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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
Rumor: Test Drive Unlimited 2 under development?
GRY Online, a Polish game publication states that Eden Studios is working on a sequel to Test Drive Unlimited, with March 2008 as their target release window. Their trusted source also divulged other useful tidbits of information, such as Test Drive Unlimited 2 featuring over 2400 km of roads, off-road racing capabilities and dynamic weather. So, have you played the first TDU? Did you enjoy your Hawaiian vacation? We'll be sure to bring you more news should this prove true.
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?
Take Verizon Wireless for a test drive starting Monday
You wouldn't buy a new car without giving it a test drive first, right? Verizon Wireless has taken the "test drive" concept to the U.S. wireless industry and will now allow potential customers to take out the Verizon Wireless network for a spin before committing to that new $300 Windows Mobile Smartphone purchase and lengthy two-year contract. The CDMA carrier said that a new program to be unveiled on March 26th (this coming Monday) will give customers a 30-day "test drive" on the company's network. If you're unimpressed in any way and want to take you new number to another carrier, Verizon Wireless will refund your money for all calls up to that point, equipment, activation fee and taxes; and, you'll get out of that pesky contract if you return that phone.[Via Wirelessinfo.com]
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.
Aperture 30 day test drive
I'm not a very good photographer, but I take lots of digital pictures which is why I was interested in checking out Aperture, but I didn't want to plunk down $299. Apple has heard my silent pleas and made a 30 day 'test drive' available for all to download.It is available in English, French, German, or Japanese. All features are enabled for 30 days, but the trial does not include the sample images that are available retail version.At the moment the trial page isn't working for me, but I am sure Apple's trained web professionals will get that all sorted out.Thanks, Rob.Update: I was right, they fixed the page quickly. Download away.
Atari customers getting testy
Atari's reputation for solid customer support (relative to say, 2KSports) is being put to the test in their community forums where fans are complaining about car trouble in Test Drive Unlimited, particularly: No sure-fire way to run into friends/clans members in free roam, plus The car trade feature has been disabled as a temp fix to a data loss problem, which effectively disabled an achievment. According to reader Aragom, Atari has acknowledged these issues and ultimately promised a patch in November, but the extended silence didn't relieve the road rage? These guys were the gold standard for customer service at the TLU release, when we praised their prompt response to complaints and feedback-friendly approach. Is this as good as it gets for the pissed and the patchless, or are people being just a little too testy with Atari?[Thanks Aragom]
Test Drive: Updated (already)
In an era of over due patches (Far Cry, Dead Rising, etc.), credit Atari with responding to their customers in less than a week. Now that's an auto-update.[Thanks srw985]
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.
Sexy shots of Test Drive's GUI
Atari went to the trouble of releasing some new shots of Test Drive: Unlimited, and Planet Xbox 360 even went so far as to post them. Of course, we've all seen screens of boring old sports cars, but now we have some juicy shots of the GUI. That's where the real action is. Just look at all those photo options! I hear there's driving or racing or some such in the game as well. Seriously though, the screens look pretty slick. Anybody looking forward to this one?
