Talking drift with the producer of The Fast And The Furious 3
It's all about losing your grip, apparently
Ever keen to keep up with the latest fads, Pocket Gamer was excited to get the lowdown on the upcoming The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift tie-in from I-play, courtesy of Martin Lynagh.
Martin Lynagh is the producer in charge of the game's development, and he was a veritable encyclopaedia of knowledge, handling our questions like they were but a gentle right-hander to power-slide around.
Pocket Gamer: What is drift racing? Martin Lynagh: Drifting is a high-skill level motorsport in which drivers control a car while it slides from side to side at high speed (between 80 to 100mph) through a fixed course. It's similar to rally racing on ice, but it's done on a tarmac and judged on speed, angle of attack, execution and style rather than just who finishes the fastest.
Drift cars are typically compact to mid-sized, rear-wheel-drive sport cars. The goal is to apply enough power to the rear wheels to break the tires' traction and initiate a slide while accelerating the vehicle forward, or 'drift'. Once a drift is initiated, it must be maintained through the turn using the throttle, a tap of braking and precise counter steering.
It sounds mildly terrifying or even illegal. But while we still have our driving license, how do we get the car to drift in the game? Accelerate around a corner and you'll notice that smoke and tire marks appear – these indicate that you've started to drift. You'll then need to steer into the drift to regain control and allow the car to slide around the corner.
Where is the game set? The game takes place in different areas of Tokyo, Japan. The districts include Harajuku, which is Tokyo's teenager town – a shopping and entertainment district for the young and trendy – Shibuya, largely a commercial and entertainment district, and the North Docks set to the North of Tokyo. You'll also be visiting the Tsukiji Fish Market, one of the world's largest fish markets, Shibaura Wharf in the industrial area of Tokyo and the grassy Dragon Mountains.
How many different modes are there? Ah-ha! The answer to this depends on your handset. All devices contain the Quick Race and Story modes, whilst high-end handsets boast an additional Solo Run mode.
The Quick Race mode consists simply of racing against three opponents for instant gratification and there are no lasting consequences. The Story mode, meanwhile, guides you through a series of events that must be completed before you can move on. A text-based story aids this progression. Solo Runs enable you to choose from three further events: Survival, Eliminator and Time Trial.
How many tracks are there? Low-end handsets have four different tracks, while high-end devices have seven different tracks.
What is the objective of the game? If you follow the Story mode then the objective is to beat the Drift Master in each area to ultimately become the Drift King! However, as there are a variety of different game modes to choose from, there are many ways to play the game.
Erm, the Drift King? The Drift King (aka the 'DK') is the best Drift Racer in Tokyo. It's the ultimate goal of any racer to become the Drift King.
How many cars are there? You have just the one car throughout the whole game, but you can buy upgrades for it. You can switch between any previously bought parts at any time.
What other modifications do these make to your car? They can increase your acceleration, top speed, and the quality of brakes and tyres. You can also purchase NOS (Nitrous Oxide).
On high-end devices you'll also be able to modify the look of your car by purchasing paint jobs, spoilers, air-scoops, decals and wheels.
Can we play as a character from the film? Afraid not – you play as an anonymous racer trying to prove yourself to the drift racing community.
Finally, what is 'Respect' and how do we earn it? Goodness knows we don't get any around here... Respect is gained by performing amazing drifts to the crowd. The more respect you have, the greater your notoriety in the racing circuit and the more races you're allowed to partake in.
Cheers Martin. We get the drift now!