Ekona

Just for GMB, I'm playing the Ghost Recon Wildlands open beta this weekend. On PC, with M&K, 980 gfx card. So far? It's okay. I'm playing solo because I hate the general public, and the AI seems to be vaguely okay. On a par with R6V1 at least, which is good. There doesn't seem to be any way to point your guys to where you really want them to be, but maybe that's not what this game is about. I'm playing on Arcade (the easiest level), and it seems to be well balanced. Map is a nice size for a beta, and the amount of stuff to do is plentiful after 90mins. Downers? Gfx are poor, to say the least. I'm playing on High, with half my gfx card memory taken by presets. I mean, everything works, but the draw distance is terrible (even on the opening cinematics) and the lighting and shading are from 2007. The movement of your character is suspiciously preset, there's little choice when to hide and when to peek out other than the default stand/crouch/prone option. Don't even get me started on the vehicle control: Let's just say that Outrun in 1987 was better! There appears to be a limited variation in missions too, but I'm only a little way in so probably unfair to judge on that alone. Controlling the character is ok, it's what you'd expect but no more and no less. No zoom on the sniper rifle is unforgivable though. The sound is solid, nothing has jumped out at me for the worse which is a good thing. Voice acting seems spot-on, no complaints there. I'm disappointed in map variation, but then it's only a beta so only a small map open so far: Hopefully there's different stuff to see in the full game. Am I enjoying it? Tbh, for the first 15 mins I really, really was. I felt engaged, I felt I had control, I felt progression was worth exploring. By the end though I quickly realised that I was getting bored of go here, interrogate man, pick up skill box, search for fuel containers etc. Same old, nothing changes. A random military faction popped up which gave a brief bit of excitement, but otherwise it started to feel like Tom Clancy by the numbers. I counted the R6V games as some of my favourite experiences of the previous gen, and I'm not averse to an open world military shooter at all. This kinda wants to be a lot of things, but it's ended up being a lot of exactly what you'd expect with nothing to draw you in and make you want to progress. Once you've done the story I'm unsure what's going to keep you playing at all, regardless of solo or co-op. It's free all weekend so give it a go on your platform of choice, you may really enjoy it, but pay actual money for it? Sorry, but it feels like a F2P game rather than the AAA experience Ubisoft would have you believe it is.

I'd say the GT guys were too comfortable, and leaning on old gags that really aren't funny unless you're American. As far as TG goes, I reckon Rory is going to start stealing the show. I just hope they don't make Harris into the Clarkson angry-at-everything character, like they tried to do in the last series.

Exhaust tests are 4875rpm at 0.5m, so will give massively different results.

You'll get a load of people now tell you what dB they tested at. Truth it, it's all nonsense as most results will vary day to day and TDO to TDO. It shouldn't, but it does. Get yourself across to Snet when MSV are running a day, they'll test you static for free and then you'll have a rough baseline. Most people now fall foul of driveby noise though, which is impossible to guess: I've seen a Viper be borderline static but clear driveby, and a quiet R32 smash the driveby on the same day at Bedford! That said, if the ART pipes are test pipes then it's likely you'll fail. Most decats are too loud. Also, given the NIMBY attitude towards motor racing these days, we have a responsibility to make our cars as quiet as possible to not give them any more ammo IMHO.

Gonna be ace. Shackles off, new start, more Monkey!

Purple VX would look mint with the black VXR highlights Please don't be a flip wrap...

Purple!

Shouldn't foam really, that just indicates unnecessary air or a poor mix of detergent I'd say. Hard to tell from a static pic how bad yours are, however I would also try unblocking the nozzles (just in case), adjusting the angle of them, and then you can always pop the hose off and test into a bucket to make sure the pump is working properly.

Happy birthday Hugh, hope you're having a good one my friend

Ooh that's an interesting link, ta.

Just MTFU and drive in ya wuss :p

Isn't it good to know we both like ugly cars!

Hate to break it to you mate, but the VX isn't a good looking car at all, certainly not compared with the Elise. Designed with a set square.

I know the company knows who he is, but the other guy who is going on holiday might not have a clue who he is!

So you'd be happy with HR telling a stranger when you're going to be away on holiday? Don't think I would be!

You're forgetting the VXR220 Lego brick as well! I buy awesome cars, not pretty ones. Others can pose, I'll be perfectly content driving the right car for me

That's how I usually buy my cars

14mpg? Sounds like you're driving it properly

I paid for a full OPC inspection (111pt check) of my 911 before I sold it. Also included a service too, but then I also priced both of these into the asking price so I didn't lose out Thing is, 95% of buyers don't know or don't care: They just want a cheap Porsche. There's no point spending money out on the car if you just want to get shot of it, and then what happens if you do find out there's an issue? You either have to disclose it in the ad and reduce the price, or hope that someone comes along and doesn't ask the right questions or want their own inspection.

I'm so glad someone picked up on that: I set 'em up, I'll let someone else knock 'em down!

Like my video of me in the MR2 and the 360CS at Anglesey a few years back. Trouble is there's rudeness on both sides: Those in 'slow' cars who are good drivers who will bully the less confident out of the way, and those in 'fast' cars who will leave you for dead on the straights then park on the apex in a corner. I've not really found any particular marque worse for it than others, although the one that does spring to mind was an R35 and a Evo8 a few years back that decided to treat the day as a race and thought nothing of coming up your inside just as you were about to turn in. Clearly capable drivers in capable machines, but utter bellends. I was half tempted to turn in regardless, as I'm pretty sure my MX5 was worth less than their JDM uber-cars

Hitler cat!

100% I'd go for a set of the MP4S mate, in 19"s you really can't do any better right now

^^^This. Just get her a cushion to sit on.

You get a hardtop for the back and pop the dog in there. Sorted.