[Serkan Hassan]

Hi to all XBLA members,

I'd like to first of all introduce myself. My name is Serkan Hassan and I am the Lead Designer for MotoGP '07. I've been at Climax for as long as we've been making MotoGP games and I've been looking forward to getting in touch with you guys to let you know about all the new developments for MotoGP'07.

For this first post, I want to concentrate on a few features that have returned to the series for MotoGP '07, features that the fans have wanted for some time. I am pleased to tell you all that slipstreaming and the now infamous Sim Slider will be returning for MotoGP '07.

Slipstreaming was a feature that was included in the original MotoGP titles back on the Xbox. However, soon after release it became clear that it was being exploited in order to set lap times that would be unbeatable on the Xbox Live scoreboards. As a result, it wasn't too long before the feature was patched out of the game, never to be seen again. During development of MotoGP '07 it became clear from the fan feedback we received (and monitoring the posts on the XBLA forums) that this was a feature that was sorely missed. One of my priorities for MotoGP '07 has been to bring back a greater emphasis on good racecraft and slipstreaming is key to this. Whilst you will be able to improve your top speeds by tuning your bike or spending those rider credits, slipstreaming will give you that extra bit more when you need it most.

The Sim Slider is another returning feature that I'm sure you'll all be keen to get your hands on. Fully scalable, the sim slider allows you to decide just how hardcore you want your MotoGP experience to be. At its maximum setting, any trip off the track is likely to result in you crashing to the ground. In addition, an increase in bike sensitivity means that the use of brakes when cornering is almost definitely a bad idea. We want to give you guys the ability to dictate how you want to play the game. The Sim Slider is also available in multiplayer races, meaning the host player can dictate the sim level to any players that join their game.

I'll leave you with that for the moment but I hope to keep in regular contact with information on some of our other features, including our redesigned AI, new online game modes, all new telemetry system, brand new weather effects plus much more, including how we've captured the passion and atmosphere of race day in the game.

All the best,


Serkan Hassan.

[Mush xx]

Firsty I'd like to thank you for taking your time to come and chat with us and secondly I think many will be happy with the Sim Slider and slip stream coming back These are things that keep popping up in discussions.

[xx CURVE xx]

i for one am THRILLED to hear the sim slider back...

[(MRC)M@Ginty]

Thanks for the news Serkan. Its good to hear that drafting and sims are back. This new telemetry system sounds interesting aswell. You have certainly peaked my interest and i will be looking forward to playing a demo to get a feel for the game.

[HeY jOe]

Thanks for that info Serkan, it's good to hear from the developers,Turn 10's diaries were first rate
You'll know that the series has taken a few knocks round here *cough, but for many of us it's still the best racer bar none.
Hey and don't be a stranger

ps this thread will get an over-load of readers & comments

It might be rainin' but the Sun just came out

[Nbkrooney]

Hi there Serkan

Thanks for spending the time keeping us up to date with what is happening with MotoGP '07, I for one am grateful. I only started playing the series when '06 was released, seeing as a lot of the veterans are calling this the 'tainted' game, I still enjoyed it, which is making me excited by what you have said will be included in to the new '07 game.

Drafting can cause issues of people hunting for times at the top of the scoreboards, but with any racing sim it is an invaluable necessity to make the game even more a sim. So am glad to see that it will be coming back.

The slim slider I am interested in seeing in action, I found the extreme easier than the GP mode, so played it more, i felt that it was too unforgiving to someone who hadn't even played a motorbike game let alone a motoGP sim.

I look forward to seeing what else you have in store for us

[brittman]

Interesting..... You won't find me in the full sim racing rooms however that should give the people who like a more sim race obviously very happy and they can host rooms and race with people who also enjoy that.... that's a good thing.... don't bother me at all and it should help keep people playing the game.

Draft coming back, this is good I just hope that if collisions are OFF that the DRAFT is also disabled.....I really hope that you must race collisions on in order to have the draft effect......

if you've also been perusing the threads another hot topic is some sort of split with the scoreboards.... if you really wanna make people happy let the people who want nothing to with extreme mode have an overall GP ranking without incorporating extreme, in essence all you would need to is 3 scoreboards, Overall (combination of GP and extreme), GP (overall for just GP), Extreme(Overall for just extreme). Maybe a scoreboard for SIM settings above 80% as well, not sure about that though..... Also, are both items you mentioned(sims and draft) going to be applicable to both modes(gp and extreme) or exclusive to just the GP side of things....

and finally, my ultimate hope is in regards to Time trials, please oh please, let me have the option to ride along with my ghost lap meaning if I turn a really good lap please let me just replay and ride along with my ghost allowing me to choose any view that I would have during the running of the actual lap, sometimes u get lucky and really hit a few corners very well(or better than u normally do) and I miss the chance to just observe my lap to see exactly how I took a particular corner, sometimes this is virtually impossible when you are racing your ghost you only know that wow, I took that corner really welll...... That would give me a tremendous warm fuzzy.....

Any chance that the upload/Download of ghost laps which would incorporate the above statement could also be brought back as was the case in GP3 URT....
Thanks
Kevin

[IXx JD xXI]

Id just like to say hi I never got in to the last game in the series as to be honest i was not a big fan of sim driving games, However after playing Forza 2 it hooked me in to the whole sim experience so im looking forward to seeing what 07 is like. As curve said it would be great to see fuel, Tyre damage ect and the ability to have rain on any track sounds like it could be a lot of fun

[funkfish]

its all a good start as far as sims n drafting. im sure everybody will b happy..... but as curve says this is moto gp so wheres the 125s 250s and what about tyre ware. we want a realistic gp game...... please

[becameron]

hi serkan
thanks for the info on the new moto gp title
my brother used to play gp1 and gp3 and i followed on from him and played 06
so i dont really know what the other gp games are like
some of the features sound very good
the sim slider sounds like it will keep people playin and as for drafting that would keep people out of time trials
but not for a good reason
as curve has stated this is a gp game so where is the 125s and 250s
the new features sound good
(NEW FEATURES FOR ME ANYWAY)
thanks for the info serkan

i would like to hear what is to be said next
thanks
ben

[BDR Daz]

Thanks for the Info Serkan , As Joe said , you have a tough act to follow with the Turn 10 weekly reports

The new news is great , the Sim slider will change the the dynamic of the game completely , the draft will bring a new element to the game ....

My question about the Draft is ... Will there be an icon on the scoreboards so you can tell who used draft , In forza 2 it shows when people have used draft or not and it slightly deters people from using the Draft to gain an advantage ...

Great news for the first Diary , I look forward to week 2

[L.L. Cool M.]

First of all thank you for spending some time to come in here and talk to us.

Is it possible for the questions which were sent to you to be answered and then put in a sticky somewhere? That will cover the main things we were all wondering about ages ago, and will save the same things being asked over and over again in here. In fact, what did happen to those questions? Mush, is it possible you can post them in this topic, or a new topic to be answered?

My new question is, is Ant West in the game? If not, is that possible downloadable content?

All the other questions I have are the same as what were supposed to be sent in that combined questionnaire.

But finally, I couldn't care less (okay, relatively speaking) about anything in the game except the AI. I know the graphics, etc will be good enough. What has not been good enough in previous GP games is the AI. You say it is redesigned, well I hope so! I recently played Superbike 2001 on PC, and wow, that AI is streaks ahead. They all take different lines against each other, don't take you out, and generally provide a smart experience. Also, after playing Superbike 2001, I notice that there are not many animations in Moto GP for the rider in different situations. He seems very dormant on the bike. In Superbike 2001 the guy has lots of animations (for coming off the bike, for going over rumble strips, for starting the race, etc...) it really adds to the realism.

Anyway, it will be great to hear any news from you, as there is an extreme lack of Moto GP news anywhere.

[ROCKGOD01]

Serkan,
Thank you for adressing perhaps the most fanatical group of any game for the 360. We are all very excited about the new game and how it will seperate itself from 06. Although 06 had many isues at its core we all enjoy the basic quallity of racing. I would expect in this new installment an obvious change in all areas especially with blackbeans superbike 07 looming. I have played since gp2 and was a major sims rider among most of my friends so we are greatful for that to retur. Drafting is also a major plus! Now if you can truley make a GP game that represents the sport delving deeper into the teams, bikes, riders via downloadable content that would be a step in the right direction. Also dumping extreme would also be wise since it has nothing at all whatsoever to do with moto gp. This is where the other classes should have been addressed. I would think that most of those guys will be in the GP class in the near future so from a marketing standpoint you ensure recognition of the future contenders and or future champions. Oh yeah the Ducati MUSt be the best bike from now on!!!!
Thanks,
Rock

[Mush xx]

L.L. Cool M., on Jun 26 2007, 12:31 AM, said:

Is it possible for the questions which were sent to you to be answered and then put in a sticky somewhere? That will cover the main things we were all wondering about ages ago, and will save the same things being asked over and over again in here. In fact, what did happen to those questions? Mush, is it possible you can post them in this topic, or a new topic to be answered?

There were quite a few questions, over 50 to be exact, these had been sent to THQ a while back. The guys at Climax have them too now and if they have time I'm sure they will answer some of them and of course we will post them up.

[Mush xx]

OK guys, can we keep the conversation to just the features Serk has mentioned at the moment? They have read the old questions in the forum already.

The licence that THQ hold governs which bikes and tracks they can put in, so I very much doubt that we'll see a return of other bikes and tracks that were in previous GP's. (I may be wrong though)

As for the same questions that keep popping up Climax are aware or these and will answer them if possible in the future, so no need to repeat them.

What I'll do is move these to another thread and keep this thread just for discussion about the diary.

[HekGod]

I am glad to see something like this coming up! I have followed the Weekly Pitpass at turn 10 and I think it's a great idea!

I think the news you gave are good news and I am looking forward to more. Thanks for the info!

[pasystm]

+1
draft only enabled with collisions on (includes forward only)
think about it....how could you draft a bike that you cant hit?

any expansion to the customizing of our bikes, or ability to save different paintjobs and load them from options? forza 2 has really set a benchmark for customizing. since this is the best bike game, would be cool to be comparable.

[QuBix]

I just wanna say that having the draft back is one of the greatest things you could've done. The sim sliders will please a lot of people too. I can't wait run some good ol fashion Dirty Lappers with my dirty nation crew dating back to MotoGP Online Demo. We used the off road sim sliders to full extent but the draft is what made the dirty lappers fun and exciting. Thanks for bringing that back because it will bring back a lot of people I know who otherwise have parted from the game since the feature was removed.

PS: I hope the online lobby and its voice chat system is 100% smooth. All in all thanks for the update and thanks for keeping this guys spirites high for yet another great MotoGP title and the last one as I hear. If this is anywhere near as great as MotoGP 2 was prepare to have people playing this game for years to come.

[papapump51]

Well I would like to say thank you as well for the time you took to come and visit our happy home. You found the die hard MotoGP fans for sure..the game and in real life..I look forward to having the new features, it will be very exciting to see what you guys all pull off this round. Once again thanks for stopping by and keeping us in the loop...Come onnnnnnn August!! ( should be here in the states yes?)

[Mush xx]

Just a note to say Serkan will be posting a new diary every Monday. He will then also reply to any questions you may have regarding his diary. Please keep the questions coming about the features he has mentioned.