IGN Pack for Forza 5 Brings Diverse Array of 10 New Cars [w/Videos]

Since Forza 5 came with fewer cars than its predecessor, in a move not at all akin to progress, it is clear that the developer and publisher have thought this out as a DLC-centric game (that’s short for heavily-reliant on downloadable content). However, then can (and will) make us overlook this lucrative marketing ploy of theirs if the quality of content they release is high and our better judgment is clouded by it.

This week, everybody in the scene has been abuzz with talk about the IGN Car Pack that adds a total of ten very diverse rides including a 1957 Ferrari 250 California, Lambo Reventon, Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG or the deliciously curvy 1961 Maserati Tipo 61 Birdcage racing car.

The rest of the cars are: 2013 Caterham Superlight R500, 1977 Ford Escort RS1800, 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS 409, 2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello, 1969 Nissan Fairlady Z 432 and finally the 1984 Peugeot 205 T16.

Some players have already had a go at making these cars better, and one even made a drift car out of the classic Ferrari 250 – it is posted below, along with others in the same vein.

By Andrei Nedelea

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VIDEO

You Can Now Drive the Toyota FT-1 Concept…in GT6 [w/Videos]

On the same day that it was making its debut at the North American International Auto Show, the Toyota FT-1 Concept was also going up for download as part of a DLC (downloadable content) for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) title Gran Turismo 6 (GT6).

However, the show car lacked an actual engine, so we don’t know what exactly will power it in the game, since the official information from developer Polyphony Digital comfortably avoided the subject..

What was specified though was the fact that it was actually made in-game first, courtesy of Calty Design Research, in order “to realistically demonstrate what a production FT-1 could achieve.”

It’s a cool idea (even if it’s not all that new to the franchise) and according to GT series creator Kazunori Yamauchi, "it’s always been a dream of ours to have our automotive partners use Gran Turismo in exciting new ways…"

"The design team at Calty developed a stunning concept car and we were honored to work with them to render the car digitally for the concept presentation," he added. "The FT-1 is a forward-looking, technically advanced and beautiful concept car. We can’t wait to see fans’ reactions as they drive the vehicle and get to know it the way I was able to.”

GT6 players will be able to obtain the car either by achieving a bronze (or better)  finish in the FT-1 challenge at the Laguna Seca track. Otherwise, it can be purchased separately from the Toyota dealership.

The concept comes as part of an update (the third released so far) which also brings the game up to version 1.03, fixing some bugs, also adding a detailed interior for the BMW M4 along with additional unique Seasonal Events to take part in.

By Andrei Nedelea

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VIDEO

Man Plays Racing Game on the Same Track He's Being Driven Around in Megane RS

This is a bit of an odd one. It seems that in the quest to see just how realistic modern racing games are (probably, as we found no other motivation for this experiment), it was decided that strapping a racing wheel, a 19-inch screen and a gaming console into position for the passenger of a Renault Megane RS was a good idea.

The plan was to have a pro racing driver race around a track, while the passenger would be playing a game, using the same road/car combination.

The result must have been a disorienting one for the virtual driver, who felt the forces of the car moving around the corners before or after he approached them on the screen.

However, what’s surprising is that it was neck and neck right until the end.

Scroll down and click play after the virtual jump, courtesy of Viagame.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

NCG Has its own Breed of Physics Based Automotive Mayhem

There’s an individuality crisis among our current crop of driving games. Very little innovation going on, still, with a whole lot more effort into trying to make things not look like they’re from a different game; actual examples come to mind too, but it’s cool little low-budget productions like Next Car Game (NCG) that really put big money titles in stark contrast, at least when it comes to innovation.

Thankfully, though, its developer, Bugbear Entertainment, knows a thing or two about developing a mass-audience game, as their previous FlatOut series of destruction derby-style racing proved.

Now, NCG adds a little bit of Beam NG Drive into the mix, but keeps the nice polished graphics of a commercial title, and promises a game of reckless action, but with substance.

There will be a physics engine that keeps everything as real as possible, and there will also be a deep modding and tuning part too. Then, all that’s left to do is to destroy your tricked out banger by smashing it against other cars or obstacles…

The game is currently very early in development and looking for backers, but it already looks very pretty and detailed for its state, and the motion of the cars looks really nice and fluid – I’d even call it realistic…

Check out the videos after the jump to see what it’s all about.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

Virtual Gymkhana Attempt Sees Oncoming Cars Used as Obstacles

While Gymkhana star Ken Block mostly likes powersliding around (under and over) stationary objects, there are ways in which the formula could be enriched, without losing the attraction. For instance, you can use a bunch of Kia Ceed’ds have them drive in one direction around a track and then do your best to drift around and not crash into any of them.

That is a bit difficult and dangerous to pull off in real life, so we’re thankful for the realistic eye candy offered by Forza 5, a game used to enact exactly what was mentioned in paragraph one. A tricked out all-wheel drive Ford Focus ST is used for the job, a job which it seems to do very well.

There may have been some editing involved, but the final video is definitely entertaining and takes full advantage of Froza’s Drivatar actual people-mimicking artificial intelligence system that has virtual drivers swerving at the last moment to avoid impact.

The video lies below, after the virtual jump.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

Tiff Needell Helps EVO See Difference between Virtual and Reality in an Audi R8

So if you were wondering just how close to real the physics engine running Forza 5 is, EVO did a comparative test to determine just that. In doing so they required an Xbox One and one going by the name of Tiff Needell, of British TV fame. He also happens to be a fan of the car chosen for the test, an Audi R8 V10, which he drives to the best of his abilities.

At the virtual end of the spectrum, the magazine employed the services of in-house editor, and wearer of big sideburns, Henry Catchpole to try and get to grips with the polygon-based R8.

The track chosen for the compare was Silverstone, as it was a track familiar to both.

In the end, the conclusion was that while the game is realistic (to a degree, of course), in the case of the R8, it simply cannot simulate its intricacies of its behavior to the extent of it mimicking the real car. For instance, on the day of filming, the track was damp and Tiff’s run was blunted by excessive understeer around some corners – if the track had been dry, the car would have simply remained planted around all corners and maybe pushed its back out when on the throttle too quickly; that’s the only behavior it knows how to exhibit in-game.

Check out the full video below for the complete picture!

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

OMSI 2, Germany’s Most Advanced Bus Simulator is Here with Articulation

OMSI proposed a direct and unassisted bus driving experience that made it a niche product. However, for those who found themselves fancying that niche, it was a breath of fresh air in a sea of commercial mediocrity that plagues it.

It did lack variety of vehicles and maps, and even if the sequel, OMSI 2, doesn’t come in to fix that with a lot more content, it is an improvement of the original formula so therefore worthwhile (if you already know and like the first one).

The main feature added by this second game is realistic bus articulation, and the introduction of an articulated single-decker one for the very first time. It’s a variation of the double-decker designs seen before, and it poses a new challenge to drive, requiring extra skill to thread through the often narrow streets found in the game (most of the cities reproduced by the modding community are European).

Aside from the new physics capabilities of the game engine, graphics have also been updated, as has the original Berlin-based map, which gets new routes. Keep in mind that this is still not a pretty game like some commercial titles, but the bus models are very detailed and the choice of maps and scenarios is practically infinite. You can customize all parameters, including weather, to your heart’s desire.

Check out the selection of videos after the virtual jump.

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

VW's GT6 Vision Concept Looks Like a Badass Scirocco from the Future

While all car-(…and shoe) making companies participating in the Gran Turismo 6 Vision project have the creative freedom to conceive whatever type of vehicle they want for the series, we imagine that they also want their designs to retain strong ties with their respective brands.

We could be wrong, since for the time being, Volkswagen has limited shared information on its GT6 Vision Concept to the following single sketch, but the first thing we thought upon seeing it was a dynamic and futuristic interpretation of the Scirocco coupe-hatchback. What do you think?

According to the most recent report, VW doesn't plan to replace the Scirocco with an all new model before 2017, but it will refresh it with a heavy facelift later this year.

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Honda's Barchetta-Style Vision Concept for Gran Turismo 6

You can now add Honda to the growing list of automakers, design studios and other companies that have released a teaser sketch of a dedicated concept model through which they will be represented on Gran Turismo 6's Vision series in celebration of the racing game's 15th anniversary.

Like most other concept models of the series, we don’t have a name or any information, for that matter, on the Honda study, and the only thing we can tell you is what you can already see for yourself; that it has a barchetta-style body, with the profile air-vents behind the doors suggesting a mid-mounted powerplant.

All concepts designed around the theme "Vision Gran Turismo" will gradually be available to players for free via DLC (downloadable content).

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