New Things

Hello everybuddies.

Now before I get into what I've been doing since yesterday, I'd like to give an update on what is happening on my Youtube channel, Racing Spirit. As of today, I'm introducing two new video series. One, the gameplays of The Need For Speed: Special Edition, a refined version of the very first Need for Speed released way back in 1995 for DOS. I took some time to figure out how to run the game on DOSBox - a DOS emulator, if you're not familliar - and I ended up relying on DosBox Game Launcher, a nice little DosBox frontend that comes up with build-in presets for installing and running different DOS games. Second new game on a channel will be Need for Speed: Shift, a sim racing game from the authors of Project CARS, when they were still working for EA. I debated between Shift and Dirt Rally 2.0, and decided in favor of NFS - that obviously doen't mean Codemasters game will not appear. It will, just on a later date. From now on I'll be succesively introducing new things on my channel. Like my friend I mentioned, Karol, who is going to help me out recording races - he's good at it. Wait, did I just call Karol a thing? Dang, not intentional. Anyway, one of the things I'm also currently considering are Android racing games, especially seeing upcoming Forza Street (I think it comes out in May, is it?). Ok, with that taken care of let's see what I've been doing since the last entry yesterday.

Let's go over my progress game by game. First, mobile. Since yesterday, I managed to complete Speed Snap on Indianapolis, and Autocross on Mount Panorama in AWD Series in Real Racing 3. Both of those races were fairly easily, and I managed to complete them without much retries. Now all I need left to complete this race series is a win in Cup on Melbourne track. My Hyundai I20 WRC is almost fully upgraded, but I think I won't invest any more coins in it - I just don't think it's worth it at this point. The other car I'm working on, as I mentioned in the last entry, is Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II. As of now, I'm two wins away from finishing Tier 1 - so far I succeeded placing 1st at Speed Record on Monza, and 2nd in both Endurance on Silverstone International Circuit and Cup on Red Bull Ring Afternoon. I have to be honest, I hate Endurance races, they're the ones that always take me the most time to beat, not to mention the lenght required to win at given race seems to fluctuate. I'll give it a go again later today.

What I will also give a go, mobile speaking, is Asphalt 8: Airborne. Currently I'm right in the middle of the first season, having full five stars in half of the races I completed until now. Most recently I won Knockdown in Nevada driving my Audi R8 e-tron missing just on star, and then bought Mercedez-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive to take part in Class C Infected course in Iceland. The huge merit of the game is that there are no limits on how many times you can start in races. There is areno fuel you need to recharge with your real life money, no battteries, no points. You can try, and try until you memorize given track to perfection. Ah yes, tracks. In the first game's season I'm racing through right now, there are only three locations: Nevada, Iceland and Tokyo. Each takes around 3 to 3 and a half minutes to complete, but boy are they detailed and - as far as mobile games go - gorgeous. What is also interesting, the tracks aren't straitghforward like you imagine other games' circuits usually are. Here, it's totally possible to take a much longer route and lose a race because of it, nothing is so obvious when you play it for the firsr time. I'm definitely continuing to play this game.

Switching to PC, I spent quite some time playing Dirt Rally 2.0 yesterday, trying to learn different tracks and vehicles as best as I could. Before I noticed, it was already 5PM, so I decided it's time to get something to eat. Yeah, this game takes some time, especially on longer stages. I haven't tried any career modes yet, so I don't really know what they're like. What I know what is like though, is Half-Life: Opposing Force. Once again I was joined by Karol, as we gave this game one of the last gos. We played it all the way to what we think is final boss, and we got stuck there, trying to figure out how to defeat it. After half an hour of trying different approaches and failing, we decided to wait and beat it today afternoon.

What I forgot to mention - yesterday I uploaded another two gameplay videos of Test Drive Unlimited Platinum. Volkswagen Golf R32 (MkIV), and Honda Civic Type-R (EK9). I'm getting really close to finishing all Class F vehicles, and to start working on my Class F Top 10 Cars video. And now we've made a full loop, as I finished my day trying to work out how to get The Need for Speed Special Edition working on DOSBox. Later, I've read some car reviews on the interwebz, and went to sleep.

So that's about it for yesterday. I'll write some more later today. Stay tuned, and stay safe.