FUEL playable in 3D? Yes and No
I always was a fan of racing games offering free ride or waypoint races (Xpand Rally Xtreme, World Racing, both good for 3D). So I was looking forward to FUEL and bought it.
My first impression, using the usual settings (depth amount 50%): a disaster! Lots of incorrect 3D placement, unplayable in 3D (see picture1)
Then I tried the settings I use for PURE to reduce the ghosting effects of the horizon and sky: depth at minimum (5%), extreme convergence so that the area pops out of the screen and offers a good 3D impression. With these settings you hardly can focus on the vehicle but in a racing game you usually don't look at your vehicle itself but at the area in front of it. So that's no problem. This stereoscopic view also is quite extreme so not everybody will get used to it….
Using these settings in FUEL resulted in correct placement of almost all of the elements of the landscape - even sky and shadows that often cause problems in other games (see picture2). Only some water surfaces are not perfect but do not irritate. But: using these settings the HUD with speed indicator, position and minimap simply disappears. Even the menu is only visible if you turn off the 3D function. Fortunately the 3D navigation system and light beams indicating the waypoints are placed correctly (see picture3; besides: the bikes are just jumping - no incorrect 3d placement ;) )
My conclusion:
If you are able to get used to the extreme convergence settings you will get a good 3D impression of a huge varied area (see screenshots in reviews).
So free ride in 3D is a great fun if you simply want to explore the landscape. Using the 3D navigation system you won't miss the minimap for this purpose.
If you want to race the lack of the HUD might become a problem. So you have to reduce the convergence to be able to see the HUD again. The result is a flat 3D effect (see picture4). But in most of the (low level) races I've played offline against the ai I didn't miss the HUD at all (see picture5). The waypoints are quite dense so there are not many alternative routes to the one the 3D navigation provides and that is followed by the ai. This may change in races of a higher level and especially if you want to race online against human competitors...

And there is a demo of this game available, so give it a try!
I always was a fan of racing games offering free ride or waypoint races (Xpand Rally Xtreme, World Racing, both good for 3D). So I was looking forward to FUEL and bought it.

My first impression, using the usual settings (depth amount 50%): a disaster! Lots of incorrect 3D placement, unplayable in 3D (see picture1)

Then I tried the settings I use for PURE to reduce the ghosting effects of the horizon and sky: depth at minimum (5%), extreme convergence so that the area pops out of the screen and offers a good 3D impression. With these settings you hardly can focus on the vehicle but in a racing game you usually don't look at your vehicle itself but at the area in front of it. So that's no problem. This stereoscopic view also is quite extreme so not everybody will get used to it….

Using these settings in FUEL resulted in correct placement of almost all of the elements of the landscape - even sky and shadows that often cause problems in other games (see picture2). Only some water surfaces are not perfect but do not irritate. But: using these settings the HUD with speed indicator, position and minimap simply disappears. Even the menu is only visible if you turn off the 3D function. Fortunately the 3D navigation system and light beams indicating the waypoints are placed correctly (see picture3; besides: the bikes are just jumping - no incorrect 3d placement ;) )

My conclusion:

If you are able to get used to the extreme convergence settings you will get a good 3D impression of a huge varied area (see screenshots in reviews).

So free ride in 3D is a great fun if you simply want to explore the landscape. Using the 3D navigation system you won't miss the minimap for this purpose.

If you want to race the lack of the HUD might become a problem. So you have to reduce the convergence to be able to see the HUD again. The result is a flat 3D effect (see picture4). But in most of the (low level) races I've played offline against the ai I didn't miss the HUD at all (see picture5). The waypoints are quite dense so there are not many alternative routes to the one the 3D navigation provides and that is followed by the ai. This may change in races of a higher level and especially if you want to race online against human competitors...



And there is a demo of this game available, so give it a try!

My original display name is 3d4dd - for some reason Nvidia changed it..?!

#1
Posted 07/13/2009 08:05 AM   
[quote name='3d4dd' post='564676' date='Jul 13 2009, 02:05 AM']I always was a fan of racing games offering free ride or waypoint races (Xpand Rally Xtreme, World Racing, both good for 3D). So I was looking forward to FUEL and bought it.
My first impression, using the usual settings (depth amount 50%): a disaster! Lots of incorrect 3D placement, unplayable in 3D (see picture1)
Then I tried the settings I use for PURE to reduce the ghosting effects of the horizon and sky: depth at minimum (5%), extreme convergence so that the area pops out of the screen and offers a good 3D impression. With these settings you hardly can focus on the vehicle but in a racing game you usually don't look at your vehicle itself but at the area in front of it. So that's no problem. This stereoscopic view also is quite extreme so not everybody will get used to it….
Using these settings in FUEL resulted in correct placement of almost all of the elements of the landscape - even sky and shadows that often cause problems in other games (see picture2). Only some water surfaces are not perfect but do not irritate. But: using these settings the HUD with speed indicator, position and minimap simply disappears. Even the menu is only visible if you turn off the 3D function. Fortunately the 3D navigation system and light beams indicating the waypoints are placed correctly (see picture3; besides: the bikes are just jumping - no incorrect 3d placement ;) )
My conclusion:
If you are able to get used to the extreme convergence settings you will get a good 3D impression of a huge varied area (see screenshots in reviews).
So free ride in 3D is a great fun if you simply want to explore the landscape. Using the 3D navigation system you won't miss the minimap for this purpose.
If you want to race the lack of the HUD might become a problem. So you have to reduce the convergence to be able to see the HUD again. The result is a flat 3D effect (see picture4). But in most of the (low level) races I've played offline against the ai I didn't miss the HUD at all (see picture5). The waypoints are quite dense so there are not many alternative routes to the one the 3D navigation provides and that is followed by the ai. This may change in races of a higher level and especially if you want to race online against human competitors...

And there is a demo of this game available, so give it a try![/quote]


Oh nV, when will you start working with more devs? :'( The more games that look great in 3d, the more 3d vision kits you will sell. Every single TWIMTBP should be 3d vision perfect. /yes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':yes:' />

I understand that these things take time, but I truly hope that nV is behind this as the next big thing 100%.
[quote name='3d4dd' post='564676' date='Jul 13 2009, 02:05 AM']I always was a fan of racing games offering free ride or waypoint races (Xpand Rally Xtreme, World Racing, both good for 3D). So I was looking forward to FUEL and bought it.

My first impression, using the usual settings (depth amount 50%): a disaster! Lots of incorrect 3D placement, unplayable in 3D (see picture1)

Then I tried the settings I use for PURE to reduce the ghosting effects of the horizon and sky: depth at minimum (5%), extreme convergence so that the area pops out of the screen and offers a good 3D impression. With these settings you hardly can focus on the vehicle but in a racing game you usually don't look at your vehicle itself but at the area in front of it. So that's no problem. This stereoscopic view also is quite extreme so not everybody will get used to it….

Using these settings in FUEL resulted in correct placement of almost all of the elements of the landscape - even sky and shadows that often cause problems in other games (see picture2). Only some water surfaces are not perfect but do not irritate. But: using these settings the HUD with speed indicator, position and minimap simply disappears. Even the menu is only visible if you turn off the 3D function. Fortunately the 3D navigation system and light beams indicating the waypoints are placed correctly (see picture3; besides: the bikes are just jumping - no incorrect 3d placement ;) )

My conclusion:

If you are able to get used to the extreme convergence settings you will get a good 3D impression of a huge varied area (see screenshots in reviews).

So free ride in 3D is a great fun if you simply want to explore the landscape. Using the 3D navigation system you won't miss the minimap for this purpose.

If you want to race the lack of the HUD might become a problem. So you have to reduce the convergence to be able to see the HUD again. The result is a flat 3D effect (see picture4). But in most of the (low level) races I've played offline against the ai I didn't miss the HUD at all (see picture5). The waypoints are quite dense so there are not many alternative routes to the one the 3D navigation provides and that is followed by the ai. This may change in races of a higher level and especially if you want to race online against human competitors...



And there is a demo of this game available, so give it a try!





Oh nV, when will you start working with more devs? :'( The more games that look great in 3d, the more 3d vision kits you will sell. Every single TWIMTBP should be 3d vision perfect. /yes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':yes:' />



I understand that these things take time, but I truly hope that nV is behind this as the next big thing 100%.

The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.

--Robert A. Heinlein

#2
Posted 07/13/2009 07:07 PM   
[quote name='pahncrd' post='564883' date='Jul 13 2009, 02:07 PM']Oh nV, when will you start working with more devs? :'( The more games that look great in 3d, the more 3d vision kits you will sell. Every single TWIMTBP should be 3d vision perfect. /yes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':yes:' />

I understand that these things take time, but I truly hope that nV is behind this as the next big thing 100%.[/quote]

Check out Resident Evil 5, and you will see what is possible when the developer works with us!

We do have a profile in the works for FUEL. I tested it yesterday and works pretty well.
[quote name='pahncrd' post='564883' date='Jul 13 2009, 02:07 PM']Oh nV, when will you start working with more devs? :'( The more games that look great in 3d, the more 3d vision kits you will sell. Every single TWIMTBP should be 3d vision perfect. /yes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':yes:' />



I understand that these things take time, but I truly hope that nV is behind this as the next big thing 100%.



Check out Resident Evil 5, and you will see what is possible when the developer works with us!



We do have a profile in the works for FUEL. I tested it yesterday and works pretty well.

#3
Posted 07/16/2009 07:51 PM   
[quote name='andrewf@nvidia' post='566239' date='Jul 16 2009, 01:51 PM']Check out Resident Evil 5, and you will see what is possible when the developer works with us!

We do have a profile in the works for FUEL. I tested it yesterday and works pretty well.[/quote]

I have seen the RE5 benchmark and it is glorious for sure. Hopefully it gets a lot of attention and devs start knocking on your door wanting to collaborate.

That is good news about the fuel profile. Always improving, this was the best gaming investment I have made in years.
[quote name='andrewf@nvidia' post='566239' date='Jul 16 2009, 01:51 PM']Check out Resident Evil 5, and you will see what is possible when the developer works with us!



We do have a profile in the works for FUEL. I tested it yesterday and works pretty well.



I have seen the RE5 benchmark and it is glorious for sure. Hopefully it gets a lot of attention and devs start knocking on your door wanting to collaborate.



That is good news about the fuel profile. Always improving, this was the best gaming investment I have made in years.

The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.

--Robert A. Heinlein

#4
Posted 07/17/2009 12:06 AM   
A good 3D immersion effect might help FUEL a lot, because I personally didn't like the game much... it is quite boring and I do hate it when I need to get going trough the same areas over and over to collect some points to continue forward... ;)

Anyway it is true that by default the game doesn't provide good 3D experience and even after playing a bit with depth and convergence the results arent that good, so a good profile is a must.
A good 3D immersion effect might help FUEL a lot, because I personally didn't like the game much... it is quite boring and I do hate it when I need to get going trough the same areas over and over to collect some points to continue forward... ;)



Anyway it is true that by default the game doesn't provide good 3D experience and even after playing a bit with depth and convergence the results arent that good, so a good profile is a must.

My 3D Vision Blog - 3dvision-blog.com

#5
Posted 07/17/2009 09:01 PM   
[quote]Check out Resident Evil 5, and you will see what is possible when the developer works with us![/quote]
If collaboration with developers means that is not possible to adjust the convergence (see the posts [url="http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=102133&st=20#entry566573)"]http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtop...20#entry566573)[/url] then the result is quite frustrating. Only the possibility to adjust the convergence made FUEL playable for me.
Check out Resident Evil 5, and you will see what is possible when the developer works with us!


If collaboration with developers means that is not possible to adjust the convergence (see the posts http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtop...20#entry566573) then the result is quite frustrating. Only the possibility to adjust the convergence made FUEL playable for me.

My original display name is 3d4dd - for some reason Nvidia changed it..?!

#6
Posted 07/18/2009 09:30 AM   
[quote name='3d4dd' post='566780' date='Jul 18 2009, 03:30 AM']If collaboration with developers means that is not possible to adjust the convergence (see the posts [url="http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=102133&st=20#entry566573)"]http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtop...20#entry566573)[/url] then the result is quite frustrating. Only the possibility to adjust the convergence made FUEL playable for me.[/quote]


That is definitely not cool Andrew. Please never take the control out of our hands. /no.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':no:' />
[quote name='3d4dd' post='566780' date='Jul 18 2009, 03:30 AM']If collaboration with developers means that is not possible to adjust the convergence (see the posts http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtop...20#entry566573) then the result is quite frustrating. Only the possibility to adjust the convergence made FUEL playable for me.





That is definitely not cool Andrew. Please never take the control out of our hands. /no.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':no:' />

The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.

--Robert A. Heinlein

#7
Posted 07/18/2009 02:05 PM   
As I like Test Drive Unlimited 2 a lot (as mentioned above I'm a fan of open world racing games) this game inspired me to replay FUEL.
By this way I finally discovered that there is a profile for that game that fixes a lot of the problems I mentioned in my first post /biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':biggrin:' />
Now it is possible to set depth to max without problems. The only problem are the navigation arrows in 2D but I soon got used to it. The Minimap now works correctly. The landscape looks great and there are only some effects (exhaust fumes, rear lights) that are at wrong depth and some rare bloom effects that are a little bit disturbing. But to me the profile makes FUEL to one of the best looking racing games (without the usual shadow problems!). As this game is quite cheap now You might give it a try..
You can also remove the motion blur effects:
http://fuel.wikia.com/wiki/Disable_Motion_Blur
Enabling the debug mode makes it a lot easier to explore the huge world of FUEL (unlock all zones and free teleporting):
http://www.moddb.com/games/fuel/downloads/debug-mode-enabler

Update:
By this mod You can also deactivate the bloom effects:
http://www.moddb.com/mods/fuel-refueled
As I like Test Drive Unlimited 2 a lot (as mentioned above I'm a fan of open world racing games) this game inspired me to replay FUEL.

By this way I finally discovered that there is a profile for that game that fixes a lot of the problems I mentioned in my first post /biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':biggrin:' />

Now it is possible to set depth to max without problems. The only problem are the navigation arrows in 2D but I soon got used to it. The Minimap now works correctly. The landscape looks great and there are only some effects (exhaust fumes, rear lights) that are at wrong depth and some rare bloom effects that are a little bit disturbing. But to me the profile makes FUEL to one of the best looking racing games (without the usual shadow problems!). As this game is quite cheap now You might give it a try..

You can also remove the motion blur effects:

http://fuel.wikia.com/wiki/Disable_Motion_Blur

Enabling the debug mode makes it a lot easier to explore the huge world of FUEL (unlock all zones and free teleporting):

http://www.moddb.com/games/fuel/downloads/debug-mode-enabler



Update:

By this mod You can also deactivate the bloom effects:

http://www.moddb.com/mods/fuel-refueled

My original display name is 3d4dd - for some reason Nvidia changed it..?!

#8
Posted 03/13/2011 10:17 AM   
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