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Trackmania Nations Forever available for free

Published on 17th April 2008 by Joe Martin

Trackmania Nations Forever is now available as a free download.

It's no secret that I'm not a big fan of racing games - I can't even drive a real car! - but if there's one exception to my universal dislike of racing games then it's definitely the Trackmania series, the latest of which has just been released as a free downloadable game.

The Trackmania games are definitely one of the most casual racing games we've seen since Lego Racers and, despite the plush graphics, the focus isn't on engine tweaking or racing lines, but impossible physics and outrageous tracks. Loop-the-loops are only the start of the fun in Trackmania, where cars can literally skim across the surface of water if they are going fast enough.

While the original Trackmania games were released as fully retail games, the latest instalments in the car-bouncing series have been released as free downloads - that includes the new Trackmania Nations Forever.

The new game comes with 65 new tracks, a level editor and full multiplayer support - and yes, just to confirm, it is completely free. Hit one of the download links below to grab yourself a copy of the 500MB install file.

FileFront
Worthplaying
GamersHell
ComputerGames.ro
Internode

We'll almost definitely be getting ourselves a LAN match going on in the bit-tech HQ later this week - but let us know how you get on in the forums.

35 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

Stickeh 17th April 2008, 10:40

YAY!
Love track mania series bought TMU really fun game and this should be a good play :)

Thanks for the links BT, Joe, gives me a chance to test out my new upgraded line.

WildThing 17th April 2008, 10:53

Sweet! I loved Trackmania Nations, even though, like you Joe, I'm not the biggest racing game fan either.

phuzz 17th April 2008, 11:10

Careful tho, there's reports of Starforce DRM being used, but not on the Steam version. (not downloaded yet meself so I can't say for sure)

phat-ant 17th April 2008, 11:20

sweeeeeet.
Have been playing Nations for ages, and I got to say its great fun. so simple :) Love it. GG

r4tch3t 17th April 2008, 12:08

Downloaded this earlier today through Steam, but it wont work, just crashes. Comes up with Nadeo launcher has stopped working :(

will. 17th April 2008, 12:11

Already been caught playing it at work :p

We're going to have a tournament!

fathazza 17th April 2008, 12:22

tis a rocking game, im a big fan of the platform gametype :)

plagio 17th April 2008, 12:27

If this is bloated with starforce I won't dare to download it.
Does anybody know if the steam one is starforceless ?

r4tch3t 17th April 2008, 12:32

The steam one has no Starforce on it. Just Google it.

EDIT: From Wiki

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia
Steam digital distribution platform would no longer include StarForce.

M4RTIN 17th April 2008, 12:49

whats the benefit of copy protection on a game that's free :-s

Tomm 17th April 2008, 13:13

I can't find it on Steam? Any ideas?

EDIT: http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=game&AppId=11020

Tomm 17th April 2008, 14:08

OK, so now I've downloaded it via Steam, it won't work. D'Oh. When I double click the game in the Steam list, *something* happens for a second or two, then nothing more.

plagio 17th April 2008, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by r4tch3t
The steam one has no Starforce on it. Just Google it.

EDIT: From Wiki

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wikipedia
Steam digital distribution platform would no longer include StarForce.

I knew I had to google it ! My bad.

Redbeaver 17th April 2008, 14:22

hmmmm more free games to burn my time in the office :D

luv Nations, never tried TNF tho.

baronvongogo 17th April 2008, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4RTIN
whats the benefit of copy protection on a game that's free :-s

There are two versions a free one and a retail one, the latter has more tracks and updated graphics.

free = trackmania nations forever
retail = tackmania united forever

also note both of these are on steam too I thought just retail one is but the free one can be downloaded via steam.

will. 17th April 2008, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by will.
We're going to have a tournament!

I won :D

Tomm 17th April 2008, 17:06

Hmm, the Steam version still isn't working but the other one works well, good game. Cheers for the heads up :)

P.S. I read on the TM forums that none of the recent versions including TM Nations have Starforce. Just so you know.

lcdguy 17th April 2008, 17:34

not sure where your problem lies as i downloaded the steam version and while it does crash from the game some times. But it does work. the downside of course is that when there are 60 plus players it lags my system like crazy.

wuyanxu 17th April 2008, 18:03

thanks. was waiting for this :)

The Bodger 17th April 2008, 18:12

I've downloaded the game, installed fine. When I run it, the intro window loads, (where you can change the graphics settings etc) but when I click 'Play' the game flickers and vanishes :( Anybody have any idea how I can get it running? btw, if it's any help mentioning it, the PC is an Athlon 4000+ with a Radeon 3870 in it.

Jordan Wise 17th April 2008, 18:29

no wonder its free, its crap

Techno-Dann 17th April 2008, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomm
P.S. I read on the TM forums that none of the recent versions including TM Nations have Starforce. Just so you know.

Whoever said that lied. I downloaded and installed TM Nations a month ago, and it definitely had Starforce - I had to patch the bloody thing to get Nations to run.

But still, glee! I can't wait to play. (curse you, classes and work...)

talladega 17th April 2008, 19:01

i hate starforce. it destroys computers! I think there is a program you can get that disables starforce so it dont screw your computer up. but im not sure.

anyways Trackmania is a fun game, teacher had it in school and its lots of fun.

Tomm 17th April 2008, 20:01

I'm currently ranked 11th in the North West of the UK :D

Tyinsar 17th April 2008, 20:58

SHWEEET! ;)

WildThing 17th April 2008, 22:10

Ok, just downloaded this from steam and its working perfectly for me. :p They have changed the design of the menu's and I think its a fair bit better, although the server browser isn't the best. The coolest thing though, its supports 3D glassess!!! I can't find mine, has anyone played with 3D glassess yet??!!

proxess 17th April 2008, 22:33

it works OK for me on Ubuntu, no sound tho. Haven't tried changing sound driver yet.

Brett89 18th April 2008, 00:48

Awesome game! Just downloaded it, great fun. Love the crazy track layout, keeps it interesting.

Delphium 18th April 2008, 14:02

Downloaded it via steam, seems to play fine :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildThing
The coolest thing though, its supports 3D glassess!!! I can't find mine, has anyone played with 3D glassess yet??!!

would like too.... waiting on vista64 with 8800gfx compatible drivers :'( (assume you mean the e-dimensional 3d glasses)

kenco_uk 18th April 2008, 14:04

Unhealthily addicitve. The 'just-one-more-go' factor will keep you going until the crack of sparrow fart.

r4tch3t 19th April 2008, 00:37

Just bought United forever and it works yay. So much fun :D

Lakeuk 20th April 2008, 01:03

Excellent - Mad Laps forever

xion 21st April 2008, 14:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenco_uk
Unhealthily addicitve. The 'just-one-more-go' factor will keep you going until the crack of sparrow fart.

This has to be the most frustratingly-addictive game ever concieved, and i take great pleasure in spreading the pain... er ... joy of playing to as many friends as possible.

Its quite possibly the best example of marketing i've ever seen, to release a fully functional mini-game like this, I for one have handed over my hard-erned and welcome our new micro-machine-racer-esque overloards!

anyway enough from me, i gotta get gold in this track before i kill the pad/tv/pc/random person in a fit of frustrated rage...

...just one more...
...this is the last...
...no really, that one was just to get a feel for the track...
...ok, last try...
...DAMNIT...
...****IT...
*deep breath*
...new track...
(repeat until you're dizzy)

kenco_uk 21st April 2008, 14:50

A couple of the D tracks are actually impossible, despite what people say.

And if I'm going for gold, the delete key gets used a lot. Last I looked, I was something like 270th in England (woo! rofl)

rowin4kicks 21st April 2008, 17:32

lol got down to 26th in london then gave up as it is just unhealthy!