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Nadeo announced today that the follow up to TrackMania will be available for free download, as of April 16th. Titled TrackMania Nations Forever, this installment looks to be as every bit as fun as the original, and is promising to draw an even larger crowd -- thanks to 65 new tracks of progressive difficulty.
The massive press release after the jump also mentions something about engaging multiplayer modes with "must see" online functions that will ultimately lead to unprecedented interactivity between players. As attractive as that sounds, I was pretty much sold at the video (nice music). If you still find yourself jonesing for more information -- as well as a higher quality version of the above video -- we recommend you check out their offical site. It has all kinds of goodies, and the price is right.
TRACKMANIA NATIONS FOREVER - FREE AND FOR ALL!
Launched two years ago,TrackMania Nations became a true video game phenomenon. The free downloadable racing game attracted an unbelievable number of players around the world who were obsessed with the game's fast cars, spectacular tracks single- and multiplayer play and simple yet powerful tools for creating tracks and race videos. For the past two years, it has been installed more than 30 million times and nearly four million players have created an account to play the game online on the game’s servers.
Its highly awaited sequel, TrackMania Nations Forever, will be available as a free download starting on April 16th. TrackMania Nations Forever will offer a new "Forever" version of the Stadium environment, a solid solo mode and 65 brand new, progressively difficult tracks. TrackMania Nations Forever will unite an even larger number of players thanks to its engaging multiplayer modes, innovative online functions and revolutionary interactivity between players.
For TrackMania Nations Forever, Nadeo studio chose to take advantage of the PC's capacities as a gaming, creative and communications platform in order to allow a greater number of players to share a unique gaming experience:
Florent Castelnerac, Director of Nadeo studio, explains: “The PC is the premiergaming platform when it comes to the number of casual and expert players. To satisfy this wide range of players, we designed the game for everyone instead of trying to focus on the average gamer. We have put a lot of effort in developing the competitive spirit and challenge between players in order to present a game adapted to big e-sports competitions while remaining captivating and accessible to players who have less gaming experience. Even if you play Nations Forever quietly alone, you can still be ranked in the world, your country, your city or even in your list of friends that you can create by inviting friends to join like in Facebook or MySpace.
It is up to each player to set his/her goals - become one of the best players in the world or just impress friends. These ladders are adapted to everyone and they add ten times more interest to solo or multiplayer modes. Always searching for new ways to add interest and unite an even larger number of players, we explored the possibilities the PC offers as a universal communication platform: for example, a system that allows you to challenge your friends by mail or Messenger. Since the game is free, fun and works on most computers, there is a big chance that many people that you know will play it.
Finally, as for creativity, the PC is the only game platform that allows players to easily create additional game content, and the game comes with powerful creative tools like the track editor. We increased creative possibilities even more with richer, more complete editors while making creation more accessible to a larger number of players with a simplified track editor. Tomorrow, we will see exceptional creations from the four corners of the world that players will be able to exchange for free and easily. It's a tremendous motivation for the entire development team.” The coming of TrackMania Nations Forever will also allow the convergence of the large TrackMania community. For the first time, players of the free versions will be able to play online with players from the retail version of TrackMania United on servers dedicated to the Stadium environment that is common to both games. Players of the TrackMania United retail version will also gain a brilliant free extension named "United Forever". In addition to being compatible with Nations Forever, this extension will offer many bonuses - including tracks that have never been seen before, new design blocks for the seven game environments and a spectacular graphics update for the three historic environments (Desert, Snow and Rally).
TrackMania Nations Forever will be available for download starting on April 16th, for free and for all!
TMN was awesome but I don't think my PC will run this one. I couldn't even turn all the effects on in Nation because I have an Ati card and it was sponsored by Nvidia but you can't beat free AND awesome. I'll probably change my PC this year so I'll be able to join the fun later.
"Ho do they have millions of players when it's not out yet, and how are you "sold" on a free game?"
They mean millions have been playing these TM games:
- TM
- TM Sunrise
- TM Nations
- TM United
These games are all quite big in Europe, btw. TM United is available on Steam too, and includes all the content from the three games that came before it.
@KnuxSonic: Cars clip through each other in the original Trackmania also. The tracks are Super Monkey Ball-like in that they can be narrow and you can fall through holes in them. If there were collisions nobody would ever make it to the finish line. Totally not a realistic racing game, but it can be a fun game to play.
1. The current game engine is really forgiving of lower end hardware. You just tune down the settings and go. This version is meant to be just as fleixble from what I've heard.
2. Before anyone asks - No, the game will not have Starforce in it. Starforce is gone, bye bye, at least for this and future TM titles.
3. The cars "clip" through each other because it's more of a "casual racer's game." You're out there to beat times and see how other people race on the tracks. And with tons of people on a track at a time in an online game, you wouldn't want the "first turn pile-up" you see in other racers.So you just pass through each other when racing.
I have Trackmania, TM Sunrise and TM United. I've dropped around £70 on the series so far so a new free one is something I don't even have to think about.
US types, this is a game you have to play to truly get. You also have to experience the sort of community that exists around both the standard racing and track creation.
All that said, I need to get United back in for some practice.
Nadeo should be held up as a shining example of how a company fosters a game community and grows it to become loyal customers. I wish more companies would follow their lead.
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fuckin awesome. kinda reminds me of rush 2049. just a little.
Looks fun. :]
@fetusmilk
My thoughts exactly.
There is no way that my computer will run this. *sigh*
I am deffinatly downloading this.
My computer will totally run this. YAY
Trackmania is great.
And for the people who are worried their systems won't run this, the system requirements are very forgiving.
Ho do they have millions of players when it's not out yet, and how are you "sold" on a free game?
TMN was awesome but I don't think my PC will run this one. I couldn't even turn all the effects on in Nation because I have an Ati card and it was sponsored by Nvidia but you can't beat free AND awesome. I'll probably change my PC this year so I'll be able to join the fun later.
@PrinceofCannedPeaches
I guess you took my enthusiasm for the video and pics to heart. It's free, and looks good.
For those worried about the system requirements, here they are:
Windows 2000/XP/XP-x64/Vista - CPU: Pentium IV 1.6GHz / AthlonXP 1600+ - 256 MB (512 MB with Vista) - video: 16 MB 3D accelerator DirectX 9.0c compatible - HARD DISK: 1.5 GB - Sound Card: 16 bit DirectX compatible - DIRECTX: 9.0c or higher (included in the installation)
Loved it until I saw the cars CLIP RIGHT THOUGH EACH OTHER, WTF?! I guess crashes would suck in this game though.
Also: THROUGH*
Nice!! Can't wait!! I better go back and practice on TMN to get ready.
"Ho do they have millions of players when it's not out yet, and how are you "sold" on a free game?"
They mean millions have been playing these TM games:
- TM
- TM Sunrise
- TM Nations
- TM United
These games are all quite big in Europe, btw. TM United is available on Steam too, and includes all the content from the three games that came before it.
Like the song.
@KnuxSonic: Cars clip through each other in the original Trackmania also. The tracks are Super Monkey Ball-like in that they can be narrow and you can fall through holes in them. If there were collisions nobody would ever make it to the finish line. Totally not a realistic racing game, but it can be a fun game to play.
A couple of quick notes -
1. The current game engine is really forgiving of lower end hardware. You just tune down the settings and go. This version is meant to be just as fleixble from what I've heard.
2. Before anyone asks - No, the game will not have Starforce in it. Starforce is gone, bye bye, at least for this and future TM titles.
3. The cars "clip" through each other because it's more of a "casual racer's game." You're out there to beat times and see how other people race on the tracks. And with tons of people on a track at a time in an online game, you wouldn't want the "first turn pile-up" you see in other racers.So you just pass through each other when racing.
Woah, awesome; I really enjoyed the original free game. Got sucked in for hours at a time.
is this still going to have starforce in it?
TM is an amazing series. This is great news.
OMG, must play
I have Trackmania, TM Sunrise and TM United. I've dropped around £70 on the series so far so a new free one is something I don't even have to think about.
US types, this is a game you have to play to truly get. You also have to experience the sort of community that exists around both the standard racing and track creation.
All that said, I need to get United back in for some practice.
Hot damn. I will want to check this out....
This looks really, really fun. I will definitely check this out.
Nadeo should be held up as a shining example of how a company fosters a game community and grows it to become loyal customers. I wish more companies would follow their lead.
Meh, since it's free, I'll give it a try, but I'm not sure why it doesn't look that exciting to me.
Looks like theyre giving away the stadium enviorment of Trackmania United for free. Nice touch.
Jesus Christ I love the Trackmania games
I hope to god this won't have StarForce. I don't feel like having my computer taking a shit on me.
Great! I love Trackmania Nations!
...Why not directly upgrade the original "nations"?
Anyone else always thinking about "Stunts" when he sees a TM game?
I have never even heard of TrackMania. Is there something wrong with me?
Sadly most haven't, I just got it, awesome game..
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