Blur beta access for all this week

By Oli Welsh Published 6 April, 2010

And why it's only on Xbox 360.

Bizarre Creation's Gareth Wilson has told Kotaku that the beta test of the studio's arcade racer Blur will be opened up to all Xbox Live users this week.

The plan, according to the podcast interview published last Friday, was to have the beta available as a free download by today, 6th April - although we've just checked and there's no sign of it yet.

The move is down to public demand, Wilson said, and the developer running out of keys for the closed beta.

"We basically ran out of codes, so next week we are going to go live with the whole thing publicly so anyone can download it," he said.

The Blur beta gives you access to the game's multiplayer component across four tracks, car classes and game modes, allowing you to rank up to and unlock cars and features as you race.

It's only available on Xbox 360 because, Wilson said, the Bizarre team only had time to implement it on one platform and 360 has the most online players.

"Why didn't it come to the PS3? Really because when we were doing the beta it's hard enough to try and get a beta out that doesn't crash every five minutes while trying to finish a full game," Wilson said.

"Trying to do that on multiple platforms at once, so trying to do a PS3, Xbox and PC beta release at the same time, it just isn't possible. It was enough of a distraction doing it for one platform. We just chose Xbox really because it's the platform that, to be straight, has more online users than the PS3."

Blur's out on 28th May. Plenty of impressions, media and info at the Blur gamepage.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • mashk #1 2 years ago

    Probably because no one on the Beta was playing it.

  • Ignatius_Cheese #2 2 years ago

    Its surprisingly good fun! Had a quick gathering on Friday night with a bunch of EGers.

    Perhaps one for the sub £20 purchases.

  • fknetwork #3 2 years ago

    I went on the beta over the weekend and guess how many were playing online?!? 117 people! seems a very popular game (not), it really isn't good to be honest, would make a cool xbox live arcade game for 1200 points though but not a retail release.

  • PixelPlayground #4 2 years ago

    "We basically ran out of codes, so next week we are going to go live with the whole thing publicly so anyone can download it."

    Isn't that a bit of a lie of the sake of making it sound more popular? I know when I signed up that I was aware the Beta code was for early access ahead of a full public launch.

    Also regarding the lack of a PS3 Beta, the point of a beta test is to help with bug finding so I hope this doesn't mean that the PS3 version suffers from watered down online play in anyway. I've not seen anything in the press yet stating that the platforms are all on a par for online gameplay. Hope I am wrong on this one though!

  • mfnick #5 2 years ago

    I still cant believe this is by the guys that did the PGR games - which are possibly my favourite recers ever. Especially the 2nd.

    I tried the Beta for this & thought it was bloody terrible. Severely disappointing.

  • miiiguel #6 2 years ago

    @disc: meaning it's free doesn't mean everyone is using PSN, I have several work collegues who have PS3's and they didn't - and don't want to - connect to PSN.

  • BillMurray #7 2 years ago

    I'm surprised there isn't more people playing this. It's fantastic fun, especially with a couple of mates.

  • RodHull #8 2 years ago

    It's very entertaining and all, but disappointing after playing the PGRs. Hopefully the full game will be more polished and the single player will be worth it.

  • masterson #9 2 years ago

    I've really enjoyed it too. Once you get over the fact that graphically it's no PGR (although to be fair the 20 car races are impressive) and it plays nothing like PGR (more like MarioKart) it's quite a laugh. I totally suck at it (and ALL driving games to be honest) but the thrill of at least beating a few partially sighted/drunk racers is immense.

  • jonbwfc #10 2 years ago

    If the closed/open beta is about bashing bugs and they're not doing one for the PS3, that kind of suggests that if you were going to buy the PS3 version, you might want to wait a couple of weeks, neh? Because on the PS3, they'll basically be using the people who buy it on day one as beta testers.

  • Malek86 #11 2 years ago

    How big is the beta? I must admit, I'm kind of running out of space lately. Must be all of those RB songs.

  • the_dudefather #12 2 years ago

    I would imagine a lot of this beta is for balance, the results of which can be brought over to the versions without a beta/demo

    also, this game has some of the best sound I've heard for a while

  • Machetazo #13 2 years ago

    I saw the updated preview of this, on TV, and I was all for giving it a chance, but even on that evidence, there's really nothing substantial, or interesting, there. What little they do have looks like being fun for five minutes, and frankly, I could see this becoming one to soon end up regretting buying, even on the off-chance.

  • DeltaBravoNiner #14 2 years ago

    Very disappointing game in my opinion. It looked like my Ideal kind of fun filled game but I just didn't have any fun playing the beta. Handling of the cars was terrible, power-ups were largely ineffective and the graphics were a bit below par.

    I'll give this one a miss...

  • Vordred #15 2 years ago

    seems funny they say its because it is so popular and they are running out of key, the beta is always empty.

    which is no surprise really, i found the game to be a bit dull. i was hoping it would be PGR with power ups. but its far from it.

    and although i have not played it, Split/Second looks to be the more exciting game

    Update: it is now up on the market place
    Edited by Vordred at 06/04/10 @ 11:47

  • homerramone #16 2 years ago

    Cant wait for may !

  • statusjones #17 2 years ago

    so far I've found it a lot of fun, though have noticed that a lot of people have dropped away once reaching the level cap - still, I've been pleasantly surprised by the fact that even when there are low numbers of people playing that you can still join a lobby with a decent amount of people in (they nearly always seem to be at least half full)

  • ryn.x #18 2 years ago

    Had a bit of fun with the beta but the biggest downfall for me was lack of people online. As fun as the game is with 10-20 players all in-game at the same time once you start having just 4-6 it soon becomes a bit boring.

    I've never seen more than 500online at one time, which is a bit disappointing, hopefully the open beta will bring in the numbers.

    Good game, not great but one for messing around with your mates more than anything.

  • dr_zoidthrob #19 2 years ago

    I must play the beta again sometime. I had a couple of goes and thought it was ok, but nothing *that* special.

  • layleeloo #20 2 years ago

    disc - yes the PS3 sevice is free but....

    I have all 4 main consoles - 360, PS3, wii and DS (so im no one console fanboy) but even if only half of 360 owners pay for gold, their sevice is WAY better than the PS3 online service so is probably more reliable for a start but perhaps half of gold subscribers is still more than PS3 actual online gamers (not taking into account every PS3 sold as most people I know with PS3's dont game online with them, they just use the PSN for downloading demos and content). The fact that PS3's service is free is only good in one way - becasue there is NO way I would pay for the sub par service the PS3 is online. Its dicey on a lot of games, still no total chat support, its just pointless unless for exclusives like MAG where we have no choice.

    So although I have most exclusives on my PS3, any game that is on both platforms is always bought on the 360 (unless its mainly a single player which is optimised for PS3 such as FFXIII) as the online service is way better. I would rather pay for a good service than have a mediocre (at best) free service. So I do not blame them putting the demo on 360 as opposed to PS3 - its a wise choice on many levels

    (que PS3 fanboys jumping on me now, but this is my opinion from an unbiased non fanboy! Check my game collection)
    Edited by layleeloo at 06/04/10 @ 13:44

  • darleysam #21 2 years ago

    If a guy at Bizarre, who are working on this cross-platform title for Activision who, love or hate, are a massive publisher with access to massive amounts of data about multiplayer usage on the 360 and PS3, says that there are more online players on one console than another, I'm more inclined to believe him than some anonymous commenter on a gaming website.

  • Anthony_UK #22 2 years ago

    It's great, the most fun I've had with friends online for a long time. We've found ourselves laughing away whether we came first or last. The only problem I had was the initial 'hey this isn't Gotham 5' and the slight graphical hit which I'm assuming is because of the 20 player online, otherwise this is brilliant!

    It's basically Mariokart with real cars, without the random weapons. The handling is further into the realms of Acade than the gotham series, but when you consider the weapons and power ups it gives you just enough to worry about.

    Bombing round in Ford GT and snatching 1st place from a friend by using a mine as a sniper bullet (All the weapons can be fired forwards and backwards) is just plain fun!

  • layleeloo #23 2 years ago

    Anthony_UK

    Must agree. After playing it at a mates last weekend, he had a code from Asda of all places I quite liked it but was only a brief play. Now my own has downloaded I thought pretty much the same - Mario Kart in neon! haha. IM sure the missus will still us rather play Mario Kart wii but think I'll be playin this for a fair while at least. Keen to see Split Second now.

  • ColdShoulder #24 2 years ago

    Great game, I've not stopped playing since I got it. The weapons take practice but are ultimately more rewarding when it all clicks in your head. Release day purchase for me.

  • markmitt #25 2 years ago

    i'm the opposite to most others. i won't pay for xbl gold anymore when i can play for nothing over psn. and in terms of online quality gaming, there's verry little to separate the two services. in fact, if anything, psn is less laggy than xbl in my experience. enjoyed the blur beta though. good fun! like wipeout on 4 wheels!
    Edited by markmitt at 06/04/10 @ 19:18

  • Seabeast #26 2 years ago

    Lets not turn this into a XBL v PSN debate Mark, but if you had some friends and enjoyed playing online with them then im sure you wouldnt be so against 28 quid a year for a much better service.

    Anyway, Blur is fantastic, once they fix a few of the issues for the full game it will be spot on. The guy who said the power ups are ineffective obviously is very bad at Blur considering when used correctly they can totally mess people up.

    What does he expect? to fire a bolt and have a players car explode? sigh

  • MrGuiness #27 2 years ago

    its properly great but you have to give it a few hours to open up the better cars, the D class ones are rubbish but the class A ones in the supercar racing mode are bloody brilliant!

  • markmitt #28 2 years ago

    @seabeast. if you bothered to read what i put, you would understand that i no longer subscribe to xbl, meaning i once did. has nothing to with price at all. i used to play cod4 all the time over xbl and psn, and it was significantly more laggy over xbl in my experience. this is the reason i no longer splash the cash to play online. overall the two services have their pros and cons, and yes, some things are better on xbl, but not to the point of paying for game servers that are inferior...

  • Seabeast #29 2 years ago

    Well said Ashen.

    Mark if you bothered to read my post you would see that I never said anything about you having XBL.....so I don't see what you think I missed in order to comment on what you said.

    But pretty much what Ashen said in reply to you, you said XBL had inferior connections on CoD4 than on the PS3 when XBL has nothing to do with connections on such a game considering a play is picked as host and you go off of their connection.....but its the little things that count, like being able to talk to friends properly over XBL when you are both on different games, or party chat which is a fantastic social tool if you have some friends on there. I own a PS3, along with a few of my other friends but we never use it for online gaming because its so piss poor when it comes to actually do just that, the xbox is far superior, which is why betas like Blur, CoD4 etc all end up on the 360 and never on the PS3.

    But again, like Ashen said, if you don't play online much then the PSN is probably better for you, and all casual gamers, but if you want to play with friends, have an easier time in doing so then paying less than 30 quid a year for XBL is well worth it.

  • markmitt #30 2 years ago

    @Seabeast.. I like the way you refer to me as a casual gamer, or anyone who uses PS3 online as a casual gamer. Fact is i'm 37 now. Which means I have been gaming for nigh on 30 years, and in that time, have had most consoles that have been released. I appreciate that you appreciate the little things that for you make the difference to your online experience. But for me, they add nothing. It is all about the gaming for me. Not the extras you get like x game chat (although if it came to PS3, it would be welcomed). And in MY experience, PS3 online gaming is as good if not better than 360. And all my mates play on PS3 as well instead of 360. Every night...

  • Seabeast #31 2 years ago

    Yet you can't even do simple things like chat to them when on different games, or even have a party with all of you in, surely that social aspect is worth the sub price on its own? I can see why people like the PS3, its a great system, but its terrible for online gaming, which you point out is the main aspect of what people do. The quality of the players on the PS3 seems to be much lower than on the 360, which is probably why you like the PS3. It just seems like you don't have a clue, because you even said that the PS3 was better for CoD4 online due to lag, even though the game goes totally off of the hosts connection which has nothing to do with either service. I have both consoles but my PS3 is nothing more than a blu ray player that can play games because I love to play games online and doing so on the PS3 (wth friends) is a total pain in the you know what.