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Peugeot's PGR4 finalists for concept contest revealed
Back in September we briefly reported on Peugeot's contest to design a concept car for them to use in the upcoming Bizarre Creations title, Project Gotham Racing 4. Well, the contest is now closed, and they are currently displaying the top ten finalists, complete with multiple angle shots and words from the designer on their inspiration. Not only will the winner's car be used in the upcoming racer, but Peugeot will be making a scale-to-life version to put on display for the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Click the "Read" link to be taken to a translated (you're welcome) page showing off the selected designs. Which one do you want to rack Kudos up with the most?[Via Gaming Bits]
PGR3 image used to promote Gran Turismo HD
Major Nelson just caught Sony in a major faux pas. On the PSP Connect site -- a site that offers downloadable goodies for PSP owners -- there is an ad for a new Gran Turismo HD trailer. There's only one problem though, the image used for the ad is from Project Gotham Racing 3. Seriously, check out the original image on Bizarre's website. Looks like someone didn't get the memo that GTHD and PGR3 are, in fact, different games. And just in case someone wises up and changes the picture, Major Nelson caught it on his Flickr account. We won't even go in to the hilarity of mistaking a year old 360 launch title for a brand new "4D" Playstation 3 game. Oh no, we couldn't do that. It would be too low. Check out the incriminating evidence after the break.
EA to publish Bizarre's new XBLA game
EA's first downloadable console title will be Boom Boom Rocket, a new rhythm game from the geometric warmongers at Bizarre Creations. The game sees players traveling through a 3D cityscape and launching rockets to the beat of the music -- the more accurate you are, the more spectacular the resulting fireworks become. Gamedaily Biz reports that Boom Boom Rocket should arrive on Xbox Live Arcade in Spring.Chip Lange, EA's vice president of online commerce, feels they've crashed the party at the opportune moment. "Now feels like the right time. Across EA there's been a lot of internal excitement about Arcade and we're at a point where we can dedicate resources to building Arcade games. We're very excited to be entering this space. This is a great way to develop new IP and work with small development teams internally and externally to build a casual, fun game experience." Originally thought up by EA's own Pogo casual games team, the game should be a welcome addition to the XBLA lineup, especially given the grievous lack of any other rhythm games. The fireworks in Boom Boom Rocket will be accompanied by ten original tunes from Ian Livingstone -- we certainly hope he's familiar with synesthesia.
Bizarre and EA team up for XBLA title
Electronic Arts announced today that it is partnering with Bizarre Creations -- creators of Project Gotham Racing and Geometry Wars -- to create a brand new game for Xbox Live Arcade. Entitled Boom Boom Rocket, it will be the first Xbox Live Arcade game from Electronic Arts. Boom Boom Rocket is described as a rhythm music game in which players launch rockets to a musical beat. Better timed explosions create bigger fireworks displays. The game is set to include both single player and head-to-head play. Head-to-head, strangely, will be limited to local matches only (both players on the same Xbox), though there will be online leaderboards. The music tracks will be composed by Ian Livingstone, who has considerable experience creating music for film, television, and videogames. We're a little puzzled by the lack of online play -- especially this far into Live Arcade's lifespan -- but we're always open to new games. The title is expected to hit in the spring of this year. Follow the "read" link for a PDF of the official announcement.[Thanks, Darksaviour69. Via Major Nelson]
Geometry Wars dumbed down for celly release
Gamasutra sat down with Bizarre Creations' Community and Web Lead Ben Ward to figure out just how the heck Geometry Wars is going to fly on the mobile platform. Turns out, it won't -- at least, not in the traditional sense of the game. The controls have been overhauled dumbed down to accommodate for the lack of dual-analogue sticks. In the mobile version, the ship is always firing forward (the direction of fire cannot be changed or stopped), and the arrow keys (on the keypad) direct the ship's course -- double-tapping the center button initiates a strafe move. These limitations have forced developers to re-program enemy AI, as well as slow down the pace and scale of the beloved Xbox 360 Live Arcade original. Geometry Wars Mobile will be padded with some new content, namely a Challenge Mode. The new mode expands on the achievements awarded in the Xbox 360 version, featuring challenges like Survivor (how long can you play without dying). Players can then post their best times and scores onto a network leaderboard.
Geometry Wars Mobile published by Sony
It's Sony's turn to reap the benefits of Bizarre's creation. Despite Geometry Wars becoming the poster child for Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade, the mobile port is being published by Sony BMG. Little ironies aside, how the heck are we supposed to control this game? They invented a dual-stick phone yet? Prove us wrong, but this is shaping up to be a classic example of exploiting a known brand. Geometry Wars Mobile just ain't gonna fly. [Thanks, Justin]
Conversation with Bizarre Creations
Mike from the Xbox Domain, re-visits Geometry Wars with Bizarre Creations Community and Web Lead Ben Ward. Included in the conservation: Hints that a GW dash theme could be on the way and an unconvincing refusal to confirm the possibility of a sequel.
PGR3 photo mode is Live
Like driving spiffy cars? Fancy yourself to be a talented photographer? Then put those talents to use in Project Gotham 3's new photo upload feature! All you need is Xbox Live, PGR3 and a Passport account. The overall process is simple, just take a picture in the game, upload it, head over to the PGR3 website, sign in, and share your photos. Hit the read link for more detailed instructions. Now somebody post some kuh-razy photos in the comments section.
New PGR3 content peels out on XBLM
Time to make room in the garage. Bizarre Creations just put the pedal to the metal with 12 new cars available on Marketpace as part of the PGR3 Style Pack. Here's the vehicle list: MW M6 (2006) BMW Z8 (2001) BMW M3 CSL (2003) BMW MINI COOPER S (2005) Gumpert Apollo Coupe 4.2 V8 (2005) 2005 Chrysler® Firepower Concept Ferrari 365 GTB4 "Daytona" (1968) Ferrari F430 Challenge (2006) Mercedes CLK DTM AMG (C209) Pagani Zonda F (2005) RUF R.K. Spyder 3.8 (2006) Vanwall GPR V12 (2006) The new wheels will set you back 400 MS Points, or 60 points per car if you you go the a la carte route. The pack also includes Photo Mode Integration and three mini-games so it's probably worth parting with the full Abe Lincoln if you're PGR freak. Race fans weigh in with your value assessment. Do you appreciate the option to download individual cars?[Thanks Sinz]
New PGR3 content hits Xbox Live Marketplace
Lifting their foot slightly from the pedal and instead concentrating on all things cosmetic and shiny, Bizarre Creations have finished putting together the Style Pack for Project Gotham Racing 3. As reported last month, the download contains 12 new beautifully shaped hunks of metal, fit for driving around the streets of London and gazing at for embarrassing amounts of time. Unlike last month, however, the pack is available for download right now. In case you didn't get it the first time, here's the list of included vehicles, available for 60 MS points ($0.75) seperately or 400 MS points ($5) as a group. BMW M6 (2006) BMW Z8 (2001) BMW M3 CSL (2003) BMW MINI COOPER S (2005) Gumpert Apollo Coupe 4.2 V8 (2005) 2005 Chrysler® Firepower Concept Ferrari 365 GTB4 "Daytona" (1968) Ferrari F430 Challenge (2006) Mercedes CLK DTM AMG (C209) Pagani Zonda F (2005) RUF R.K. Spyder 3.8 (2006) [Note: This one's free!] Vanwall GPR V12 (2006) In addition, you'll be prompted to update the game once you log on and be pleased to welcome some new (and way overdue) features. It's finally possible to upload the stunningly artistic or hopelessly amateurish images you've created in the game's photo mode to the official PGR3 website. It doesn't seem to be fully operational yet, but there is likely a very large tantrum in store should that not change in the near future.New multiplayer game modes come in the form of "Free Roam Points," "Team Free Roam Points" and a series favorite, "Cat and Mouse." The rules of the latter mode dictate that teams comprised of two cars each, one being an E-class vehicle, compete to have their slower car be the first to cross the finish line. If the other, faster car crosses the line first, the team loses instantly. The update also adds matching achievements should you need any further incentive to venture online.[Thanks Xbudd!]Previously: More cars pull into PGR3's garage Cadillac secures Xbox Live ad space Forza 2 jacks PGR3 technology
More cars pull into PGR3's garage [Update 1]
According to the lads at the UK's Official Xbox Magazine, Bizarre Creations is revving up 12 new absurdly beautiful cars for another Project Gotham Racing 3 download (pictured car sadly not included). The Style Pack is likely to release for the princely sum of 400 Microsoft Points ($5), with individual car downloads looking to set you back 60 (75c) points each. The marvelous machines included in the pack are: 365 GTB4 ("Daytona") BMW M3 CSL BMW M6 BMW MINI COOPER S BMW Z8 Chrysler Firepower Concept Ferrari 430 Challenge Gumpert Apollo Coupe 4.2 V8 Mercedes CLK DTM AMG Pagani Zonda F RUF R.K. Spyder Vanwall GPR V12 As with the previous Speed Pack, one car -- the RUF R.K. Spyder -- will be available for free, no doubts as a means to lure you into shelling out your easily purchased points for the full roster. Not a terrible thing to be tricked into, we admit, but we'd rather be given the opportunity to download some more garages. As any playboy millionaire will be quick to remind you, there's not much point in owning a sports car if you're not able to show it off to your equally rich fake friends.[Update: Now with real currency!][Via CVG, thanks smellslikepie! Mmm...pie.]
Cadillac secures Xbox Live ad space
Cadillac and Microsoft have reached an advertising deal that will bring virtual recreations of the CTS-V, STS-V and XLR-V high-performance models to Xbox Live, specifically to be used in Project Gotham Racing 3. The cars will be free to download.This latest revelation, part of the growing in-game advertising movement, highlights the differences between traditional advertising and in-game advertising. With the Cadillac deal, gamers actually interact with a product that is incorporated into PGR3, and more importantly, can choose to avoid it altogether. Microsoft's Kevin Browne has said that an additional 10 to 20 likeminded deals will be announced during the coming year, though it's unclear if any of these ads will be as "user-friendly" as the Cadillac one.While the Cadillac deal was orchestrated by Play, a division of Denuo, Microsoft recently acquired Massive, a company specializing in in-game advertising, which is set to spearhead this leap into Xbox Live's unlimited ad space.
Bizarre experiments underway -- PGR4 "looking good," but needs more smoke
Bizarre's Ben Ward and Gareth Wilson recently sat down with OXM to talk about the possibility of Project Gotham Racing 4. And while the duo would not confirm the game was officially underway, Ward admitted that the team has "already done some experiments and things are looking good..." Wilson added that the team was confident they'd be able to "push the [Xbox 360] graphics a lot harder" a second time around.During development of PGR3, Bizarre kept finding ways to do things better, but it was too late in the development cycle to re-code (the game had to be ready by the 360 launch). If and when PGR4 becomes a reality, the team expects to implement these superior techniques in order to boost the game's speed and of course, add more smoke. "I always want more smoke," says Wilson.
