Colin McRae: Dirt Lit by Neon
A new platform for the popular rally series means a new engine. New screenshots inside.
Making next-gen games with last-gen tech just won't do, which is why Codemasters is turning to its new Neon engine to drive the next game in the once-dominant rally Colin McRae series.
For better or worse, everything you know about the series has been thrown out the window for Colin McRae: Dirt. In its stead is the new Neon engine, which has been in development for more than a year already.
"Neon makes it possible to go into seemingly minute detail but will create the most realistic and involving environments in the racing genre," reckons Codemasters' Gavin Cheshire.
Like what? Well, for one thing, Neon puts an emphasis on real-time physics. An example of this is the wind, which Codemasters says will manifest itself in the game world through its effect on everything from leaves to dust. Crash fans will probably be more interested in Neon's ability to more accurate present car-crunching damage.
That's all well and good. But what's just as important for most rally fans is the size of the garage, which for this game stretches to around 40 cars in several categories.
Colin McRae: Dirt will be out for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC sometime during 2007. You can find out more at www.codemasters.com/dirt.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo
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