MotoGP 08 confirmed for Friday Comments by Robert Purchese

Surely it's going to get lost in the mad games rush we're now entering.

Sweet, this is a bit of a blind release. Didn't even know it was so close to release!
Hopefully it will be a sleeper!

Up on the chopping block. Capcom? What are you thinking?

Colour me quite interested. I don't really like sims, but for some reason bikes are much more appealing than cars. So long as you can't fall off too easily; I wasn't very fond of Tourist Trophy, but thought it had potential.

Was this really the right time to release it?

I'm kinda looking forward to this - it seems from the gameplay videos like it'll be in a similar mould to the Climax ones in terms of handling, and they've gone and put a proper career mode in there too with the 125s, 250s and Moto GPs. No more riding around on a custom bike that sticks out like a sore thumb!

Crappy timing capcom, didn't Rossi just win the motoGP 08 title a couple weeks ago? Season over.

Thanks EG. I was beginning to wonder if this game really was coming out on the 24th or not seeing as there's been no adverts or publicity of any kind (in which case you wonder how the game is supposed to sell!!!). I half expected GAME to email me and tell me my pre-order has been put back to next year, it's happened with other games before last minute (well LittleBigPlanet is an example), and I'm sure it'll happen again.

EG - "Look out for our thoughts soon.

How soon... like before Friday? As I said I have the game on pre-order as I'm hoping it'll be at least as good as the Climax games (I pretend the buggy, tear-fest that was MotoGP '06 on the 360 doesn't exist though) but, in case it isn't, I'd like to be able to cancel it before it's too late. Can you drop a hint as to whether it's decent or not...?

P.S. I understand that this game will also have a more accessible Arcade mode too to bring the game to a wider audience who thought that the previous games were too demanding to play.

P.P.S. And only 12 players online... didn't the Climax MotoGP games manage 16? :?

P.P.P.S. ( :P ) I hope the fact that there's a PS2 version of this game doesn't mean that the current gen versions have suffered as a result. It kind of happened with SBK 08, especially the graphics, even though that turned out to be a pretty OK game otherwise.

Sorry Capcom, I'm reviewing this game right now (for a Dutch Gaming Site) and it's nothing like the sense of speed you got on MotoGP-games made by Climax, also the graphics are lacking. It's good you got al the licenses, but that doesn't make it a good game. It's only slightly better than SBK08 (which is made by the same developers). Sorry Kiroquai, not the controls you (and I) want. It's semi-simmy but not in a good way. Crashed and Burned.

@SliderNL - MotoGP '08 sounds a little disappointing from your comments... you've got me worried now. That said I did actually enjoy SBK 08 although I didn't get to play it as much as I wanted to. Is it really by the same developer, Black Bean Games, because Wikipedia has Capcom listed?

I found the press release for the game. It reads:

The definitive two wheeled racing experience will be speeding into stores this Friday 24th October

London– October 20, 2008– Capcom® a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames, has today confirmed that MotoGP 08 will be released across Europe on Friday 24th October. The title will be available for the Xbox 360® video game entertainment system from Microsoft, Sony Computer Entertainment’s PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) and PlayStation® 2 entertainment system and PC platform. This is the first MotoGP title to be released under Capcom’s five year deal with Dorna Sports, which provides exclusive rights to publish video games based on the world’s premier motorcycle championship across all hardware platforms.

The official game of the 2008 season, MotoGP 08 features all the official riders, bikes and tracks from this year’s event whilst being packed full with new features. MotoGP 08 marks the debut of the series on the PLAYSTATION®3 and the introduction of the all new Indianapolis track in the US and the spectacle of night racing at the Qatar circuit.

New for 2008, players will be thrown into the centre of the MotoGP experience by joining a team and competing alongside their sporting heroes as themselves, in all three race classes– 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP. Recent MotoGP titles have excluded 125cc and 250cc and Capcom is keen to ensure that all riders are faithfully represented, providing gamers with a different racing experience as they proceed through each class. The game features a competitive AI which adjusts within limits to give a more enjoyable race experience on the lower levels but shows no mercy in the higher levels.

Also new for MotoGP 08 is the tutorial mode. Player’s will be able to decide what motorcycle and racing style suits them best, but rather than taking players‘out of the main game’, this mode will transport them immediately into an arcade race which offers hints and tips from the start. For the first time in the MotoGP games players will be able to create their own rider and develop their racing skills for up to 5 seasons with the aim of becoming the ultimate MotoGP champion. After choosing a team and bike class players can customise their riders’ helmet design. As races are won the stronger teams will be looking to recruit for the following season, enabling players to race better performing bikes.

In championship race mode players can select any class, rider and team and recreate the entire 2008 season. Practice and qualifying modes are optional whilst the weather conditions, difficulty setting, number of laps and handling model can also be decided, allowing players to shape their own season. Before each race players can tweak the set-up of their bike, including changing tyres, suspension settings and gear ratios. For those players who aren’t happy with their performance then the practice racing circuit can be tried out alone in free practice mode, or choose a quick race where players can choose their favourite track, rider, difficulty level, bike class, riding model, transmission type, number of laps and weather conditions before starting their race. If all that wasn’t enough then there are 50 unique challenges for players ambitious enough to accept them which on completion will reward players with hidden content.

The PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360® and PC titles will allow players to set up their own match and pit their riding skills against up to 12 friends across the globe in a number of online modes competing for that all important first place. The Xbox 360® version will also include headset voice chat support and ranked matches, leader boards, friends, reserve slots, invites and of course achievements.

Played this game back in September at the Capcom booth which they had at the Indianapolis round of the american motogp - felt way to similar to SBK08 for my tastes!