A Quality NASCAR Video Game Is Important For Future Fans
Realistic AI A Must
One of the biggest gripes about the current line of NASCAR games is the AI. Racing in a single player event, a player runs the risk of being dive-bombed like Josh Wise at Phoenix.
Until Eutechnyx/DMi took on the NASCAR video game market, AI was pretty reasonable on each game, given what the developers had to work with. 2003’s NASCAR Thunder 2004, widely regarded as one of the best NASCAR games of all time, went as far as to institute an “Ally/Rival” mode, where a player would be raced accordingly by his allies and rivals. This was practiced until EA Sports discontinued the franchise in 2008. The system was praised by gamers and race fans everywhere as it added realism and a touch of entertainment to the experience.
These days, every lap at every race track is an exercise in survival. The AI is the same everywhere on every track, and it is difficult to try to plan out how to run a race. This is one problem that must be rectified. Cars tumbling down the Bristol frontstretch isn’t exactly normal in regards to short tracks, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. blatantly plowing into your right rear wouldn’t cut it at Talladega.