Unleash Your Creativity in NASCAR 25's Paint Booth: A Comprehensive Guide
The Ultimate Customization Experience
NASCAR 25 is here, and it brings an exciting feature that has been eagerly awaited by fans: the paint booth. This innovative tool allows players to customize their teams like never before, offering a level of detail and creativity that previous NASCAR games couldn't match. But is it everything fans had hoped for? Let's dive in and explore the ins and outs of NASCAR 25's paint booth, uncovering its strengths, weaknesses, and the potential it holds for the future.
Getting Started: Navigating the Paint Booth
Upon launching the game, players will be greeted by the 'My Team' tab, where the journey begins. From here, select 'Customize' and choose one of the game's four series. This is where the fun starts, but be warned: the options can seem overwhelming at first.
Building Your Team's Identity
The first step is to establish your team's identity. Here, you select your team's primary color, which will be reflected in your hauler and pit box. You can also add five sponsors to your hauler, including one larger and four smaller ones. This is also where you pick your car number, with various font options available, although the numbers are limited by series to avoid confusion with real-world rosters.
Designing Your Car: The Creative Canvas
Now, let's get to the heart of the matter: designing your car. The 'Style' tab offers preset options for simple paint schemes, like flames, gradients, or racing stripes. You can also set the color of your rims and choose between painted and unpainted side skirts. But if you're feeling creative, this is where you can truly let loose.
A Guide to Shapes: Layering and Building
One area where NASCAR 25 falls short is in the custom logo uploading and sharing department. However, it does include the popular shapes tab, which allows you to layer and build upon one another. For instance, if your car needs red A and C pillars and a red roof, you can cover the other sections with a whole square to use as a base coat. This feature has been a staple in NASCAR gaming history, and while it's present, it could use some enhancements.
Sponsors: A Wealth of Options
NASCAR 25 makes up for its lack of shapes with an extensive list of sponsors. From long-time NASCAR staples to lesser-known brands, there are more than enough options to choose from. However, in Career Mode, you're limited to the sponsors you've signed for your car, which can be a bummer for those who want to experiment.
Numbers and Color Decals: Customization at its Finest
One of the most beloved features is the number editor, which allows you to move the number freely or even delete it entirely. You can also edit contingency decals, changing the color of OEM branding and the Goodyear logo, although this is limited to a short list of colors.
Helmet and Firesuit: Adding Immersion
The helmet and firesuit are a wonderful addition to the game's immersion. You can opt for a base-colored design and customize the rest with colored shapes. While the mirror function would be a welcome addition, the measuring on the XY axis is easier than on the car.
Online Cars: A Work in Progress
Currently, the creation suite doesn't allow users to add shapes to the fourth slot for online mode cars. However, iRacing is working on adding this feature, and it's expected to be included in a future patch.
NASCAR 25's Paint Booth: An Honest Review
While NASCAR 25's paint booth is immersive, there are some shortcomings. The number of screens to access it can be confusing, and the layout could be improved. Additionally, there's little indication that the fourth slot is used for online play, although this could be addressed in a future update.
Looking Ahead: The Future of NASCAR 25's Paint Booth
Despite its flaws, NASCAR 25's paint booth is a significant step forward in NASCAR gaming. With iRacing's commitment to improving the feature, the future looks bright. Adding custom text options and more shapes would enhance the experience, and the option to mirror sponsors and shapes would save players a lot of time. While there are glaring holes in the options, the ability to customize your helmet, firesuit, and pit stall makes up for it.
Join the Discussion
What are your thoughts on NASCAR 25's paint booth? Do you have any tips or tricks to share? Join the discussion on Discord or X, and remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates. Let's keep the conversation going!
