Latest NFS News - Underground 2 Available for Modding.

Ugly bodykits, hydraulics etc. aside, I still think UG2 was a fun game to play due to a decent physics engine, good sounds and a replay mode, so I don't necessarily consider this a bad thing. It'll be interesting to see what modders will come up with.

I see there's activity in NFSCars, but I haven't been able to connect to the site for days... What's the cause?

I have no idea, to be honest I had no problem accessing NFSCars several times in the past few days, although I haven't tried to post.

Do you mean you can't login or post there, or that you can't even access it?

I can't access the site itself... I've just posted there but not from my PC.

well the game seems like a ricefeast to me.Also not very interesting unlike old NFS was the best.So it seems now you can drive around with a BMW M5 but having a underpowered weal V-6 in it instead.Not much to say about UG2 just is sucked and one of the games that ruined NFS for good.

‘(Un)Fortunately’? This sort of bias has no place in an announcement that – one would expect – is supposed to be purely informative. Surely, nfsu360 deserves a little more credit for months’ worth of work leading to a seamless integration of custom models into a wildly popular and successful game? An integration so masterfully demonstrated by Robin’7t4’s 1971 Buick Riviera release which offers a wealth of attractive options including imaginative custom grilles & bumpers, head- and taillights, admirably subtle sideskirts (and a truly inspired new addition – the fender skirts! – to boot) and – of course – an exhaustive array of custom hoods which have always been my favorite customization aspect of Robin’s Most Wanted releases. This has nothing to do with ‘ricing’ – these are simply traditional elements allowing for some in-depth (yet still tasteful) modifications to the exterior of a classic muscle car.

So… some modelers / converters might (and probably will) abuse the possibilities by offering unpalatably customizable exotics, for instance. So what? Firstly, the same phenomenon has been present in Most Wanted; secondly, you have the convenient choice of ignoring those releases.

As Remko noted, UG2 featured a ‘decent physics engine’ and a replay mode. Let me rephrase this by reminding you all that, to this day, it’s been, in fact, the only free–roaming NFS title to offer replays (with a welcome handful of camera angles to boot). With regards to the physics engine, out of all 4 free–roam–based instalments, UG2 features the most advanced, the most versatile, and – quite importantly – the most wildly tweakable handling model. The one implemented in Most Wanted feels laughably generic and downright primitive by comparison. Consequently, if you’re open-minded enough to ignore the storyline and the annoying rating system, you end up with an enjoyable game with a load of challenging race events (provided you disable traffic and don’t use N2O!), heaps of fun to be had via the improvised outrun events (my favorite gameplay aspect), a diverse driving environment whose size exceeds that offered by Most Wanted (true!) and a handful of dedicated drag, drift and Street X events (if that’s your bag). Oh, and did I mention that (much like Most Wanted) you can still play it online with the help of a virtual LAN app?

Thus, the only major complaint about the game (in light of its replay value which has NO relevance to the silly storyline nor the title’s ‘ricing’ premise whatsoever) could be aimed at the, hmm, unsatisfactory selection of cars on offer. Thanks to nfsu360’s programming talents, enthusiasm and perseverance that limitation is now a thing of the past and it’s considered ‘(un)fortunate’ by one of the community’s leaders? That’s disheartening, to say the least.

Finally, when the guys in charge of the total conversion mod for Most Wanted (known as ‘Golden Muscle Era’) finish their ambitious project, they might be interested in doing something similar for UG2. A set of vintage rims (imagine wire wheels with classic spinners!), spoilers and vinyls would eliminate any remaining associations with ‘ricing’ and UG2 might finally become what – if you ask me – it could and should’ve been in the first place: ‘NFS: Motor City’.

Hey Double Mac, haven't seen or heard from you for a while. :) I was wondering where you'd gone.

That's quite a well-written post. Robin’7t4’s Riviera s indeed one of the best examples of the opportunities this development offers. I hope he will release more like these.
Reason for me enough to re-install UG2.

Also, I think it's remarkable that so far, most of the new cars currently being created for UG2 are either muscle cars or exotic supercars. ;)

@ Remko: Well, if you were wondering where I’d gone, it would be a little rude not to address that point, wouldn't it? :-) I actually explained the situation in a ‘farewell message’ in the ‘visitor comments’ section of my profile but the entire section has been recently purged for some, uhm, mysterious reasons. Here it goes then: I left NFSCars because a certain harmless, fun and informative thread (about cars, no less!) I participated in was deleted having been declared a ‘spamfest’ by some (or just one?) of the staff members. I found the implication that I had been participating in the said thread for the sole purpose of ‘boosting my post count’ (for whatever reason, as the post count is meaningless after all) insulting and ludicrous (if not insane), and the deletion itself – an act of utter childish mindlessness due to the amount and nature of information contained therein. (The kind of information that is usually considered interesting and valuable among car enthusiasts all over the web… with the exception of NFSCars, apparently.) Now, I’ve never thought of myself as a particularly worthwhile contributor to the site but Bookmaker – a talented MW converter whose works include a 1970 Pontiac Firebird, a 1970 Plymouth AAR 'Cuda, 2 iconic Mustangs, 3 classic Corvettes, a couple of vintage Ferraris and a 300SL Gullwing – will be surely missed. So… in case someone’s wondering whatever happened to Bookmaker’s releases on NFSCars, he deleted them all, disgusted and furious with the blatant abuse of moderating power manifested via the thoughtless deletion of one of his favorite threads. What makes his departure even more dramatic is that he’s currently working on his first scratch-made models, and – having seen some preview renders of the 1948 Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta and another, even older classic whose identity I won’t disclose at this time – I can only say that if the great PsychedelicRock were still active, he would get a good run for his modeling money! Let this be a lesson to moderators / admins then: think before you press the ‘delete’ button, please, for you might be a mere click away from ridding yourself of a valuable asset to your community.

Getting back on topic, I brought this here announcement to the attention of Robin’7t4 who was justifiably shocked with its, uhm, less than enthusiastic tone and decidedly unimpressed with the way nfsu360’s part in the event had been somewhat downplayed. How about a simple, good-natured ‘thanks to nfsu360’s programming talents and perseverance users can now enjoy importing custom cars into one of the most successful NFS titles in history – Underground 2’? How about making an extra effort by browsing through nfsu360’s NFSCars thread in order to learn about any future projects? Because it’s no secret that the author has been planning to include support for further NFS titles ever since the inception of this ambitious enterprise. In fact, Robin – who’s too modest to brag about it but his contribution to nfsu360’s work cannot be overestimated (he’s been providing the latter with geometry samples and testing various aspects of the implementation) – has just told me that they’re already working on opening yet another (unspecified) title to the world of modding. Assuming they succeed, are we to expect another derisive ‘(un)fortunately’ or will the simple truth – that any racing game can only get better once we’re given the mouth-watering opportunity of populating it with the cars WE like – be (hopefully) objectively acknowledged?

I see... sorry to hear things went that way, this must have happened at a time when I wasn't really involved in the NFS community.

I hope this hasn't affected the enthusiasm with which the people are still working om NFS U2 related modtools - or the any future projects. If Robin is involved in it, I know it's going to be good (not taking anything away from nfsu360s efforts).

While I’m sorry about polluting this space with all that negativity, my intention was to protest against what I perceive as unfair practices on the part of some members of the NFSCars staff. Frankly – according to Robin – the site is on the brink of losing nfsu360 altogether, as the author feels justifiably disappointed with the manner in which the news was announced to the public. As a matter of fact, his involvement wasn’t mentioned at all – it’s like the ability to add custom cars to UG2 simply ‘happened’. By comparison, when Arushan released a save editor for (the less enthusiastically received) Undercover, the tone was strikingly different (‘Arushan has once again been the breaker of great news.’) There is, however, another reason why Dawid is toying with the idea of leaving the site. Having repeatedly asked an administrator to create a car add–on section for UG1, he was forced to upload his BMW M3 in the tools section. The first user–created car for the original Underground title (yes, you’re reading that right – he’s just ‘cracked’ the first one as well and – even more intriguingly – this is NOT the ‘secret project’ he’s apparently working on) was, for some reason, moved to the UG2 car section. Dawid subsequently deleted the release and, as of now, it can be exclusively downloaded from his own page (you can find the link on his NFSCars profile). I have just tested that BMW and – while UG1 is not an NFS I’d be tempted to go back to too often – that’s nonetheless another outstanding achievement and – provided that modelers and converters offer us something exciting to drive around Olympic City – the game’s appeal and longevity might naturally increase. In Arushan’s own words regarding UG1: ‘I really don’t care if it’s all rice cars, because hopefully, we are eventually going to find a way to make our own and replace them.’

Rest assured though, there seems to be enough interest in modding UG2 and appreciation of nfsu360’s talent and efforts (coming from a variety of community members) to keep him going, so let’s hope for the best. Robin, however, is reluctant to create further gems for the game as he (understandably) claims that adding support for the various extras (an undoubtedly attractive aspect of his numerous releases) is a particularly time–consuming process. While I’ll be doing my annoying best to try and change his mind, the good news is that – as I’ve been recently led to believe – Rob’s working on another 1950’s classic at the moment. :-)

Oh yeah, Remko, my previous rant had nothing to do with you whatsoever (and it’s not like I have a general problem with authority either). In fact, I’ve always admired your noticeable objectivity and your touch for diplomacy. You’d be the ideal person to take over the news section! :-)

well, I never took anything you said personal, so don't worry about that - but thanks for the nice words. :) I actually used to make newsposts at NFS Addons (then still called NFS Garage) now and then, it's just that I don't have the time or my finger on the pulse of the NFS scene like I used to.

I do agree that there is a noticeable appreciation for nfsu360's work by the ever growing UG2 mod community, so that is a good thing that will eventually outweigh any initial disapproval by individuals.

Its nice news. I might upload my first car here soon. Can you start NFS:U2 car section here?