On November 15, 2001, Microsoft unleashed the Xbox to the world of gaming in North America. With a built-in hard disk drive and the use of Dolby Interactive Content-Encoding Technology, the XBox brought about some new competition for the Sony Playstation 2, the Sega Dreamcast, and the Nintendo GameCube.
In late 2006, the XBox was discontinued, but its bigger and better brother, the XBox 360, was introduced on April 15, 2010.
While the rest of the country is feeling the pinch of what may be another impending recession, video game developers apparently have no problems in giving away sports cars.
Since the new M5 can be seen in all its mug on the cover of Forza 4, it only seemed appropriate that Microsoft would be choosing the car as its contest prize. In fact, Microsoft went as far as teaming up with BMW themselves to create a virtual contest within the game called the ’BMW M5 Forza Cup.’ The objective is pretty simple, too. All you need to do is post the fastest virtual lap time of the M5.
In a statement released recently, Microsoft went with the specifics as to how gamers can join the contest. “This competition allows gamers who have signed up as members of the Xbox Live online community or at www.bmw.de/forza4 to push for the quickest time in the new BMW M5.
Visitors to selected BMW branches, BMW Welt in Munich and the BMW showroom in Berlin will also have the chance to enter the competition. The 16 finalists will lock horns in the final of the BMW M5 Forza Cup at BMW Welt on November 26 2011.”
The winner, of course, will walk home with a brand new 2012 BMW M5.
Electronic Arts will actually be giving away a Porsche 911 Carrera S to a very, very lucky gamer. Anybody who bought the limited edition version of Need for Speed: The Run will have the chance to drive the virtual 911 Carrera S in the game. But much more important than that is the fact that EA will actually give one person a real 911 Carrera S. Not a video game version; a real Porsche sports car that you can touch, and more importantly, drive away with.
The contest to win the Porsche sports car is pretty simple. All you need to do is head over to the official Need for Speed: The Run website, navigate your way to the contest page, and follow the simple directions to put your name in the proverbial hat.
Remember to read the terms and conditions because not everybody is eligible to enter the contest - having to be of legal age of your country and needing to have a driver’s license are a few of the conditions stated.
Be sure to read the fine print and if you’re eligible on all ends, then do the sane thing and enter the contest for the chance to win a 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S.
It’s hard to top the last video of Need For Speed: The Run, especially when it featured steaming Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. For their part, though, the people over at NFS have just released the latest promo video for their soon-to-be-released racing game.
No, it doesn’t come with any scantily-clad foxes, but what it does feature are two supercars considered two of the most desirable exotics on the market today: the McLaren MP4-12C and the Pagani Huayra.
As always, the video offers plenty of breathtaking racing between the two supercars with a short and ultimately crash-tastic cameo of an out-of-its-element police car.
But the real highlight of the video is the race between the MP4-12C and the Huayra. Here’s a spoiler, though: if you’re a fan of either one of these cars, then prepare to weep as one of them gets thrown off a cliff.
We’re not kidding.
Check out the video and find out which one goes flying off the mountain.
It’s been a year since Gran Turismo 5 was released and it seems a little strange that they’ve waited this long to release the ’Spec 2.0’ update for the game. Oh, wait...Forza 4 is dropping on shelves next week. Now it all makes sense.
Whatever motives they might have, the fact is that Polyphony Digital will be releasing the major game update on October 11, where it will feature a number of new - and long overdue - elements, including a new in-game save feature that allows gamers to save their progress while competing in a race, especially of the endurance variety. In addition to that, the game will now carry a simplified interior view of the non-premium cars. The instant replay and photo tools have also been tweaked to become a little more user-friendly, and of course, plenty of new cars too, including 11 new 2011 NASCAR race cars and the Nissan GT-R Schulze Motor Sport.
Finally, the Spec 2.0 update will also carry an added support feature for both the Logitech G25 and G27 racing wheels to serve as accepted add-on accessories for the game.
Forza Motorsport 4 is getting ready to hit shelves on October 11, 2011, so Microsoft is reeling in the last bit of consumer restraint by tugging at the heartstrings of the car- and speed-loving fanatics of the world. In their newest trailer, spokesman Jeremy Clarkson goes into detail about the endangered species of the world: the lovers of speed, the devotees of power, performance, and noise.
The trailer talks about the diminishing numbers of opportunities for these fanatics to get into their powerful cars - an Aston Martin DB9, in this case - and ride speedily onto to the open road without fear of police interference. The time to enjoy the adrenaline rush felt by slamming down on the accelerator and the beauty behind driving freely is fading away into a distant memory, but Clarkson has a solution. Of course, this is a paid gig for him, but his solution is to get in on the Forza Motorsport 4 action. It may not be the same as the real thing, but the real thing may have some law enforcement consequences.
By the way, xBox Live Gold members can now enjoy the Forza 4 demo, so ride on!
If you are one of those gamers that have circled November 15, 2011 in red ink on your calendars then this next bit of news may rattle your composure some more. The new version of the famous Need for Speed game has just gotten itself another teaser trailer, but this one is not showcasing hot sports cars. This teaser trailer shows off the assets of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models, Irina Shayk and Chrissy Teigen.
Apparently, these two young ladies were given the SIMS treatment and will be getting behind the wheel and battling it out in the illicit $25 million cross-country race from San Francisco to New York. They aren’t your allies, but some damn good-looking competition. We’re not sure what type of driving skills these girls have, but anyone that has seen the original Cannonball Run can get a pretty good idea as to how they will handle the competition. Have we mentioned their assets?
"There are only a few companies that deliver upon the promise of excitement and innovation with every new product launch and EA stands at the top of that list. This is why it is very exciting that SI Swimsuit will be part of the latest edition of the Need for Speed franchise," said Frank Wall, vice president and publisher of Sports Illustrated. "I’m sure that the millions Swimsuit fans will be excited to see Irina and Chrissy behind the wheel and millions more will be introduced to franchise in a fun and unexpected way."
Sex sells (even in cartoon form) and EA, as well as SI Swimsuit, aren’t shy about pimping out their contacts.
The Need For Speed franchise will be rolling out a new game called ’The Run’ before the holidays and they’re banking on the exclusive appearance of one of the most highly anticipated sports car of the year, the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S for increased sales.
They’re so high on the 911 Carrera S that they even took the time to make an exclusive preview of the sports car for our viewing. As if we needed any more convincing; we’re already scooping up the game when it hits shelves this November.
However, it’s still a cool video to watch, especially since the Porsche supercar is only a few days away from being unveiled to the public. And as an added bonus, if you look more closely at the promo, you’ll notice that the 911 Carrera S isn’t the only Porsche sports car making an appearance. Yep, the 500-horsepower Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0 is also running roughshod over America’s highways.
Check out the video and watch the two Porsche monsters that will be part of Need For Speed: The Run.
Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes in making a groundbreaking racing game like Forza Motorsport?
With all the attention geared towards the cars that appear in this game, it’s easy to lose track of the fact that designing all the world-class race tracks in the game is far more difficult given all the painstaking detail that goes into just one of these venues.
For their part, the developers over at Turn 10 studios spared no expense in their research and in this particular video, the team set out for Germany to visit the world-famous Hockenheim race track.
This five-minute video will illustrate just how much detail is required to make these tracks as realistic as possible. Needless to say, the guys at Turn 10 had their work cut out for them in building a realistic representation of Hockenheim for Forza 4. As the video will show you, all the tricks and gadgets came out just so the virtual version of the German race track looks as good as - if not better - than the real deal.
With so many racing games inundating the market these days, run-of-the-mill racing wheels, let alone the standard controllers, just wouldn’t cut it anymore.
These games feature cutting-edge technology and you’re using a cheap wheel to play them? Not exactly realistic, is it?
What you need is a racing wheel that will make the entire gaming experience all that more realistic. You need a wheel that will make you feel like you’re really driving those virtual cars. You need a wheel like the new Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Italia Racing Wheel.
From the minds that gave birth to the T500RS and the Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit comes the latest in race gaming accessories. The 11" F458 wheel features a rubberized grip that allows you stay firmly in control of your virtual race car while the built-in metal paddle shifters, a Manettino dial, and progressive resistance allows you to make all the necessary adjustments to ensure that your lap times aren’t ruined by the smallest of mistakes. The F458 racing wheel is exclusive to the Xbox 360, which you can use for all your Forza 4 exploits.
As far as PS3 and PC gamers are concerned, you’re not left out in the dark. Thrustmaster will also be releasing the TH8 RS gear shifter, which you can connect to the aforementioned T500RS, allowing you to configure your gearbox set-up with either H-pattern or sequential configurations.
The accessories are dropping on shelves this October for the price of $180 for the F458 wheel and $90 for the TH8 gear shifter. They won’t come cheap, but for the awesome experience, forking over those amounts will all be worth it in the end.
With every passing trailer Need For Speed releases for their new game, "The Run", we’re becoming more and more convinced that we need to get this game as an early Christmas present when it hits shelves this November.
In the latest installment of what now appears to be a trailer series, Jack finds himself in the snow-capped mountains of Colorado. Facing a choice at taking the long route through Independence Pass but losing valuable time in the process, the renegade hero decides to throw common sense out the window. He finds himself bracing the treacherous shortcut in his BMW M3 GTS as it maneuvers in and out of falling rocks that were caused by an avalanche.
Only the craziest of people racing for their lives will dare challenge Mother Nature and her wrath, and live to tell about it. But if you’re as desperate as our man Jack is, then nothing’s stopping you from getting to New York as fast as possible...inclement weather be damned.
