What racing sims have really large cties to just explore?

One of my favorite racing games is Midtown Madness 2 because it has
two large cities that I can just explore in cruise mode.

I have not been keeping up with the latest in racing simulators/games
because my old computer wasn't up to the task. But now that I have a
new computer I would like to buy another racing game or two. And the
main thing I'd want is really large tracks/cities that I can just
explore without racing. I'd also want to be able to drive anywhere
without invisible boundaries blocking my way. Racing, such as circuit
and checkpoint races, is fun too, but I don't want it to be a
necessity to drive.

Any suggestions? The bigger and more detailed the cities are the
better.

> the main thing I'd want is really large tracks/cities that I can just
> explore without racing. I'd also want to be able to drive anywhere
> without invisible boundaries blocking my way.

If you're willing to accept the depression-era setting, fictional
(although based on real-life) depression-era cars, and a fictional city,
"Mafia" might be one to check out. The main game (which is very, very
good, BTW) is a hybrid of first-person shooter + mission-oriented
driving, but there's also a free-driving mode where you can tool around
town as you please in period vehicles.

The city is quite extensive, with different neighborhoods, bridges,
stoplights, traffic, pedestrians, etc. -- plus you can drive a little
ways out of town into the surrounding hills, as well.

The physics modeling, while not exactly hardcore sim, is certainly not
horrible, and for my money, it's at least on par with MTM.

- Doug

> main thing I'd want is really large tracks/cities that I can just
> explore without racing.

World Racing 1 and 2 have complete 3d terrains, that allow you to
drive anywhere, not just on the roads, but world racing 1 is hard to
find these days.

Need For Speed: Underground 2 has large city areas that you can
roam around in. Need For Speed:Most Wanted also has large city areas,
but if you're roaming, you're bound to pick up cops that will chase you.

Some videos:

World Racing 1:

http://jeffareid.net/wr1/wr1nv5.wmv

http://jeffareid.net/wr1/wr1c14.wmv


World Racing 2:

http://jeffareid.net/wr2/wr2it3.wmv

Actual off road "course" in World Racing 2:

http://jeffareid.net/wr2/wr2gl.wmv

A track in NFS:Underground 2:

http://jeffareid.net/nfs8/n8ob.wmv

Outruns in NFS:Underground 2:

http://jeffareid.net/nfs8/n8or.wmv

A pursuit in NFS:Most Wanted:

http://jeffareid.net/nfs9/n9fprw.wmv

GTA Vice City or GTA San Andreas come to mind.

"Gil" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> GTA Vice City or GTA San Andreas come to mind.

Those don't count as "racing" games Gil.

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:44:37 -0700, "Jeff Reid"
> wrote:

>World Racing 1 and 2 have complete 3d terrains, that allow you to
>drive anywhere, not just on the roads, but world racing 1 is hard to
>find these days.
>
>Need For Speed: Underground 2 has large city areas that you can
>roam around in. Need For Speed:Most Wanted also has large city areas,
>but if you're roaming, you're bound to pick up cops that will chase you.

Thanks. Yes, NFS Underground is a game I was already considering. I
will take a look at the other NFS gane and World Racing too. I'll
check eBay if I can't find any of them new.

I have bookmarked the videos, but may have to wait until I get FIOS
before downloading some of the largest ones. Still on dial-up right
now.

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 19:24:05 GMT, Doug Olsen
> wrote:

>If you're willing to accept the depression-era setting, fictional
>(although based on real-life) depression-era cars, and a fictional city,
>"Mafia" might be one to check out. The main game (which is very, very
>good, BTW) is a hybrid of first-person shooter + mission-oriented
>driving, but there's also a free-driving mode where you can tool around
>town as you please in period vehicles.
>
>The city is quite extensive, with different neighborhoods, bridges,
>stoplights, traffic, pedestrians, etc. -- plus you can drive a little
>ways out of town into the surrounding hills, as well.

Sounds like fun. I will check it out. A good storyline can be fun. But
often I just want to drive and explore, which is something I can't do
for real because of my eyesight.

That is why the GTA games are so great. You can just drive and explore
3 huge virtual cities. Lots of stuff going on in them, too.

"Gil" > wrote in news:1151168286.740054.22020
@y41g2000cwy.googlegroups.com:

>
> That is why the GTA games are so great. You can just drive and explore
> 3 huge virtual cities. Lots of stuff going on in them, too.
>

Supposedly you can even take a 4x4 pickup into the surrounding hills and
find Bigfoot.

dh

On 24 Jun 2006 09:58:06 -0700, "Gil" >
wrote:

>That is why the GTA games are so great. You can just drive and explore
>3 huge virtual cities. Lots of stuff going on in them, too.

Thanks. I'll be sure to add the GTA games to my list, even if the
comment about bigfoot is not true.