This will be the place for discussing new ideas or even improved ideas, which will be for any upcoming Driver games. Please take all your time to think of any changes that would do well to support and help Reflections achieve its goals of having the Driver franchise turn out as best as possible.

Well, one day in june of 2005, in my spare time, I created "My Vision" of the Driver 4 (Parallel Lines) cover. And trust me, it had some BIG changes! This is what it looked like. It was called "DrIVer: NYC", it had a picture of Tanner standing in the middle, the NYC skyline, the Amtrak Acela train, either a 1978 Chevy Monte Carlo or 1979 Buick Regal (they look very similar), a car with hydraulics (like a 1976 Chevy Caprice 4-door sedan), a cigar boat, a helicopter, and a jet airliner flying over the NYC skyline. On the bottom it said "Wheelman, Stuntman, Throttleman, Wingman, Seaman, who will you be?"


So, based on my cover that I drew, some of the big changes that I wanted to see for Driver 4 (Parallel Lines) were having all kinds of vehicles operable, vehicle customization and money (like putting hydraulics on your car), minigames to earn more money, and an accurate NYC set in 2005 (or the present), and making it so that you could see the city from every angle. And I really hope this all can be the minimum of what we see in Driver 5. It will have a lot of changes for sure if it's done this way, and it will hopefully get high scores. So Reflections, ready to impress some people?...

Doesn't anybody think Tanner(if he's in it) will resume going after those cars from Driv3r.

But maybe since Tanner's near death experience,it puts him a dark state....

quote:

Originally posted by Driverman2006:
Well, one day in june of 2005, in my spare time, I created "My Vision" of the Driver 4 (Parallel Lines) cover. And trust me, it had some BIG changes! This is what it looked like. It was called "DrIVer: NYC", it had a picture of Tanner standing in the middle, the NYC skyline, the Amtrak Acela train, either a 1978 Chevy Monte Carlo or 1979 Buick Regal (they look very similar), a car with hydraulics (like a 1976 Chevy Caprice 4-door sedan), a cigar boat, a helicopter, and a jet airliner flying over the NYC skyline. On the bottom it said "Wheelman, Stuntman, Throttleman, Wingman, Seaman, who will you be?"


So, based on my cover that I drew, some of the big changes that I wanted to see for Driver 4 (Parallel Lines) were having all kinds of vehicles operable, vehicle customization and money (like putting hydraulics on your car), minigames to earn more money, and an accurate NYC set in 2005 (or the present), and making it so that you could see the city from every angle. And I really hope this all can be the minimum of what we see in Driver 5. It will have a lot of changes for sure if it's done this way, and it will hopefully get high scores. So Reflections, ready to impress some people?...

It seems to me that Reflections really liked your ideas, Mr. Tanner because many of those ideas that you had around June 2005 made it into Driver Parallel Lines, especially seeing NYC set in the year that it was made. However, it is too bad that we didn't get to see Tanner or even any other vehicles rather than just road vehicles.

Maybe we'll see all kinds of different vehicles in the next game. Having Tanner back would be another great thing from Reflections, so lets hope that we see this too.

Now, when going to changes, meaning that we see improved ideas or entirely new ones being introduced for the Driver franchise, I'd say that this would be a very important thing as Reflections could put together and help make Driver 4/5 (whatever it will be called) become the best of the Driver franchise.

I understand how awesome the first Driver game was and maybe taking its driving and story formula would be a great aspect for the next-gen Driver. Reflections would then be able to improve upon those elements that made the first game so good and then they could go with improved or entirely new ideas that have or haven't been seen in the Free-roam genre.

What's probably the most important thing about the next-gen Driver is that it turns out better in all aspects of what is delivered and that it is more improved than all the past Free-roam and Driving games, meaning that people would really come to love seeing a game like this.

Every aspect must be surpassed in the next-gen Driver. It needs to do better than any of the past Driver games and even any of the past Free-roam games in order for it to become established as a strong game and maybe even to be considered as a classic. Therefore, the exploration, driving, and action which are probably the biggest factors of what make up every element of the Driver franchise, must all be pushed to its limits and be stronger than that of any 6th generation game that shares a similarity to it whether it'd be for the driving genre or even the Free-roam genre.

To tell you the truth, I wasn't a member on the Atari forums in the summer of 2005. But believe me, I read the forums on a daily basis in all of 2005. So I knew you long before I met you John Cena (Assaultmachine1). Sorry I joined so late, I thought that it would ruin my computer if I became a member. And I also wanted to see you guys converse with eachother on certain issues, and I also wanted to find updates too.


But anyway, another big change I want to see is the graphics. I want the next Driver to have the 2006 cutscene graphics in D:PL for gameplay graphics. That's how good I want the graphics to be. Those 2006 cutscene graphics found in D:PL are the most realistic graphics I have ever seen in a game. And I also want the same graphics between gameplay and cutscenes. But that means the D:PL 2006 cutscene graphics and NO cartoony $#!+.

Enhancing the graphics is definitely what we can expect from Reflections. There's no doubt that it will be an easy task, perhaps even the easiest one since the Driver series has done quite well in terms of graphics.

Gameplay is definitely what needs to change. Maybe even sound and controls should function in newer ways as well. With the Tilt-Axis Controller of the PS3, it will be very interesting as to how the controls can be made for both on-foot and driving controls. It is one of the ways that Reflections can consider on changing the Driver series.

As for the sound, it should tie in with the suspense and action that is all around you and should be done for the right moment of time. This will be good for helping the soundtrack look more great. It's not only about just hiring recognizable artists and groups for making a big soundtrack, you also need to be sure that you're using it for the right situation and that it has some sense of creativity. Creativity is what Reflections needs more of.

I don't think the whole tilt thing will come into play all that much. It just gets annoying if they use it for steering. Might help with on foot aiming or other actions. Who knows.

I think they need to worry less about graphics. Obviously make them good, but leave room for plenty of action with no slowdown.

Yes, the graphics shouldn't be what Reflections is too worried about when that isn't as much of a big problem for them. The gameplay is definitely what needs to be enhanced and perfected.

The controls and sound can be done better too. I'm sure that the Tilt Axis controller can at least be useful to one function of the game such as for steering and using the brakes, which is what Motorstorm had made use of, with the Tilt Axis controller.

The gameplay was a bit crappy, you're right, but I think the graphics could've been done a little bit better. For example; D3's car damage modeling was a lot better than DPL's

Here's what you all should know. We cannot ask Reflections to focus good only on one particular attribute of gaming (i.e. either being gameplay, controls, graphics, sound, or replay value). We must help for as much that can ever be brought for making the driver series feel and look great.

In order for that to happen, we need better gameplay, more realism in terms of graphics, controls that can make the experience feel more new (as opposed to just giving out the same similar controls that were carried on from the PS1 one and PS2 controllers) as the Tilt Axis can definitely deliver some innovation; something that the PS3 will need to put forth a certain amount, even though it won't be able to take the controls as far as that of the Nintendo Wii's wii remote and nunchuck controllers, and the replay value and sound need a great deal of work put forth into them as well.

If all goes well, then we might see Reflections deliver a great assortment of entirely new experiences that go as close to the Hollywood chase experience as it has ever gone in the past.

You're VERY right Assaultmachine1!

I like the tilt sensitivity idea. Do the PS3 controllers have vibration? I read in articles that the vibration function was removed and it has tilt sensitivity now. Then I read another article (closer to release date of the PS3) that it was going to have both vibration and tilt sensitivity.

I'm sorry to say this, but the new Tilt Axis controller for the PS3 will not have any rumble (or vibration)feature because of the sensor not leaving enough room for it. The vibration feature was sacrificed just so that the PS3 would reach more innovation for its own controller.

Rats! So a shooting must feel like nothing because you can't feel the gun firing.


Here's another change I want to see for the next Driver game. I want cars with realistic damage that look like real cars (as close as possible). Now they can get away with it if they use real cars, but they pry or paint over the logos. So I don't want anymore "Breeded" cars. I want real cars just with different names and no real logos or insignias.

That's something I would've wanted in DPL already, I'm glad you do too.

quote:

Originally posted by Dutch_Seinfeld:
That's something I would've wanted in DPL already, I'm glad you do too.

Well, as they say, 2 heads are better than none!


Anyway, Reflections, you damn well better study your cities for the next Driver game when it comes to vehicles. I'm disappointed with D:PL because it was set in New York (not only famous for autos, but trains too). I'm pissed that I can't drive trains and subways in D:PL because it's called "Driver" you'd drive a train or subway, and the fact that it's set in New York City, the second biggest train-famous city in the US of A (Chicago being the biggest train-famous city, or the "Railroad Capital"). But New York has always been famous for trains, and all Driver games should have both NYC and drivable trains (in all cities, not just New York). OK, here are some "Hand Picked" American cities that will probably make it in the next big Driver game.

New York: Cars, cabs, trains, subways, and other public transportation.
Chicago: Trains and subways.
Las Vegas: Cars and aircraft.
Los Angeles: Cars.
San Diego: Boats.
San Francisco: Trams, cars and boats.
Miami: Boats and cars.
Philadelphia: Trains, trucks, and ships.
Baltimore: Trains, trucks, and ships.
Washington D.C.: Cars, trains, and aircraft.
Boston: Trams, trains, and boats.
Atlanta: Trucks.
Detroit: Cars.
St. Louis: Trains.
Kansas City: Trains.
Memphis: Trains.
Seattle: Boats, Trams and Monorails.


Now this list is just majority. So I would like to see more than this stuff in these cities (if they include them). And please don't get me wrong, these vehicles really do/would make these cities realistic like if you're actually playing in them.

No, vibration was taken out of the controllers because of a lawsuit from a company that invented the motors that cause the vibrations, and the fact that they were not given credit and wanted millions of dollars (after Playstation had been using the vibration for 10 years)

And as for real cars, Reflections have been trying to do that all along, but they can't get the level of damage they want on the cars because the companies don't want their cars being smashed up in videogames. So they get as close as they can to the cars without actually licensing them.

I know that it would be great to have Reflections make real cars for the next Driver game, but I see more interest in seeing a developer being able to work on their very own vehicles as it could bring more creativity to the driving genre.

One of the plans in my future of when it comes to creating video games is to make a licensed driving game, being all about the word "drive." After I've gotten it done, I'll try to take the stakes up even more, having to create every vehicle within the game with total creativity, not being based on actual vehicles, which may sound like a challenge, but I think that it would be a great thing to see as not many people have ever been commited to pushing the driving/and or racing genres even further with this much creativity. The only people that have done so are those who created the Mario Kart franchise and even the F-Zero franchise, but when will we actually be able to see completely new well-done modern vehicles available? It is very important that our world moves on and that newer concepts bring better improvement to the world itself, changing the way that we view things. It is also about making a large impact and if no one else is ready to step up and make things happen their own way, then obviously one person does and that's me.

At this second driving game, I will have me and my team attempt a driving game that no one has ever been able to imagine with of how much creativity will eventually have gone into building it. The worlds will be fictional, but will resemble our world very much. The vehicles will also resemble what we've seen before in video gaming and other media, except that they will be fictional and have a lot of creativity put into making them seem very innovative and cool. Almost everything will be newer to the racing or driving genres than it has ever been done in the past.

I never thought I'd find the Driver Forum in handheld till I saw Driver '76 arriving for the PSP, which I don't own. (It's good to see the members from Atari's Driver forum here!)

So just in case Reflections hasn't been visiting the old Atari forum, here's my "Wishlist" for the next generation Driver game:

IN DASH interior view: Why? Bring us into the game like never before. I want to be in the Driver's seat this time, but include 3rd person views too. Yes, 100 vehicles is a lot. Working gauges aren't necessary to enjoy the view, a speedometer, tachometer, tripometer would be cool.
Exaggerated Crashes: Why? Make the game that more exciting.
Intense sense of speed: How fast? DPL fast would be a good start.
Lots of Hills/Ramps: How many? More than we've seen in previous games. Flat roads are mostly boring.
On Foot FPS controls with 1st/3rd and RE4 style camera views: Why? On foot is a must for exploration/change of pace, replayability, better controls.
Deluxe Film Director: Up to 10 minutes or more, like in D1, tons of options. It's what Driver is all about: Creating a Hollywood vehicle chase movie.
Interactive Take a Ride: Include mission interiors in free ride, much more interaction with the world including switches, elevators, stairs, ladders, seats to rest on, passenger trains, interiors with a purpose, tons of car activities.
Extended On Foot Abilities: jumping/climbing/leaping/ducking/swimming/walk/run/roll/grab onto car hoods, etc. Without them, it's just DPL's TK walking around, shooting and looking at stuff, which hurts the replay value.
COP MODE including a car radar gun, tickets, spike strips, cuffs, call in back up, road blocks, etc. I want to play as a policeman too.
TONS of options/Customization to keep us playing, time of day, pedestrians on/off, traffic, weather, controls, difficulty, camera views, etc. I want to customize the Free Ride in any way. If a gamer wants an empty city in free ride that's always daytime and raining, let it be possible. Go the extra mile with options.
Hidden Vehicles: How many? Up to 30. The more we have to look for, the longer we'll play the game.
Very Smart AI: That includes enemies, vehicles, pedestrians. No more AI cars bopping the horn at red lights. Wait till it's green.
Extensive World: If you can make 3 very large locations, that's great. If you rather create an entire state, that's great too. Make it enormous, with tons of variety including forests, deserts, plains, hills, mountains, cities, malls, interiors, towns, 'unending freeways', twisting roads, cliffs, tunnels, snow, rain, high winds, etc.
Plenty of Vehicles: Beyond cars, include sportbikes, Formula 1 Racers, a train, trolley, hidden aircraft to ride, boats, etc. The focus is driving, but please include a flying vehicle to ride. I want to see the map from the clouds, high above.
STUNT ARENA: If there's time, include a stunt editor arena, where we can set up ANY kind of loops, ramps, flips, catapults, car cannons, etc, in free ride. This will up the replay value a lot.
Multiplayer: I probably won't play it online, but a lot of others will.
Cool Cheat Code Checklist: You've always been great including a checklist for cheats, rather than forcing the player to enter controller combinations every time we need to activate a cheat. Include the basics, but also some out of this world cheats. Maybe this is where you can allow aircraft if you're against it otherwise. "Superman" flying, zombies. My favorite was Eighteen Wheeler Mayhem and Plowing through traffic. Body Snatcher was another great one.
Realistic Graphics: Make us feel like we're almost in a real location, dirt on the sidewalks, steam from the grates, ambient city traffic (sounds), shiny roads when wet, "photorealism". If it requires you delete the day/night cycle, so be it. But include a choice of day or night. Dawn and Dusk aren't that important IMO.
Make it for the 360 and PS3. PC if you can. Not sure if the Wii can handle the graphics.

Those are some really good ideas, InsaneDriver06. Now, the only last change that we would probably want to see, that wasn't mentioned in this topic is co-op. I would love to be able to team up and do missions with another person. Perhaps if Tanner and Jones are still working together, we can get the chance to play them together in co-op. Also, it would be cool if Tanner or Jones could be playable in single-player campaign and that their storylines would be slightly different from each other. If Reflections could allow TK to make an appearance in the game then I would hope that we can unlock him as a playable character and be able to play him throughout his own storyline too. The similarities found in all three of their storylines would be that they all would do driving missions for the most part and there would be some action to go around as well.

What do you think of this idea?