Though we last saw Tribes 2 just a few weeks ago, the version Sierra demonstrated here at ECTS showed several significant additions and enhancements. The biggest technical change that the developers at Dynamix have made to the game is a revision of the collision detection, the part of the 3D engine that determines how objects make contact and interact.

　　Where this change is most visible is in Tribes 2's ground vehicles. Before the change was made, the mobile base, a slow-moving ground support vehicle, didn't sit right on rolling terrain and was under threat of being cut from the game as a result. This version also marks the first time the gaming press has gotten to see all six of Tribes 2's vehicles in working order. In the near future, the developers will also add vehicle skins for varying map environments. These should make for distinct vehicle appearances on each of the lush, desert, badlands, and snow maps.

　　Furthermore, Dynamix has been busy adding many special effects and environmental details to the game. For example, we had a chance to see the newly implemented snow and rain effects. Weather patterns will realistically move randomly across the battlefield. Certain map areas will also have ambient sounds, such as croaking frogs and crashing waves. One of the other notable additions is dynamic lighting, which, for instance, can cast an energy weapon's glow upon the surrounding environment.

　　Tribes 2 is making rapid progress, but before the game can go beta there is a significant amount of optimization to be done in both the graphics performance and the networking stability. This process will likely take a few weeks, and then Dynamix's focus will shift to testing and polishing the game. Tribes 2 is on schedule to ship this winter.