Forza Motorsport

2013 SRT Viper Ignites a Transatlantic Family Feud [w/ Videos]

By Tom Anderson on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 17:06

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The first two generations of the Dodge Viper (Some sources break those two generations into two further generations.) were brash, brutal and downright angry. These thundering 10-cylinder neo-Cobras, both open- and closed-top, routinely beat up on all manner of European supercars, not to mention crosstown rival Corvette. What’s more, these beating occurred on the street and on the track, the latter being where race-prepped Vipers scored numerous wins, including three consecutive GT class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the overall win at the 2000 24 Hours of Daytona.

However, the Dodge Viper’s story came to an end on July 1, 2010, as the last example rolled out of the Conner Avenue Assembly plant in Detroit. Scarcely two months later, though, word came down that a new third (or fifth; take your pick) generation Viper would be coming in a couple years. Well, now it’s a couple years later, and the new Viper is indeed here. A lot has stayed the same with the new car, but a lot has changed, too.

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Forza Motorsport 4’s April Car Pack Brings a Little of Everything [w/ Video]

By Tom Anderson on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 21:19

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On top of the vast tuning and customization options, stout physics engine and comprehensive online play, Forza Motorsport 4 has a fascinating variety of vehicles from which to choose. Whether your proclivities lean toward mammoth SUVs, fire-breathing supercars, snappy hot hatches or out-and-out race cars, the latest installment of the Xbox 360’s flagship racing title has something for you.

This is not to say, however, that the folks at Turn 10 included as many vehicles as they could have on the disc. To remedy this, the company has been releasing downloadable 10-car add-on packs for the last six months. Each one has added variety and depth to the already eclectic car roster, and the one for this month – the April Alpinestars Pack, which dropped yesterday – is no different.

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GAME REVIEW: Forza Motorsport 4 for Xbox 360

By Tom Anderson on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 14:16

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The underlying mission statement of Forza Motorsport 4 – the latest iteration of Microsoft’s flagship racing sim franchise – is spelled out almost as soon as the game loads. A surgically-clean white building interior appears as none other than Jeremy Clarkson launches into a lament on the decline of gearhead-dom. He bemoans how the car enthusiast fringe is being pushed to the margins by the masses who either couldn’t care less about cars, or want to see cars become androgynous, self-guided, unicorn fart-powered transportation pods incapable of offending even the most hypersensitive people. Eventually, though, he says there is a place where people can let their car geek flags fly without fear of being ridiculed or shunned, and that “place” is Forza Motorsport 4.

Of course, there are lots of other video games that make car buffs feel at home, and were made by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts. The one that’s probably likely to spring to mind first is Gran Turismo, the series that started before Forza and is its closest analogue (Both let you buy, customize and race hundreds of licensed cars, both are developed by studios controlled by their respective console-makers, and both are published by their respective console-makers.). But instead of making this article a straight-up comparison (and possibly igniting the Playstation fanboy/Xbox fanboy equivalent of the Crusades), we’ll take the high road and concentrate on telling you what Forza 4 has and let it stand on its own merits…though we might point out a few areas where one has a leg up on the other.

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E3 Expo 2011: Forza Motorsport 4 Raises the Console Racing Sim Stakes [w/ Video]

By Tom Anderson on Tue, 06/07/2011 - 18:02

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Since Gran Turismo 5 has been on store shelves for about half a year now, you had to know that sooner or later that info on the next installment in the Forza Motorsport franchise would drop. We got a taste of what to expect at last year’s E3 in the form of a tech demo utilizing the Kinect motion controller, but not much news after that.

Fast forward to this year’s E3, though, and Forza developer Turn 10 has spilled a whole can’s worth of beans on Forza Motorsport 4. And it turns out there’s a lot more to it than being able to drive without a controller.

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E3 Expo 2010: XBOX Forza Motorsport 3 VIP Preview Event Featuring Kinect

By Ari Cox on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 11:54

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The ID Agency held a special VIP party for Microsoft XBOX and Forza Motorsport 3 on Wednesday to give folks a chance to try out the new Kinect system without standing in a line for 2 hours or battling through the hordes. Turn 10 Studios has been working with the magic of the new “Kinect” technology, combined with the power of the Forza Motorsport series, to explore how players can race and interact with their dream cars in the most immersive and realistic automotive experiences ever imagined. After 5 years of console racing excellence, Turn 10 has raised the bar once again. So now users are able to hop inside their dream cars and get closer to the racing action than ever before - without the use of a controller.

While the Kinect system is not perfect, and is still in preliminary stages, the potential for games like Forza Motorsport 3 is outstanding. With Kinect, you are able to drive and race by simply by putting your hands in front of you at 10 and 2. You can move your head to look around the interior. You can even look into the corners as you turn. As you’d expect, this experience is running in beautiful HD at a seamless 60 fps.

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