I think you're going to like FUEL. As long as you aren't looking for a racing sim and enjoy the ride it appears to fit in here quite nicely.
I played about an hour. The SP racing is a lot of fun, some "tracks" are tighter so you can't veer off too much in order to get to the next checkpoint, but others are more open so you can choose to stay on the "road" or go off-road (quicker, but more obstacles). Makes for fun choices.
Playing on "expert" which actually is the middle choice. Takes a few races to win until you learn the layout - even then some are tougher. Also did a chopper chase. Was easy actually once I avoided hitting a tree.
The jumps are fun.
The devs have the same appreciation for nature as here so there are actually vista points I think they are called that show up on your "GPS in the sky" I'll explain later. But it highlights an area to go to with a view.
Free roam and career mode w@&k basically seamlessly so it's a great interface.
More later folks, can't wait for others to get the game.
Tell me more about that career thing...
How do you progress? You move on unlocking tracks and vehicles? Are there special points to trade for upgrades or something?
I like when you have "things to do", not only "pick a car and a course and go"
Sounds like a winner, space... will be looking for it tomorrow now... new tasks pop up most unexpectedly on a daily basis, and delay my trip to the store...
great news spaceboy, can't wait to get my hands on it.
Can you tune vehicles, ie change the look, make engine faster?
Career progression is through winning races which unlock new tracks, vehicles, and parts of the map. I think the whole map is open for online free roam. You can also find vehicles in free roam, but I you still have to buy them I think. You get paid in fuel actually so that is the currency. You can also find fuel in free roam to add to your account, just crash into the barrels of oil and it adds to your account.
I'm sure I don't have all the nuances yet. There are also challenges you can come upon during free roam, time trials and such, you can do them to earn fuel.
Let's see, as for tuning vehicles, it didn't appear you could do that but you can go into your livery and change the paint jobs etc. You can also change your driver.
The driving views can be cycled between 2 versions of third "person" (one close behind and one further behind) and basically "be the car" so you don't see the hood your basically driving from the bumper view which makes me ill normally but fun sometimes.
In free roam the night/day cycle changed more than I would like, not sure if there is a setting for that.
thanks spaceboy, sounds like you spent half a day racing already, at least ;D
Interesting - what happens if you run out of fuel?
be a real pain if you have to get out and push, specially in some of the weather thats been hitting the races.
haha, good one...
I've pushed a vehicle a time or two due to lack of fuel in my day.
can be hard enough pushing a pram when wind , rain and hail all workin against you and bet those cars way much more.
only raced about an hour and half, looks like I won't get anymore in today seeing as I'm still at w@&k. >:( :'( >:( :'(
I don't think you can run out of gas. When you crash too much you just get a new car - it's a quick load.
It was cool in a race chasing some guy that was smoking pretty bad - helped me know where to go. The race was sending me through a recent "forest" fire - it was a meager forest I guess - just a bunch of burnt and burning trees.
Getting out to push makes me think of having to "pop" the clutch to get the car started - I know some of you old timers did that as well...
Heck yeah, I remember that - my first "real" car when I was 17 was an SS 396 Nova - the guy I had purchased it from used it as a race car - Sig Erson full race cam - could pull the front wheels off the ground. The only problem - the starter wouldn't w@&k when the engine was warm - too poor to buy a new one so I did lots of "bump" starts.
[I wish that I still had that car now, the 396 ci 375 hp version of the Nova was a rare one - sold it to my brother for $1800 and he sold it not long thereafter for $2000.]
got home really late but still found time for a bit of racing to blow off some steam. I set a marker off a ways and just took off on my bike. One thing for sure it is hard to judge distances in this game. WOW. Plus I stopped off for a couple challenges along the way. cool.
Can't wait to try it - by the way, I assume that it works with steering wheels? I've one that I purchased for Gran Turismo5 that is currently just collecting dust.
I assume. I've got an old wheel for the PS2 but not for PS3. Perhaps they've gotten better but it always seemd I'd oversteer with a wheel. The analog sticks are easy to kind of "tap" to steer.
As for FUEL, I find the handling MUCH more forgiving than the old GT games I played - more like motorstorm. I think because it's more of a fun title than a racing sim.
Good to know - the new wheels are remarkable - you can feel the road (force feedback) with the Driving Force wheel I use with GT5 - almost makes you feel like you're in a car.
Cool.. just found it at gamespot.com... won't post a full text, but rather the part that inerests me the most
Additionally, Free Ride offers an opportunity to collect liveries (in the form of new customization options) along with fuel, which represents the in-game currency. You "earn" fuel by simply plowing into marked barrels scattered throughout each section of the environment; if you save enough, then you can purchase better versions of preexisting vehicles to use in races. But perhaps the most important aspect of Free Ride is that it gives you an opportunity to create your own race. Interestingly, you can create a race in just about any area on the map (unlike the main career, which forces you to unlock sections as you go), as long as you keep it less than 150km. It's pretty fun to just randomly throw down points on the map, test out your track, and see how crazy it gets. Indeed, the first few tracks in our inventory involve some steep cliffs that are difficult to climb, so they probably wouldn't make for the best racing experience. Fortunately, you can zoom in and out on the static overhead track-editing screen, which gives a better idea of what kind of terrain is involved in your race and whether or not there are any pesky mountains involved.
Well, managed to get in a hour or so playing Fuel last night and I must say that it is the best racing game I've played - the open world nature has all other beat.
I'm still in the first area on the map, and have completed all 3 career races and 2-3 of the challenges - how do I advance to the next area? Do I need to complete all the challenge races? (Some are tough and I stink at the driving!)
Great. Glad you're liking it. As for unlocking I can't remember actually. Try to go to Change Camp. I have 4 areas unlocked and can't remember how I did it lol. I can't figure how to unlock more either. :P
You def don't need to complete all challenges or races in an area because I haven't even come close. I'll look at it tonight for sure.
As for driving my tips are to ease off the gas rather than breaking for easier curves and just use the handbrake (square) for hard turns.
Quote from: spaceboy on June 09, 2009, 07:20:39 AM
... just use the handbrake (square) for hard turns.
Good to know - I've had trouble making those hair pins!
You've got to win races and earn starts to unlock more camps. The harder the difficulty, the more starts you earn in a race. I've been running on Expert which is essentially medium. So it'll take more wins to earn the same stars if you're racing easy/normal.
I'm going to try to win some to unlock another camp...
Quote from: spaceboy on June 09, 2009, 06:43:28 PMYou've got to win races and earn starts ... So it'll take more wins to earn the same stars
is it "stars" as in planets or "starts" as in finishes?
"Stars" as in planets. You receive the stars when you successfully complete a race, although there are no points for second place - win or you're considered a loser...
thanks (since I haven't got the game... was wondering if you earned the right to several starts. Now it's clear)
man my typing has gotten bad lately... Won a couple races tonight but did not unlock another camp. Every win unlocks something it's just not always something I care about like a new helmet or bandana or tattoo.
I love free roaming to a challenge - it's a great way to see the landscape and get your mind ready for the race.
I wish I had it already. Hopefully they hand it out soon for PC... then again, it will get cramped here on my desk. Fixing the wheel and the gearstick to the desk... :) Will interfere with FC2...
The free roam is a great way to get a feel for a track without having to fight other drivers - you casually make your way through the turns, memorizing them so that when the race starts, you're in front of the pack.
I'm in free moan mode ::)
Quote from: Art Blade on June 09, 2009, 09:44:05 PM
I'm in free moan mode ::)
Not to worry, let'm play with their toys, the PC version will be worth the wait.
:)
you are right... probably better graphics, and free saves maybe... thanks, now I'm in drooling mode ;D :-X
it'll be worth the wait. You guys will love it. I don't know of any diffs between versions. As for saving, you can save at any time. Not sure if PC will have multiple save games, but I don't think it matters since you can either drive or heli to any of the camps or heli drops whenever you want. (although I suggest driving if you've got the time)
well i'm just gonna add to the puddle and drool along with ArtB :P
going to be a cracking solstice gromit ! erm sorry guys !!!
ARMA2, solstice, dads day then FUEL. ;D ;D
i'll be giddy as a kid at christmas :-X
what a fantastic 5 - day spread.
(sods law says pc will blow up too!!!) :(
Alright... I've installed the PC version now and tried a speedrun offshore, took me 5 attempts to win and gained 2000 points. The race was smooth, no stutters, everything maxed out 1920x1200 res. Takes a little to get used to the keys (I use keyboard defaults for now) but I managed. I think a wheel would be too much, recommended is a gamecontroller.
The downside... the game does NOT save your game progress.
Unless.
You register with MS "Live!"
AAAAAAArgh >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
Now. Created an offline profile, to get started. Now I can save :) Sorry for the rambling, but I hate it if you're forced to register anywhere despite of the fact the game was legally purchased and is in your very hands!
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doesn't look half bad, does it :)
beautiful screeny Art. I was going to say of course you save without registering online...that would have been crazy.
Can't wait to hear more of how you like it.
I'm not sure that would have worked offline (had my PC online when creating that account). In any case I had to install that live! crap software first and then create an account, I was happy to see there was an "offline profile" option which indeed worked.
Anyhow, one more screenie
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Ok then, more first impressions. Actually, there isn't much to say for me right now. Once you installed the game and created a live!-account, you get started.
On a side note, I bought the German version (can't help it lol) but as before with GRID, CodeMaster luckily stuck to the same principle: The language you choose for your game installation wizard will be the language for the game. So I now have the English version up and running.
Well, installed. Can't do much now, except skim the menus, that are 100% console - forget your mouse - and find out you can't buy or upgrade or anything yet because you don't have points/fuel to purchase any. I noticed I only have 4 vehicles to choose from, three of which grayed out (need purchase). I assume I'll get a bigger choice once I've seen a bit of the world.
I decided to do a "challenge" which apparently is some off-career race but you can get FUEL from those. I did the same race that didn't get saved before, and was more familiar with that track, so I managed to win on my second run.
Now I've got 2000 FUEL (ah, that sounds stupid. let's call it credits) and could buy a quad called "Mosquito". Didn't do it, who knows what I might need those credits for, later. Did some free roam and messages popped up like "you have discovered a vista point" and such. Found a white barrel sitting in the prairie, smashed it, and voilà, 100 credits. Easy to get, hard to find. Found a livery (unfortunately that's nothing like liver pies or stuff you could ask your butcher about) by crashing into a wrecked car.
I changed the keyboard layout a little so I can thrust with w and brake/reverse with s. Much better now. Well, a game that's easy to get started, and fun. Your car can crash into everything and doesn't break in free roam and rookie setup. And man... want to visit a place? Mark a spot that is right next to you on the map, and then try get there... omg. It's as if "next to you" translates to "drive to the horizon and beyond that you might find it" LOL bloody VAST :-X
Quote from: Art Blade on July 02, 2009, 06:57:00 AM
And man... want to visit a place? Mark a spot that is right next to you on the map, and then try get there... omg. It's as if "next to you" translates to "drive to the horizon and beyond that you might find it" LOL bloody VAST :-X
I know isn't it almost surrel especially when you realize your still in one part of your region!
FUEL barrels are actually pretty easy to find if you go offroad. Stacks of 3 gives you 400 credits - they start to rack up quick. Just race a few times and smash some barrels and you'll get enough credits - don't worry about saving them - spend them, you'll get more trust me. Liverys are different paintings and decals for your vehicles.
Also what menu option allowed for remapping controls? A host of folks on codemasters are complaining about not being able to remap the keyboard. Thanks.
yeah, easy to change the few controls you have for the car, but you can't change the keys that navigate the menu, ie "T<>Y" but the only important keys in a racing game are those keys you need to steer your vehicle with, anyway. Now, going for a little free roam in FUEL, and hope to pick up some credits on the fly. Erm. More likely, off the ground. ;)
I tried some more. Meanwhile I purchased the other vehicles, and boy, do I like that Mosquito Quad ;D Managed to easily win a challenge which was fun big time, kind of an obstacle course with quad (The High Octane Inn, location Offshore Shack) - a circuit race, 8 drivers, all on Mosquitos. Before that I dramatically failed, some checkpoint race with a crap car for that race, it's called "The Bullet" (like 90% asphalt 10% offroad abilities). It's slowing down offroads, and on gravel tracks it's like ice skating LOL
Having fun, though :) Good console game, converted for PC users ;D
yeah the Bullet stinks. Actually it is frustrating when muscle cars or other "road" cars perform so SLOW offroad. I think they overdid it on that. They should drive faster than they do in the grass. My only real complaint. But it helps you drive better knowing you have to stay on the road for those races.
The mosquito is fun but there are even better quads to unlock. There are even some that are meant for paved racing and they are awesome to drive but again not great for offroad. My favorite bike is called the Sturgien or something like that I don't remember - good on both surfaces.
I'm currently more into reading and typing, rather than racing, and I think I'm going to change that now ;D
back :)
Did that funny Mosquito race in all 3 stages, rookie, expert, legend. Pure fun :) Then a little sight-seeing and found a livery for that stink car ;) At least I can try to make it look good ;D
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great shot - I like the arm up in triumph. Yeah I wasn't too into liveries but at least some look cool I guess, something to head towards while you explore (and vistas of course).
The Maverick cars are fun. It comes up as purple triangle on your map and is actually a vehicle driving around you have to find and smash into. Easy enough but I make it more of a challenge by starting from far away instead of heliporting in close by.
Right now I try to get all the spots and races in my current area. I had a heli chase which was fun, on my mosquito :)
I'm so new to it, I never heard of that car you mentioned. So it shows up on your map, randomly? can you own it? :) How can I get better or different cars, anyway? Oh and what do vista points do except offering a view?
There is a heli chase in one of the regions I just can't crack.
I think there is maverick for each region, and at some point after unlocking enough races or whatever it'll say "a maverick has been spotted" and then you can see the purple triangle driving around your map. Then yes, smash into it and you own it. I've only done one actually but it was fun to chase down.
Buy better cars at the beginning of most races and challenges. Or maybe even from your menu when you choose vehicles...Just keep racing and finding FUEL barrels in free roam, you'll have enough credits.
Vistas are just a view. Collect them for the sheer love of it.
thanks :) right now I try to meet with a green arrow (dobler truck?), ba$t@rd of a cross-country ride lol
what's that, then? lol just chasing that arrow and now this popped up :)
edit - found out something, you need to ram it.
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Having progressed in the game it is now easier to say something about FUEL.
Due to the incredible vast map the landscape changes from region to region and the details are in a good balance not to distract from racing, yet allowing a stop here and there for sight-seeing. Details means, you see farms, houses, occasionally a truck driving around, car wrecks, industrial sites, trees, fences, dunes, mountains, lakes (so big you'd need a plane to cross it) valleys, canyons... great.
The overall graphical impression is very good, but typical for that genre - just... very colourful :) wich goes for the environment as well as for fantasy cars and bikes, customisable driver outfits and optical tuning. The level of detail in the landscape and environment is remarkable because of the dimensions. While other racing games struggle (SegaRallye, Need4Speed) or almost overdo it (RaceDriver:Grid), here you find a decent mixture of everything.
Gameplay - simple, a few buttons only. Driving - easy enough to make you happy and not worry too much. Races - various types, believable AI (commits mistakes as do humans, and does a very good job regarding pathfinding). Bike and quad driver animations are enjoyable, and the stunts they do... they do it themselves. You don't need to worry which key to press so they do acrobatic stuff while jumping. And always: Stunning landscape combined with all kinds of weather won't allow you to bore yourself to death. Luckily I haven't seen a tornado yet ;D In general it's a game that you can switch on and off, always a good time to play, and always easy to get out. Like that, you can have a quick race before breakfast, and a long session in the evening. And people... this game's map is so bloody VAST ;D
What I like very much is that you progress quickly (gather credits for cars by winning races or smashing fuel barrels scattered across the map), new cars unlock quickly, you gather credits so you can spend it on new vehicles. Rewards for races won are: new parts of the map unlock, new gear for your driver and cars, loads of stuff that keeps happening. This game is easier than I expected regarding driving and career, and does live up to my expectations I had when I first read about it. I'm only just beginning, of course, but by the racing gods, this game is pure fun :-X
Currently I'm driving slightly bigger cars.
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The scenery is absolutely beautiful...
hella-better review than I've put together in several weeks! Nice job explaining everything and giving great descriptions of the gameplay and map. Thanks for that, my friend. :-X
thanks spaceboy :)
I've been racing all night ;D I love the motorcycle races, the quad races, heck, I like everything in that game! ;D
just picking up the Doppler Truck question: I noticed three trucks into which I bumped. There was a green, a red and a blue arrow, the colours representing Vista, Challenge and Livery. Getting all three trucks unlocks the area, so to speak :)
And I found a maverick... a motorcycle... I reckon there are different mavs? :)
Funny about the doppler trucks is that I always thought those were the ones you see driving around all the time (I think they will lead you to challenges or vistas) But now I think the ones your talking about hunting down are the colored arrows (that I haven't found to my knowledge) which according to your screenshot will make all vistas or liverys or challenges show up on your map. Up till now I have been finding them organically by driving and then when you get "close" it says you have spotted it. I think that is how it is working - I could read the manual, but...nah :P
hahahahaah!!! I hate reading manuals for games ;D
As far as I remember (I hope I remember correctly), winning some career races in an area unlocks those dopplers. I remember the message right after a race, together with the scores and such, "an X doppler truck has been spotted", X being either vista, challenge or livery. After that, you see an arrow on your map if you zoom in, matching the colour of the icons you see on the radar (or compass). You get the message again when you actually spot the truck (being nearby is good enough) and then you see it on the radar too. Same goes for Mavericks.
Spoiler
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Race Driver: Grid
I was just thinking how much some display features are similar to codemaster's grid, only I miss the onboard/cockpit view. Funny how the intro of FUEL, that comes with the game, still shows one car from a cockpit view with dashboard. In the game there is no such option... I guess they didn't have time to get all cockpit views done properly (as they did in GRID)
Ok I just finished about 4 hours of Fuel *my left indexfinger is about to fall off*, this was my first real chance to play for an extended period of time. My impressions so far:
1. My driving sucks ;)
2. I REALLY need a gamepad, the keyboard is totally wrong for a racing game.
Other than that I like it.
nice, deadman, a new avatar :)
I agree, I would prefer my wheel over the keyboard, but unfortunately FUEL PC doesn't w@&k with it. Then again, I prerfer a keyboard over a gamepad :)
"My driving sucks" - drive more ;D
The problem I´m having with my keyboard is that it´s digital, I cannot get the correct amount of throttle, stearinginput or braking that I want. It´s so hard to win a race or a challenge when your vehicle is all over the place. It works fine for driving in FC2 becuase it´s not that challenging. Fuel has built in support for the PC version of the Xbox controller so I´m going get my hands on one of those tomorrow hopefully.
Update: So I got my hands on a gamepad today, it´s a Logitech Chillstream. It has the same layout as the Xbox pad but I think it´s a little smaller. It´s a littke too small to be comfortable in my toiletseat sized hands, so I don´t think I´ll be using it for any marathon sessions. The reason it´s called Chillstream is because of the little fan that blows cool air into your hands while playing, it may seem like a gimmick but it´s actually works! :-X So if you´e looking for a gamepad to use with your PC then this one is a good buy.
mine is digital too. I don't know if there ever were analogue keyboards, but you control your drive by either pressing the forward key or releasing it, additionally you may apply the brakes and for sliding you use the hand brake. Same goes for turning: either you turn, or you don't. Use a series of quick turns for softer turning, or add hand brake to full turn so you oversteer and slide. Do-able, but needs practice :)
Oh no you used the ugly word "practice" :P I´m just too lazy for that I think, but we´ll see. Luckily I can find a gamepad quite cheap (around 20 euros) so it won´t be a disaster if it doesn´t w@&k out ;)
hehehehe :)
damn, can't say "w@&k" or JRD will be getting ready to jump with his bared arse onto my face, and can't say "practice," or deadman is going to do "else" to me. I think I am f@#$ed - now look a that, even the forum is complaining, scrambling my statement. At least I can drive in peace and quiet ;D
Quote from: Art Blade on August 14, 2009, 01:57:34 PM
hehehehe :)
damn, can't say "w@&k" or JRD will be getting ready to jump with his bared arse onto my face, and can't say "practice," or deadman is going to do "else" to me. I think I am f@#$ed - now look a that, even the forum is complaining, scrambling my statement. At least I can drive in peace and quiet ;D
LOL
Quote from: Art Blade on August 14, 2009, 01:57:34 PM
hehehehe :)
damn, can't say "w@&k" or JRD will be getting ready to jump with his bared arse onto my face, and can't say "practice," or deadman is going to do "else" to me. I think I am f@#$ed - now look a that, even the forum is complaining, scrambling my statement. At least I can drive in peace and quiet ;D
You bet I am, son. ;D ;D ;D
I'm glad you noticed and rectified your statement ;)
;D
At last, got my PS3, and after wrestling the controller from my kid got fuel up and running.
Never been a fan of racing games before but really enjoying this one. Done the race with the dune buggy twice, came 6th and then came 1st ;D .
Found my first livery and vantage point on free-roam too. Looking forward to exploring more areas and grabbing more goodies.
Have fun with Fuel and the console, Red - the games feel really different on the PC vs console, but that makes it fun - the same game played on each system is almost like a different version of the same game (if you like mods and cheats) ;D
nice job Red - I remember really liking the way the races are integrated right into the free roam world, and when you finish a race you go straight into free roam - seamless. I spent a lot of time early on driving to each race but eventually used the menu more. Or I'd spot a livery or vista or just some far off mountain and say "I'm going to go there"' and 30 minutes later arrive there lol.
glad you're liking it - we'll have to get some free roam or online races if we can
THIS GAME IS AWESOME !!!
Quote from: RedRaven on April 30, 2010, 07:13:20 AM
THIS GAME IS AWESOME !!!
Welcome to the club, mate!
I LOVE the soundtrack... :-X :-X :-X
I only whish you could do more races
against the nature e.g. hurricanes, earthquakes atc...
Quote from: RedRaven on April 30, 2010, 07:13:20 AM
THIS GAME IS AWESOME !!!
FUEL YEAH! Gimme 5,000 square miles to cruise and race - OK! I'm not a huge race game fan myself, but this one has given me many many hours of good fun. I've even just put my music on, and gone for a long drive - quite relaxing.
Over the past week been playing for between half an hour to two hours a day. Completed a few challenges, collected a handful of Livery's and Vista points as well as picking up trophies along the way. Oh yeah, spent loads of Fuel points on vehicles too and not that keen on most of them :( .
However most of the time has been spent in the Psychotic Fox dune buggy charging full speed across the really impressive landscape. Switching from asphalt roads to dirt tracks, open fields and tree covered hills on a whim.
It is by far my favourite vehicle for free-roam, not the fastest in my collection but certainly the most fun. Getting better at timing handbrake turns and sliding round bends. Have taken to using both asphalt and gravel roads to get to the top of a hill then racing to the bottom dodging trees, rocks and trucks on the way, and trying to hit fuel barrels when I see them.
Glad I didn't get the PC version, I've never been a racing/driving game player, seeing them as more a console game. Always felt unnatural with a mouse/keyboard set up. On the PS3 it perfect, leaning left and right as the vehicle slides around. The wireless controller and the way its held is much more in line with a steering wheel / handlebar.
@spaceboy - give me another week or so to get more confident with the control pad then we can get some online free-roam action going 8) . A friend of mine is up for it too so we could meet up, pick a distant destination and just ride!
Also do you know of anywhere on the net with pictures of all the vehicles? Be nice to see what is still to come.
yes I liked the psychotic fox as well. I also loved the spider wraith buggy - that was my favorite buggy. I used the motorbikes mostly in free roam. There is a maverick bike that's great - can't recall the name. FYI the best climber is the Knightmare.
I don't know of a link with all vehicles though.
Looking forward to some free roaming with you. I was thinking of trying to get some of the mates I used to roam with for an "anniversary run" FUEL (came out last May/June). It'd be great to get a decent crowd going.
A bit late for a third anniversary commemorative run, but I'd be up for one if anyone else is - anyone on the PS3 that is.
Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but there are PC mods which allow tornados in free roam and additional races. I'll have to dig up the link if anyone is interested.
not too late :-D
FUEL was great except for the rock solid environment. Basically a blade of grass could stop a tank like a windscreen stops a fly. :D
Yeah :) those still make me nervous even in other games after driving so far in Fuel (over 12,500 Km.) DI had concrete sandcastles and really well made beach furniture too.
Spaceboy is up for a run on the weekend of the 30th/1st, so this will need to be a PS3 jaunt if anyone is able.