TrackMania

Infobox VG
title = TrackMania


developer = Nadeo
publisher = Digital Jesters (UK), Focus (France), Enlight (US), Steam (international)
distributor =
designer =
engine =
version =
released = November 2003 (France & UK), May 2004 (rest of world)
genre = Racing game, Puzzle game
modes = Single player, Multiplayer
ratings = PEGI: 3+
platforms = Windows
media = CD-ROM (1)
requirements = Windows 98+, Pentium II 450 MHz, 64MB RAM, 32MB video card, DirectX 9-compatible video/audio hardware
input = Keyboard, Joystick, Mouse

"TrackMania" is a series of arcade racing games for Windows and soon Nintendo DS, which include stunting with cars, track-building, elements from puzzle games, as well as elements testing the players' dexterity. It was developed by the French team Nadeo for the PC. Instead of following the usual trend of choosing a set car and track for playing in the game, the "TrackMania" games allow the player to create their own tracks using a "Block" process in the spirit of the 1985 game "Racing Destruction Set" and the 1990 Brøderbund release, "Stunts".

In contrast with most other racing games, the "TrackMania" series lets the player race a track as many times as he/she wants, until time runs out. He/she can choose to respawn at any time possible, due to landing upside down, going off the track, or even just because the start did not go optimally. Although in multiplayer games multiple cars race on the same track, they cannot actually collide or otherwise influence each other.

History

There are currently four basic games in the series. After receiving freely available patch along with extra content a game becomes available with a word added to the title. These newer versions are also offered in stores. A fifth game is in production for the Nintendo DS. [http://www.tm-united.com/eng/index.php?lang=en&rub=news TrackMania ] ]

*TrackMania, the original, often referred to as "TMO"
**TrackMania Original
*TrackMania Sunrise, the second game, often "TMS"
**TrackMania Sunrise eXtreme, often "TMSX"
*TrackMania Nations, the freeware game of the series, often "TMN"
**TrackMania Nations Forever, also the freeware game of series, often "TMNF"
*TrackMania United, could be considered a compilation of all previous games, often "TMU"
**TrackMania United Forever, often "TMUF"
*TrackMania DS, a version for the Nintendo DS, currently in production

There is also a small, promotional online game using Macromedia Flash, called "Mini TrackMania".

TrackMania

Tracks

"TrackMania" includes some pre-made tracks the player can race on to unlock "Coppers", the in-game currency "TrackMania". The player can use these Coppers to buy different building blocks, simply called "Blocks", for his track, including: regular road, checkpoints, long bends, loop-the-loops, and jumps, which all snap to a grid automatically. Regular roads can be dragged to create straight sections as well as 90 degree corners. Most other blocks are automatically connected by placing them next to each other. There are three themes, or environments, to choose from: Rally, Alpine, and Desert. Each environment has a unique car for the player to race in.

Cars

Infobox VG
title = TrackMania Sunrise


developer = Nadeo
publisher = Digital Jesters (UK), Enlight (US)
distributor =
designer =
engine =
version =
released = April 2005 (UK), May 2005 (rest of world)
genre = Racing game, Puzzle game
modes = Single player, Multiplayer
ratings = PEGI: 3+
platforms = Windows
media = CD-ROM (1)
requirements = Windows 98+, Pentium III 500 MHz, 128MB RAM, 32MB video card, DirectX 9-compatible video/audio hardware
input = Keyboard, Joystick, Mouse"TrackMania" has three styles of cars: Rally super minis, Alpine 4x4s, and Speed muscle cars. Each has numerous skins making a total of 87 different cars. By using a built-in or external graphics editor players can create their own skins, or modify the originals to suit their tastes.

Other features

"TrackMania" features a network option, which lets players compete via LAN or over the internet. Also, the game's website allows players to upload their created tracks or skins for others to download and use on their copy of the game.

The community-driven site [http://www.tm-exchange.com/ TM Exchange] contains a large number of tracks for both the original and sequel. Skins and 3D car models are also available from the community, [http://www.trackmania-carpark.com/ TrackMania Carpark] being the most prolific for car models and [http://skincenter.tm-community.com/ TM Skincenter] for skins ranging from the original "TrackMania Sunrise" car models to the ones available from the TrackMania Carpark website.

TrackMania Sunrise

The second game in the series, "TrackMania Sunrise", features more realistic graphics. It contains three environments: Island, Bay, and Coast, again each with its unique car to fit the environment's characteristics. Island features very fast sports cars which can make very sharp turns on mostly wide roads. Bay features very bouncy cars with less traction, making accidental oversteering more prone to happen. Coast features relatively slow cars on small roads. Due to very little traction, Coast cars can be used for drifting through corners. The game was built on an overhauled engine for better visuals and internet connectivity. The tracks can now include panels with skinnable advertisement panels. The game also features two new gameplay modes:

"Platform" gives the player a start point, a finish point, and mandatory checkpoints / restart points between; the players task is to finish the race, restarting as few times as possible. Many of these races have jumps and other features that make it difficult to stay on the track.

"Crazy" returns to the race course, but this time pits the player against ghosts, each having a faster time than the last. The player must score a faster time than each ghost but at the same time must not exceed an overall time limit.

"TrackMania Sunrise" has further additions over the original, some of which were later added in the "Original" edition of the original game. The player can import new car models and customize many more aspects of the game. The game features improved internet connectivity with a peer-to-peer system that allows players to share their car models, skins, and more. The new track editor uses the mouse primarily, as opposed to the keyboard-driven original, and makes special effects like displaying text and changing the camera possible using "Media Tracker".Infobox VG
title = TrackMania United


developer = Nadeo
publisher = Deep Silver (UK), Buka (RU), Enlight (US), QV Software (AU)
Valve Corporation (Steam)
distributor =
designer =
engine =
version =
released = November 17 2006 (online), France, Canada, Belgium and the French-speaking part of Switzerland

December 22 2006 (Russia)

March 9 2007 (Europe)

February 23 2007 (Germany)

March 23 2007 (US)

June 14 2007 Steam
genre = Racing game, Puzzle game
modes = Single player, Multiplayer
ratings =
platforms = Windows
media = DVD-ROM (1), download
requirements = Windows 2000+, 500 MHz Pentium 3 / Athlon , 256MB RAM (512MB with Vista), 16MB video card, DirectX 9.0c-compatible video/audio hardware
input = Keyboard, Joystick, MouseA free expansion pack called "eXtreme" was later released. The game was also repackaged as "TrackMania Sunrise eXtreme". The pack adds multiple pieces to enhance the speed and stuntiness of the game. A new mode, "Stunt mode", has been added, where the player has to obtain points by doing stunts, such as spinning the car around in mid air and doing flips. After a set amount of time has expired, earned points are quickly drained, so the player should try to finish with the best score, and before time expires.

The demo and expansion pack can be downloaded from [http://www.trackmaniasunrise.com/ its website] .

"Mini TrackMania" is a simple, online, Macromedia Flash game developed by Inbox Digital to promote "TrackMania Sunrise". The game is played with a side on, 2D perspective, and only has one track. The track layout is limited, featuring only jumps and a nitrous boost on both sides of the road, and a backdrop of a few islands in the background. Only two buttons are used to play the game, the Left and Right buttons on the keyboard, which are assigned to Brake and Accelerate respectively.

The object of the game is for the player try score as many points as possible by jumping off a series of ramps without crashing the car on landing or failing to clear the gap. The key to successfully clear the ramps is to keep the car's speed within two points indicated on the car's speedometer. The two points change position and get closer to each other after every jump.

TrackMania Original

"TrackMania Original" is a new version of the "TrackMania" that runs on the "Sunrise"-engine. It features over 10 new blocks, from the "PowerUp!" and (unreleased) "SpeedUp!"-patches, and some functionalities from "Sunrise", like ad-panels and "Media Tracker" effects. This version also allows the player to import 3D models for the cars, which can also be skinned. It was released free of charge for owners of "TrackMania" in the form of a patch/expansion pack, and will also be available to buy as a cheap collector's edition in stores with an extra present.

The demo can be downloaded from [http://www.trackmania.com/ its website] .

TrackMania Nations

Nadeo released "TrackMania Nations" partly as a promotion for the Electronic Sports World Cup, and also for "TrackMania" itself. This free, stand-alone game has one new environment, Stadium, and many features also in "Sunrise", including the advertisement panels, which show ads from sponsors streamed from the internet. The game contains 100 single player tracks, the earlier ones relatively simple in both design and gameplay, but it is largely pitched as an online game. One of the main attractions is the leader board, in which people compete for the best times and points. The top 5 players can be seen on the homepage. "Nations" has earned an extremely high popularity (there were almost 1 million registered online players within weeks of its launch), in large part due to the wide accessibility of the freeware game.

The game can be downloaded from [http://www.trackmanianations.com/ its website] .

TrackMania United

On June 30 2006 "TrackMania United" was announced. The game is basically all "TrackMania" games built into one game that includes all the environments from the earlier games, and, later, future installments of the series. "TrackMania United" features a peer-to-peer system so players can more easily share custom content, and a unified ranking system. The engine has been updated to include a pre-lighting accelerated system, which is used in the most recent, "Stadium" environment. The new system allows for more realistic shadows on high end systems. The "Stadium" environment has double the amount of blocks featured in the free version, including for instance dirt paths, water, and indoor sections.

On November 9 2006 Focus announced 10,000 copies of "TrackMania United" can be bought and pre-loaded online. These copies could be activated on November 16 2006. The game can be bought in shops in France, Canada, Australia, Belgium, and the French-speaking part of Switzerland later in 2006, and February 23 2007 in all other regions.

The game is available in the UK. It was made available in the US via download for 49.99 USD on March 23 2007 and for 39.99 USD on April 17 2007. As of September 7 2007, the game is available for 29.95 USD. [http://tmu.gamesplanet.com/campagne/promo.html?partenaire=9&jeu=Trackmania] [http://www.gamersgate.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=142&category_id=9&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=14] It was made available for pre-order and pre-load on Steam on June 7 2007 and was unlocked on June 14 2007.

Players who previously purchased the original "TrackMania" or "TrackMania: Sunrise" can earn a daily copper bonus in "TrackMania United" by registering their product keys through the game.

TrackMania Forever

On 7 October 2007 Nadeo announced they were working on updated versions of "TrackMania United" and "TrackMania Nations". Both new versions have "Forever" added to their name, and are network compatible. "TrackMania Nations Forever" includes the new Stadium blocks and physics system introduced in "TMU", allowing players of "TMUF" and "TMNF" to play on the same (Stadium) servers.

Nadeo has stated they wanted to give the game a long life, and is therefore working on the engine and user interface, instead of adding new content. "TMUF" for instance no longer requires the disc in the drive due to different copy protection and anti-cheat systems. They also warn players some features may not have made the final versions. [cite web |url=http://www.tm-forum.com/tmforum3/viewtopic.php?p=79800#p79800|title=TRACKMANIA FOREVER|last=?|First=?|accessdate=2007-12-04|date=2007-10-07|publisher=Nadeo]

TrackMania United Forever was released on April 15 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.tm-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=14162|title=TrackMania United Forever Release Date|last=?|First=?|publisher=Nadeo] , while TrackMania Nations Forever was released the following day [cite web |url=http://www.tm-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=13692|title=TrackMania Nations Forever Release Date|last=?|First=?|accessdate=2008-04-04|date=2008-04-04|publisher=Nadeo] . Both titles are downloadable from the internet, including on the Steam platform.

TrackMania DS

Infobox VG
title = TrackMania DS

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/4/944934_109742_front.jpgTrackmania Cover Art]
developer = Firebrand Games
publisher = Focus Home Interactive
distributor = Nintendo
designer =
released = [EUR] "November", Q4 2008
genre = Racing game, Puzzle game
modes = Single Player, Multiplayer: multiplayer is an eight-player hotseat mode where you pass around your DS and have to get the best time; a single cart four-player download mode; and a four-player multi-cart mode (NO Muiltiplayer Nintendo WiFi Connection)"
ratings = PEGI: 3+
platforms = Nintendo DS
media = 512K Game Cart (able to save up to 57 of your own custom tracks to cart)
requirements = Nintendo DS Lite/Original system, and a Game Cart (Trackmania DS)This TrackMania game for the Nintendo DS has currently been in production for several months by Firebrand Games. It will be released Q4 2008.

TrackMania DS will feature gameplay similar to that of other titles in the TrackMania series and will feature a comprehensive track editor.cite web |url=http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/852/852226p1.html|title=TrackMania comes to DS|accessdate=2008-06-24 |work=IGN|date=2008-02-14] It will support single-player and multiplayer play.

Easter Eggs

Many believed that the orbital camera view was taken out of the TrackMania Nations Forever game. This is not the case. An easter egg found by player UrbanTwitch made the camera go to orbital view. To get to the oribital view you will need to press the £ key in your keyboard. You will then switch to orbital view.

Reception

The "TrackMania" series has been praised for its outstanding graphics and online multiplayer.Fact|date=December 2007
* GameStar: 88% (03/2007) [Spieletipps.de: [http://www.spieletipps.de/tests/gamestar-a276-3.html "GameStar 03/2007"] , release 31.01.2007]

Because of the success of the Trackmania series, Guinness World Records awarded the games 6 world records in the Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008. These records include, "Biggest Online Race", "Most Popular Online Racing Sim", and "Largest Content Base of Any Racing Game", with hundreds of thousands of user created tracks and hundreds of unique cars available for download.

Controversy

The games in the "TrackMania" series used a controversial copy protection system called StarForce, which silently installs a driver with all versions of "TrackMania Original", "TrackMania Spoon", and the original "TrackMania Nations". Many sources falsely reported that "TrackMania Nations" updated the StarForce drivers only if they were already installed, but the latest version as of 28 May 2007 installed the StarForce drivers on all computers, even though "TrackMania Nations" is freeware. The original "TrackMania United" features StarForce restrictions built into the executable to check the software's key, but does not install the driver.

Although it originally included the system, on 29 June 2007 Valve Software announced that the version of "TrackMania United" distributed via the company's "Steam" digital distribution platform would no longer include StarForce. [cite web |url=http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=news&id=1113&cc=GB|title=Trackmania: United Updated|last=Twelker|First=Eric|accessdate=2007-06-30|date=2007-06-29|publisher=Valve Corporation]

"TrackMania United Forever" and "TrackMania Nations Forever" do not include StarForce. If they are applied as upgrades to version of "TrackMania United" or "TrackMania Nations" which "do" include StarForce, they attempt to remove it.

Gamer influence

There are many sites that have over the "TrackMania" series' lifetime become an essential part of TrackMania's game experience. The most well-known is [http://www.tm-exchange.com TrackMania eXchange] , often referred to as "TMX". This website, used as an online method of exchanging and discovering new user-created tracks, quickly became so important a site in TrackMania's gameplay that an in-game program used on many online servers known as "XASECO", used to keep track of user's in-game driving records and provide commands for the server and user to interact, intertwines very closely to the website. TrackMania eXchange provides an exchange method for all versions of TrackMania, excluding Mini-TrackMania, in which track creation is not possible.

Other well-known websites include [http://www.trackmania-carpark.com TrackMania CarPark] , or simply "CarPark", which functions in much the same way as TrackMania eXchange. TrackMania CarPark is a website for the exchange and discovery of custom TrackMania car models and skins. Carpark is not intertwined with XASECO, however, unlike TrackMania eXchange. Of the new Forever editions in the TM series, only TrackMania United Forever allows users to import their own custom cars, as well as custom avatars. In TrackMania Nations Forever, a different model will play like normal (in terms of replays, and looks) but some cars do not map properly, and the new models will not show up during online play.

Another very well-known website, [http://www.tm-creative.org TrackMania Creative] , aka "TMC", was created in early 2008 by the user known as "TStarGermany". Designed as a tutorial website and community for users who would like to know more about the game, TrackMania Creative offers a wide range of tutorials, ranging from very quick and easy subjects such as personalizing your user nickname (often referred to as one's "nick"), to much deeper and more technical subjects, such as creating your own custom personalized car skin.

In addition, there are many thousands of websites dedicated to TrackMania created by the many racing teams (referred formally in the game as one's "group") in the game. These websites are much less well-known.

tarTrack Contest

In October 2008 Nadeo revealed the StarTrack Contest, which was a collaborative project between them and the popular fansite [http://www.tm-exchange.com TrackMania eXchange] . The aim of the contest is to create the first fully community built campaign which will be available as free download for all owners of the full Trackmania United Forever game.

The contest began on 11th October 2008 and lasts for 5 weeks. At the end of each round contestants are eliminated until there is one overall Star Contest winner.

On the offical Trackmania site the contest has been referred to as StarTrack 2008, which has lead to some speculation that this contest will become an annual event, but there has been no comment from anyone at [http://www.tm-exchange.com TrackMania eXchange] or Nadeo to verify that will be the case.

Translations

The "TrackMania" series is available in several languages. Each translation is usually available for download on unofficial sites of TrackMania contributors.

List of current translations

* [http://koti.mbnet.fi/kajouni/dload/trackmania/ Finnish]
* [http://traducciones.clandlan.net/index.php?page=academia%2Fsearch&search=TrackMania Spanish]

ee also

* "Racing Destruction Set"
* "Stunts", a similar game
* "GripShift", a similar game

References

External links

* [http://www.trackmania.com/ TrackMania] Official site
* [http://dmoz.org/Games/Video_Games/Driving_and_Racing/Racing/TrackMania/ Category at ODP]