What TrackMania 2 games I need to buy?

[Loot Hunter]

It looks like Stadium is the cheapest, but there are messages (here on the forum) that there are some problems with the game if other two games (Canyon and Valley) are not owned. Or have I misunderstood?

Anyway three TrackMania 2 games thing is rather confusing. Could someone explain me what should I buy and what do I get?

[TMarc]

Originally, the three titles Canyon, Stadium and Valley are separate different environments which are using the same base engine (Maniaplanet). There is even a shooter game, called ShootMania.
And when you use the standalone client, available from the Maniaplanet page, you can play all titles without need to quit and restart the game. There is even a special mini title called "TrackMania²", which allows to create and play on multiplayer servers, where maps of the different titles can be played nearly seemlessly (not even quit of a title is necessary).
This will hopefully also be valid for the soon to be released title Lagoon (first unleashed in Turbo).

Due to commercial issues (Nadeo chose to be able to sell the titles independently with own installers), due to the way the game is handled (can be seen as individual game but also as DLC like stuff), and possibly other unknown reasons, in Steam, every Maniaplanet title is really separate and also needs to be started separately.

Now, if you purchase only one or 2 titles, it's all fine.
But if you chose to have all existing Maniaplanet TrackMania titles, then I would recommend to register them all on the same Maniaplanet account, and then you can install the standalone client if you like to try out the unifying title "Trackmania²".

What you should by, nobody can tell. Of course Nadeo and Ubisoft would like you to purchase everything and would be thankful for that.
But you can also stay with only one title if you like.

[Loot Hunter]

Originally posted by TMarc:

And when you use the standalone client, available from the Maniaplanet page, you can play all titles without need to quit and restart the game. There is even a special mini title called "TrackMania²", which allows to create and play on multiplayer servers, where maps of the different titles can be played nearly seemlessly (not even quit of a title is necessary).

Then I don't quite understand - what's the difference between Canyon, Stadium and Valley? Content? Tracks? But with workshop one can basically create any track. And in multiplayer there are no restrictions, you said yourself. Or did I get something wrong?

[laff]

Originally posted by Loot Hunter:

Then I don't quite understand - what's the difference between Canyon, Stadium and Valley? Content? Tracks? But with workshop one can basically create any track. And in multiplayer there are no restrictions, you said yourself. Or did I get something wrong?

The differences between the different environments are how the cars handle and what type of track blocks are available in the track builder. They have different tracks because they have different track blocks. I think the Stadium environment is the most fun, but you could try each of them through the demos.
http://store.steampowered.com/search/?term=trackmania+demo

If you take a look at Trackmania United, which is kind of the premium version of the free Trackmania Nations, you'll see several other environments with cars which all handle differently. TM2 Stadium has a few new blocks over TM Nations Forever as well as better visuals.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/11020/

[Loot Hunter]

Originally posted by laff □:

The differences between the different environments are how the cars handle and what type of track blocks are available in the track builder. They have different tracks because they have different track blocks.

So, every track has it's own "enviroment"? And you can't create a level with "Canyon" and "Stadium" blocks mixed?

What about multiplayer? Would I be able to participate only in the races which take place in "my own" enviroment?

[TMarc]

Yes, no, and yes (the title you have purchased).

[mattraptor]

buy stadium and valley, they're the best

[PLTX]

The latest Stadium is for me the best, good graphics, community, maps, servers, gameplay : so, Trackmania² Stadium is really worth it !

[Silly Goy]

Stadium is all you really need. Tons of content + workshop and very active online games that are extremely addicting

[mattraptor]

valley too