Trackmania Nations - a completely free "track" racing game!

[tarquel]

Hi all

Thought it was about time to mention this fine fine game [for those that dont know about it]. I've tried to give as much details as i can btw in the form of a mini review / guide for you good people

http://www.trackmanianations.com/indexUk.php

The client download is about 250MB in size - and then there is a seperate update of about 18MB in size which u can get by clicking the update ->HERE<-

The update is needed for Vista users and those who want to play online [online is the best bit btw ].

Vista users also need to install a little program due to the copy protection of the program ["Why is it copy protected when its free you ask?"... because there are other versions of the game that you can buy, and because they use the same format, i guess its a way to prevent hackers etc..., along with cheaters too i guess.] There is mention of the program as bein spyware infested, but ive never noticed anything malicious when playing or using it, so I doubt its cause for concern somehow.

When going online, it will ask u to login. The details you input will create an account if the username doesnt already exist in the first place.

There is no option to send yourself a reminder of the password [as u dont need a email address to create a password] - there is a way to retrieve it from the local machine but it has to be saved in the first place etc.... [for another time I think hehe]

I've got a gameserver running entitled:

Decade Of Decadence

[Its a long running joke with a old school mate - in hopes that while he's travelling the globe, he may pop online on TMN and notice it ]

It has a track editor too, so you can make your own wild tracks too, along with a skin editor for your car.

Have fun and see you all online

Nath.

[mark]

Seems i'm following your posts around Nath! Oops! :P

Apparently older incarnations lost favour seriously by incorporating some low level copy protection, and the series was badly damaged. I hear that the company sorted that and people are starting to come back. Big in Scandinavia apparently!

[Norphy]

The original versions which were published by the now defunct Digital Jesters used the Starforce protection program which was horrible. Now that the commercial game is published by Focus, I think it uses SecuROM which isn't as bad.

However the free version doesn't have any kind of copy protection

[mark]

Thanks for clearing that up Norphy!

[Scotmk]

Great game, been playing it for ages.

[tarquel]

However the free version doesn't have any kind of copy protection

incorrect I'm afraid... just try it on vista and ye shall see

Nath.

[wickit]

great tip, been playing this for a few days now
got the KTSA clan boys playing it too.

much fun for nothing, just what the IT doctor ordered....!!

[tarquel]

indeed...

[server name updated in original post]