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Forza 4's Jalopnik pack coming in January
In addition to this week's host of deals, Major Nelson has revealed that Forza 4's Jalopnik DLC pack is heading to the track starting January 3. The Jalopnik DLC is chosen by the editors of Jalopnik.com, and has become something of a tradition in Forza games. The pack includes ten new cars (including your dad's 1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal) for a cool 560 Microsoft Points ($7.00), or free for season pass holders. Check out screens of the DLC over at (where else?) Jalopnik.
Xbox Live savings, day 7: Forza 4 content discounted
You've got yourself a brand new copy of Forza Motorsport 4 from Grandma, a full day off from work for holidays, and a general attitude of not accepting standard pricing, right? Perfect, because Microsoft is offering major discounts -- today only -- on Forza 4 content over Xbox Live, including that "Drifter Race Suit" your Avatar has been asking for. Okay, okay, the normally $30 "season pass" is also being discounted to $22.50, while last month's "November Speed Pack" is also lowered in price to 280 MS Points ($3.50) from 560. That Drift Racer suit is also half off but, you know, you probably don't need that. No matter what your Avatar tells you.
12 Days of Joyswag: 250GB Xbox 360 with Kinect, Forza Motorsport 4, and Wireless Speed Wheel
Another year, another 12 days of holiday giveaways! Between now and Christmas Day, we're doing the one thing that makes us feel truly alive: giving. Specifically, we're giving you fine folks some of the swag we've managed to collect in our cluttered home offices. And the good will and merriment doesn't stop here! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for even more chances to win! It's Christmas morning and, while we long ago lost the ability to be surprised by a video game console under the tree, that doesn't mean you have to be. So we're plopping this bundle under all of your virtual trees. Alas, thanks to the laws of "physics" there can be only one winner who gets the 250GB Xbox 360 Kinect bundle, the Wireless Speed Wheel, and Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 4 to help you put all this gear to good use. Head past the break for details on how to enter. Oh, and Happy Festivus!
Forza 4's next DLC features 10 new cars for $7, arrives on Dec. 6
Last month's delivery of DLC vehicles to Forza 4 may not have been enough for you. It was lacking something, perhaps? A certain whiff of editorial sponsorship? This month's pack should have you more than covered, with gaming site IGN teaming up with game developer Turn 10 and publisher Microsoft to release the "December IGN pack." Suddenly "November Speed Pack" sounds much more exciting than it did last month, eh? Like November's DLC pack, this month's will come with 10 cars from across the automotive spectrum, from a modded, modern Mazda RX-8, to a not-so-modded (or modern) Alfa Romeo Spider Quadrifoglio Verde. We'll let you guess which one of those goes faster! Also like November's pack, this one is gratis should you already own the game's $30 "Season Pass," or 560 MS Points ($7) otherwise. Head past the break for a full list of the cars.
Forza 4's 'November Speed Pack' roars to Xbox Live on Nov. 1
What, the hundreds of high-powered sports cars of Forza Motorsport 4 weren't enough to sate your autophillic desires? Oh, and you've already purchased the game's $30 Season Pass? Then you'll be happy to hear that another 10 cars are being added to the game via November's "Speed Pack." And they're free to you, you big Season Pass holder, you. For the rest of us, the pack runs 560 MS Points ($7), and includes everything from Lamborghini's 2012 Aventador LP700-4 to .... uh ... Ford's 2013 Focus ST. Hey, it's a fast little sport coupe! The pack becomes available this coming Tuesday, November 1, on Xbox Live Marketplace.
Batman: Arkham City has fourth biggest UK launch in 2011
Batman: Arkham City knocked out the competition last week on the UK charts. Chart-Track notes the caped crusader's time in ol' Gotham town is the fourth largest launch of the year, behind FIFA 12, Gears of War 3 and L.A Noire. Football Manager 2012 debuted in third, only 1,800 unit sales behind FIFA 12, which holds on to second place despite a 35 percent drop in sales. Last week's checkered flag winner, Forza Motorsport 4, slipped into fourth, with Just Dance 3 feelin' the groove in fifth. Two other premieres in the top 40 last week were Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One and Dance Central 2, in spots 24 and 40, respectively. It's an odd start for the sequel to Harmonix's hit dance game, so we'll see where it lands next week. Shimmy on past the break for the UK top ten.
Forza 4 finishes first on UK charts, Just Dance 3 takes third
It'sa Forza, woo-hoo! Yes, the land of Top Gear saw Forza Motorsport 4 race to the top of the charts in its debut week. According to Chart-Track, the racing game claimed the "biggest launch week ever" for an "Xbox 360 racing game" ... considering most high-profile racers are multi-platform (with the exception of Gran Turismo) we take this to mean the latest sequel maneuvered past Forza 3's premiere. With seven new entries in the UK Top 20 this week, there are plenty of places to look, but let's start with Just Dance 3 premiering in third. Ubisoft's dance series has consistently entered the top 10 and hung out there for months while others come and go. With Dance Central 2 ready to step it up this year, it'll be interesting to see if Just Dance 3 has the staying power of its predecessors. The other two newbies in the top ten are sports titles Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 and Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge at fifth and tenth place, respectively. Rush past the break for the full UK top ten.
Must See HDTV (October 10th - 16th)
Baseball playoffs are in full effect and altering TV schedules, so if you're digging Fox's lineup then too bad -- it's going to be mostly on ice for the next couple of weeks. We've still got a few major fall premieres trickling in, but the most significant addition are the first Blu-ray titles with Ultraviolet (Horrible Bosses, Green Lantern). Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Forza Motorsport 4 It's no big secret that around these parts, our love of things that plug in and log on only narrowly beats out the need to go fast, and since we can't drive every car in real life, we'll leave that up to Forza. The fourth iteration of Turn 10's driving game arrives this week and has racked up a list of glowing reviews. New this time around are Kinect-enhanced car walkarounds and driving, enhanced community features and a revamped career mode. The only knock seems to be that some things are a little too familiar from its predecessors, but we can't wait to get behind the wheel and find out ourselves. ($59.99 on Amazon, October 11th) Psych The Adventures of Shawn & Gus' Psychic Detective Agency continue on this week, and while that title may make one USA's best show's appear somewhat childish, we assure you -- it's even more childish than you think. Of course, one of the appeals of Psych is its retro flair (so far we've seen Ralph Macchio as a guest star and an entire episode spoofing Twin Peaks) so if you're in the target age range and haven't quite grown up, this is one to watch. (October 12th, USA, 10PM) The Walking Dead One of last season's most-talked about shows, this tale of survival in a zombie infested wasteland came in with a bang and went out with a whimper. We'll be watching to see if it can retain the crunchy action flavor of the first few episodes and avoid the boring melodrama that came in later on. If you're willing to risk a few spoilers (surprise, the RV breaks down at the worst possible time) then check out the season two trailer after the break. (October 16th, AMC, 10PM)
Forza Motorsport 4 review: Hybrid synergy drive
Simulation games, be it racing-simulators, flight-simulators or farming-simulators, always run the risk of designing themselves into corners and alienating potential players. These types of experiences are a challenge to craft, as implementing a feature for the die-hard enthusiast often means sacrificing something designed for the novice or hobbyiest. No one seems to have told Turn 10 how impossible a task the all-encompassing simulator is, however, and as a result Forza Motorsport 4 provides the same challenging, exhilarating racing experience to each and every player who gets behind the proverbial wheel.%Gallery-130719%
Forza 4 demo live today for Xbox Gold Subs, 'free' peons on Friday
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! No, not you, free-level Xbox Live subscribers. You leave your engines firmly in the off position. We'll get to you in a second. Everyone else: Engine's on! The demo for Forza Motorsport 4 is now live for paid Gold subscribers, and can be grabbed from the Spotlight reel on the dashboard. If you need inspiration for the big race, we suggest checking out this debut UK trailer, which just happens to be narrated by Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson. (Rad!) Okay, those formerly known as Silverlings: You'll get your chance to play the demo this Friday. We suggest you spend the next four days thinking about your pathetic lot in life, and how you can improve it.
Fanatec's Forza 4 accessories now up for pre-order
Turn 10 Studios and Fanatec have partnered to offer some high-end, wireless peripherals for Forza Motorsport 4. The CSR Wheel ($250), CSR Elite pedals ($150) and CSR shifter ($60) are all made with aluminum parts. The wheel's got force feedback and an LED display for tweaking the turning, force feedback, vibration and sensitivity; five available presets make for easy switching. The wheel is even compatible with PC and PS3, if you've got other racing games, and the pedals are also compatible with PC via an optional USB cable. Take a gander at the goods in the gallery below. %Gallery-135146%
Why Halo 4's Warthog can be seen but not driven in Forza 4
It's nifty that Forza Motorsport 4 will allow players to examine the Halo 4 Warthog in "Auto Vista" mode, but we doubt we're alone in wondering why you can't actually drive it. According to developer Turn 10's Dan Greenwalt, implementing the UNSC's iconic ground transport is much more complex than it sounds. Speaking to Eurogamer, Greenwalt explained that the technology used in the Warthog simply doesn't exist in any of Forza's other cars – notably its "crab walking" four wheel steering – meaning Turn 10 would have to build it from scratch. It's not that the Turn 10 team is incapable, Greenwalt noted that they have the specs, but it would be "a big investment" in order to support a single vehicle. The final straw, apparently, is that there's no way to simulate the Warthog's tires. All of Forza's tire physics are based on real-world tires, meaning that each tire in the game should react to road conditions in a (very) realistic way. Said Greenwalt, "they didn't give us tires from nanotube technology from 2525."
Joining the Club in Forza Motorsport 4
I haven't really played much Forza since the second game, and my biggest concern going into a recent preview event here in San Francisco was what Turn 10 Studios was doing to bring the wayward back. Forza 4's Car Club alleviated my concern, and in a way that I didn't expect. I'm not a member of any club or institution -- wary of elitism and membership -- so why did I find the Car Club so intoxicating?
Forza Motorsport 4 gets a $30 season pass, redeemable for six DLC packs
Turn 10 Studios has announced that it will sell a Season Pass for Forza Motorsport 4, giving players access to six DLC packs the developer plans to launch over the next year. The ticket is priced at $29.99 -- a 30 percent discount from the combined prices of the six expansions -- and comes with a bonus American Muscle car pack on launch day. Is $30 too much to spend on a Coronet Super Bee? God, we hope not. The six DLC packs in question will launch between November 2011 and April 2012, which might be too slow a drip for the high-octane, Forza-consuming audience. We suggest Turn 10 hold off on releasing any of the DLC, and then, in the middle of February: Booyah, a thousand new cars.
Forza 4 demo coming October 3, trailer reveals
The above image comes courtesy of Eurogamer, who noticed the demo date was attached to the end of a trailer that was released on Xbox Live yesterday. You can view the trailer for yourself by queuing it up for download on your Xbox 360 here. Of course, no exact demo contents were revealed, but we're betting that come October 3, it'll mostly be an equal mix of asphalt and cars. Call it a hunch.
Forza 4 heads to Infineon Raceway in latest trailer
Given that we're not the learned gearheads we'd like to be, you'll excuse us if we assume Forza 4's newest track, Infineon Raceway, is a neverending, brightly colored race track. The trailer above, however, shows us that ... we should probably have just Wikipedia'd it.%Gallery-132818%
Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson examines the Warthog in Forza 4
As the irreverent host of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson is used to hanging out with a near-mythical character that's obscured behind a shiny helmet. Commenting on Master Chief's fictional ride is just another day on the job, really.
Examine Halo 4's Warthog in Forza 4's 'Auto Vista' mode
Ever wanted to know the deep lore behind and automotive specs inside Halo's most abundant form of military transportation? You can and you will, provided you pick up Turn 10's upcoming racer, Forza Motorsport 4. At last night's Halo Fest event, the studio announced that the new, Halo 4 model of the ubiquitous Warthog would be featured as an easter egg in the game's spectatorial "Auto Vista" mode. This means that you'll be able to sail around the new iteration of the car (using either a controller or Kinect-based gestures), manipulating its every feature and learning more about its backstory thanks to some 343-penned narration. The best part? Those voiceovers are performed by Jen Taylor, the actor behind Halo's luminous guide, Cortana. The worst part? The Warthog's only viewable in Auto Vista mode, and won't be driveable in actual races. We suppose that would be unfair, because, you know, chaingun.
Forza 4 creative lead: game missing Porsches due to lack of access from EA
Despite the inclusion of Porches in previous Forza Motorsport titles, Forza 4 won't feature any vehicles from the German sports car company. In a FAQ posted to the official Forza website, Turn 10 creative director Dan Greenwalt explained, "EA couldn't see their way towards collaborating again," though it seems that it wasn't for lack of trying on Turn 10's part. EA currently has licensing exclusivity arrangements with Porsche, similar to the publisher's deal with the NFL. With Need for Speed: Shift becoming its own sim racing franchise, it seems EA could be pushing back on the Forza folks. "We've asked our contacts at EA to reconsider their position frequently and regularly over the last 18 months," Greenwalt said. "We also reached out to various influential people in gaming to lobby on our behalf, but that was to no avail." Though he said that his employer and EA have worked out sub-licensing deals before, this time EA wasn't on board -- regardless of how hard Turn 10 lobbied. In total, the game will be lacking 35 Porsche models, replaced with an unnamed cadre of "new makes and models." Greenwalt's lament is palpable in his conclusion, where he apologized to series loyalists: "Fans shouldn't have to think about any of this -- you should just be able to drive Porsches and Ferraris in the games you love. Porsche makes wonderful cars and I'm sorry that we won't have them in Forza 4." EA had yet to respond to request for comment as of publishing.
Thrustmaster unveils Ferrari F458 racing wheel and TH8 RS shifter, dares you to get fast and furious
Is that regular ol' Xbox 360 controller leaving you unfulfilled after a marathon session of Forza Motorsport 4? Don't fret, Thrustmaster has announced the launch of its Ferrari 458 (F458) Italia Racing Wheel for Microsoft's gaming console. The 11-inch wheel features a rubberized grip to stay comfy, built-in metal paddle shifters, a Manettino dial for mid-lap adjustments and progressive resistance to keep you on the straight and narrow. Not wanting to leave PS3 and PC racers in its dust, the company also revealed the TH8 RS gear shifter -- which connects to the T500 RS or the outfit's other PC wheel controllers via USB. This bad boy lets you release your inner Michael Schumacher with either H-pattern or sequential configurations plus 360-degree rotation adjustment to tailor the gearbox to your liking. Both the TH8 RS and the aforementioned F458 will be hitting your garage... er, game room in October for $180 and $90, respectively. Check out the full PR for the pair after the break, and make sure you fasten your seatbelt.
