Ok, so this could have gone into a Dirt 3 thread but considering how many racing games use this feature now I thought it worth one of it's own.
Dirt 3 with it's varying styles of challenge highlighted to me that I don't alway use a flashback when I could.
I race events against AI, I felt no guilt in using a flashback if a coming together meant I ended up facing the wrong way and cocking my race up.
However, in Gymkana and Rally stages, where it's all about me and the car, I felt more compelled to restart a stage if I cocked up rather than rewind.
This is not doubt helped by the bite sized nature of the stages (something I welcome as time is a huge influence on what games I'll play) but it left me thinking that as an individual, am I happy to take responsibility for my own mistakes and equally happy for a get out clause when it's someone else's.
So to the forum, what are your Flashback/Rewind habits?
PS sorry about the lack of paragraphing, iPad and the new forum don't seem to like each other...
Flashback Discipline
Posts: 17
I started playing Forza 3 last week (got myself an official wheel on Ebay), and instantly put most of the settings on Hard. Kinda pointless, considering I've been rewinding every time I drop below 3rd place. I'm not sitting through an eight minute race to get shunted off the track at the last turn and finish 5th, that would leave me frustrated and less likely to continue playing, so the rewind button is guilt free for me too. It's a great addition to racing games imo - no-one has to use it, and it makes them far mor accessible to people with short attention spans like myself.
Don't use them personally, it just doesn't sit right with me. That said I can totally understand Moot's closing comment. Horses for courses. As the OP states, Dirt's short stages help.
I was sixteen when Gran Turismo came out and used to restart a race if I had a prang which I deemed would have crippled my car in real life - even an endurance event. I had a little more free time back then... Nowadays, I welcome flashback mechanics as without them I'd find it almost impossible to make decent headway in a game like Forza 3. It's partly my fault as, like Moot_Geeza, I insist on switching off all the driving aids and ramping up the AI; but where's the fun in skirring off the line and then spending the rest of the race lapping traffic?
Dropped 7
@Ben Maxwell. That's some kind of dedication. You're not Ben the Boffin are you!!!
I'm a switch off all assists except ABS myself. Plus I've either got to be in car or on the bonnet dependent on the game. A good racing game is all about feel and for me there is far more feel inside.
The longer the race the more willing I am to rewind and also in a game like GRID where I've raced ahead, got a big gap and then switched off concentration and oranges into a wall, it's stops me from throwing the controller.
Flashbacks = Money Saved..
DAMN YOU ALL
Opened this thread hoping it was about a squeal to the classic game Flashback of the early 90's
@Carbon Altered
A true classic and recall the week that got played to death on the Megadrive.
I don't think another Fade to Black would be a good idea though..
..unless it was done properly of course...
..and 2D..
..yes....
I vote we simply highjack this thread to reminisce about how great Flashback was, partially because it was an incredible game, and partially because driving games bore the hell out of me.
That jump mechanic was a fucking pain in the arse, though, eh?
I used it once in my last F1 2010 race. A very wet Sepang in a Lotus. Qualified 16th after stupidly thinking my pole lap was enough.
Used flashback once in the race after spinning at turn 2. After watching the replay of the whole race, I was probably responsible for the loss of 4 front wings. Including a rather odd incident at turn 2 (again) where I spun on the inside and, for some reason, Button stopped dead on the outside, causing a Renault behind to completely cane into him.
Then I drove back on to the track and took a Williams' nose off. Finished 4th, eventually.
I need to be really sure of using flashbacks, particularly as the replays on F1 are briefer than brief. If you spend any time to think about using one, the moment's gone.
I don't know how we played ANY F1 games without this feature before F1 2010. Sure, it's a very 'computer gamey' concession to make, but it's absolutely necessary for those times when on lap 52 at Monaco something interrupts you (doorbell, dog, cat, other half) and you crash - effectively wasting the last hour of your life.