Acknowledging Trackmania's non-racing mode
Randy discovered that Trackmania Nations Forever created its own new racing mode, probably without even its developers expecting it.
Trackmania Nations Forever is an incredible game. And tonight I am arguing this because I came to realize yesterday that it has allowed users to actually "play" the editor. Have you ever seen a Press Forward track? This is a TMNF track in which a player only presses forward and they will reach the end of the track.
The editor of TMNF is simple and powerful, letting you create a track with as much complexity and interest as the developers (Nadeo). Using a system of track pieces and props, you create a Hot Wheels-esque stunt track that might be very tough and narrow and slow to navigate, perhaps you build a nice fast track with wide turns and many turbo-boost tiles, or perhaps you infuriate the player with a 30 minute track of death and crazy stunts that are almost impossible to complete with portions of the track floating 300 feet in the air. All of these and any combination therein is possible. But the real gems users have created are the press-forward tracks.
I find Press Forward tracks to be the result of "playing" the TMNF editor. The editor is so easy to use and to test that people create a piece of track, press forward and see where their car goes. Then they create some more track and add a jump. Then they see where their car goes. Then they build track up in the air where their car ended up. Then they start adding more and more pieces until they have a maze of speed. This is really easy too, and it all hinges on two simple factors: testing is almost instantaneous and there is no randomness in TMNF's physics. It is beautiful.
Press forward tracks are like movie-making, but even more satisfying, in my opinion. To play a track is fun. It might be exactly like watching a youtube clip of a PF track, but there is a very interesting dynamic in the player always needing to press forward. Play one of the better PF tracks and then stop pressing forward at some point. You screw it all up and you feel as if you are backstage at Disneyland.
Press forward tracks are an interesting phenomenon created by Trackmania's wonderful and intuitive editor. I have spent more time with Trackmania than almost any other game (and it's free!). Check it out sometime, and consider the editor and what it has done. It has created an intricate alternative Rube Goldberg-machine-maker.
Read more about:
BlogsAbout the Author
You May Also Like