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Motor City Online

I remember “American Graffiti as an excellent coming of age movie. It brought the bittersweet innocence of the late 1950s to a generation of cinema-goers too young to really experience cruising the streets while rock 'n roll spilled out of the radio. Motor City Online, a new Internet-based arcade racing sim from Electronic Arts has its hot-rod action drawn from that same chrome-polished era.

To be released later this year, this sim is online gaming coming of age. Racing on PCs all alone is fun. But its more thrilling to defeat another (human) opponent and brag about it. Motor City Online is all about the golden age of the American hot rod. And features classic cars with pure horsepower racing in an online metropolis where drivers can purchase and sell cars and parts, customize rides and meet other aficionados.

This online camaraderie is appealing in the racing world and is integral to success. The game includes support for chat and instant messaging. Top scores and club accomplishments will be posted on Leader Boards. Enthusiasts will also be able to meet in 24-hour hangouts where racing challenges will be thrown and competitors can develop intense rivalries. You will also be able to wager "cash" in side street challenges. And compete for the Cup on the sanctioned pro racing circuit.

There will also be restricted clubs and events for the top racers. There are chances of promotion, based on your skill to an MCO leader, manager or instructor. And if this all sounds too elaborate, the developer has also considered the casual racer's needs.

Select a course, choose a car and start race. Both arcade and sim racing is implemented. These are hosted on pro courses, drag strips, side streets and 12 bona fide neighborhoods. The game is also outfitted with different competitions. So consider pro racing on sanctioned courses, hard core street battles with the opponent’s car as the prize or just racing for fun.

Between races, gamers will be able search through new and used car dealerships plus the classifieds in the Gazette. This online newspaper helps enthusiasts locate both rare cars and parts. In a move towards realism, applied economics are used to change prices and the number of cars and parts available. This is based on what's hot and what's not. It challenges gamers to consider best strategies for utilizing winnings.

Decisions will not be easy. MCO offers the widest selection of classics, hot rods and muscle cars in a racing game to date. There are over 35 licensed cars from the 1930’s through the 1970's. Performance tweaks include over 1000 authentic parts like tires, nitrous injectors and carburetors. Visual customizations are also available and will include paint jobs, chopped tops, dice, unique wheels, special rims, etcetera.

Competitors will also be spending time in their garages. This is a personalised online home for fixing cars and showcasing your collection. Adding to the sense of proprietorship, the garages will be actual real estate that you “own.”

Each gamer creates a unique persona when entering MCO, to help foster the communal experience. Basics include naming characters and choosing their appearance. A fundamental set of role-playing conventions adds depth to the process, and characters will gain abilities, points, achievement badges and a reputation. The game stores all of this information and makes it available for public perusal. But just how this affects the action remains to be seen.

Powering all this is a game engine that refuses to be watered down for online competition. And shows detailed custom bodies, polished interiors, and animated racers. It uses the latest rendering techniques and the final release will include true four-point car physics. Right now there's no beta or trial download available. But if the thought excites you, check out http://www.motorcityonline.com.

G Menon
[email protected]

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