Autoblog

Michael Bay takes a whack at Need For Speed: The Run trailer

Chris Shunk — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Videos

Video games are big business. Titles like Call of Duty can reach a billion dollars or more in sales, but racing games typically don't fare quite as well. Maybe that's why the Need For Speed team developed The Run; a cross-country thriller that combines fast cars, beautiful-yet-pixelated women (with real-life swimsuit model voices and Christina Hendricks) and abundant out-of-the-car action.

To show just how serious Electronic Arts is about Need for Speed: The Run, the franchise went to box-office ATM machine Michael Bay to cut the game trailer. Bay may not make the most critically acclaimed movies of all time, but they make serious bank, and he knows how to whip up the pre-release excitement with killer trailers.

Hit the jump to watch the action-packed trailer he cut together for The Run, then stay for a second video that gives a behind the scenes look at how Bay and his team assembled the teaser.

Continue reading Michael Bay takes a whack at Need For Speed: The Run trailer

Michael Bay takes a whack at Need For Speed: The Run trailer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Race of Champions coming to a smartphone near you

Noah Joseph — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Toys/Games

Not everyone can compete in the Race of Champions. You have to be, you know, an actual champion of something. (That something being a professional racing series of some sort.) But us ordinary Joes can do the next best thing: pretend like we're champions while playing with our smartphones.

The organizers of the annual event, which brings a wide variety of racing talent together each year for head-to-head competition, is launching its own video game for iOS and Android devices. The game features various track layouts from past runnings of the RoC, and benefits from the input of professional racing drivers like rally veteran Michele Moutan and endurance and rally champion Marc Duez.

It's being developed by Hungarian studio Invictus, and is set to launch in app stores online later in October ahead of this year's race scheduled for December 3-4 in Düsseldorf. Organizers have also recently announced that 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button, WTCC vet Andy Priaulx and DTM champ Mattias Ekstrom have signed on to join Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher for the event, and that the 270-horsepower Skoda Fabia S2000 rally car will one of the cars they'll be driving there come December.

Continue reading Race of Champions coming to a smartphone near you

Race of Champions coming to a smartphone near you originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DiRT 3 hidden games and party mode revealed

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games

DiRT 3 screen shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

The release of DiRT 3 is nigh upon us and, as a final teaser, game maker Codemasters has revealed an intriguing three-game party mode. The party mode consists of mini games and will serve as an escape for those who get tired of sliding Ken Block's WRC Ford Fiesta around gravel-strewn corners at breakneck speed. It also means there will be a welcome multiplayer mode to an already awesome racing title.

Party mode's three mini games all sound like an excellent way to avoid homework, housework, taxes, lawn mowing or emotional interaction with other human beings. The first, called Invasion, has players driving around an open parking lot attempting to destroy cardboard robots while avoiding skyscrapers, which could turn out to also be robots.

The second game is Outbreak, where a glowing-green "infected" player tries to spread his car's disease by crashing into opponents. Last man standing without the verdant infection leaves the game victorious.

The last game is Transporter, where players careen around in search of spontaneously-appearing flags. Once you claim a flag, you have to return it to your home base without being mugged by another player.

Essentially, party mode combines a Mario Party-style multiplayer mode with a straightforward rally-racing game. The marketability of that seems more than plausible, and the prospect of breaking up racing with some good, old-fashioned playground games sounds like a winner to us.

Gallery: DiRT 3 Screen Shots

[Source: Joystiq]

DiRT 3 hidden games and party mode revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Motorstorm Apocalypse is down and dirty racing, Mad Max style

Zach Bowman — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games

Motorstorm Apocalypse - Click above to watch video after the jump

If Gran Turismo 5 has turned a bit stale for you, never fear. The crew behind the Motorstorm franchise has just what you need to wet your racing videogame whistle in the form of the new Motorstorm Apocalypse. The game takes all of the fender-bashing glory of the classics into a city in the throes of collapse. Players will not only have to contend with the other racers, but they'll have to square off against an environment that's hell-bent on destruction as well. It's like Mad Max on steroids.

Programmers have thrown in a heap of new vehicle classes on top of old favorites, and the single-player campaign brings a new level of story-telling to the party for the first time. Additionally, new online multiplayer content allows you to collect experience points to build your favorite racing machine, collect medals to show off and to unlock new vehicle perks to help you gain an edge over the rest of the field.

Sign us up.

You can check out a full trailer for the game after the jump as well as a few developer journals that take a closer look at both the multiplayer and the single player action. We think you won't be disappointed.

[Source: Caradisiac]

Continue reading Video: Motorstorm Apocalypse is down and dirty racing, Mad Max style

Video: Motorstorm Apocalypse is down and dirty racing, Mad Max style originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Test Drive Unlimited 2

Tim Stevens — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games, New Car Reviews

Massively Open Online Racing Rolls Again

Test Drive Unlimited 2: Review - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's hard to believe that four and a half years have passed since Eden Studios took its best shot at merging the open online gameplay of an MMO with a racer to create the original Test Drive Unlimited. Most would agree that the attempt wasn't exactly perfect, but that didn't stop TDU from being refreshing and incredibly fun to play. Really, who wouldn't get behind the idea of amassing a collection of gorgeous cars and recklessly racing them all over Oahu?

And so, similarly, who wouldn't get behind the idea of amassing a huge collection of amazing cars and racing them around both Oahu and Ibiza? Yes, this time gamers will be putting on their clubbing duds and hitting the Mediterranean party island as well, with the two rocks offering over 1,500 miles of roads - some of them unpaved. A lot has changed on this second trip to paradise, but even more has stayed the same. Is there enough new to make this journey worthwhile a second time?

Continue reading...

Gallery: Test Drive Unlimited 2

Continue reading Review: Test Drive Unlimited 2

Review: Test Drive Unlimited 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: G4 gives us a sneak preview of DiRT 3

Noah Joseph — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Codemasters' DiRT 3 - Click above to watch the video after the jump

For pure, unadulterated rally action from the comfort of your living room, there's nothing quite like DiRT. The video game franchise from Codemasters is about as realistic as they come, and now they've got their third installment coming in the form of DiRT 3.

Not only is the game promised to be more accurate in its execution and feel, but it incorporates a whole new slew of features. There are more cars and more stages, of course, but that's hardly the end of it: DiRT 3 also incorporates two new kinds of rally action - Gymkhana and hillclimb. The former, of course, was popularized by Ken Block who's now crossed over to professional rally competition, while the latter brings events like Pikes Peak into the fold to really get that dirt kicking. But don't take our word for it, follow the jump to watch the video preview from G4, including an interview with the studio's lead game developer and gameplay footage from what is shaping up as the new benchmark in rally action.

[Source: G4]

Continue reading Video: G4 gives us a sneak preview of DiRT 3

Video: G4 gives us a sneak preview of DiRT 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Forza Motorsport 4 trailer released, coming for GT5's lunch money in Fall 2011 [w/poll]

Chris Shunk — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Toys/Games

Click above to watch the video after the jump

November 2010 was a big month for driving simulator-loving PlayStation 3 owners. Gran Turismo 5 finally hit store shelves nearly six years after GT4 set the gaming world aflame. GT5 is a PS3-only affair, though, so xBox fans have little to get excited about. But then again, most xBox champions probably feel they already have a hyper-realistic driving simulator courtesy of the Forza series. And according to the official Forza Motorsport website next Fall will see the debut of Forza 4.

That's right; just one year after GT5 finally graced our presence and only two years after Forza 3 was minted, an all-new Forza is waiting in the wings. We're a little shy on details at at this point, but we're guessing the game will build upon the 500 cars in the Forza 3 Ultimate Collection, with more tracks, more racing styles and, hopefully, even more stunning graphics. Hit the jump to watch the Forza Motorsport 4 teaser, and chime in on the battle of Forza versus Gran Turismo in our poll below. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

View Poll

Gallery: Forza Motorsport 4

[Source: Forza Motorsport]

Continue reading Video: Forza Motorsport 4 trailer released, coming for GT5's lunch money in Fall 2011 [w/poll]

Video: Forza Motorsport 4 trailer released, coming for GT5's lunch money in Fall 2011 [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari to release Virtual Academy online driving simulator [w/video]

Drew Phillips — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Ferrari, Toys/Games

Ferrari Driving Academy Trailer - Click above to watch the video after the jump

There are a handful of F1 driving simulators out in the market today, ranging from Codemaster's F1 2010 to the $191,000 Cruden Hexatech simulator. Ferrari has decided to try their hand at their own version called Ferrari Virtual Academy 2010.

The simulation racing game will benefit from much of Ferrari's own expertise in Formula One. The team's engineers were consulted to provide realistic driving dynamics and each of the tracks were digitally recreated with Laser Scan and Motion Capture. Ferrari's current competitor, the F10, is the vehicle of choice, and Fiorano, Mugello and the Nürburgring are the current tracks available. There's no word as to whether historic cars or additional tracks will be offered.

The game will be available for download on September 9 with a price tag of 15 Euros (around $19 USD), although to tantalize potential users, Ferrari has said that there will be "exclusive Scuderia gadgets and further surprises" for the drivers. We don't know what that means, but we can't imagine a Ferrari gadget that we wouldn't like. Need to see more? You can watch the game's official trailer after the jump.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari to release Virtual Academy online driving simulator [w/video]

Ferrari to release Virtual Academy online driving simulator [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Reverse-engineered Wipeout racing videogame is silly brilliance

Chris Shunk — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Videos, Toys/Games, Humor

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Leave it to the Germans to turn a real-life radio control car, a video camera with a wireless transmitter and an arcade box into the best 3D rendition of the old Playstation game Wipeout we've ever seen. If designer Malte Jehmlich and friends would have stopped after designing a massive multi-level carboard track for their remote control cars, we would have thought it was pretty cool. But the innovative crew attached a plate to their 1/28 scale car and mounted a video camera with a wireless transmitter that sends a video signal to an arcade racing cabinet to make this a truly multi-dimensional video game. The racing cabinet is equipped with a steering wheel and a monitor that displays the r/c car's progress in real time. The whole project took them two months to put together.

Jehmlich and his friends are currently working on integrating force feedback and power-ups using sensors built into the track. Very cool, indeed. Hit the jump to watch video of the Great Room-sized arcade game in action. We're thinking that we'd want one of these in the basement, but we're not sure if our wives would approve.

[Source: Vimeo via Engadget]

Continue reading Video: Reverse-engineered Wipeout racing videogame is silly brilliance

Video: Reverse-engineered Wipeout racing videogame is silly brilliance originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thrustmaster's latest gaming rig is the next best thing to a Ferrari 430 Scuderia [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:08:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ferrari, Toys/Games

Thurstmaster Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit 430 Scuderia Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

Looking for that ultimate gaming setup for playing Gran Turismo? Short of a full cockpit installed in your living room, this could very well be it.

The Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit 430 Scuderia Edition from Thurstmaster incorporates an 11-inch steering wheel (a 70% scale replica of the 430 Scuderia's) mounted on an adjustable metal column affixed to a base with twin metal pedals. The wireless system is compatible with the PlayStation 3 and PC (Xbox fans are left stranded by the side of the road), but if you thought the actual Scuderia was expensive, the 23-pound Thrustmaster setup will set you back $250. Follow the jump to watch a demo video and to check out the official press release.

Gallery: Thurstmaster Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit 430 Scuderia Edition

[Source: Thrustmaster via Engadget]

Continue reading Thrustmaster's latest gaming rig is the next best thing to a Ferrari 430 Scuderia [w/video]

Thrustmaster's latest gaming rig is the next best thing to a Ferrari 430 Scuderia [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: PadRacer replaces Scalextric with a whole Apple Store's worth of hardware

Noah Joseph — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Toys/Games

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Scalextric is so retro, so old school, so... analog. PadRacer takes the concept into the digital age. The top-view racing game, as you might have guessed, is designed for the iPad. But that's not the end of its hardware requirements. To control the game, each player (up to four) uses an iPhone or iPod Touch, controlling the movement of his car with the smaller device's gyroscopic motion sensor.

Sound like fun? Well, it oughta, considering you're going to need a good grand's worth or more of machinery running Apple's iPhone OS. Fortunately the game itself only costs $5. Check it out in the brief 19-second video after the jump.

[Source: Wired]

Continue reading Video: PadRacer replaces Scalextric with a whole Apple Store's worth of hardware

Video: PadRacer replaces Scalextric with a whole Apple Store's worth of hardware originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 May 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Has Gran Turismo 5 been postponed?

Chris Shunk — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:57:00 EST

We don't know if the marketing folks at Polyphony Digital are messing with us or if building one of the most impressive racing simulators of all time is just really, really hard. For some reason, the rumored release date of the hotly anticipated Gran Turismo 5 is jumping around like the rear axle of a gen one Cadillac CTS-V. We've heard December 29, 2009, late 2009 and even a March 2010 Japan release. Now comes word on the Amazon website that GT5 is going to be released on March 31, 2010. Frankly, we liked "late 2009" a lot more, but it appears we have little say in the matter.

Who knows, the constant date-shifting could be a heartless attempt by Kazunori Yamauchi and his minions to keep their perpetually forthcoming release in the news. We're thinking it's time to stop with the tomfoolery and get this thing launched. Five years and an all-new gaming console is long enough to wait for the answer to GT4.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 screen shots

[Source: Gran Turismo]

Has Gran Turismo 5 been postponed? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT track guides for Road America, Willow Springs and Laguna Seca

Noah Joseph — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Click above to watch the videos after the jump

Make no mistake about it: the racing games are coming. But while it may be all to easy to get lost in all the hype over the latest from Microsoft's Forza or Sony's Gran Turismo franchises, Electronic Arts has a trick of its own up its sleeve. (We're just kidding, everyone knows gamers don't wear sleeves.) And they've just given us a glimpse of what to expect. Three of them, actually.

The benchmark of any good racing game is how faithfully it reproduces some of our most favorite race tracks. And if that's the gold standard, then Need for Speed SHIFT is shaping up to be a great one. If you'll follow us after the jump, you can enjoy three new videos outlining EA's take on three of America's best circuits: Laguna Seca, Willow Springs and Road America - complete with run-downs of each track's histories and intricacies. The game launches in North America on September 15, but you can check out the videos now.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT track guides for Road America, Willow Springs and Laguna Seca

VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT track guides for Road America, Willow Springs and Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT includes Lexus LF-A, BMW M3 GT2, lots of awesome

Noah Joseph — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:27:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Click above to watch videos after the jump

The holidays come for auto freaks several times a year, and we call those times auto shows. But with the motor show calendar on break for the summer, we got an unexpected injection of octane from this year's E3 video game expo. As if it weren't enough to catch a glimpse at such promising upcoming releases as Forza Motorosport 3, Gran Turismo 5 and Codemasters' FUEL, we've now got another one to add to our shopping lists: Need for Speed SHIFT.

Although previous installments of the NFS franchise focused on outrunning the po-po and tricking out imports, as our thumb-cramped compatriots over at Joystiq found out just this past March, SHIFT promises to deliver a pure racing simulator. EA has now released the full list of cars (including such highlights as the Lexus LF-A, Pagani Zonda R, Nissan GT-R SpecV, BMW M3 GT2 and Audi R8 LMS) and tracks (including the Nürburgring, Laguna Seca and Willow Springs) that'll be included in the game, along with a pair of videos that we've posted after the jump. Check 'em out, and prepare to lose sleep.

Gallery: Need for Speed SHIFT

Continue reading VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT includes Lexus LF-A, BMW M3 GT2, lots of awesome

VIDEOS: Need for Speed SHIFT includes Lexus LF-A, BMW M3 GT2, lots of awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Codemasters' FUEL features 5,000+ square miles of drivable terrain

Noah Joseph — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Toys/Games

Codemasters Fuel - Click above to watch the video

Getting tired of driving over the same virtual circuits over and over again? Sure, it's a good way to get to know a track, but if can get tiresome. That's why Codemasters - the game studio behind DiRT, Grid and the upcoming F1 series - is releasing Fuel.

The arcade-style racing game boasts a Guinness World Record for the most virtual terrain in any video game: a whopping 5,560 square miles of drivable turf. To design the digital turf layout, developers took the entire Western United States and put the best into the game, encompassing everything from city streets and desert highways to switchback country roads and snowy mountain passes, in all manner of weather conditions.

The paddock of vehicles includes motorbikes, race cars and trucks, but they're all fictitious, so if you're looking for a realistic racing simulator, look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you're looking for an old-school arcade game with a virtually endless array of tracks, this game's got your name written all over it. Check out the video after the jump and the high-res screencaps in the gallery below. Fuel releases for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Windows on June 5.

Gallery: Codemasters Fuel

[Source: Codemasters]

Continue reading VIDEO: Codemasters' FUEL features 5,000+ square miles of drivable terrain

VIDEO: Codemasters' FUEL features 5,000+ square miles of drivable terrain originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Driving games begin to land on iPhone

Chris Shunk — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:54:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc.

The iPhone has been a hit since its release and Apple has ratcheted up the excitement the last couple of months, as the recently-released software development kit for the phone is already bearing fruit. In a short period of time and on what we'd guess is a very limited budget, one group of developers has designed a cool racing game called Raging Thunder that features quality graphics, a number of cars, and steering that utilizes the iPhone's revolutionary accelerometer. While the game isn't exactly groundbreaking, it demonstrates that we should see some very cool racing games when big-time developers really start to focus on the iPhone. Follow the jump to see the sweet-looking Raging Thunder in action.

[Source: Kotaku]

Continue reading VIDEO: Driving games begin to land on iPhone

VIDEO: Driving games begin to land on iPhone originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 May 2008 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2007 AB Gift Guide: VRX Mach 4

Chris Tutor — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., Toys/Games

There are racing simulators, and then there's VRX Industries simulators. Their VRX Mach 4 is the Bugatti Veyron of sims. It takes four Xbox 360s to run the Mach 4's three 37" high-def LCD screens and 7" LCD rear view mirror. Realistic sound is provided by a Bose Acoustimass system with a Harmon Kardon surround sound receiver. A Sparco Monza racing seat holds you tight as the 1500 watt tactile feedback system and 1900 watt tactile power amp simulate ever bump and crash. And if all that isn't enough to make you feel like a racecar driver, there's even a virtual wind system, people. With all that realism, you're gonna work up a thirst, and you're taken care of there, too, with, a "beverage containment system." Not even Mr. Räikkönen gets one of those.

VRX Mach 4 Racing Simulator - $24,995

Next up: Custom-built and only 100 made!

Gallery: 2008 AB Gift Guide

2007 AB Gift Guide: VRX Mach 4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today's time-waster: BMW puts you in control of the M3

Chris Shunk — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Etc., BMW, First Drives

BMW is serious about its M3 coupe, so much so that the German automaker is willing to invest big bucks to show potential buyers just how great the M driving experience is. To give you control of the M3, BMW created a video game where you get to dance around the Nürburgring. The file is a mega-load at 345 MB, and BMW suggests having a steering controller for the PC to get the best possible experience. We didn't have the wheel, so we stuck with the keyboard controls. The interface seems like it was designed by the architects of iDrive, and trying to exit the game almost crashed our fortified quad-core gamer machine, but the graphics were pretty sweet. That said, if the M3 handles as poorly as it did for us in this video game, most of us would rather have a Crown Victoria rolling on DUBs (Readers, be advised: "Most of us" refers to Chris and the other voices in his head. Just a clarification. - Ed). It took us 20 minutes to get to the point where we could keep the virtual 414 HP on the track, and steering was too sensitive on pavement and flat-lined on anything else. Let us know how you do if you take the time to try it. Heck, it's a time waster, but it's free.

[Source: BMW]

Today's time-waster: BMW puts you in control of the M3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greatest video game accessory EVAR

Chris Shunk — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Motorsports, Videos

Home racing games have come a long way since Pole Position, with controllers providing feedback to virtual drivers, while true to life graphics and vehicle driving dynamics making the action feel much more real. Microsoft has even engineered some real-life smoke from their official steering wheel, even though the software giant from Redmond, Washington really wishes the problem didn't exist.

The pneumatic experts at Festo have taken a big step towards making the most real-life racing game experience, and the extent of on-road feel of their new contraption looks very impressive. Festo uses Fluidic Muscles and mechatronic systems to give users a true sensation of either driving or flying, depending on the software being used. It's really more of an industrial simulator than a game, and we're pretty sure it costs a bit more than a Playstation 3. Either way, we'll need to come up with a business case to AOL for buying one for the Autoblog team. You can check out a video of the Festo system after the jump.

Thanks for the tip, thesawzall!

Continue reading Greatest video game accessory EVAR

Greatest video game accessory EVAR originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Aug 2007 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Video driving games promote risky behavior in real life

John Neff — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Does a three-hour marathon session of Burnout Revenge on the Xbox 360 give you the urge to go wreak automotive havoc on an unsuspecting public? Perhaps not, but you might be more inclined to run a red light or wantonly speed according to a new study that confirms the correlation between racing games and risky behavior behind the wheels. While surveys have been done to establish this correlation in the past, this is one of the first hardcore studies conducted to back up this theory.

Conducted by Peter Fischer at Ludwig-Maximilians University and the Allianz Center for Technology in Germany (Allianz is one of the largest insurance companies in the world), the study took a very scientific approach. Published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, it began with interviewing a number of subjects on their driving habits and how often they played video games that featured driving in a real-world setting. Next, researchers actually compared the effect of playing games like Burnout, Midnight Racer and Need for Speed on the brain. It was found that such games did increase cognitions that relate to risk taking and arousal/excitement. Finally, the study gauged whether these types of driving games actually translated into risk-taking behavior by using the widely accepted Vienna Test System. Sure enough, it was found that men (though not women) were more likely to take risks in traffic after playing these games.

The linked article from Arstechnica makes the good point that the study steered clear of driving games like Project Gotham Racing, Forza and Gran Turismo that take place on virtual tracks in controlled environments. Such games, if studied, might be found to promote increased motor skills and concentration since the goal is to get the best lap time and not run over granny in your Gremlin.

What's worrisome, however, is if the correlation between these types of driving games might eventually give the insurance industry cause to increase rates for gamers that like to indulge in a little Grand Theft Auto.

[Source: Arstechnica]

STUDY: Video driving games promote risky behavior in real life originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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