Relaunched Formula Fusion to get name change to 'PACER'-June release

[blackwiggle]

Here's some video of a new track [AJURA] on PACER from Day 3 RPS sessions...Go to 39.42 of the video.........They are now saying console release will be before the end of Q3, so I'm guessing a JUNE release is optimistic to say the least.



Here's some neat news that I saw in the same thread as this video.

Quote: ignoring the X platform issues around Sony and UWP etc, we are planning to have Global and Platform Leaderboards for everything

[JFthebestJan]

they should release a Demo for it on all platforms, and make sure to get the gameplay right. that's the only way to convince players to invest money into this project...

that was what sony did back in the days with wipeout HD, i played the demo and was hooked after the first 100m

[blackwiggle]

They used to have a demo version on Steam, and I expect it might return for PACER, but as that was of a unfinished game, it was a double edged sword, and garnered as much criticism as it did positive comments.

As for the video above, all I can say is apart from the new track it doesn't seem, on the basis of that video, that much has changed.
It looks like the craft handling is still pretty much the same, but TBH you can't really tell until you get your hands on it......I didn't see much of weapons fire on the new track, so that's still a unknown quantity at this stage.

One thing that was emphasized, and should be noted for those that have yet to try the game, is that it differs from Wipeout in one major factor, and that is you can't keep you thumb fully depressed on the accelerate button at all times....well maybe on the slower speed classes on some tracks, but generally speaking it would be inadvisable, and suicidal with the fastest speed classes.

It's all about speed management, and keeping your crafts Health high enough to finish the race, and when you see the length of some of the tracks you'll realize that isn't going to be as easy as you might think.

It does help that unlike Wipeout, the accelerate button on PACER is actually a Throttle, and on a PS4 controller would be best mapped to either L2/R2 analog triggers, as that will give you the finest control.
Air brakes/braking works more like they did on the PSone Wipeouts, and side shift is achieved in the same manner, by using the opposite air brake to the direction you are steering, it's more of a Side Slide of the crafts rear end, rather than a true side shift.

[Concealed Sequence]

I'm getting hyped now! 😊

[blackwiggle]

Another big difference between Wipeout and PACER will be the TURBO.
On Wipeout you just pickup a single Turbo boost and it gives you a short spurt of speed.
On PACER you need to run over several Turbo pads to build up your Turbo Meter, you then get a Turbo Ready alert, but unlike Wipeout, the Turbo speed boost lasts several seconds, and it's effectiveness is relative to the speed you are already traveling.

You can use a Partially filled Turbo meter, but the effect is quite a bit less, you can also get a double Turbo, where the effect lasts even longer.

Again, your choices and tactics on Turbo use will need to vary both on track type, where on any particular track it is best to use, what speed class you are racing, what race type you are racing, and should you use only partially filled Turbo Meter or wait till it's full? or wait for a double Turbo ?......there is a LOT to consider, as using a full one when you are already traveling at top speed will make your craft shake and not be quite as controllable as it otherwise would be.

Likewise timing when to use a Turbo, and knowing when/where on the track your Turbo will run out is also knowledge you'll need to acquire, as you could start a Turbo on a long straight but find yourself traveling too fast at the end of it to make a turn.

As the Turbo pick up pads are not always aligned with the speed pads [sometimes on the opposite side of the track - Same goes for weapon/shield pickups], I doubt you will get the same situation as you can find in WO HD/FURY/2048, where somebody can just jump ahead and run over every speed pad and weapon pad, pick up all the Turbo's available and BR to victory.
It should be a LOT more of a even playing field, as tactics with pickup use are the difference between what pickup pads you WANT to run over V's the pads you NEED to run over to stay alive.

EDIT: For those that might of been wondering, PACER will be a download only game, at least initially.
Since R8 are now self publishing the game, it was deemed to be too big a financial risk to invest in the production of a disc version, they haven't ruled it out entirely, it will depend of the success of PACER if it happens......I'd hazard a guess and say it won't happen until at least a few DLC packs for the game have been released and they could be bundled like a GOTY edition.

[TheFrostE]

Has anyone from here gotten to go check it out over at Insomnia this weekend yet?

[Neccros]

Curious... My "Pacer" still loads as Formula Fusion even after a recent install... Has it been officially changed over or is it delayed?