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Forza Horizon 2 features Kinect-enabled assistant called ANNA
Road trips are a blast if you've got someone to talk to, but not everyone can just drop their life for weeks at time to attend driving festivals. You're an exception to that rule in Forza Horizon 2, but Turn 10 Studios Creative Director Ralph Fulton shared some good news with Examiner: Horizon 2 drivers will have a companion in a Kinect-supplemented AI partner called ANNA, which means the prime passenger seat real estate is open for a kickin' snack buffet. While ANNA probably won't keep your meal upright in hairpin turns, Fulton explained that she acts like a digital, navigation-savvy assistant. She'll suggest events to try, let you know when friends sign on and supply a recap when you slip back into the driver's seat. Sounds like ANNA will help you keep your eyes on the road then! When your view isn't darting between the windshield and your passenger side smorgasbord, that is. [Image: Microsoft Studios]
Report: Xbox One, 360 versions of Forza Horizon 2 are 'different games'
Forza Horizon 2 will offer players a different experience on the Xbox One and Xbox 360, Playground Games creative director Ralph Fulton confirmed with Digital Spy today. "It's based in the same world, it's based on the same themes," Fulton said. "Rather than thinking of them as the same game on different platforms, they are different games inspired by the same ideas." Microsoft previously announced that the Xbox 360 edition of Forza Horizon 2 is developed by Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing developer Sumo Digital, while the Xbox One version is backed by Playground Games, and is based on the Forza Motorsport 5 engine. Fulton additionally revealed that the Xbox One version of Forza Horizon 2 will employ Forza 5's Drivatar system, and will boast platform-exclusive features like 1080p resolution and a new weather system. [Image: Microsoft]
Forza Horizon 2 to debut without microtransaction tokens
When Forza Horizon 2 races onto the Xbox One on September 30, long-time series' fans will notice a distinct lack of proprietary currency, only useful for buying virtual cars and other accoutrements within the game. Though these "tokens" were an omnipresent hallmark of Forza Motorsport 5, developer Playground Games prefers to grant players new cars based on their in-game performance, instead of their meatspace bank accounts. "The approach we've taken is that we've designed our game at Playground Games from the ground up to be fair, to be fun, to be rewarding," creative director Ralph Fulton told Digital Spy. "That's incredibly important to us. For that reason, we will launch in September without tokens." The idea, Fulton claims, is to offer players the ability to switch vehicles on a whim without having to spend real money to do so. "We want to enable you, at very regular intervals, to be able to change your car, pick a new one from the list," Fulton said. "If that doesn't work out, you're able to buy a new one really quickly." Unlockable cars will still be a cornerstone of Forza Horizon 2, but in lieu of a token-based marketplace, the game institutes a nigh-random prize wheel at the end of each race. If you're incredibly lucky, you could win a sole event and drive away in a $2 million Bugatti Veyron. [Image: Microsoft]
Forza Horizon 2: Blame it on the rain
During my earlier meeting with Forza Horizon 2 devs Playground Games, they put a heavy emphasis on the racer's new dynamic weather system. Raindrops spatter windshields, turn roads into soggy slicks and reduce visibility. At the time I wasn't able to experience the effect for myself, but after a bit of hands-on time, I've learned one crucial point: Summer showers turn exotic supercars into missiles with all the guidance of a blind penguin. The key thing to remember is that all weather in Forza Horizon 2 is actually dynamic. A given race may be bathed in sunshine, while the same race, later in the game, might feature a sunny start, followed by a momentary deluge, then a bone-dry race to the finish. In most racing games, weather has a less than realistic effect, but in the case of Forza Horizon 2, a sudden downpour translates to cars sliding off the road at 160 miles per hour. Once the rains come, you should be prepared to drive as cautiously as possible, lest your expensive ride turn into a rolling hunk of scrap.
'More than 200 cars' available at Forza Horizon 2 launch
If you were disappointed with the relatively paltry selection of exotic rides in Forza Motorsport 5, the developers of Forza Horizon 2 have good news for you: The car culture incarnation of the franchise will boast over 200 cars when it debuts on September 30. Following a developer-led demonstration of the game's lovely European vistas and wildly expensive vehicles, I asked Ralph Fulton, creative director at developer Playground Games, if Forza Horizon 2 would follow the Forza Motorsport 5 tradition of debuting alongside a handful of cars, then trickling the rest out to fans in the form of downloadable content. Though Fulton admits that post-launch DLC vehicles are nigh-inevitable, he told me that "more than 200 cars" would be available at launch, ranging from exotic supercars to off-road vehicles to hatchbacks. [Image: Microsoft]
Forza Horizon 2 hits 1080p, 30fps on Xbox One
Forza Horizon 2 on Xbox One will run at 1080p and locked at 30 frames per second, Creative Director Ralph Fulton told IGN. "I think what we did on Horizon was demonstrate that, and this is really important, a locked frame rate that's absolutely solid and never drops is the most important thing for our game," Fulton said. "30 [fps] actually enables us to realize that experience." He continued, "I think I remember that's always a hot-button topic, until a game comes out and people go, 'Oh, this actually really works.' But 1080p was an absolute must for us; it's the benchmark for next-gen." Forza Horizon 2 takes place in Southern Europe. Fulton is with Playground Games, the studio developing the Xbox One version of Forza Horizon 2. The Xbox 360 edition is in development at Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed studio, Sumo Digital. Forza Horizon 2 is due out in the fall on Xbox 360 and Xbox One. [Image: Playground Games]
Forza Horizon 2 arrives this fall for Xbox One, Xbox 360 [Update]
Microsoft has announced Forza Horizon 2 for Xbox One and Xbox 360, IGN reported. The racing game follows the 2012 spin-off Forza Horizon, and is primarily being developed by the same studio, Playground Games. Forza Horizon 2 is expected to launch this fall. The next-gen racer will seemingly be set in southern Europe and bases its events around a music festival. It's the second game in the series to launch on Xbox One, the first being Turn 10's Forza 5, which launched with the console in November. Update: To clarify, the Xbox One version of Forza Horizon 2 is being developed by Playground Games, whereas the Xbox 360 version is in development by Sumo Digital, creator of Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed. Playground is collaborating with Turn 10 for the next-gen game, sharing some tech and staff to develop the game. [Image: Microsoft]
Forza Horizon rolls out free 1000 Club DLC tomorrow
Forza Horizon will get a free infusion of new content tomorrow. Entitled the 1000 Club, the DLC adds over 1000 challenges to complete, along with some new Achievements. The DLC will automatically suggest challenges based on whatever cars a player owns. Based on the trailer, the challenges offer more than racing, tasking players with everything from making huge jumps to just crashing into things. The 1000 Club will also include two new cars, the 1956 Ford F100 and the 1995 RUF CTR2.Microsoft tells Joystiq that the pack will feature unique challenges for every single car in the game, including the cars from the standard game and those that have been released as DLC.
Forza Horizon 'Meguiar's Car Pack' DLC puts pedal to metal March 5
The Forza Horizon monthly rollout of shiny new DLC drives continues with Meguiar's Car Pack', which is revving up for a March 5 release. The DLC comes without cost to those with the game's season pass, while other can gain access via a 400 MSP pit stop.The six cars included are the 2013 Audi RS4 Avant, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG, the 2013 BMW M135i, the 2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale, the 2004 Peugeot 206 RC, and the 1998 Nissan R390. If you're looking to take the DLC out for a test drive, the Nissan R390 is a free sample this month. Meanwhile, season pass owners get the 2010 Joss JT1 as a bonus. %Gallery-179906%
Forza Horizon 'February Jalopnik car pack' DLC hits the open road Feb. 5
Six rides are being added to Forza Horizon on Tuesday: the 2013 Subaru BRZ, '91 Ferrari 512 TR, 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser, '70 Nissan Datsun 510, and '73 Mazda RX-3. The pass is included with the game's Season Pass or separately for 400MS Points ($5). As a special bonus, the '66 Ford Country Squire will be free for all speed demons.
Forza Horizon is bringing in the new year with January Recaro Car Pack
The new year is on the Forza Horizon (ho ho ho) given that January 1, 2013 sees a bunch of new downloadable cars come to Turn 10 Studios' racer. OK, that's definitely the last time we'll use that joke this year. 2013 is an entirely different matter.The January Recaro pack features six cars, including the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 1983 GMC Vandura G-1500, 2012 Lotus Exige S, 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition, 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR, and the 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra R. It's priced at 400 MSP, but Season Pass holders get it for free, along with the 2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster as a bonus treat.
Forza Horizon Rally expansion drifts onto XBL next week
As Vin Diesel and Bow Wow taught us in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, drifting is the coolest possible way to travel from Point A to Point B, regardless of situation, circumstance or the amount of neon lights underneath your car.We bring this up because Forza Horizon's latest bundle of DLC is a rally racing expansion pack, available next Tuesday, December 18, for 1,600 MS Points. The "Rally" expansion includes five new rally-purposed cars, new stages, new online multiplayer events and even co-driver announcements, so you can keep your damn eyes on the road you lunatic.Anyone who purchased Horizon's $50 Season Pass will get the Rally expansion for free, along with an exclusive 2003 Ford Focus SVT. Under any other circumstances, a 10-year-old Ford Focus isn't really what we'd call a "motivating incentive."
Forza Horizon crashes to $14.99 on Microsoft Store [update: other offers too!]
Time to be thankful for the Microsoft Store, which is now offering Forza Horizon for a measly $14.99. Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios' racer released just under a month ago, so 75 percent off its regular price is brimming with Black Friday goodness.Jordan got revved up for Forza Horizon in his review, speeding all the way to four out of five stars. He said that, while there are a lot of "little, annoying things" about it, Forza Horizon is "a massive toy chest full of hyper-accurate hot wheels."Update: As commenter JoshHandrich notes, Microsoft Store has a few other handsome Black Friday offers, the lot neatly collected here. Standouts include Dance Central 3 ($14.99), Borderlands 2 ($24.99), NFS: Most Wanted ($24.99), and Dishonored ($24.99).
Forza Horizon 'SmartGlass Experience' app now available on Windows 8
If you've ever been playing Forza Horizon and thought "Man, I wish I could look at a tablet to see the map instead of having to hit the pause button like some kind of cave man," Microsoft has solution for your oddly specific wish.Available now on Windows 8 and other platforms "soon," the Forza Horizon "SmartGlass Experience" moves Horizon's map from the game's pause menu to the screen of a Windows 8 tablet. There, the map continues to perform all of the same duties as it does in-game, allowing the player to set GPS destinations, get information on events, etc.Now, however, instead of having to pause the game to look at the map, all the player has to do is put down the controller and pick up a second device to perform the same functions. Whether they pause the game first, or go careening into the side of a mountain, is entirely up to them.%Gallery-170127%
Forza Horizon drives today into a much better place
Hey, Timothy, remember when we talked about wanting a modern Knight Rider game but with a sultry-sounding lady car? Well, Timbo, it looks like someone's been paying attention.
Forza Horizon review: Baby, you can drive my car
There's no dearth of hardcore simulation racing games out there. They cater to die-hard, petrol-drinking motorsport enthusiasts, but what about that other, less intense breed of car enthusiast? Some may dream of being Rubens Barrichello, but many others want nothing more than an open road and a mid-engine anything.Forza Horizon is a game for someone who knows the difference between a Lotus and a TVR, but may not know what PSI is most appropriate for slick tires on a sub-70 degree morning. It's a game for people who DVR Top Gear on BBC America, but not the Monte Carlo Grand Prix or Barret-Jackson auction coverage on Speed TV. In essence, Forza Horizon is a massive toy chest full of hyper-accurate hot wheels. Oh, and dubstep. There's a lot of dubstep.%Gallery-163548%
PSA: Forza Horizon demo is go go go, also new screens and dev diary
The Forza Horizon demo is now live on Xbox Marketplace, waiting for you to buckle up and drive it like crazy. All of which means the game is now on the horizon, releasing as it is on October 23. Alright, we promise that's the last 'horizon' pun we'll make*.
Forza Horizon demo pulls into Xbox Live October 9
Forza Horizon launches on the Xbox 360 October 23, but a few weeks before then you'll be able to get behind the wheel early with a demo on October 9. Available free to Xbox Live Gold subscribers for the first week and everyone else after, the Forza Horizon demo will feature a few missions, several of which will be Rivals mode-compatible – you'll be able to compare demo deeds with your Xbox Live friends.A section of Forza Horizon's sandbox map will be unlocked in the demo and all those who download then purchase the game on October 23 will get a custom 2013 SRT Viper GTS "designed to highlight Forza Horizon's 'gone-gold' status."
Forza Horizon gets a Season Pass, $50 for access to all DLC
Microsoft has announced a Season Pass DLC plan for the upcoming Forza Horizon, the latest entry in the racing series that is set in a virtual representation of the state of Colorado. The Season Pass will cost $50 USD (or 4,000 Microsoft Points), and grant access to the game's Expansion Pack set to arrive in December.Season Pass holders will also nab each of the six car packs as they're released over the next year, as well as five exclusive Season Pass vehicles and a batch of launch day rides. Turn 10 will reveal all of these cars gradually on its Twitter feed. The Season Pass (which represents a 17 percent saving on all of this content) will be available for purchase on October 23, right when the game turns the key for launch.In addition, we've got tracklists for each of the game's three radio stations, all churning out tunes during the in-game "Horizon Festival." Have a look at the songs, after the break.
Forza Horizon post-launch plan includes monthly car packs, first 'expansion pack' on Dec. 18
Turn 10 and Playground Games will aim to stock the Forza Horizon virtual garage with monthly car packs, design director Ralph Fulton has revealed. There will also be expansion packs, the first of which will launch on December 18."What we're really excited about is some expansion packs we have coming, the first of which will launch on December 18th and that will really extend the experience you can have in Forza Horizon," Fulton told Gamerzines. He also confirmed a demo would eventually come to Xbox Live, which seems fitting since it's a Microsoft-published game and also cars.
