A warm welcome to

Starters Orders 4 has not yet ben released. Current release estimate is December 09.

Here is a list of new features expected to be in the next Starters Orders game. Features are subject to removal or change:

• A massive 8 worldwide game modes to choose from: UK (flat, jumps, flat and jumps), Irish (flat, jumps, flat and jumps), USA (flat) and Australian (flat).
• Irish racecourses, trainers, jockeys and schedules added.
• Many new Feature races added.
• Non Irish racecourses added: Meydan(DUB), Ffos Las, Newton Abbot, Lingfield (jumps), Aintree (mildmay), Exeter, Huntingdon, Fontwell, Great Leighs(?), Saint-Cloud(FR), Chantilly(FR) and Otaki(NZ).
• Tri courses allowing additional jumps course, eg. Mildmay at Aintree.
• Elbow section (Aintree) improved.
• Average race times more realistic.
• Wide screen mode available (is OFF by default - turn ON in options). Improves appearance on wide-screen monitors (avoids 'stretching') and also gives more space for menus. Also increases the field of view for race sequence. Wide screen mode requires extra video ram so may not be available on older (or very low spec) hardware. Wide screen mode is either 1280x768x32 or 1280x800x32. Players without widescreen monitors may still run widescreen mode by selecting both WIDESCREEN and WINDOWED in options but desktop resolution should be AT LEAST 1280x800.
• Menu scheme options. Choose from background image options and change levels of menu table transparency to customize menu screen appearance. Also possible to add user background image.
• New schedule Database and re-structure. Better organization and compatibility between nationality sets. Separate showcase race and schedule databases.
• Schedule editor. Allows the user to easily modify existing schedules or create new ones (using races in the game database). Features include:
  - Create a schedule for any of the four main countries (UK, US, AUS or IRE) using flat or jumps races.
  - Option to adjust spread (numbers) of foreign horses.
  - Edit and create prep races for any feature race.
  - Save multiple schedules (saved schedules can be selected on the NEW GAME OPTIONS page before the game starts).
  - Easy to swap or download schedules. Simply drop a schedule file into the correct folder, run the game and select the new schedule on game start.
  - NOTE: The main game database will be regularly updated with new races when the demand is there. A forum for submitting new races will be on the website.
• Improved race sequence:
  - Multi layer scrolling.
  - Better simulation of bends.
  - Complex shadows (horses and jockeys) option.
  - Evening (floodlit)/rain/fog better lighting effects.
  - Couple of extra backgrounds added including cityscape.
  - More (aprox 25% width) race area visible (in wide-screen mode only).
  - New racecourse portraits displayed on race screen and some course information (wide-screen mode only).
  - User controlled zoom facility (must be enabled in OPTIONS). Double click on a runners name to zoom in/out.
  - Also use mouse wheel (or PG_UP/PG_DN keys) and cursors to manualy zoom/pan. Use right mouse to jump focus.
  - Mini TV displayed (when zoomed in) showing the zoomed out full field view.
  - Race sequence hot keys: F (frame rate toggle). A (Auto zoom toggle). V (jump to zoomed out view). T (Toggle big/small zoom tv).
  - Double click on a horse name to zoom in/out (only if zoom enabled).
  - Other misc additions: Big screen item added. Jockeys may seperate from mounts on falling.
  - Jumps. Mistake count displayed. Fence impact effects improved.
  - Odds and Nationality flags displayed next to placed and backed horses.
• Occasional evening meetings.
• Unusual flat marathon races ( greater than 2m4f ) accommodated. Queen Alexandre Stakes (2m 5.75f) and Pontefract Marathon (2m 5.5f).
• Second meeting per day possible (often evening).
• More than one feature race meeting now allowed per day.
• Handicapping improvements:
  - Hurdle and Fences rating now separate.
  - Jumpers now rated up to 180 - new race categories.
  - flat horses now rated up to 130.
  - NHF races not open to previous flat runners.
  - Trainer AI improvements.
• Complex wind modeling affecting horses depending on angle and strength of wind and horses cover (or lack of).
• New Geld and pacifier effects model.
• Horse jumping model improvements.
• Unusual race distances possible (quarters of a furlong only). EG. 5f 110yards (5.5f).
• New 'Conditions' race type. Conditions can include a mixture of less than x wins, less than x runs, 'horse must have run' , Not won class x race or better. Conditions may also be added to other race types. Eg. Handicap conditions race.
• Past jockey feedback available (for players) via horse data screen. Also feedback is stored for non-viewed races (player horses only).
• Max stable capacity now 100 (from 60).
• 10 years basic wins/runs data stat displayed for trainers/jockeys (on data screens).
• Improved draw effect.
• Horse list on trainer menu expandable (Increases number of horses in view at any one time).
• Jockey AI new behaviors. Jockeys can judge pace better and settle their horses to the desired pace more accurately. Jockeys can also 'take a pull'. A (now) separate behavior used to quickly lose a length or two without affecting the horses underlying pace. The combination of these behaviors should improve realism and the 'yo-yo' effect from so3 where horses would be restrained and sometimes lose too much ground and have to be ridden to make it up again.
  * Jockey AI - improved waiting tactics (under certain conditions).
  * Improved 'forward' jockey AI. Jockeys are a little better at avoiding running into pockets (it still happens though!).
• Jockey AI. Many jockeys may try to avoid kickback on affected horses during the race. Some may not. Some are better at it than others.
• Jockeys may now ride at different meetings on the same day as long as the time slots do not conflict (eg. afternoon or evening).
• Foreign horse model improvements:
  - Ability to specify numerical spread of foreign horses in schedule file. Means we can increase number of Irish horse in UK schedules for example -
  - and add extra feature races accordingly.
  - Average ability raised.
  - Trainer AI improved.
  - Bigger (foreign) horse pool.
  - Better (more realistic) age/preferences spread.
  - Better placement and management of foreign horses (in feature races).
  - Trainers more aware of traveling distances. Eg. More Irish horse racing in the UK and less US horses etc.
• Misc Jockey AI mods/Improvements.
• Misc Trainer AI mods/Improvements.
• Trainer and jockey dual jumps/flat record added.
• Trainer AI - better placement of horses regarding class of feature races and horse ratings.
• Trainer AI - better at preparing inexperienced horses for early runs and avoiding agitated paddock states.
• Over racing young (2 maybe 3 year olds) more significant in terms of the horse not reaching it's full potential. Effects vary from horse to horse check the head lad feedback (on the training menu) for hints that you are close to over racing a horse.
• Horses have a LITTLE more versatility over longer distances (Flat and jumps).
• Traveling Horses running outside their local country may take a small hit in performance (depending on their profile parameters).
• Players can retain a jockey for a weekly fee (plus a one off payment). Retained jockeys are always available to the player and must ride the players
• More realistic 2yo maiden race spread.
• Claimer/seller handicapping improved.
• A number of enhanced un-common horse behaviors reported. Hints to behaviors may be reported in the form descriptions, the jockey feedback and the head lad feedback. As with most of the horse parameters these are intentionally undocumented on the horse data screen! You need to work them out or just take carefully note of the head lad, jockey feedback or form descriptions.
  - BATTLER - Often front runners. May find extra when challenged in the closing stages of a race.
  - DOMINATOR - Front runner who needs to dominate a race and may under perform if taken on.
  - LEFT/RIGHT HANDED COURSES PREF. - Horse may dislike turning in one direction or the other.
  - NOT FACE KICKBACK - horse may dislike (dirt) kickback (see below).
  - HATE WHIP. Very unusual. Needs hands and heels only!
• Dirt. Some horses (fairly un-common) may not appreciate the kickback on dirt courses. This occurs while a horse is following another horse fairly closely and can significantly reduce the horses race performance. Pay attention to jockey feedback (kickback is not always noted by jockeys or in the form book though) and the head lad feedback (if you own dirt gallops).
• Improved course portraits/pictures.
• New Paddock screen (accessed via race menu) detailing the horse paddock state. Also gives an indication of the horses fitness. Only available if enough staff in stables.
• Game horse transfers allowed (with some restrictions). Possible to retire a horse from one game and import into another (for a fee). Eg. UK to US game etc.
• Button added to delete the All time great horse file (options screen).
• Form book capacity increased by 40%.
• Bookmakers more aware of horses current fitness and condition.
• Training (gallops). Select/Deselect all button added.
• Quick save hot key added. Pressing 's' (while on the trainer/home menu) will save the current game without quitting.
• Breeding repeat pairing option bullet point. By checking this bullet point (breeding screen) unsuccessful pairings will be re-paired until successful. The trainer is not charged the full fee for a repeat pairing but a 'repeat fee' of £5k.
• Betting slip (race menu). Clear bet button added to slip. Slip does not now clear after placing a bet allowing for easy placing of repeat bets.
• Auto save game backup option added. When a game is saved the previous save is renamed as *.bak. Should any problem arise (file corruption etc.) then the player can revert to the last save. This must be turned on in the options.
• Horses offspring listed (on horse data screen). Offspring currently in the game can be fully viewed.
• Improved simulation of the effects of extreme going on horses during the race.
• Improved form description texts.
• Extra jockey silks available. Option to alter basic RGB brightness to allow further customization. Variations to be confirmed.
• Better referencing of game images (allowing users to easily add their own images): Trainer portraits, jockey portraits and course pics. To replace an image simple add an image with the file name of it's owner (in the correct location). Eg. Ascot.jpg for ascot racecourse and 'K Fallon.jpg' for the jockey.
• Additional data controls (for the editing of schedules etc.). Specify small race fields. Specify custom stands image for race. Specify Race conditions.
• Construction kit/League races:
  - jockeys much less likely to ignore orders.
  - Misc kit menu improvements.
  - Kit league races only: A small portrait thumbnail of the horses owner/trainer is displayed for the first eight horses during the race. Players have the options of submitting a 32x32 pixel JPG file with a file name EXACTLY the same as their trainer name. These files can easily be distributed with the league replay files and are simply extracted to the same folder. If some (or no) portrait files exist they are simply not displayed.
  

Price: Starters Orders 4 will remain at the low price of £19.99 sterling.

Distribution: Starters Orders 4 is a download only and no CD will be available.

Minimum spec: Starters Orders 4 requires slightly more memory (both system and video) than Starters Orders 3. There is an increased AI load also but most people who run Starters Orders 3 should be able to run the new game. Race sequence features can be turned off and the standard Starters Orders 3 screen resolution is still supported if wide-screen mode is not or cannot be used. As with the previous games a demo will be available to allow evaluations.

http://www.startersorders.com