Live for Speed is a new racing game that is developed by only three people. They are not restricted by publishers, as they are publishing the game themselves using the internet as their delivery medium.
The three developers are racing enthusiasts and set out to provide the best racing simulation ... Read review
Advantages: Great physics, Great online-play and still in development! Disadvantages: Still in development! :o)
Live for Speed is a new racing game that is developed by only three people. They are not restricted by publishers, as they are publishing the game themselves using the internet as their delivery medium.
The three developers are racing enthusiasts and set out to provide the best racing simulation in the home that they possibly could. With just a single programmer, a single graphics guy, and a single musician/webmaster they've developed ... ...home PC.
Live for Speed, in its current form, is based around a touring-car type of structure. Most of the cars that are available are "standard" road-going type cars. Although none of them have licence rights, and so are called something entirely different in the game, there are Toyota Celicas, Vauxhall Astras, and Caterham Sevens to name a few. This is really great, partly because I love touring and rally racing over F1, ... more
Live for Speed is a new racing game that is developed by only three people. They are not restricted by publishers, as they are publishing the game themselves using the internet as their delivery medium.
The three developers are racing enthusiasts and set out to provide the best racing simulation in the home that they possibly could. With just a single programmer, a single graphics guy, and a single musician/webmaster they've developed a really neat game, so far. The best bit about it it, because they're self-publishing they required a bit of money. So for only £12 they released the first part (one of three, apparantly, and the only part available as I write this) of their game. This means that, although it's not fully featured, it is still undergoing development. When the second part is out, users will be able to upgrade, until, sometime in the future, they have the complete thing - the best racing simulation on their home PC.
Live for Speed, in its current form, is based around a touring-car type of structure. Most of the cars that are available are "standard" road-going type cars. Although none of them have licence rights, and so are called something entirely different in the game, there are Toyota Celicas, Vauxhall Astras, and Caterham Sevens to name a few. This is really great, partly because I love touring and rally racing over F1, but it also means you get an idea of how accurate the physics they've developed are. Based on the real physics behind driving, the simulation is able to accurately reproduce the forces that occur at each wheel. This makes driving around the courses very exciting. You can really feel the car on the edge of adhesion, particularly if you've got a force-feedback wheel, which is the best way to play this game. The garage section of the game allows you to alter the way your car looks and handles, and it shows what detail there is in the simulation, when you can alter the camber of the wheels, the suspension ride height, and the pressure of the tyres. Of course, you can go with a pre-defined setup, and just give your car a new paint job.
It goes to show how good the physics are too, when you take off on one of the rally-cross courses. The car acts just how you might expect it, and those courses (particularly the full rally course with no tarmac) are definitely my favourites. The tracks are varied, from road-laps around a city, with all the detail that goes with it (signs, road markings, etc.) to muddy rally-cross tracks and southern-californian type laps. All the tracks are lap based, which in my opinion is a shame, as I'd love to see this physics engine doing a full rally-simulation, but they are very details and interesting in their design and layout. Because S1 (the only part available as I write this) only represents about one third of the final thing, there are no weather changes, and pitstops cannot be done in the race. But these will come, and in the meantime, what has been released will easily hold the attention.
Game-wise, it's pretty basic. There's no championship, no releasing of locked tracks. However, to start you off, some of the cars are locked. So you have to drive the basic cars (which are effectively Seat Ibiza's) and earn enough points (which actually isn't difficult) so that you can proceed up the rankings. Although it's not difficult to earn the points, winning races is quite a bit more difficult. The AI is very well programmed. The fastest cars on the road will be just fast enough to make it a real challenge to catch them, but the slowest cars will hang around for those who crash or make big mistakes. However, once you've earned enough points, there's no more to the game except for driving around against the AI, or against the time, and enjoying the experience.
Oh, well, that is until you realise there's an inconspicuous button on the main menu called "Multiplayer". This is where LFS really shines. Sure, driving round the tracks with the AI is great, but driving against real people on the internet is just exhilarating. First up LFS searches for servers which you can connect to using your current version (there are quite a few patches that come out regularly, so you can only connect to the servers that run your version). Then you connect and can spectate on the race that's currently taking place. When you decide you can join in and race on the current race until it finishes (obviously you'll be a long way down if you join well into a race). When the race ends a new race begins by a voting procedure (or by the server host). One of the great things about LFS is the speed of the internet games. Very rarely do you get any noticable lag. The feeling of competition is immense, yet, you'll find everyone is very courteous, generally, using the in-game chat to apologise for just shunting you off at the last corner, or congratulate you if you win the game.
Its gaining popularity is testament to this new way of publishing that LFS is taking. I think it is really great in showing game publishers that gamers, like business users, don't necessarily want software rushed-out the door ASAP but want games that are detailed, accurate and fit the market - i.e. fun. Because it's been released in this way, there is a massive community out there already, developing new skins for the cars, tools and other such goodies. What's more, is that because this is only the first third of the game, for more small outlays in the future this game can build up to something awesome. Rumour has it that S2 (the second part) will have modelling of fuel weight.
Advantages: Great physics, great playability, great fun! Disadvantages: not known well enough!
Live for speed. Heard of it? No? I thought not. And to be honest, that’s the biggest shame. There are so many people out there who think that their humble ps2 and a copy of Japans latest export is the best thing since the microchip was invented.
This is a call for all you people out there to wake up!
Live for speed is definitely a game for driving enthusiasts. It features physics unrivalled by anything this side of Gran Turismo's latest reincarnation. ... ...And this is where live for speed excels - online play. While racing against a few AI cars is fun, nothing beats real people.
The mode is easy to navigate, and doesn’t require an A-level in astro-physics to get past the first menu like some do. You just select multiplayer, and then choose from a big drop-down list of 'servers' which you can join. Make your pick, and then you’re away, in the free demo version you can select from one of three cars ...
topgeartom 06.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Live for Speed (PC)
I absolutely love this game. The physics are impressive apart from crashing into the barriers. For some reason you fly backwards or into the air at extreme speeds when you lightly bump them!! I love the way you can make your own skins, i have made many using photoshop cs3 and the lfs viewer software. The cruise servers are great fun. You can get some good police chases going. Cruising in my little mini is great. (they call it a uf 1000 because of ... ...have played, but that can be a bad thing as sometimes people take it far too seriously! Personally, i find the racing gets dull and like to go on the cruise servers, but maybe thats just because im not very good at racing! Its well worth buying the full version, but do try the demo first. Its not for everyone as some people prefer arcadey ps2 style games. As i am now learning to drive myself, i can see that it is realistic, i just wish i had a g25 ...
moss1234 15.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Live for Speed (PC)
Live for Speed, the online racing simulator. This is a serious driving simulator, no arcade modes or cornering at 300mph, you have to do the driving. When you consider that this simulator was developed by team of just 3 people the end result certainly is impressive, you could almost mistake yourself for driving a real car . You can flatspot your tyres, overheat the clutch and stall the engine which few other simulators can offer. It is so realistic, ... ...in finding a new driver in Formula BMW. Unfortunately all of the tracks and most cars are fictional. A small price to pay for such a realistic game. Though you do get to drive the BMW-Sauber F1 06 which is about as close as most of us will get to driving a real formula one car. You can download the sim from the website www.liverforspeed.com, its free to try the demo and costs £24 for the full game. It certainly been the best £24 I'd ever spent. Ensure ...
graham01125et 26.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Live for Speed (PC)
Advantages: physics, online racing experience, customisation Disadvantages: still in production
Live for speed is without doubt the best racing sim out there by a long way. LFS boasts having the most realistic physics on the market and has won numerous awards for this. Racing online on LFS is the next best thing to racing in real life. There are loads of parallels between racing in real life and LFS; you would almost think you were racing for real. Most types of racing experiences are covered from Formula one racing to rallycross. You choose ... ...and the sheer immense online experience far makes up for any authenticity issues. Live for speed is the hidden gem in the racing sim market - hard to find but once you've found it your in for the driving experience of your life!
Live for speed - indeed. ...
graham0125et 28.10.2007 (29.10.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Live for Speed (PC)
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I don’t know but for me it’s an easy game for me to play or maybe it’s just because I’ve played both GTA1 & 2 and because of it, I’m well trained. Still…
TIPS
If you want to play the game with more ease don’t forget to use the bird’s-eye view but don’t use it too much because the 3D aspects of the game is what makes the game so only use birds-eye view when the game gets harder.
Also don’t forget to use sports cars as a fast mode of transport. You definitely need speed in this game so use my advice.
GRAPHICS
Good update of the PS2 but not exactly peerless on the PC. Cool living cities. Everything looks real to give you the feel of the city; it’s less cartoony than on the other GTA’s and more realistic. Superb.
9/10
GAMEPLAY
When not being technically ...
