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'Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown' arrives September 22nd, 2022
Nacon also announced a RoboCop first-person shooter and offered another look at 'The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.'
Put the pedal to the metal with a beta key for Test Drive Unlimited 2's beta event this weekend
You know, we don't get many racing games around these parts. Need For Speed World was one of the first games, for sure, but there was another game before that -- Test Drive Unlimited. Test Drive Unlimited is back with a sequel, and this time it's coming to the PC crowd in addition to the consoles. TDU2 will be taking place on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Ibiza. Just like before, your single-player and multiplayer experiences are blended together in TDU's "always online" M.O.O.R state (Massively Open Online Racing), so you'll pass/meet other players, even if you're choosing to play the single-player mode. This version of TDU also finally allows you to get outside your car and walk around as an avatar, buying clothing and customizing your look. And, if you missed not being able to form your own social cliques in the last game, no worries! This sequel features the ability to create "clubs" -- groups of drivers racing for power and profit. This weekend is a special beta event for the game, and we here at Massively are holding 1,500 keys to give away! Be the first to check out the new Test Drive Unlimited by jumping past the break for your key and the full instructions on how to get into the beta weekend!
Rumorong: Test Drive Unlimited servers not going offline next year
Reports have been floating around the 'net that Atari would be shutting off the servers for the first Test Drive: Unlimited game as early as January of 2011, presumably to make way for the open world racing game's sequel. But Atari tells Joystiq that the rumors are blatantly untrue -- "they are not dropping the servers at all," a representative told us this afternoon. The rep said that it's possible that French developer Eden Games may be moving the servers in some way, but anything like that would make no difference for players of the game at all. So keep on driving, Test Drivers -- your virtual O'ahu isn't going anywhere.
Atari reveals plans to revisit Baldur's Gate, others
Infogrames President Phil Harrison announced today at a publisher event that the company plans to revisit Baldur's Gate, Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter Nights and Test Drive Unlimited -- but not until after 2009 (via Eurogamer). Three of those franchises have had recent releases (NWN2: Storm of the Zehir last month, TDU and D&D Tactics in February 2007). As for Baldur's Gate, a follow-up to BG2: Throne of Bhaal has been rumored since 2001 from now-defunct Black Isle Studios. It was reportedly mentioned again by a PC Gamer UK editor as recently as January 2008.
We're test driving some Test Drive Unlimited DLC
Making its way onto the Xbox Live Marketplace yesterday was new Test Drive Unlimited downloadable content and, slap us with a used tire, we forgot to tell you about it. The new "Test Drive Collection - Volume 6" DLC includes seven new whips (yes, we did say whips) including the Lamborghini Diablo GT, Pontiac Solstice and will set you back 350 Microsoft points. If spending Microsoft points isn't how you roll, then you can download the other piece of new Test Drive Unlimited DLC the "Nissan 350Z Roadster 2004". Not only is the Nissan Roadster a free download, but we hear it attracts the opposite sex like flies to a lollipop that has been sitting out all day in the Summer heat. Or so we hear.
New Test Drive content: concept car and more
TeamXbox reports that new content for for Test Drive Unlimited is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. The Test Drive Collection Volume 5 includes 5 cars for the easily digestible price of 350 MS Points. The cars include the Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Coupe, Dodge Charger Super Bee, Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole, Ferrari 512 TR, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R, and the Spyker C8 Spyder. In addition to this content, Atari is also offering the Holden Efijy for free. The Holden Efijy recently won the 2007 North American Concept Car of the Year Award. Now go forth, download, and drive. [Thanks DjDATZ]
New content goes Live for Bullet Witch, Test Drive Unlimited
Has your copy of Bullet Witch just been sitting around gathering dust? Well, there's nothing you can do about that; you traded it to EB Games fair and square. No, we don't blame you, we just wanted to let you know that the new content for the game on Marketplace isn't going to do you much good. For those of you who are still hanging with the B-Witch, you'll be able to spend a quarter on a remixed level or the new secretary's costume. ("Eyes like gun barrels hidden behind glasses." They should officially be charging for descriptions.) Also today, Test Drive Unlimited fans are even more unlimited in their choice of car with the new free Saturn Curve download and a 350-point pack that includes the Ferrari Challenge Stradale, Cadillac Cien, RUF RK Spyder, Dino 246 GT, Lamborghini Murciélago Roadster, TVR T440R. If a majority of that sentence wasn't moon man talk to you, it should be $4.37 well spent. Read -- Test Drive Unlimited DLC (Free and Premium) Read -- Bullet Witch In Game Content
New Test Drive cars free of charge
Given the recent hoopla over content prices on Xbox Live Marketplace, it's good to see something free. Of course, it's always nice to see something free, isn't it? Atari announced today that it has teamed up with Lexus to bring two new cars to Test Drive Unlimited. The two new cars are the GS 450h hybrid (pictured) and the LS 460. We're not sure how luxury cars compare to the sports cars found in Test Drive, but it looks like we'll find out. For all the Test Drive fans out there, this content is available right now. Oh, and did we mention that it's free?
Aloha to one more Test Drive trailer
It's a huge week of games for PSP, and one of the more hotly anticipated titles in the Infrastructure-enabled Test Drive Unlimited. The game, which should be in stores today or tomorrow, has the potential to deliver an incredible experience that simulates the experience of a next-gen game. TDU promises to allow players to jump in anywhere at any time within the virtually recreated island of Oahu. Cross your fingers: we want this game to be good.
Free Cadillac download for Test Drive Unlimited
We've got some more XBLM downloading to do today in the form of Test Drive Unlimited content. So, let's get right into it. There are a few packages that cost Microsoft Points, but one is a free download for the Cadillac CTS-V. The other paid downloads include the Test Drive Racers Guild #2 which consists of seven vehicles and will set you back a moderate 350 Points. The other download is the Hardcore Mode which is a more realistic game mode, specifically enhanced for the wireless racing wheel, and is available for 160 Microsoft Points. It may be time to dust off the ole' copy of Test Drive Unlimited and download new content, if not at least for a free Cadillac CTS-V ... you know, because it's free.
Test Drive Unlimited trailer
You've seen all our coverage so far: Test Drive: Unlimited attempts to recreate all of the functionality, online and off, of its console brethren, and from what we've heard so far: it's succeeding. Being able to drive anywhere, anytime, in Oahu certainly sounds ambitious, but does this first trailer carry the same excitement that the concept does? You be the judge by watching the trailer, after the break. The (delayed) game is now coming out April 17.
Test Drive Unlimited is un-limited on PSP
"God knows how they've done it, but they've done it. Melbourne House, that sage studio of Australian game development, has crammed just about all of the features of the Xbox 360 version onto Sony's handheld. What's more, while the graphics engine lacks the sophistication of the full-sized version, it still captures the lush palm forests, beach fronts and rolling hills of Oahu. The roads, all 1000-plus kilometres of them, are populated by plenty of traffic and the draw distance is mind-boggling. Truly, this is a faithful representation of the Unlimited world. Insane." IGN's preview of Test Drive Unlimited on PSP is more than glowing. To think that the game's free-roaming, Infrastructure-enabled, racing game would work on the PSP is mind-blowing. Although IGN notes that the framerate suffers when there's a lot of cars, this is an impressive feat, and I can't wait to see more. Test Drive Unlimited races to the PSP on February 20th.
Test Drive Unlimited's Infrastructure multiplayer excites
Publishers have been slow to embrace Infrastructure multiplayer on the PSP. However, recent releases like Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops and Medal of Honor: Heroes have opened up the portable to truly exciting online worlds. Atari's upcoming Test Drive Unlimited will attempt to bring the console's massive open internet world over to the portable. IGN's Developer Diary (please take with a giant grain of salt) explains the team's ambitions: "You can race around the entire island in a single session without seeing a loading screen... Once you go online you'll be seeing other PSP players immediately in free-ride, no need to set up complicated sessions or looking for servers, we look after that for you." If the development team can deliver on such an incredible premise, Test Drive Unlimited may be worth a look. The game will hit PSP in February.
1.5 weeks with no 360, and somehow I live
Douglas Adams probably put it best when he said:"It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on Earth has ever produced the phrase, 'as pretty as an airport.' Airports are ugly. Some are very ugly. Some attain a degree of ugliness that can only be the result of a special effort."It's unfortunate that any overseas flight must be bookended by airports, conductors of human misery that they are. Still, my new wife and I managed to have a nice time in Hawaii. I'm back now if you haven't already gathered. Was it just like Test Drive Unlimited? I really can't say, as I didn't actually drive anywhere on Oahu. Kauai -- the "Garden Isle" -- on the other hand, has a system of roads devised by a mad man. With, speed limits that go up and down for no apparent reason, outbound lanes that become inbound lanes at certain times of day, and mountain roads that could accurately be called evil, Kauai driving has a treacherous quality that belies the beautiful scenery. Anyway, I'm readjusting from Hawaii time -- it feels like 3:45AM to me -- and ready to get back to posting. I was going to post the happy news that Dig Dug is now available on XBLA for 400 points, but I see that Ken has gotten to it first. Bastard.
360 rocking in the UK
This week's sales numbers are in for the UK, and the 360 is still topping the charts. The 360 currently has games in four of the top five spots. In order, they are: Lego Star Wars II (#1), Dead Rising (#2), Saints Row (#3), and Test Drive Unlimited (#5). Granted, LSWII is a multiplatform title, but you can bet Microsoft is nothing but pleased with these numbers. Any of our UK readers rocking one of these great 360 games?
Test Drive gets another...test drive
Test Drive: Unlimited lives up to it's name with a second demo now available on Marketplace. This one includes four new rides -- the Ferrari F430, the Ford Mustang GT, the AC Cobra, and a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R motorcycle -- plus new challenges and improved graphics. All told you should have this game thoroughly tested by the September 5 release date. [Thanks DapperDan]
Test Drive a Maserati
Xboxyde posted this video of a Maserati MC12 in action from the upcoming Test Drive Unlimited. The car model looks great, but the video isn't exactly exciting -- unless you like watching cars drive both toward and away from the screen. The workmanship on this car is top notch, though: it survives a head on collision with barely a scratch. All kidding aside, car lovers have one more reason to look forward to this budget game. Check out Xboxyde for more screens. Anybody looking forward to this one?
Test Drive price: no bargain for Europe
We broke the story earlier this month that Test Drive Unlimited would be available for the low, low price of US $39.99. This led some of our UK readers to hope and pray that the European price would be a bargain as well. Sorry, lads (and ladies), Test Drive Unlimited will cost £49.99 ($92.95, yikes!). The reason: prevailing market conditions, which translates as "not enough 360 owners." Interestingly, another factor mentioned by Atari was America's "much bigger Xbox Live Gold membership," making it easier to recoup costs -- through micropayments and in-game ads, no doubt. So much for affordable innovation for everyone.
Pie in the sky Test Drive concept car
Our auto-obsessed (addicted?!) colleagues at Autoblog have a bunch of shots of the entrants in Atari's Test Drive Unlimited contest to design a vehicle for the game. Out of the more than 100 designs submitted, Atari chose David Sichtermann's action figure getaway car in exchange for $2500 in remuneration. The other finalists were all much more ... y'know, realistic, while Sichtermann's concept looks like an updated MASK vehicle. But, with over 90 vehicles to drive in game, we suppose a little creativity isn't such a bad thing. See also: Joystiq hands-on: Taking Test Drive for a test drive
Test Drive Unlimited won't break the bank
Test Drive Unlimited will retail for $39.95 when it drops later this year. That's right, a brand new, shiny 360 game will cost you $39.95. Not only that, but more content including cars and music will be available in Marketplace shortly after the game's release, and the music, at least, will be free. CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Atari, Bruno Bonnell, had this to say of the deal: "Innovation should be available to everyone, not a privilege for those can afford high price tags, Our GamersFirst program demonstrated the positive impact of flexibility in pricing. We believe it is our mission to deliver triple-A games that are accessible to the masses. As such, we are offering Test Drive Unlimited - a game that is being positively touted and recognized by the media - for $39.95, and furthermore, will continue users' experiences past launch by featuring new cars and free music for download." Let's hope this flexible pricing strategy will catch on with other developers as well.
