Feature: MotoGP'06 Demo: Expert Opinion

http://gamercard.xbo...http://gamercard.xbox.com/Rudawakening.cardRudawakening	Controller Set-up R Sick - Rubber band R Trigger - Accelerate L Trigger - Rear Brake A button - Front Brake X button - Gear down Y button - Gear up
Ruda's GP career has been long and distinguished, harking back to the heady days of GP1 and the original online demo, even the most experienced of old veterans can't recall a time when Ruda wasn't a prevalent GP force to be reckoned with. Many have tried to recreate Ruda's unique style and technique on the track and all have languished in his turbulent wake. Showing a clear preference for the extra control of a manual gear set-up and the concentrated confines of time-trial mode, Ruda is as ubiquitous on the scoreboards now as he's ever been. His very name has become a byword for skill and precision around the circuit. Surprisingly, the man's ego is anything but over-inflated, in fact it seems that he's almost unaware of just what a fast blighter he really is. The young Floridian displays an obvious love for the East Coast lifestyle, with a laid back manner and a soothing lilt, chatting to Ruda instantly puts one at ease and feels like coming home to reminisce about good times with old friends. Coming across as a peace-loving humanitarian with a calculated intelligence and a take-it-as-it-comes attitude, Ruda is a charming character who's just as interested in who you are and what you do as you are in him.

Meat-space tag: Alex Pitkin Real Name: Pitkin31 Age: 18 Location: Ascott, UK PB Mugello: 1:19.93 PB Tokyo: Unattempted	Pitkin31	Controller Set-up R Stick - Rubber band R Trigger - Accelerate L Trigger - Front Brake A button - Rear Brake B button - Gear up X button - Gear down
This elusive speed connoisseur has packed an almighty punch on the track ever since the final days of GP2. Finding his form after a late switch to manual gears, Pitkin's true potential came bursting to the fore with the release of GP3 in September 2005. Debatably the only man on the planet with the speed and consistency to put in lap after searing, error free lap of top times, Pitkin has proven himself time and again, often lapping every other competitor on the track during real-laps races. Pitkin is a hard man to track down, enduring spates of dedicated play which are often followed by extended periods of online absence, the fleeting appearance of Pitkin in a game lobby inevitably sends ripples of nervous excitement and quiet murmuring down the racers roster. Although only racking up a mere 18 years of Earth-time thus far, Pitkin's voice belies an underlying easy confidence well beyond his years. His rich, measured tones never stray into monotony but are complemented and balanced out to a tee by his occasional tendency to raise pitch toward the end of a sentence, adding a curious inquisitiveness to his online persona. He's probably just a fat bloke with smelly socks but he sure does sound cool.

Meat-space tag: Alan Real Name: Poosplat Age: 35 Location: E Sussex, UK PB Mugello: 1:21.28 PB Tokyo: 0:52.58	Poosplat	Controller Set-up - - - - - - - - - - - - TOP SECRET - - - - - - - - - - - -
A man who needs no introduction but is getting one regardless. Poosplat is pound for pound the most respected racer on the GP online circuit, if you haven't raced the Poo man, you haven't lived. This true GP legend is famous the world over for pulling out crazy pace which is seemingly inconsistent with his unusually long wheelbase and automatic gearbox. Some say he's overcome the human requirement for daily sleep entirely, others say he can transform himself into pure energy and feed power from the internet directly into his brain-stem. On the track Poosplat demonstrates all the wile and cunning of a little red hanky in a whites wash, with a tendency to nip up your inside line on the final bend and a deep passion for the mighty Sachsenring, Poo's rear end is sadly far more familiar than his front. Talking to the great man, it's easy to take comfort in the warm depth and gravelly texture of his voice, both of which are ideally complemented by the kind of endearing belly chuckle that would surely melt the polar ice caps should he ever stray too close. Poo's bouncy repartee and forthcoming opinions reveal a distant London-based heritage and, god forbid, if the old chap should ever have to hang up his joypad for good, Poo would no doubt have a guaranteed position as a radio DJ at the station of his choosing, or a South London cabbie, his choice really.

After trawling through the interview tapes with a fine toothed comb for many hours, I eventually managed to carve out all the detritus and mindless banter from our little Q'n'A, so here, for your enjoyment, is what's left. The three interviews were conducted on separate occasions but have been presented here together in order to facilitate an easier read.

Spirit: Have you actually had the time to play the demo much?
Ruda: I've only had...probably about 2 hours, 3 hours.
Pit: Probably between 2 and 3 hours.
Poo: I caned it the first couple of days when it came out but not really that much since. You know, you're a bit limited because it's only a demo but it's great, I love playing with all my old friends.

Spirit: Oh right, and you managed to put in some very decent times already, that's scary
Ruda: I actually got my Tokyo time in about thirty minutes.

Spirit: And are you riding manual gears on the GP'06 demo?
Ruda: Oh yeah, manual.
Pit: I've actually just changed over to manual. I just set the 1:19 with manual although it could've been done with automatic I'm sure it could have.

Spirit: Do you think that manual is a bit quicker then?
Pit: Yeah, I think it should be faster, although to be fair, when I was using the automatic I was getting exactly the same splits as I get now but I just wasn't finishing the laps. Manual just gives you more control, so it could make you bit faster because of that, even though it isn't actually faster.

Spirit: What do you see as the main differences between GP3 and the new demo?
Poo: Well, it's on a new console so the whole thing feels like it's been given a fresh start you know. Playing GP1, 2 and 3 on the Xbox makes you wonder why they'd want to change it but straight away on the demo there's a much better feel, feels like the bike is actually on some tarmac this time. The sense of speed is nice, I mean it certainly isn't slower, it's just a nice, it's just a better feel, it just feels good , it feels right. I wouldn't say it's faster or slower it's just a different feeling that you get with a new console you know, you get that.
Pit: It looks one helluva' lot better. You know, you're going down the straight at Mugello and the sky in front of you, it looks wicked, the skyline's well good. And it's just nice to be playing with a brand new controller and actually making some use of this new Xbox [360], the game's wicked, it's gonna' be great.
Ruda: Oh it's [GP06] gonna' be a much better game I think. Manual is back for example, the power-slide is pretty nice, feels nice and smooth, the graphics are great on the 360...
Spirit: Do you have Hi-Def?
Ruda: Oh yeah
Spirit: Nice!
Ruda: But see, you can't really judge the demo because you don't have your bike set up and stuff like that but you can already tell it's gonna' be a faster game . I think we're on 1500 [wheelbase] and soft tires at the moment in the demo so, I mean, you gotta' account for what kind of a time you're gonna' be running you know, when you get on hard tyres with 1400 and everything.

Spirit: So when we do get access to a full set-up with the finished game, do you think that lap times will be comparable to GP3?
Pit: Um...I'd like them to be maybe a little bit faster because it's always nice to, you know, beat your old times, but I'd expect the lap times to end up pretty close [to GP3] to be fair, maybe a little bit faster but not much.
Ruda: I think we're gonna' beat the GP[3] times because, as you can see [on the scoreboards] Dan The King has a 1:19.37 on Mugello with soft tyres, and the fastest times on GP3 were 15's. So you gotta' think we're losing a lot of time and a lot of speed because of the soft tyres and 1500, and we're braking more. So, I'm thinking probably at least a second faster, I think the track [Mugello] will go into a 14.
Spirit: Yeah, maybe for you it will.
Ruda: Hahahaha, hey man, I've seen people get faster.....quick! So, I mean I'm not thinking I'm going into the game and gonna' be top. Not right away.

Spirit: Who do you tip to be really quick in GP'06, who do you reckon you're going to be racing?
Ruda: Dan and Pitkin, definitely, I don't think I can beat those two at anything, in all honesty [laughs]. I'm hoping to see Reidy up there, and Poosplat, but really it could be anybody because it's a different game. I mean, if you look back, Poosplat was up there, people that I didn't even know were up there so anything could be possible in GP'06...and I'm looking forward to the competition! [chuckles]
Poo: Obviously as far as times go Dan is gonna' be up there, Ruda, he'll be putting in some good times....BUT times and racing, two different things Spirit, like, Reidy is the man.
Spirit: Is he?
Poo: He is [laughs], he is the best racer and he can set some of the best times you know. Dan will always beat his times but Reidy would more likely beat Dan in a race. I don't have too much respect for people who have brilliant times and can't race for "toffee". I respect the racers.

Spirit: Ok Pit, you're probably one of about 3 people in the world that can answer this question, what's the difference between the good racers and the really sodding great racers? What are you doing that nobody else is doing?
Pit: Well, I think a LOT of it is about just putting the time and the effort in, to be fair. When I played GP2 I didn't "muck" about, I played the game and I knew what I wanted to get out of it, you know. The thing is, to get the great times you have to go into time trials and just be able to sit there and just do the laps. Even when you crash, like when you're on a really good lap and you crash, you have to just be able to, you know, just get back on the bike and do exactly the same thing again (well not exactly the same surely?- Spirit). And it does get really annoying and really tedious and a lot of people just give up, but then if you keep going at it, that's when you get the great times and everything. There's no real difference though you know, anyone can do it, it's just a matter of putting the effort in and being nice and gentle with the controller I suppose.

Spirit: Do you analyse every little thing you're doing like where you're braking and what line you're taking, or do you just relax and do it on autopilot?
Pit: When I do it I just relax and do it, I think Dan [The King] would probably analyse it a bit more. Different things will work for different people.

Spirit: Have you found that it feels the same as GP3 to play?
Pit: Yeah, all I've done is just picked up the game and driven GP3 style round the track. The bike doesn't quite feel exactly the same but I think that's more to do with, like, the tyres and the suspension and the wheelbase and everything.

Spirit: For anyone who's just picking up the GP series for the first time, what one piece of advice would you give to help them master the game?
Poo: Probably to do the career mode. You know don't wanna' "muck" about coming online until you know what's what. It's not a car game, you need some practice, experience and track knowledge. Track knowledge is very important.
Pit: Put the accelerator on the trigger. You know, that's the most basic thing and if you do that then it's going to give you one helluva' head start against some of the other people. Because they'll probably be coming to the game and be using their Right Thumbstick to accelerate and stuff...I could just imagine that being awkward really.
Ruda: Just try to be aware of where you start your power-slide and let go of it basically, and try not use so much brakes.

Spirit: How do you use the brakes in your riding style?
Ruda: Umm...see, I use the d-pad to turn, so I can't rear brake slide at 1400 [wheelbase] like the joystick riders can. So what I tend to do is, I tend to pump my front brake while I'm gearing down and then use my rear brake just before pumping on the power-slide.
Spirit: So why the d-pad then?
Ruda: The d-pad I think reacts faster than the joystick into the turns, but you just can't do a lot of what joystick riders do in turns with the rear sliding and power-sliding. Actually, the reason why I use the d-pad, Spirit, is because I like to lean back a lot in my turns and on GP3 I noticed that without the joystick up, with my rubber band, when I leaned back I would wreck because it would lean it back too far. So with the rubber band it would give me just enough to lean back and slow down without falling.

Spirit: Ok Ruda, Pit, Poo thanks for your time, it's been a pleasure.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Yeah, thanks chaps and a big apology to Poo because some technical issues resulted in the permanent loss of a little of his sage advice....or maybe it was just too good to publicise and I want it for myself? You'll never know

One thing that we all know by now is that anticipation for the latest iteration of the world's greatest online racer is reaching meltdown. MotoGp '06 is no more than a nuts whisker around the corner now and not a moment too soon, even I've been reduced to rocking back and forth in the corner, dribbling foamy goo and biting on my thumb whilst reciting nursery rhymes of late.

In our multi-faceted world of XBLA, few things are of higher importance than the arrival of a brand new installment of the MotoGP series. The site itself was built on the solid foundations of the online community surrounding MogoGP2, so take a good long look around the page you're looking at and marvel at it's splendour because without MotoGP, none of this would exist. Praise be to Mush. Amen.

Spirit

#2 HeY jOe

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 05:57 PM

cheers everyone, great read & Spirit's style shines out.

ps My claim to fame was beatin' POO on my favourite track Donington (League Match)......it felt soooooo gooooood

#3 art begall

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 06:29 PM

Great work Spirit, that's a top read.

#4 Redline Rossi

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 06:29 PM

Fantastic read Spirit :thumbsup:

Although i am a little bit concerned over his answers to the first two questions :unsure:

#5 Cheeva

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 06:38 PM

Nice work there Spirit :thumbsup:

great read

Gotta agree with Redline, Max's answers to the first couple of questions seemed a bit loose.

#6 BG Daz

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 06:48 PM

Good read i enjoyed that :thumbsup:

#7 ii FLY ii

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 06:58 PM

"Max: This is being investigated, can't really say much more right now I'm afraid"

so basically...the games have already been burnt to disc and packaged ready to be sent out to retail outlets..and we might or might not get an update a few months down the line.....

thats really cheered me up

#8 Dr Tymn

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 07:14 PM

very inspiring. pre-ordered today, the thought of all those tracks......

#9 Redline Rossi

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 07:40 PM

XBLA: There are some slight frame rate problems on the GP mode.
Max: There are still spots of framerate drop in some tracks, it's true. It's hard to predict as it depends on what all the other bikes are doing. They are "rare" though.

RARE, My Armpit. They are evident on nearly every corner, regardless of what the other bikes are doing. Also the faster you go the worse it gets.

#10 R31DY

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 09:52 PM

Awwwwwwwwwwww, Poo loves me

.......you'd better watch out Mushy! :lol:

#11 ShagDoubt

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 10:43 PM

Great read Spirit. :thumbsup:

Loved the mini-biographies. :hysterical:

#12 gamma498

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 10:48 PM

HeY jOe, on May 26 2006, 05:57 PM, said:

cheers everyone, great read & Spirit's style shines out.

ps My claim to fame was beatin' POO on my favourite track Donington (League Match)......it felt soooooo gooooood

Then we never saw you again Joe!! I guess you believe in goin' out at your peak! See you on GP'06 mate (when I decide to get a 360!) :icon13:

Good review Spirit, mind you lookin at those pics I see wot people mean, the Helmets are HUGE! It's like the bikes are bein raced by those 'Bobble Buddies' toys you can get. :uhm:

#13 Speedz

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Posted 26 May 2006 - 10:52 PM

Hummm, I cant manual on any games... I cant concentrate! LOL

#14 misterbenn

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Posted 27 May 2006 - 01:07 PM

Great read that spirit

I really enjoyed that any plans to do anymore on other games?

Gotta agree with rossi though its a bit worring that he demo is only a month from completion and its still got issues. Gunna be a few fun filled weeks of "can you hear me, can you hear me" although if it keeps some the annoying lttle brats who are on the demo quiet then.........?

Why was JMC not asked for an inerview I thought he was the ultimate legend on this game I mean Pitkin Ruda and Poo are all good but JMC can talk a better game than all 3 of them together

#15 HeY jOe

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Posted 27 May 2006 - 05:32 PM

gamma498, on May 26 2006, 10:48 PM, said:

Then we never saw you again Joe!! I guess you believe in goin' out at your peak! See you on GP'06 mate (when I decide to get a 360!) :icon13:

spot on memory there gamma(damn sight better than mine

), I was playin' Poo today on the demo just like old times, if the demo track'd been Donington I'd have showed him my tailpipe(as if)

#16 Spirit X

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Posted 28 May 2006 - 04:30 AM

misterbenn, on May 27 2006, 01:07 PM, said:

...I really enjoyed that any plans to do anymore on other games?

Cheers benn and everyone else. To answer you question, I'll be doing quite a few interviews over the coming months for various things, also, I'll be doing something quite similar to this one with the XBLA celebrity competition. You can sign up for it here if you wanna' be famous.

#17 XxX StorminMartyr XxX

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Posted 28 May 2006 - 05:12 AM

thanks!! im gonna try to be with poosplat!!!!!!!!

This post has been edited by MX Warrior: 28 May 2006 - 05:13 AM

#18 Ag3nt Ruda

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Posted 30 May 2006 - 09:54 PM

wow Spirit great work man u got everything I said word for word very nice lol... Anyways very good work agian man

#19 WALKEN

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Posted 04 June 2006 - 08:26 AM

Poo: He is [laughs], he is the best racer and he can set some of the best times you know. Dan will always beat his times but Reidy would more likely beat Dan in a race. I don't have too much respect for people who have brilliant times and can't race for "toffee". I respect the racers.

Not to sound like a wiseguy or anything just an observation.
The way this reads to me is that DAN is only good at setting times.
And REIDY is good at setting times and racing.
Then it says he has not much respect for people who have brilliant times,
but can't race for toffee? (crap?).
Isn't that like saying he has no respect for DAN?
Isn't that being personal?

Also he says he respects the racers. So say all I like to do is set times in TT
and don't care for racing, does that mean he has no respect for me?
Isn't that being personal?

I see it as more of an opinion myself. Everyone has there own opinion.
And we share our opinions to help eachother see ones point of view.

Please don't take this the wrong way, I have tons of respect for POO and
this site. Just felt I need to make a point.