Second Test Drive Unlimited demo to hit Live Marketplace on August 24th

[Parm]

ATARI ANNOUNCES SECOND TEST DRIVE UNLIMITED DEMO
- Road Test Racing Reinvented with New Demo Coming to Xbox Live Marketplace -

LYON, FRANCE – 23 August 2006 – Atari today announced the forthcoming launch of a new Test Drive Unlimited playable demo for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, via Xbox Live® Marketplace. Developed by Eden Games, Test Drive Unlimited has already excited gamers with its massive array of single player challenges and diverse online multiplayer delights. The new demo will be released Thursday August 24th 2006 featuring stunning new vehicles, new challenges, longer play time and a host of other enhancements to give gamers a tantalising taste of racing reinvented. Test Drive Unlimited is scheduled for release across Europe September 8th 2006.

The first Test Drive Unlimited playable demo, released during E3 2006 as part of Microsoft’s initiative to bring gamers closer to the event, was downloaded close to 200,000 times from Xbox Live Marketplace in one short week, bringing the demo in third place overall amongst all downloads during the period. Feedback from the global gaming community proved vital in giving Eden Games a clear direction to improve the quality of the final game and deliver the incredible experience Test Drive Unlimited now offers.

With the new demo allowing up to one hour of play in a 60km² area of the graphically polished and geographically accurate Hawaiian island of Oahu, players will have time to discover a stunning new house, three delicious new super cars – the Ferrari F430, Ford Mustang GT and AC Cobra – and one brutally powerful motorbike, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. Players can choose to accept one of the four new offline challenges, take on either of the two new online challenges with up to eight players racing simultaneously, launch instant challenges against anyone they encounter on the road, or just burn gallons of virtual gasoline tearing around the lush tropical roads in free ride. Other enhancements include tighter handling, snappy gear changes, customizable speed blur effects, optional in-car camera vibrations, improved lag allowing eight player online races, fully operational vsync, an incredible level of overall graphical polish, and much more. “We know Xbox Live gamers in Europe are eagerly anticipating their next taste of Test Drive Unlimited,” said Richard Teversham, Platform & Marketing E&D EMEA, Microsoft. “Test Drive Unlimited gives gamers and their friends an innovative combination of driving skills, connected gaming where ever you are, and unbeatable graphics that harness the power of Xbox 360. This exclusive game is a great addition to the Xbox 360 portfolio.”
-more-
While the new demo gives a good flavour of what to expect from Test Drive Unlimited, it barely scratches the surface of the final game which offers over 1000 miles of roads, 90 of the world’s most exclusive super cars and bikes, and unlimited online challenges. Test Drive Unlimited is racing reinvented.

Test Drive Unlimited is scheduled for release across Europe September 8th 2006 and the new demo is available via Xbox Live Marketplace from August 24th 2006. For more information visit www.testdriveunlimited.com.

I wasn't at all impressed with the first demo. The hands on test at Atari last month was an improvement, but still not perfect.
Looking forward to seeing how this demo shapes up.

[Tom Scott]

Woo WOO!

[pr0p4g4nd4]

Bah Humbug! I'm waiting for the PC version, an x900xt and the Logitech G25 Wheel Lucky 360 owning gits!!

[SmileyUK]

Demo is out on marketplace now for those that want it

[Tom Scott]

Downloaded and played it a bit.... the controls seem to have gone from really really easy to utterly rediculous. I mean the F430 now handles like its got grease coatings on every tyre.
Not sure on this one now....

[Parm]

I've just started downloading it, will give it a go later.

I don't really have high hopes for this one, I think it'll be good, but I think Forza 2 is where the real action lies.

[SmileyUK]

i never was too sure on it, and the shafting the eu is getting on the price is making me boycott it i think. But i will always try a demo to make sure im not missing out too badly

now dont come back and quote me on this if you see it on my gamertag at any point

[Parm]

After the hands on play test at Atari, they phoned me up later to see what I thought of it.
I told them exactly what I thought, the scale of the game was impressive, but in driving terms it didn't feel quite so good.

When asked if I was going to buy the game, I told them probably not.
I also told them that one of the main reasons was the price difference between here and the States. Told them that a lot of people felt the same way so hopefully they were listening!

Just incase anybody missed it, this is what I thought: http://www.parmmann.com/2006/07/16/t...ited-hands-on/

[j.o.s.h.1408]

i just had a go on it and i am very impressed. i like the handling of teh cars and the graphics are realy impressive as well. Great Game

[SmileyUK]

Im hoping a lot of UK gamers do the same to send a message out to atari as its clearly unfair, i dont mind paying more in general for games, but when its a budget title in 1 country and not in another, thats pushing it too far. I did the same to top spin 2, which in the end worked out for the better as i got table tennis instead and i love it

[Parm]

I've just given the second demo a quick spin and it's certainly a big improvement from the first demo.

Although it looks similar it's definately been polished and runs a whole lot smoother now.

That said, my opinion from the hands on still stands. Despite the immense amount of detail, and the sheer size of the game it lacked the thrills and spills of a real racing game.

If you want a game where you can drive around all day without seeing the same place twice, this is probably it.
If on the other hand you want to race and have the car under your complete control, this might not be for you.

[MadduckUK]

Originally Posted by Parm

but I think Forza 2 is where the real action lies.

god yes! im jumping on the 360 bandwagon as soon as it lands

[CAL3H]

I think I seem to be the only person on Earth that really loves this game. From the outset and playing the first demo I really enjoyed the idea of Multiplayer online street racing and played the 15 minute demo more times than I care to remember.

I will re-buy my 360 (which gave up) as soon as possible to play this demo and full game.

As to the pricing, this does indeed suck and is the reason I cancelled my pre-order. Lets hope they realise at some point they need to reduce the price to a standard across the globe (or as near as possible). Only reason they probably won't is because they know they have a game that has huge hype behind it - the Marketplace download count speaks for itself.

The ball is in Atari's court now. £29.99 and I'll take one, thank you.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

your not the only one who loves this game. i loved it from the moment i played the first demo. it is amazing and cant wait till it comes out

[XA04]

I played it on my bro's Xbox, great fun. Looks very promising!, it's great just going insane, driving on the wrong side of the road, pulling a wheelie, beeping your horn and watching all the traffic trying to get out of your way

[pr0p4g4nd4]

O/T: How big is your sig j.o.s.h.1408 ?