The collected works of ScottyB

That is the question…

Is it such a crazy thought as to envision moving to Dubai?

Dubai today is flashy, fun and slightly surreal. Renowned for its sand, sun and shopping, it was once a tranquil town of coral-and-gypsum courtyard houses built by Persian traders and palm-frond huts housing Bedouin fisherman and pearl divers. Today shiny new skyscrapers reflect the mosques and wind towers of Old Dubai.

The audacity of the city’s rulers is breathtaking. Running out of coastline to build hotels? Build vast artificial islands with 120km of new beach front. Need better connections with the world? Build up an award-winning international airline in 15 years.

Dubai is the second largest and wealthiest emirate in the UAE. Trade, the basis of its economy, grew on the back of pearling in the late 19th century, when tax concessions and development of the harbour at Dubai Creek encouraged foreign traders to set up a link between the West, and Persia and India. Re-export of gold to India flourished, and the tiny sheikhdom is still one of the world’s main gold-trading centres.

The idea of Dubai fascinates me. That incredible opulence.. The construction industry is booming, almost half Dubai’s population is construction labourers - thanks to huge tourism, retail and housing and office developments. Dramatic projects, such as the offshore Palm islands (three man-made islands, one the size of Manhattan), the Burj Dubai (the world’s tallest tower) and Dubailand (a vast theme park roughly the size of Singapore), indicate no shortage of confidence. The city-state now has over 300 hotels, 30 shopping malls and gets more than 6m foreign visitors a year. Emirates, the national airline owned by the Dubai government, has experienced phenomenal growth in routes and cargo.

All sounds great… So why not? When you could live in a place like this:
… the Ocean Heights tower.

Or maybe this? Lotus, La Residence …

And if something a little on the unusual side tickles your fancy, you could always try The Cube.

Such stunning architecture. So much forward thinking and freedom of design. It must be a truly breathtaking sight seeing all of these structures are they are being constructed, watching the skyline rise and admiring the towers from all angles. Eye candy.

Maybe I’ll try it out first.. just go for a week or so. See how it feels. Maybe stay at the World’s ONLY 7 Star Hotel, the Burj Al Arab.

Then there’s the added benefit of seeing some of the World’s most amazing supercars and luxury sportscars on a day-to-basis. Seeing a Bugatti Veyron on your way to get the paper every morning sounds pretty pleasant to me…

I think I almost have Kate convinced.

Now all I have to do is win Lotto one weekend and I’m well on my way!

Okay, so I’m just a bit late to the bandwagon with this one.

GTR2 was released in September last year if I remember correctly. While I had an overwhelming interest to get my hands of this game the moment it hit the shelves, for some reason it never happened. Maybe it was due to the fact that my PC would never have been able to run it in all its glory. Now I have a new muscle-bound video card, that’s not so much of an issue. Maybe it was because the original GTR game was very difficult (rather damn near impossible) to control - and be competitive - with the keyboard controls. No longer such an issue with GTR2. Maybe it was because I had slipped back into the whole Gran Turismo 4 scene, renewed by a bunch of new challenges Dean and myself started running at the time.

Whatever it was that prevented, or rather, delayed my foray into this game - this afternoon, the drought ended.

Finally a PC-based racing simulator title with all the hallmarks of Polyphony’s polished GT works.

First step was turning the graphics way up. Ticking all the boxes I’ve not been able to before. High-res textures, additional detail settings, advanced lighting, max draw distance…

Naturally, I had to pick the Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT to start with. In raw carbon-fibre livery. Half-an-hour later and a race weekend behind me (and to be quite honest, not a bad maiden race for me, finished 4th without any settings tweaks), I simply had to check out what else was on offer.

They are all there.

The bulk of the game is the FIA GT series, featuring officially licensed circuits, vehicles and drivers. In all there are over 35 track layouts and 40 different car models, many of which have spec variations, bumping the tally to 140. Most of which were familiar from press pictures I’d seen in the ‘03 and ‘04 seasons.. all very genuine and true to the liveries they simulated. Extremely impressive detailing when the ‘high-res car textures’ and ‘high-res cockpit’ features are turned on. Mouth-watering, stunning graphics.

An especially noteworthy gameplay feature in GTR 2 is the Driving School. Most racing sims (the original GTR included) have complex control schemes that turn all but the most fanatic fans away. Driving School curbs that with a beginner-friendly tutorial. The lessons range from acceleration to cornering tactics, braking, and how to overtake other cars. Normally these are basic tasks in an arcade racer, but sim racing is more intricate. Even driving pros can learn a thing or two. Each lesson was co-designed by racing professionals, so you’re getting the real-deal with GTR 2. Completing the classes also unlocks new content in the game. A nice bonus for your hard day at school.

I’m yet to experience it, as I haven’t played around with all the options yet (and I don’t think I’m good enough for it yet.. :P), but GTR2 also features a dramatic graphical touch that can significantly alter gameplay; Weather effects. One moment you’ll be driving along happily enjoying the scenery, and the next clouds roll into the background. Minutes later it starts to rain, darkening the sky and impairing your vision. Rain makes the roads slippery and forces you to compensate with careful driving.

In another amazing feat of realism, GTR 2 features tracks that gradually dry. Hitting wet pavement might send you skidding, but a drier patch of ground is a whole different story. You have to watch the track after the rain and adjust your tactics accordingly.

Although you’ll spend most of your time carefully piloting your car, it’s always fun to cut the wheel and see a crash or two. GTR 2 makes it even more entertaining with a detailed damage model. Pieces of your car go flying, dents and crumpled metal appear, and you might see a wheel or two bouncing on the pavement.

But don’t go smashing into every object you see. The damage model includes the effects of a wreck on your car and alters your suspension, pitch, drive train and aerodynamics to hamper your vehicle. Control varies depending on the damage, slowing your car and making it difficult to drive. Not only does this force you to enter the pit for repairs, it encourages you to train as a better driver in the first place.

The greatest improvement to the control is the new tire modeling. GTR 2 accurately replicates the contact values and slip angle of real tires, making driving in the game much more intuitive and even a little bit easier. Your car feels like it sticks to the pavement, and driving over different terrains immediately alters the feel. It’s still easy to spin out, especially at high speeds, so don’t think for a moment GTR 2 has been watered down.

Me leading the race!

GTR 2 is everything its predecessor was and a lot more. The graphics are stunning, the damage models are better, and the physics are more realistic. The inclusion of the Driving School smooths the learning curve, perfect for anyone ready to feel the heart-pounding sensation of controlling a real race car. Everything about GTR 2 is a breathtaking experience. It’s by far the most stunningly realistic racing sim ever created.

Source: Link
Gamespot Review