OXCGN – Breathing Life Into Gaming

Official Release dates = 23rd Oct Au/Eu/Nz/UK – 27th Nth America

by XboxOZ360

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

Forza 3 Special Feature

OXCGN Forza 3 October Special – Lets Go Drag Racing, Forza style

One of the biggest things many Forza fans loved in Forza 2 was Drag Racing at the excellent track called Copper Head.

Well this time, we have 8 lanes of drag racing in Forza 3 and it will be at the ex-Marine Corps El Toro Air Base in California, “The Benchmark High Speed Ring”.

Yes yes, I know, Drag Racing is typically one-on-one tyre smokin’, big screamin’ motor mayhem, but to give everyone a fair go, and not have waiting queues as long as the eye can see.

However, Turn 10 have made it so you can have as many as 8 cars racing the Magic Quarter Mile to see just who can pip the cherry and arrive at the other end first.

Whether or not this is a good, or bad thing is up to time to tell. My personal view is that drag racing has always been between two people, with their reaction time to the Christmas Tree being the golden rule of Launch Mechanics.

• Come check out our full Holiday DLC Pack now, 10 Cars Reviewed + Race Tips.

One site that has been leading the way in that area is Forza Drag Racing Association and the Forza Racing League. These guys have been successfully running daily events for the last several months, running different divisions, bracket racing and high power rig events within the world of Forza 2.

Now that Forza 3 is right around the corner, we are wondering what the change to clutch and Christmas tree will make to the game. With that in mind, we set about asking the owner of the site, Aaron Nelson some questions around his experience with racing, both on, and off the track, and of course, within the virtual world of digital racing.

You’ll find our Q&A at the end of this article, make sure you read it, as it is very informative indeed. Something every Forza 3 racer will want to check out at some stage. Seeing that Turn 10 have made generous allowances for both Drag Racing, NASCAR and Drifting car set ups, where you the player, can design the cars specifically for those purposes.

I wouldn’t doubt that they have something in store for the Drag Racing fraternity that might be a little different. As it certainly isn’t just a small number of individuals who play every now and then.

This is a well organized and well presented genre that can stand on its own two feet and bring heaps of fun to those who love clipping the old quarter mile. We have many a car that will fit the bill of being a typical Drag Racing setup, especially now with the inclusion of the All Classic and Modern American Muscle Cars.

Such as the Dodge Challenger, Saleen Mustangs, S331 Supercab, Corvette IROC-Z, Pontiac Ram Air, and dare I say, even the Ford, Chevy and Dodge Tin-Tops Turn 10 have provided for NASCAR would make great base cars for Super Sedan, or even something akin to Funny Cars or Pro-Street. Now wouldn’t that be nice.

The guys at Forza Drag Racing Association help those who would love to do it, but aren’t quite sure how to go about it. As 90% of winning is getting off the line (pipping the cherry) without any tyre spin, or as least as possible, and “hookin’ up” as quickly as possible, making those shifts at the crucial moments, and even if your top-end speed is less, you can actually get across the line before your opponent if you do your launch properly.

• Forza racing At its finest

Have just a few seconds delay, a redline flutter at a critical gear change, and the chances or winning have just flown right out the door.

It might sound dead simple. Pull up to the line, watch the lights, turn green, power on, get there first. But it is far from being that simple, and there’s many a digital racer that can attest to that, as they sit at the ‘tree’ watching their opponent slingshot away to the finish lane.

Drag racing has been a part of racing history since – well – since cars were invented, some of the old classics were excellent pieces of craftsmanship. No high-tech computer systems or intercoolers and in-car tweaking. These things are raw horsepower being unleashed onto the tarmac.

Seeing that Forza 2 and now Forza 3 do have tyre heat involved in the dynamics, Burnouts are a definite must to get those slicks nice and sticky, and, if the physics are as good as they say, then following the other cars run line (trye tracks) is vital, as you’ll get 50% more traction from the sticky surface left by other cars before you. I’ve walked on the drag strip in my younger days, as well as raced on it, and I can tell you this.

Trick your in-game Mopar out like one of these Real-World Beauties

The smell of nitro, burning rubber and super stick slicks is something that sort of stays with you for – well – forever. Engines un-capped that break your eardrums with raw power, and flames stretching out pipes for several feet in the AA Fuelers and AA Funny cars and Super Pro Streeters.

If Forza 3 proves to be even 50% as good as they say it is in the physics department, then drag racing Forza style will become a huge success, and world wide tournaments will become common fair for gamers everywhere.

OXCGN Drag Racing Interview with Forza Drag Racing/Forza Racing League

OXCGN Interviews Aaron Nelson (aka soadieman) of Forza Drag Racing Association and the owner of Forza Drag Racing and Forza Racing League. Here’s what he had to say over some questions we posed to him recently.

Grant Smythe: Many people often wonder how anyone can really “drag race” in a computer game that is NOT aimed solely at Drag Racing, like the NHRA games popular in Nth America can be done in games such as Forza 2, how have you been able to do it so successfully?

Aaron Nelson: Drag Racing is a sport that is longed for developers attention. We did not have a Christmas Trees(lights) to go off of and therefore we needed a way to start the race. So we went for the old street racing format but instead of a pretty lady dropping a shirt to start the race we substituted it with for a middle aged man saying “GO” .

This format has proven its self time and time again to be the best way to run an online drag race but only with the restrictions that we have applied has it become the best way to run. There are many different formats to use with in Forza but to minimize lag and have a set a rules for everyone to abide was when www.forzadragracing.com was born..

Let your imagination run wild, just like your car

GS: What type of tournaments can racers expect in Forza 3 Drag Racing through your site (www.forzadragracing.com)?

AN: We run many different types of tournaments though our site. For Drag Racing we have Spec Racing Formats which the racers have to meet a car spec to run, we have High Roller tournaments “Run what you have” where Racers can race for big dollars / pinks.

We have instant challenges for people to challenge other racers and teams to a race for position through the website and last but not least we now have a RANKED championship where all racers start out as amateurs and work their way up to pro through a series of races.

The Reason for the Ranked championship is to separate competition and make it a little more even for the new racers who want to experience tournament style racing.

Perhaps turn one of the Chevy, Dodge or Ford Stock Cars into a Drag Racer?

GS: What classes are there currently, and will these expand, and if so, what to.

AN: We currently run all classes and Drives. We will continue to do this and as the game progresses we will implement a more aggressive Class approach for each event.

GS: Is cheating on any level tolerated on the site, how do you deal with it when it does occur?

AN: We have a ZERO tolerance policy for cheating. We will give someone the benefit of the doubt the first time and ban them from the current season. If the same racer is caught a second time then he is permanently banned from all tournaments and website functions.

How about a Camaro or Chevy Sedan for a Classic Ride

GS: How has the site grown over the time you’ve had it, I believe it has changed names a few times, why is that . . . ?

AN: Well the site www.forzadragracing.com has grown in 8 months to almost 800 members with a steady 4 to 5 member increase each day. We have never really changed names of the site but added to it. We recently added www.forzaracingleague.com and the reason for this was we saw a need in the community to unite Circuit Racers and Drag Racers so they would have a place for to come to and trust.

A lot of the time racers do not want to race in these Online based tournaments because of the inconsistency of the events. Knowing this we are proud to fill the gap and will continue to grow with a drifting format later this year.

GS: Will the site stay primarily aimed at Drag Racing, or will it expand, as no doubt if it does, it will sure as hell increase one persons workload ten fold . .

AN: HAHAHA well yes the work load is insane and doing this as a hobby has defiantly gave me a run for my money.. I do have some help from my friends Joe, Tyler and Fernando.

It’s funny because when we started this we were maybe putting in a couple hours a night and now with the additions we are now putting in at least an additional 5 – 6hrs a night. We are dedicated to this and our aspiration is to become be the PREMIERE online racing site for Forza.

There’s no substitute for a good looking engine under the hood

GS: I know we (OXCGN) will be forming a Racing Team, not only for Forza 3, but we’ll carry the Team Name across to other games, such as Grid, DiRT 2 and Race Pro etc wherever possible . . will your site be doing the same, or simply being the host to racing events?

AN: We actually like running in tournaments but when we started this site our main goal was to mediate events and not to conflict with them. We have actually talked about it but always comeback to the point of being a mediator and feel that this is the best way to operate a tournament site.

GS: Have you had any real-world experience in Drag Racing or racing in general, if so, what was it and where/when.

AN: Yes absolutely .. I have drag raced many time on street and track. I actually prefer the track and have countless hours doing it. The places I have been to are Irwindale speedway and Infineon Raceway. I have also done some open track racing at Mazda Laguna Seca in Montery, CA.

Perfect launches are everything in Drag Racing – Now we have a clutch !

GS: What was the style of drag racing in Forza 2, how did you and the racers manage good starts without a clutch?

AN: So in FM2 there are many different ways to launching a car which is very important to winning a race.  In FM2 we had to find a way to reducing wheel spin as much as possible.

In most drives (RWD, FWD) we would accomplish this by doing a drop launch.  A drop launch is where a racer has tuned a car to where he/she set the car in a higher gear holds e-brake and set RPM’s to a certain level.  When the racers are ready to race the driver punches the gas releasing the e-brake and shifting down to first gear.

This sounds complicated but it works very well and about 90% of the community launches this way, formally this is known as a 2 to1 / 3 to1 launch.  In AWD usually you will tune the car again to apply the e-brake and set it in first gear and hold a certain RPM the release and punch it.  AWD’s by far are the best way for a beginner to start Drag Racing.

For DETAILED information then go to our Drag Racing Tuning Garage Section on our site to read more about tuning drag cars.

Tyre heat and grip are everything in Drag Racing – Get it right

GS: So how will Forza 3 change things, now that the clutch is involved, and by the looks of it, the great Fantec Porsche Turbo Wheel which comes with an excellent adjustable pedal set up. This should change the playing style?

AN: With The Clutch now being implemented this is going to add another level to the drag launch and more than likely you will apply it rather than the e-brake so when you release it you will achieve instant power.

I have tried this in the demo with minimal recourses and have succeeded but in order to be a viable option it will need to be scrutinized to the max for a full understanding of its advantages if there will be any.

GS: Will there be any prizes awarded or will it be entirely in-game prizes. Is there a global leader board planed for the drag racing event?

AN: Real World Prizes – this has always been the goal and we are constantly talking to companies to achieve this for our racers and teams.

This next year we will secure a main sponsor and real world prizes will be given out. For now we will continue to give out in game prizes. “HEY TURN 10 *wink wink* haha

A Global leader board is currently active for drag racing and we will be making another one for circuit and Drift racing when Fm3 comes out.

GS: What are your thoughts on the 8 lane drags at the new test track, Benchmark? Do you think this will help, or hinder real competitiveness or distract from the real aim of drag racing?

AN: I think it adds an interesting element for sure but in the spirit of traditional drag racing it will distract people from it. The other problem is that the drag tree does not work with staging and in place of it uses a 3-2-1 countdown thus enabling the racer to react robotically. To compare it to track racing it would be like taking the road markers away.

The purpose of a tree, staging, etc is it is part of the race and by taking away true reaction time they have taken away a key element to drag racing. When implementing a racing format it is such to capture the entire essence and not to just throw something in the game to add another element..

Benchmark is a good idea but it will have to be specifically for drag racing and not just for track racing. Each format is very different and Turn 10 need to recognize this.

GS: There are a lot of disciplines in racing, is there room for more and still keep the game fun . . .

AN: I think there is always room for more. Turn 10 has done a wonderful job to introduce people to racing and to give them the opportunity to become a true SIM racing fan, I am a big fan of SIM and if they could make it so everything was tunable on a car I would love it even more, but im sure my wife would have a heart attack hahaha. All in all I am very happy with Turn 10 and will continue to be a big supporter for Forza’s to come.

Thanks for your time mate, look forward to seeing you on the track at some stage, ideally in my rear-vision mirror hehehehe. Do you have a team , want to be part of one? Can you tune, paint, manage, drive, either one of those disciplines exceptionally well? Well then, if so, then why not join forces with a few others and form your own Racing Team, or join pre-existing ones, such as Team OXCGN Racing.

Do you have a team , want to be part of one?,

Can you tune, paint, manage, drive, either one of those disciplines exceptionally well? Well then, if so, then why not join forces with a few others and form your own Racing Team, or join pre-existing ones, such as OXCGN Team Racing.

More Forza 3 news

Make sure you check out the great Fantec Sports Wheels and the set that OXCGN will have up for grabs later on when Forza 3 arrives in October 23rd (Aust Release date) . . . as well as other OXCGN Forza 3 pages of info on the game.

• Forza 3 October Information – All 136 tracks & Loading Tips
  
• Forza 3 October Special – Lets Go Drag Racing, Forza Style
• Forza 3 October Info #14 Test Track, Gymkhana, Drag Racing Delights
• Forza 3 October Info #13 2002 Firebird Ram Air – The Last ‘Bird
• Forza 3 October Info #12 Remington #8 Cadillac CTS-V Razor Sharp
  
• Forza 3 October Info #11 Curvaceous Chevy Camaro SS
• Forza 3 250 Gig Xbox 360 Bundle Official – OXCGN News & Special Offer
  
• Forza 3 October Info #10 Classic American Muscle 79 Z28 Camaro
• Forza 3 October Info #9 Saleen S331 Supercharged Supercab
  
• Forza 3 October Info #8 Build Your Own Chevy-Dodge-Ford
• Forza 3 October Info #7 Sleek, Sexy & Swift 2009 Scriocco GT
  
• Forza 3 October Info #6 – Complete car listing
  
• Forza 3 October Info #5 Primetimes’s #11 Vioer R3 Class
  
• Forza 3 October Info #4 2006 Slippery Evo & HKS Time-Attack Mitshubishi
  
• Forza 3 October Info #3 Black Beast – #41 Gulf F1 Mc Laren GTR
  
• Forza October Info #2 Mad Mazda Lola #16 Comin’ Through
  
• Forza October Info #1 Here Comes The BMW E34 Z4 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #12 Bell Motor’s #11 DB9 Aston Martin R2 Coupe
• Forza 3 September Info #11 Presenting The Koenigsegg CGT
• Forza 3 September Info #10 Skyline Driftin’ Madness
• Forza 3 September Info #9 Fugimi Kaido Returns
• Forza 3 September Info #8 2nd DLC Pack – Ferrari’s & 2010 Italia 458
  
• Forza 3 September Info #7 More Ferrari Mayhem
  
• Forza 3 September Info #6 250 gig Forza 360? & Farrari Madness
  
• Forza 3 September Info #5 Forza Dyno Tunes Ford GT400
  
• Forza 3 September Info #4 Bugatti Veyron & Avatar Cloths
  
• Forza 3 September Info #3 Media Update – V8 Supercars Event Slideshows
• Forza 3 September Info #1 & 2 V8 Supercars Officially Announced
  
• Forza 3’s V8 Supercars In-game screen & info V8 Supercar Image found
  
• Forza 3 August Info #5 Video Walkthroughs
  
• Forza 3 August Info #4 Forza Dreams, Gadget Show & Puma
  
• Forza 3 August Info #3 LE Information
• Forza 3 August Info #1 & 2 Cars, cars & more cars & Le Mans
  
• Forza 3 coming in 2009 OXCGN’s Official Major Forza 3 Page
  
• Forza 3 June info E3 Video Interviewwith Developer
  
• Forza 3 June-July Info screens & vids
• Official Australian Xbox Forza 3 site game info
• Fantec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Forza 3
• Fantec Wheel Stand and Turbo Wheel kit up for grabs – info
• OXCGN’s Forza 3 on its way in 2009
• OXCGN confirms Aussie cars in Forza 3
• Fantec Prosche 911 Wheel for Forza 3
• Forza 3 Official – Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

©2009 Grant Smythe – OXCGN

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