In the early-mid-2000s, NASCAR Heat was quite popular with the dirt oval racing fans, but then in 2007-2008, most Dirt Heat drivers either moved forward to rFactor or moved back to DTR2? Anyone know why that is? Not to insult DTR2, I enjoy it a lot and it is very exciting, but NASCAR Heat has several advanteges to DTR2 which are great to the dirt fan and make me wonder why NASCAR Heat dirt racing is dead, except my RSR mods.
Field Size
DTR2: 16 offline, 10 online.
NASCAR Heat: 43 online and offline
Winner: Most real life Dirt Racing feature events have 18-26 cars. So I'm gonna say NASCAR Heat.
Graphics:
DTR2: Can only modify existing Ratbag models, can't add or remove any polygons/vertices from them. Can add Alpha. But the right rear sprint car tire is the biggest. You can't do that in Heat.
NASCAR Heat: Can import/add/remove any model, as long as it's not too high-poly
Winner: NASCAR Heat. Just look at what I did to my IMCA Stock Cars for Heat. Past the limits of DTR2.
Offline Racing:
DTR2: If you don't want to make a seperate install and take most chassis out of the Late Model class and into their own division, the only offline racing is done in career mode, and you can't race quick race, unless you want Late Models vs Modifieds vs Sprint Cars vs Non Wing Sprint Cars vs Everything Else. However, the career mode has the dirt race format (Heats, Mains), so that's a plus.
NASCAR Heat: Divisions are seperated by mods and carsets, so you don't have to race in one big crossover. However, the AI doesn't powerslide much, unless you want them to spin out when you bump them sometimes, and all races use the NASCAR format (qualify, race, caution laps count as race laps)
Winner: Tie. They both have their upsides and downsides.
Physics Realism
DTR2: Arcadey, not that realistic, but fast paced.
NASCAR Heat: Quite realistic, semi-arcade-like. And, a big plus for Dirt Race drivers: you can make the suspension in Dirt Late Models and Modifieds raise up, like they do in rel life and unlike DTR2.
Winner: For realism, I'd have to say Heat. Especially because the whole 3-wheelin thing.
Overall WInner: You choose, but I would say NASCAR Heat. Even though I'm a dirt fan, Heat's shortcomings aren't enough to keep me in DTR2 only.
So you can go to
www.heatfinder.net to download NASCAR Heat, and
rsrdirtsim.webs.com to download my NASCAR Heat Dirt Mods and try them out, and maybe tell me what you think, how they compare to DTR2.
I'm not trying to bash DTR2, but I'm just wondering, why don't most dirt sim fans think like me. NASCAR Heat is the perfect middle ground from DTR2 and rFactor, and everyone here should give it a shot. You'll like it!
