Forbes ranks Top 10 video games for drivers

We may not be able to afford exotic cars in real life, but for decades gearheads the world over have embraced video games as a way to unleash their inner Schumacher. Jeremy Rosenberg at ForbesAutos.com (OK, Forbes isn't an obvious choice for a video game survey, but what the heck, at least some Forbes readers can actually afford to buy these cars...) has examined the historical spectrum of driving games, ranging from arcade classics to the current state of the art, and come up with an all-time Top Ten list:

1. Gran Turismo 4
2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
3. OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast
4. Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed
5. Spy Hunter
6. Project Gotham Racing 3
7. Sega GT 2002
8. Test Drive Unlimited
9. Pole Position
10. The Fast and the Furious

GT4, not surprisingly, hits the top of the chart for its uncompromising approach to realism in the driving simulator genre. (Of course, as with most games sponsored by automakers, that realism doesn't extend to crash damage.)

You may not agree with Forbes' choices and ranking, but with Sony's much-anticipated PlayStation 3 launching next month, the list might get you thinking about a new driving game to showcase the next-gen platform. Or maybe you'll just grab a roll of quarters and head for the arcade.

[Source: ForbesAutos.com]