time playing, and it was the first time I played the game after I had my driving license and drove an actual car.
All I can say is that the game is more realistic and awesome than I ever thought it was. According to Wikipedia (Link), the handling of cars in Need for Speed Porsche Unleashed is more realistic than handling in all other versions, including newer ones. The driving aspects of the game are very close to some actual driving aspects: el low gears begawmo a7san, el sayyara “bet3arred” bil handbrake, o “betshallef” o “betjalles”.
Most importantly, the performance of the game is great on my computer (no super processor or graphics card). The game loads and unloads fast, and the graphics are very smooth. The computer barely feels the game is running.
Unfortunately, today’s game developers are putting enormous efforts on graphics that they stopped paying enough attention to other aspects of games. Many have forgotten that what makes a good game is the core idea that the graphic is trying to convey, not the graphic itself. Graphics are continuously evolving and will never reach a top; therefore every high-graphics technology will oneday become out-dated. On contrary, the ideas that make good games will always be as much enjoyable as they were in their earlier days; the thing that explains why people always turn back to old classics like Need for Speed.
17 Response(s) to "Need for Speed Memories"
Lubna said:
I totally agree on what you said at the end, but couldn't you at least mention CTR, it's the only game i played:( lol
Lubna said:
don't get your hopes high, you only got one comment, that's been edited on it's second edition:P,,, plz remove the first one :)
Black [X] Truder said:
lol Lubna! mnee7 enno shoft el comments 3al blog bil awwal, wella jad kont etnakkaset :P
By the way, I have as much Crash memories as I have for Need for Speed if not more. CTR is one of best playstation games that I have ever played; I fully finished its adventure mode more than once. But still: CTR is very different from Need for Speed, it isn't about "real" driving; cars don't fire missiles you know ;)
Lubna said:
well... you can hire someone to sit next to you in your car, and ask him to through apples on other driving people:D
Black [X] Truder said:
Actually, the next seat is occupied by my younger brother for most of the time. He plays the assistant navigator while I drive, and is responsible for such things as:
- Messing with the stereo every now and then.
- Messing with the mirrors so that he can check his looks.
- Opening and closing the roof panel several times a ride.
- Occasionally giving me stupid "driving tips".
Asking him to throw apples at people will distract him from carrying on his responsibilities, which by turn can disturb my driving ;)
Lubna said:
lol.... I have amazing suggestions, but i'd rather share them on the MSN.. bala fadaye7 you know;) :P:P:P:D
ps. I didn't even drink tea!!!
ma3en said:
yeah man ur absolutely right games now only concentrate on graphics!! Goodbye story line, though for me, this aspect keeps me interested in the game, many people considered metal gear solid 1 better than the later MGS 2 & 3 despite the extreme graphical enhancement, the secret was in the story line, none of the later versions matched the first one, though one should say that MGS 3 nearly reached 1's story quality but still not a match!!
i played need for speed hot pursuit, I drove the Lamborghini Diablo, man that car gives u the sense of domination and power over the police Fords!! :D
were they Fords?? I think some of them used porsche in order to spice up the game ;)
Abed. Hamdan said:
You have the best blogger desing I've ever seen, very professional and neat :)
Black [X] Truder said:
Maen
Yeah man there are many other examples of game series where older versions made a bigger success than newer ones.
The police cars in Hot Persuit were Chevorlet Corvette, Lamborghini Diablo SV and "El Nino" iza btetzakkarha. Ya3ni el sara7a ma kan fe kteer "domination" lamma tkoon el police car elle btel7agak Lamborghini Diablo ;)
Abed
Am flattered, thanks! Every pixel of it is my own work :)
ma3en said:
no i drove the lamborghini diablo!! they too?? i didnt notice :S i was busy running away from them :) el mohem ini knt afouz :D
Abed. Hamdan said:
This is such a great work :)
I would really like to do such work...
Specially this comment thing .
can you add the Authentication code assoctiated with the blogger comments to avoid spam ??
and I would like to know how to modify the blogger comments on my blog, to make it like yours ?? Is there anyway I can do it ?
Black [X] Truder said:
Abed
The authentication code option can be implemented as a simple client-side Java script function, running independently of Blogger's authentication system. This will prevent like 99% of users from submitting spam, but it will still be possible to do so through some "advanced" techniques.
The commenting system this blog uses is a deviation of Ebenezer Orthodoxy’s Metempsychosis Comments Hack 1.03 which is available for free use on his blog (Link).
I have to tell you, however, that I made major changes to the original script. I’ve coded additional features, removed unnecessary ones, tweaked the script, and redesigned its interface. Now, the script my blog is running shares only the infrastructure with the original script, it is all changed. I dare not say the script is mine though :)
You can find the original code and some detailed installation instructions on the author’s blog. You’ll need to have some knowledge on Blogger’s templates and how Blogger’s commenting system works. You will also need to do some CSS work if you want the comments form to mold nicely into your interface.
Am readily accessible via email, let me know if you need any help :)
Abed. Hamdan said:
Thank you very much my friend, this is so nice of you , im overwhlemed :)
Actually im in a mid of a tuff summer course, so I think I gotta wait till im done, and then I will try doing it, I had some knowledge of CSS, but 100% forgot everything :P but nshallah I will do my best,
the default blogger commenting system is annoying me, those who don't have blogger accounts are commenting using "Anonymous name" most of the time, and I was thinking of shifting to HaloScan comments, but thing is, I didn't want the previous comments to be hidden, so I prefere this hack ur using here..
Thanks again my brother :)
Black [X] Truder said:
Anytime :)
Thought of telling you something though (even some HaloScan users don't know this): HaloScan does not keep old comments; those older than six months are automaically deleted!
This commenting system is a great alternative featuring the best of blogger and HaloScan. Am not trying to brand it, but I honestly think it is neat :)
Good luck with your summer course ;)
Abed. Hamdan said:
yes indeed, this is much better than both.
but I don't that HaloScan delete old comments..
Check this blog, for exampl, http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com
check for older posts, the comments are still there , right ?
I will use your commenting method as soon as im done with my summer course nshallah,
thanks again my friend :)
Black [X] Truder said:
HaloScan deletes old comments for free personal accounts. They call it “moving to a different database”:
"All comments over four months old are archived for non-premium members. These comments are simply moved to a different database and are not deleted. This is done to keep the performance of the site at an acceptable level. This restriction does not apply to premium (upgraded) members and upgrading your account automatically restores all previously archived comments within 24 hours of the upgrade." (Source)
Whether they are deleted or moved: they won't be accessible... till you pay for a premium subscription. The owner(s) of that blog must have a premium account :)
Abed. Hamdan said:
Ahaaa,
lol thanks for telling me! It's good, i wanted to change to HaloScan several times, thank god i didn't. thanks dude :)
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