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Forza Motorsport 3 $10 off on Amazon
A quick note for any driving simulation fans that have yet to dive into Forza Motorsport 3: Amazon is currently offering Turn 10's latest opus as a Gold Box deal. The game is selling new for $49.99, making it $10 cheaper than the retail price. Of course, if you've waited this long without picking up a new copy, you could probably pick up a used copy for less. Then again, there's no telling whose grubby little fingers have been groping those, so new certainly has its advantages.
Rumor: Forza 3/Bayonetta hardware bundle coming to Japan
There's a new Xbox 360 bundle headed to the land of the rising sun, and it's oddly appropriate. Spotted by Siliconera on Japanese retail site Famicom Plaza, the bundle -- apparently slated for an April 28 release -- includes an Xbox 360 Elite with the usual trimmings, along with Forza Motorsport 3 and Bayonetta. While the pairing might seem strange at first, think about it. What it amounts to is cars and overtly sexual women, which have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship on magazine covers since time immemorial. The bundle clocks in -- get it, racing? -- at ¥29,000 ($312). Siliconera notes that both games normally retail for around $75, making this a pretty good deal for prospective 360 owners in Japan.
Forza 3 Road & Track DLC out now
Good news for the digital gearheads and livery artists out there, as new DLC for Forza Motorsport 3 is available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Up for grabs is the Road & Track Pack, which is being released in cooperation with Road & Track magazine. The pack includes ten new cars for 400 ($5). As usual, Turn 10 is also offering a free sample car, the adorable MINI Coupé Concept seen above, to give players a taste of the content included in the pack. See the full list of cars below and check out stats for each on the official Forza website. 2010 Volkswagen Golf R 2009 Holden HSV w427 2010 Ford Taurus SHO 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 2010 Renault Megane RS 250 2010 Vauxhall Insignia VXR 2010 Mini Coupé Concept 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports 2010 Mazda MX-5 Superlight 2010 SEAT Leon Cupra R Xbox.com: Add The Road & Track Car Sample to your Xbox 360 download queue Xbox.com: Add The Road & Track Car Car Pack to your Xbox 360 download queue ($5)
Xbox Live April schedule: Final Fight, Mega Man 10 DLC
Microsoft has unfurled some of its plans for Xbox Live downloadable content for April, including new additions to Games on Demand and Deals of the Week, as well as the April 14th release of Final Fight: Double Impact. On top of that, look for a half-priced The Maw on the week of April 12 and two add-ons for Mega Man 10 this week: Bass and Special Stage 1. Head past the break for the full list. %Gallery-79231%
Forza 3 Jalopnik DLC hits XBLM
The previously announced Jalopnik DLC for Forza Motorsport 3 is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. The pack includes 10 cars, which were chosen by the editors of Jalopnik.com, and include "some of the most coveted 2009 and 2010 models." The pack contains the following cars: 2008 Mazda Furai 2010 Jaguar #33 Jaguar RSR XKR GT 2009 Ford #40 Robertson Racing Ford GT Mk7 2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic 1992 Bugatti EB110 SS 2011 BMW Motorsport Z4 sDrive35is 2010 Audi TT RS Coupe 2010 Aston Martin Rapide 2010 Honda Mugen Civic Type-R 3D The car pack costs 400 ($5), but you can also grab a sample -- the 2010 Honda Mugen Civic Type-R 3D -- for free. Head over to the Forza Motorsport website for more info on each car. Shortcut: Add the Jalopnik Car Pack to your Xbox 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com] Shortcut: Add the Jalopnik Sample Car to your Xbox 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com]
Forza 3 Nurburgring GP Circuit track DLC out now
Attention gear heads and livery lovers, there's a brand new track available for Forza Motorsport 3. The Nürburgring GP Track Pack is now out on Xbox Live Marketplace. As the name suggests, the DLC gives players access to the Nürburgring Grand Prix Circuit, offering both short loops and full loops for races. Should you be interested in laying some rubber on this track, or just showing off your latest artistic creation, Nürburgring will run you 400 ($5). Shortcut: Download the Nuburgring GP Track Pack [via Xbox.com]
Forza 3 director on 60fps, Gran Turismo 5
VG247 has posted an interview with Forza Motorsport 3 director, Dan Greenwalt. Perhaps the most interesting bit is Greenwalt's explanation of why developer Turn 10 was so intent on making the game run at 60 frames per second. According to Greenwalt, racers that run at 30fps have "visual shuttering artifacts," which developers are forced to cover up with motion blur. This, he said, takes up GPU resources for other features. Beyond that, he noted that the 60fps benchmark was essential to the "feel" of the game and the responsive nature of the controls. "I'm sure you would get a similar response from Infinity Ward regarding Call of Duty," said Greenwalt. When asked what he thought about Gran Turismo 5, and whether he was looking forward to it, Greenwalt said that "all good game developers look at what their competitors are doing." He stated that he has been "a long-time fan" of the series, though he added, "At this point, after so many missed releases, it's nearly impossible to say what GT5 will be or when it will ship." That said, Greenwalt believes that Gran Turismo 5 will be "a good racing game." Not exactly "No game competes with us," is it? The interview also covers some interesting statistics, like the fact that players have driven over 1.1 billion miles in online Forza 3 races. Check out the full interview for more stats and insights on the game's development.
Forza Motorsport dev working with Natal tech
It may not be the most shocking turn of events, but we would be remiss not point out that Turn 10 -- the studio behind the Forza Motorsport series -- is dabbling in Natal development. The evidence comes by way of a Turn 10 job listing for a business development manager. The listing, discovered by Total Video Games, is looking for someone to "set strategy and drive high quality game content for our Next Generation games including the NATAL platform." Considering that Forza Motorsport series is the only product that Turn 10 has created for Microsoft thus far, it's probably safe to assume Natal support will work its way into future iterations of the series. Microsoft has already proven that Natal can be utilized in driving games with its Burnout Paradise demo, though its hard to imagine the motion capture peripheral will have the precision for something as technical as Forza. But who says Natal has to be used for steering? It could be used for secondary activities like shifting, changing the radio station or, most obviously, flipping the bird. We're sure Xbox Live members would just love it. [Via G4tv]
Forza 3 sales surpass 1m units; premium DLC released
[Paul J. Taylor] Since its late October launch, Forza 3 has sped into over 1 million homes worldwide, marking a commercial milestone for Turn 10's critically acclaimed racer. In conjunction with today's release of the game's second and now premium DLC car pack (the first one's always free, ain't it?), dubbed "Hot Holidays," Microsoft has tallied up some Forza 3 stats. According to the publisher, players have so far tracked 6.6 million hours and 590 million collective miles -- no word on flats or oil changes. Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg tweets that "more than 4M [million] auction bids" have lead to "$18.7 billion" virtual dollars spent (we have to imagine at least a billion went to that gorgeous coop pictured above). Of course, Microsoft has its eye on the real dollars, offering today's 10-car pack for 400 ($5). The full list of cars is posted after the break. Additionally, a second premium pack has been confirmed for January 12, and -- wouldn't you know it -- that date coincides with the kick-off of the Detroit International Auto Show. You think that was planned? %Gallery-79869%
Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel for Xbox 360 review
To celebrate the release of Forza Motorsport 2, Microsoft made a big deal about its Wireless Racing Wheel, a cable-free force-feedback controller for racers that was only really wireless if you didn't want force-feedback. It was a reasonable compromise and a reasonably good wheel, but it just didn't compare to the high-end stuff supported by that other great console racing series: Gran Turismo. In GT5 you can hit the track while gripping things like Logitech's G25 or G27, either of which make Microsoft's offering look like a toy. With the release of Forza 3 there's a new contender available, the Porsche Turbo S from Fanatec. It's a much more serious offering with more capable feedback, proper shifters with a clutch, and a rather more impressive design. But it also has a rather more impressive price tag: $249 to start and, like a real Porsche, going way up from there with options. Is it worth the entrance price or are you better off putting your money toward race tires? Read on to find out.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe coming to Forza 3 for free
In one of those "We feel sort of gross about this, but it's okay 'cause we get something cool for free" kinda ways, Microsoft today announced a partnership with Hyundai to bring the Genesis Coupe to Forza 3 as DLC on November 17. And not just one measly version, but three: a Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hundai Genesis Coupe, an HKS Genesis Coupe, and a "one of a kind" Genesis Coupe will arrive as a pack – free of charge! And though the name Hyundai may not exactly be synonymous with high speed racing, we're assured their modded counterparts will help to clear any misconceptions.%Gallery-77166%
Forza 3 limited edition premium theme not so limited anymore
We're not sure if it was intentional, or if someone at Microsoft pulled the wrong lever, but the Forza 3 LCE premium theme -- previously reserved exclusively for those that bought the collector's edition -- is now available to the masses for free. We're guessing this was probably a mistake, as the theme is only showing up on the Xbox.com Marketplace, and we were unable to find it in XBLM on an actual console. If you really like Forza, or you just like cars, you'd best get it now before someone in Redmond gets wise. Add the Forza 3 LCE theme to your 360 download queue [Thanks, Faiz R.]
Ferrari 458 Italia announced for Forza 3, coming as DLC 'this holiday'
It was only a few months ago that Ferrari officially unveiled the successor to the F430 in the much rumored Ferrari 458 Italia. With Forza 3 just over a month away, we can certainly understand how developer Turn 10 couldn't find extra time to fully develop the brand new car for its game. Even though the game went gold recently, the developer got right back to work, announcing recently that the mid-engine V8 monster will arrive as DLC this holiday. There's even a sweet video of the car in action that you can see above (and compare it with the real thing found after the break).We pressed Microsoft for a price and only heard back, "We're not announcing any other details about the Ferrari vehicle at this time, other than to celebrate its inclusion in the game since it's a sick car." Maybe Microsoft will gift us all free Ferraris for the hoidays!
Amazon Germany lists Xbox 360 with 250GB HDD, Forza 3, two wireless controllers, for €280
After being the first major retailer to release info on the PS3 Slim before Sony itself had announced the system, Amazon Germany is at it again, outing a 250GB Xbox 360 model for 280 euros ($379). An eagle-eyed Engadget tipster spotted the listing, which includes two wireless controllers and a copy of Forza Motorsport 3 in addition to the massively embiggened hard drive. Since Forza 3 won't be hitting shelves until October 23 in Europe, it stands to reason that this listing represents a deal still a few months off, though Microsoft could very feasibly release this new SKU (sans accessories) earlier. On the subject of new Xbox bundles, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg told us in an interview yesterday that, "I'm sure there will be different offers depending on where you go and what time of the year it is." Looks like we've found at least one bundle so far! We've contacted Microsoft for comment and will update this post when we know more. [Via Engadget]
Xbox 360 with 250GB HDD and Forza 3 spotted on Amazon Germany
Now that the Xbox 360 Elite has officially dropped in price and killed off the Pro, it was only a matter of time before there'd be a new rumor to pin on Microsoft's console. Amazon Germany, who previously listed the PlayStation 3 Slim a good 20 days before the official debut (it still has the same Amazon Stock Identification Number as it did when leaked), has gone ahead and posted a new Xbox 360 model, ASIN in tow, with a 250GB HDD, two wireless controllers, and Forza Motorsport 3. Price is listed at 279 euros ($397), a good 30 euros over the current Elite price. No release date, but Forza 3 isn't due out until at least October 23rd so we'd say you got awhile to wait and see if this pans out. Any chance we can get a built-in WiFi adapter along with that extra storage space? [Thanks, skipper]
Forza 3 out Oct. 27, Collector's Edition and pre-order cars detailed
click to Forza bigger picture Microsoft has announced that Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 3 will be driving onto North American Xbox 360s on October 27. In addition, the company has also revealed the final details of the Limited Collector's Edition of the game, which will be available only at GameStop. The limited edition will grant users VIP status in the Forza community, a keychain, 2GB flash drive and ten exclusive cars. Five of the cars are exclusive to VIP members, while the remaining five were "personally hand-picked, tuned and painted by the team at Turn 10."Finally, Turn 10 has also announced the winner of the Forza 3 community design competition, namely Justin Van Dusen II of Midland, Michigan. His custom-painted Audi R8 V10 will be offered as a pre-order bonus for the game. Check out a list of the cars found in the limited edition after the break, and be sure to peruse images of the limited edition packaging and cars in the gallery below.%Gallery-68814%
Rumor: Design studio leaks Forza 3 artwork
click to embiggen This has been making the rounds for a couple of weeks now, but in case you missed it over the holidays, Kaarbo Design owner Noah Kaarbo allegedly let slip (and then promptly removed, but not before Google cached it) some of the sample work his company had done for Forza developer Turn 10 Studios and -- cue the fake surprise -- Forza 3.Community site Forzacentral managed to grab all four posters, which are said to be samples of what could have appeared on the race selection screen. Of course, this doesn't confirm the existence of another Forza game per se, but should Microsoft Games Studios decide to maybe revisit the successful racing franchise, it looks like it already has a logo to use. Gallery: Forza 3 - Leaked Artwork [Via X3F]
Forza 2 bundle available in Canada, eh?
If car enthusiasts are going to be picking up an Xbox 360 solely for Forza Motorsport 2, then they're in luck, provided they reside in the Great White North. Yes, not only do Canadians have the ability to grab the Forza 2 Collector's Edition domestically, but they also have the standard game packed in with Xbox 360s. The bundle comes with your standard Xbox 360 "Premium" or "Pro" set up, wireless controller, 20GB Hard drive etc. If you don't, or didn't have the console already, would the inclusion of Forza 2 sway your purchase?[Thanks, DjDATZ]
How-to: make custom Forza 2 paint jobs
If you listened to the latest episode of the Xbox 360 Fancast (and you really should have), then you'll know that the copious amounts of Forza 2 custom paint jobs hitting the net both amazed and befuddled us. They amazed us, obviously, because the level of work and detail that goes into these cars is amazing. They befuddled us because we had no idea how they were created. Lo and behold, we have discovered a handy how-to on the Forza 2 message boards. Posted by one Neubourn, the tutorial shows you step by step how the many shapes available in the Forza 2 livery editor can be transformed into incredibly detailed works of art. Yup, every custom paint job is merely a collection of shapes in different configurations and transparencies. It seems damned near unbelievable when you view the initial rough outline of Batman's Harley Quinn (see "Before" above), but after some extensive manipulation (and plenty of time we're sure) she came to life as clear as crystal. Hit the "read" link to learn how to make custom designs yourself.[Thanks to murph for pointing this out]
X3F Forza 2 Cars FTW!
Xbox 360 Fanboy reader and Forza 2 aficionado Spinthelights sent us a couple shots of two very nice X3F themed cars. The level of detail is pretty astounding, as they mirror the logos and banners of the main site with remarkable accuracy. Also, this is a perfect time to start up a gallery of user submitted Forza 2 cars. They don't have to have our logo plastered across the hood, but we appreciate the effort fellow fanboys put into letting everyone know which site they go to for all their Xbox 360 news. Do you have any cool Forza 2 cars, send us your works of art either in the comments, or in a tip.[Thanks, Spinthelights] %Gallery-3640%
