Test Drive Unlimited Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 8 September, 2006

MOOR, MOOR, MOOR, how do we like it?

Version tested: Xbox 360

Grand Theft Auto is a genre, apparently. Or so Volition told us, explaining away the similarities between Saints Row and Rockstar's opus. We didn't really buy it. Rockstar actually found it funny. Over there this week on unrelated business, we mentioned this to a few of them and the reaction was a bit telling. "We're a genre now?"

Yes I'm doing this intro again - but with a twist! Because with Test Drive Unlimited, Atari claimed that Eden Studios had invented a new genre. The "Massively Open Online Racing" game. And we were sceptical as usual. But it turns out they were onto something, because virtually every tenet of the claim stands up.

In TDU, Eden has created a huge, open racing world that blurs the line between offline and online racing games. It's what Auto Assault might have been. It's not quite an MMO, but it's closer to that approach than the separated worlds of games like MotoGP and PGR. You could even get away with switching terminology - racing on your own against the AI and building up a stock of cash to invest in new equipment could be soloing, while its PvP is the combative encounters with racers you hunt down on the game's huge network of idyllic island highways.

In many senses it's the game that PGR3 should have been. By ripping out the guardrails and allowing you to cut your own path through a world that other racers are traversing at the same time, TDU overtakes Bizarre Creations in that sense. The question isn't whether this delivers on the "MOOR" hype - it does, and people will build on this idea in future - but whether it manages to deliver a racing experience of the same high standard.

'Test Drive Unlimited' Screenshot photo

Like PGR, there's a photo mode. And this game can look goo-ood.

Right from the start, you're connected to the game's online world. Having picked a character, bought a starter home with a four-car garage and rented something to drive around in, you're soon pootling down the streets of Oahu's southern-most town and exchanging glances with other beginners. The numbers are never overwhelming, thanks to the way the game pairs you with a sensible volume of similar players, which varies from area to area and obviously shifts in skill-level as you get further in, and there's lots of hapless traffic driving around to even things out. Watching other people career into it is quite amusing.

If you like, you can set right about racing the human opposition. As you move past them you can propose instant-challenges, and then race back and forward across prescribed or custom routes to find out which one of you read more of the instruction manual on the way home from the shop. But more likely you'll want to get some traction first by sampling the offline side of it. Or rather, the tasks that don't involve the other real-life players.

Finding things to do in TDU is very simple thanks to the ever-present GPS system. Like a mini-map, it appears in the bottom-left, and guides your course through races in a manner not unlike that of the Midnight Club games - although the shortcut-hunting element of MC is left out in favour of a game rooted more in pure-values racing. By hitting right on the d-pad, the GPS expands to fill the screen and you can zoom in and out of anywhere on the island.

The island's enormous, and there are a wealth of car clubs, dealers, homes, races, time trials and competitors to locate - in other words, a huge amount of icons. The game settles this by breaking them off into groups like key locations and other racers, which you can switch between intuitively using the left and right bumpers. Initially the GPS will alert you to tasks in your immediate location and a few further afield and focus on those that fit your current skill level. Selecting an icon with the analogue pointer allows you to see the classes involved, view the potential prize money and other entry conditions, and then set GPS coordinates so the mini-map will lead you to it.

'Test Drive Unlimited' Screenshot blurring

The blurring around the edges can be a bit weird in bumper view or third-person, but the in-car view helps it make sense. Worth persisting with.

In a welcome nod to accessibility, you're allowed to warp directly to locations you've already travelled through, cutting down on driving times. With tasks opening up in clusters in various locations fairly sensibly, initially at least it's a nice shortcut - and if a task is just off the beaten track you can find a beaten bit nearby and plant yourself there to shorten the distance.

Obviously there's a large variety of things to do, with checkpoints dotted on your GPS for point-to-point and lap-based races against AI cars, while a host of time-trial-oriented offerings have you delivering hitch-hikers to their destinations, or simply trying to get to a certain point within a time limit. You even get to drive models home with their shopping, as they touch themselves gingerly in the passenger seat and delicately caress your hand on the gearstick. Or so I imagine. As you complete races you build up cash, or credits you can spend in clothing stores, and so you set about building a fleet of high-end cars and decent portfolio of property.

Fairly standard, then, but what sells TDU isn't simply this blending of genres, of online and off - but also the brains that underpin the difficulty curve, and keep things interesting. With so much road to cover there's an obvious variety - with tight technical courses nesting with lengthy, high-speed runs that are more about maintaining speed and dodging traffic along endless beautiful highways than power-sliding. But the way the game squeezes you varies too, and this is more compelling.

You get a taste of it with the models, who will bail out if you go off the road so much that a small "driving" meter depletes, but more engaging examples come later in time-based checkpoint races that punish you with deductions. Ride your prancing pony over a few kerbs to shave times to gold standard and you may find the dressage-style time penalties have herded you into silver. It forces you to learn to drive steady as well as fast - and so manages to create boundaries without fencing you in the way PGR and other city-based racers do. The only slight shame is that it also doesn't allow you to build up appreciation the way PGR does - it'd be handy to be able to recoup some of that meter-depletion when you throw yourself into a difficult slide and handle it perfectly.

Speed camera challenges and the like will be familiar, meanwhile, but the free-roam aspect gives them variance. The only black mark against all this is that while you can switch cars at the start of a mission that demands a different class, you're forced to visit one of your homes to switch at other times. It makes sense, I suppose, but it's inconsistent. That said, you're not always driving your own car - some of the most hair-raising tasks are "once-only" affairs that involve delivering a car to the other side of the island - with bundles of cash lost forever if you fail.

Around now, with your first "big" car in the garage - probably the Ferrari 430, which proves rather tantalising once you top $150k - you'll feel more like taking on the world. Instant races are fine, but the game also has preset races dotted around, and if there are people waiting for them to kick off you can get in on that. You can also tackle tasks set by other people.

This element of TDU stretches the mission-creator idea of games like PGR in a way that makes them more appealing. Turn to a drive-in and you can view challenges posted by other players. These usually have to be bought into, and involve setting a time on a particular circuit or course during the window of play chosen by the original player. Once that's over, the person with the best time wins the cash. The next step is clubs, which are the game's version of clans, allowing you to band together with fellow Ferrari-lovers, for example, or other men called Steve, or whatever. Later you can write fan-fiction about the models. And of course TDU embraces the global leaderboard systems you'd expect, with one for every task in the game.

All good then. But conspicuously absent from the review so far is the answer to that question of whether the standard of racing experience lives up to all this bluster about structure. And so it will remain for at least one more paragraph.

'Test Drive Unlimited' Screenshot gps

The GPS system brings everything together simply and efficiently. And the zoom-in effect is quite neat.

Because I should certainly mention how it looks. The screenshots talk loudly of sexy cars and traditional settings. Lots of tarmac, buildings and trees. But there's a lot to be said for how these are delivered. Oahu isn't exactly OutRun2 - there's a consistency of tone throughout that becomes repetitious - but the versatility of lighting conditions and the superb ambiance goes some way to making up for this. The first time you peer closely at the GPS and spot a little plane cutting a path slowly over the island is nifty, but when you're attempting a race for the third time and you swing onto the coastal section to see a gigantic ferry plodding along next to the shore, oblivious to you, that sense of the environment is properly reinforced. It's a game that makes great use of a decent sound system too - the sense of speed is terrific on its own, but with the windows wound down as you pelt along a highway it's doubly imposing. Even a Sunday drive across the island ought to be compelling. At least for a while.

But despite an excellent engine and genuinely seamless integration with Xbox Live, TDU can still feel a bit sterile. Pelting along is less imposing when you realise you can't do much to dent your car. Exploring Oahu is only so varied, and long hauls to distant objectives that you can't beam to leave a big skidmark on your patience. And in many ways it's just too ambitious for its own good. The economics of levelling up and building a collection of supercars are a bit skewed. There are terrific amounts of money available too soon, and though you'll need to work long hours for some of the more desirable cars - particularly the concepts - you will discover that the actual racing model isn't quite there to make it worthwhile.

So in answer to the question I keep avoiding, it doesn't quite do it for me. Handling sort of straddles the line dividing PGR's slick-slidey pursuits and the less hospitable approach of something like Gran Turismo, and over the course of the game it's inconsistent. Some cars handle very nicely - that Ferrari I mentioned seems to have been given some love - but whereas PGR3's cars were a thrill to master, most of these aren't. Cars that should zip and squirm don't tend to, and the motorbikes, unlocked later, handle like an afterthought. You can tweak the steering sensitivity, but you can't do much to modify the cars from spec, and on the whole the driving doesn't really capture the imagination. The mud-wrestling fun of testing a new car in PGR3 is replaced with something more akin to yachting in a windy fjord.

'Test Drive Unlimited' Screenshot perky

He's alright, but I went for the perky girl with the wistful smile. I'm so predictable.

There are some other minor issues that work against it too. The general AI of other road-users is depressingly self-destructive, and your fellow racers are weak. The races against the clock are more engaging. And the local constabulary are a bit unfair on you. Initially little more than a passing threat, their interest in you grows, and a slight scratch on a highway can escalate into a full-blown roadblock if you continue to run into them, however innocently. Particularly frustrating in the middle of a race, it's almost worse if you're out and about, because diving into a task will force you to swallow a huge fine unless you've shaken them first. And no, the models can't flash the coppers to get you out of it.

Even so, TDU is a game you'll probably want to play. As an example of how Xbox Live can be put to use in the racing genre, it's unmatched. Were it not for inconsistent handling, it'd score higher - and even at that it still deserves a lot of credit. It's just that it's up against PGR3, and the thought of how good this would've been with Bizarre behind the steering wheel haunted me throughout. An unfair comment really, since Eden's done bloody well here - but then God always was a bit unfair when it came to Eden.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (123) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Rambaldi #1 6 years ago

    LAST!

    /shit, wrong thread :(
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 13:08

  • lennon #2 6 years ago

    It looks superb and my mates are all urging me to get it.

    On my way down the town now to pick up a copy.

  • lambtron #3 6 years ago

    Cool!

  • Dire #4 6 years ago

    Wow didn't expect such a high scoring review.

  • reality_cheque #5 6 years ago

    Can I give Paris Hilton a lift to the burger bar? :D

    One for when I finish NFS I think, this looks good!

  • Wash #6 6 years ago

    @deathgibbon

    couldnt agree more.

  • gamingdave #7 6 years ago

    Got this yesterday, loving it so far, much much better than the demos, they are a very poor reflection of it.

  • Machiavel #8 6 years ago

    Great last line!

    I thought the first demo was terrible, the second quite nice "if you like that sort of thing." Not engaging enough for me.

  • sharpfish #9 6 years ago

    I'd give it a 6 or 7 based on the demos. And I was looking forward to it. If I had the time to invest in the game I'm sure it would pay off and be worth an 8 or 9 out of ten.

    It seems 8 is the new 9 anyway now that quality bars are going up (can't wait for the first real 2nd wave / next gen 10/10... Gears Of War? )

  • Ceatlan #10 6 years ago

    I must admit the demos of this have really grown on me the more I play them. Initially I thought the graphics were polished but a bit 'sterile' as you say, I thought the handling was a bit 'meh', and the lack of damage to your vehicle was a big problem. However after a while I realised that I was playing the demo a lot more than I expected, and that the game is just good fun despite its many flaws.

    The only thing that still really annoys me, is the way the racing is all checkpoint based. There's nothing worse than haring round the track, challenging for a high position in a multiplayer race, only to discover that at the previous corner you drifted a little bit too wide and missed the checkpoint (often without even noticing). You're then told a little while later that you are going the wrong way and that you have to turn round and go back to the checkpoint, end of race. Not only is it annoying to effectively end your chances in the race, but it also means that lots of races end up with you facing racers coming straight at you in the other direction, not because they are being arseholes like players in every other racing game, but instead because the game is forcing them to do so.

    However despite all that I'll still probably pick up a copy this weekend.

  • lordofdeadside #11 6 years ago

    does it still look poor on a normal tv? presumably the review was done running in HD.
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 13:27

  • Zomoniac #12 6 years ago

    This is what I said about it on UGVX last night:

    Played for about 5 hours today, impossible to put down. Hard to describe what feels so good about it, but it just feels right. It is the first attempt at a genuine game world, with the exception of Shenmue, that has actually felt real. The traffic behaves like it would, all the roads feel just right, there's something strange about driving around town for a bit and then following a few road signs onto a big triple-carriageway motorway.

    Plus the world aspect makes the mundane things seem somehow fun. Yes you can bring up the map and do everything GT4 style from menus, but it's strangely satisfying to just be cruising along, notice an Audi garage on the corner, pop in, have a look at the inside and outside of a few cars in the showroom, take a couple for a test drive and buy one. The whole thing just feels right.

    And the handling is utterly sublime, it just takes a little getting used to. Spent the first couple of hours going around doing challenges, then after one challenge about four hours in I noticed an Aston garage. Had a bit of money from all the challenges, popped in, took a few cars for a spin and bought a V8 Vantage, then spent an hour cruising around and randomly challenging people online to races as and when I came across them.

    In a nutshell, it's glorious.

  • snick #13 6 years ago

    Shiiiiiiiit, had discounted it cos the demo's were so crap. Not enough time to play all these massively wotever games, help. Might have to be done tho. How much does the dole pay nowadays?

  • Perry #14 6 years ago

    Ceatlan, that was my mine gripe with the 2nd demo. Missing one corner when you are challenging for the lead ruins the race. Also, if you hit the "put me back on the road button" a couple of times it put me going the wrong way. Again, basically condemning you to game over....

  • goz #15 6 years ago

    Are you saying you're God now Tom?

  • KillahSouljah #16 6 years ago

    "Like PGR, there's a photo mode. And this game can look goo-ood."

    more like:

    "Like Gran Turismo 4 on PS2, there's a photo mode. And this game can look goo-ood."

  • Xerx3s #17 6 years ago

    And this comes as a shock to you?

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #18 6 years ago

    KillahSouljah: I was working on the basis that 360 owners would better recognise the PGR feature than the GT one on a different platform.

  • Fatallyflawed #19 6 years ago

    Photo mode was in Sega GT 2002..Before GT4.

  • Fatallyflawed #20 6 years ago

    GT introduced the world to boring boring races that because you had upgraded so much were not in the least bit challenging. Sadly Forza and PGR didn't steal that idea :)

  • Errol #21 6 years ago

    Photo mode is in real life as well.
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 13:58

  • EmiliasHorse #22 6 years ago

    Real Life, that sounds good. Is it in HD?

  • Zomoniac #23 6 years ago

    Photo Mode in this is crap, it must be said. The flexibility of the camera movement is nothing like as good as PGR3, the techy camera stuff is simplistically crap (the background blur is terribly unsubtle, even on the lowest setting) and the sepia filter is hideous beyond belief. If you want to do artistic stuff then stay clear, but it does the job at catching those moments where you smash into a van and its bonnet is flying through the air, but it only looks good if you have it as you see it, any effects will just arse it up, frankly.

  • neuroniky #24 6 years ago

    Thanks god this has got a bad driving model.

    As a 56k petrolhead I would have hated to be confined to dumb AI races on the most promising driving and racing game ever made... now I can resist this knowing that I would not stand a bad driving model for long.

    Still, I'll give it a rental when it arrives at my local Blockbuster...

  • spadge #25 6 years ago

    "the thought of how good this would've been with Bizarre behind the steering wheel haunted me throughout"

    To suggest how good this game might have been had another developer been in control is hugely unfair to the point of criminal and eluding to that in your review simply doesn't wash - if you think it then don't write it.

    Just imagine how good your review could have been had someone competent written it? Not nice, or fair, is it? But this title is the endeavour of many passionate people, over many man-years - not a winsome collection of anecdotes from six to ten hours mucking about on a console game.

    This game is an original, exploratory new title, not the high def 3rd iteration of an existing premise - as is PGR, as high quality as that title is.

    There is a genuine attempt to deliver something new here that could certainly be considered "next gen". I like PGR3 a ton, even given it's formulaic approach but this title is very, very good. By the way, I no have connections to neither, to Eden or Atari. I'm from a seperate indy developer who's just read one too many comments in reviews suggesting how things should or should not be made - and by whom.

    My point is that there are a lot of throwaway comments used in reviews to describe developers, development studios, how they work, how lazy they are and whatever else. Unless you are one, have been one or fundamentally understand how they go about their business then just refrain from talking like you know what goes on and how it could have been better other than the perception from an inexperienced brain.

    Once more, to suggest that this product is quality, but would probably have scored more in your review had someone else develop it is disturbing and an insult to those who worked on this title. As for Bizzare, they didn't have the foresight (although I imagine it's more likely opportunity) to deliver what Eden Studios have done right off the bat. Kudos, ironically, to them then.

  • Eighthours #26 6 years ago

    To suggest how good this game might have been had another developer been in control is hugely unfair to the point of criminal and eluding to that in your review simply doesn't wash - if you think it then don't write it.

    Just imagine how good your review could have been had someone competent written it? Not nice, or fair, is it? But this title is the endeavour of many passionate people, over many man-years - not a winsome collection of anecdotes from six to ten hours mucking about on a console game.

    Tom was bang on the money though. The idea of this game with PGR3-style handling makes me moist. The handling is the weakest link, and in a driving game it should surely be near top of the list.

  • Darkedge #27 6 years ago

    ignore KillahSouljah as according to him Sony invented the world.
    "Lo in the begining the word was SpaceWar. Sony created it first of course.."

  • KillahSouljah #28 6 years ago

    Well Sony is leading the Gaming Industry, whatever Sony does Microsoft does.

    Microsoft is like Sonys anoying little brother that wants to be like him but then finds outs thats not him that instead he's gay, to Micorsoft that would mean there not suited for the gaming industry...

  • spadge #29 6 years ago

    I think you've totally missed the point I have made, really.

    What's next, X album would have been better had the guitarist from Y done a riff in the chorus? What's wrong for reviewing it for what it is? Not what it could have been or might have been given the figment of someone's imagination. I just think it's a bit of a insult to the team at Eden to suggest that it'd have been great had the Bizarre lads handled it. You have probably no idea how people feel when they read stuff like that after being involved with it - and I have no connection with either, I can just imagine the rage.

  • el-bandito #30 6 years ago

    @spadge - a very fair point, very well made.

  • lambtron #31 6 years ago

    Pray tell Killah - how exactly is Sony leading online gaming?

  • Turrican #32 6 years ago

    The reviewer realises its a harsh comment before he finishes, but I can see your point of view.

    The problem with this game, and all the other recent Xbox 360 reviews, is that they are not quite getting from 'good' to being 'great'. And at £40, I feel I am wasting money for just a 'good' game. So I for one will not be buying it.

    Edit - And lets not forget that its been priced significantly lower in America compared to other 360 titles.

    Maybe a sequel could expand on the innovative concept and refine the driving model more.
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 14:39

  • Nige #33 6 years ago

    >Pray tell Killah - how exactly is Sony leading online gaming?

    Please don't encourage him to speak... it makes my skin crawl.

  • Zomoniac #34 6 years ago

    LOL @ KillahSouljah! Oh deary me, you're either a complete and utter retard or are joking, right? Name any idea that Sony had first, ever.

    Let's see:

    CD drive: Philips
    Analogue: Atari, made popular by Nintendo
    HD: Dreamcast
    Camera: Dreamcast
    Online: Dreamcast, but the PS3's online is a duplicate of Xbox Live
    Wireless controllers as standard: Microsoft
    Tilt-sensing controllers: Microsoft
    Depth-sensing controllers: Nintendo
    Multi-tap: Sega

    In fact, the only thing I can think of that Sony might have done first is the necessity to buy an extra piece of equipment to save game data. What a great contribution!

    But yes, Sony is leading the games industry by hyping everything up with lies so clueless little retards buy a PS2 and copies of the 50 Cent and Matrix games to go with it because they would rather the character had a gold chain than controlled properly.

  • sharpfish #35 6 years ago

    Gotta agree with Spadge (and not just because I was fan of "their" Amiga games). It's not that a reviewer can't use imagination and hope for future titles, and what combinations of games would make their personal "ideal game" but when professionally reviewing a title you really should stick to the game in question.

    I love PGR3 (moreso than the demos of TDU which I do like though), and Bizzare have done amazing stuff with their cars, but then they have them in locked down, bite sizes circuits. TDU on the other hand is attempting something completely different. Maybe Eden themselves knew that they would like to compete with PGR on some levels but had to make ommisions for the sake of all the new stuff they added instead (The open environment and the online stuff). The cars in the showroom look better than the PGR cars but out on the road they don't quite look or feel as good as PGR3.

    So, I think it's perfectly valid to say "Great game but handling should be better" but by namechecking a competing developer it is a bit of a kick in the teeth for those hardworking devs (many of whom work hours that "normal" people wouldn't tolerate, I used to work in the retail industry in development and I know no-one takes it lightly).

    Edited by 2 at 08/09/06 @ 14:43

  • Ryuken #36 6 years ago

    A NFS: Motor City done right then? Strange for a Test Drive game (of which most have been quite shitty in the past).

  • SwedBear #37 6 years ago

    Edit: sharpfish beat me to it. Agree with him :).

    Eighthours: If I get Spadge right it's the part of the game being better if Bizzare did it that upsets him, not that the game could have been better with PGR-type of steering. The former implies the developer is not competent enough while the latter just asks for another feature. Or something like that. Could have missunderstood though.

    To me it's a different type of game than PGR3. But I guess it depends on how you play them. PGR3 for me is just racing (great racing but just racing non-the-less) while TUD is more. Kind of a sandbox racing game. I spent an hour yesterday just driving around looking at new places, racing a bit and having fun.

    KillahSouljah must be a troll. No-one can seriously be that daft.
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 14:47

  • spadge #38 6 years ago

    Swedbear, that's right.

    Suggesting the handling could have been better is fine, you expect comments like that in subjective reviews.

    However, to suggest it would have been better had another developer done it (and name them) is extremely, in my fairly humble, experienced opinion, bang wrong.
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 14:52

  • Tayl #39 6 years ago

    Might I ask, what the fuck's with the "MOOR"-suffused subtitle? Othello an extra playable character, or wha'?
    /has vision of Desdemona's Horse Adventure.
    /would actually pre-order that.

  • TheDogsDinner #40 6 years ago

    Spadge:

    One thing that needs mentioning is that Test Drive was meant to be a day one launch title and is nearly a year late. PGR3 was released on Day 1 - so it seems Bizarre had the foresight to write a game that released ontime and proved the 360 as a next gen platform

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #41 6 years ago

    spadge,

    I agree that developers must find it upsetting when they're told that another developer has done a better job of something, but I don't work for developers or publishers; I work for the readers of this site. It would have been cowardly and pointless not to tell them how I felt about the game, however controversial the sentiment.

    Context is vitally important, particularly for an expensive young format with a largely hardcore userbase. A lot of our readers own one (over 40% in a recent survey, with around 20% planning to buy one within 12 months). They're all aware of PGR3. It's important that they're aware how the two compare, and while you may not have enjoyed the way that comparison manifested itself, I can live with that. I felt it would be representative of how other gamers felt, so it went in.

    Even so, I felt the need to disclaim it slightly ("An unfair comment really";) out of respect for Eden's accomplishments, and I still only included it because I'd made a point earlier on of explaining how much better TDU did with Xbox Live than Bizarre. In fact, there's actually more copy here about Eden beating Bizarre at Live than there is about Bizarre beating Eden at handling. Given that Bizarre had to finish their game last November and Eden took an extra year, surely /that's/ the unfair bit?

    Either way, it wouldn't have made sense not to compare the two. Your point's valid, but the review's no less valid for the comparison.

  • Zomoniac #42 6 years ago

    Othello is an unlockable character, yes, and the final challenge is battling it out with Iago in his Enzo in a race spanning over 1,000 miles. If you lose, everyone believes his lies, Desdemona kills Othello by stuffing his handkerchief down his throat, marries Iago, has small evil babies who multiply in later life, form a manipulative army and obliterate mankind. If you win, Iago spins out into a lamppost and dies and all is good. If you manage to draw to a thousandth of a second after 1,000 miles you get the traditional ending.

    (may not be true)

  • lambtron #43 6 years ago

    lol

  • dllord #44 6 years ago

    I think we should all refuse to buy it because the cheaky bastards are charging us £50 where as the yanks get it at a budget release price! Wankers!

  • el-bandito #45 6 years ago

    @Mugwum: Another fair point, very well put

    /is sat firmly on fence, can see both sides :-)

  • Dezm0nd #46 6 years ago

    Get over it :p (or import it)

  • nickthegun #47 6 years ago

    Two things that I did take away from the demo;

    - The motorbikes are, indeed, total shite

    - Making your own fun is firmly discourage. Any attempts to offroad result in you being unceromoniously dumped back onto the last bit of tarmac you touched, which seems a bit po-faced.

    Other than that, it seemed like one of those games that introduced a load of good ideas that someone else will steal and do them better.

    For example, the next stage of evolution will likely be this kind of persistant world merged with a smidgeon of on foot action and side games in local pubs and the like.

  • Blake #48 6 years ago

    I think Spadge and some of the others have missed the point. The reviewer made the point that PGRs car handling was great, and if TDU had delivered handling as well as PGR then TDU would have won the 'best racer' title hands down.

    When he did compare the game structure and the locations he stated that TDU was in many ways better than PGR. Something which you also picked up on in your first comment Spadge, but you have chosen to ignore the rest of the review and in turn misrepresented the reviewer in my oppinion.

    I dunno, maybe people would have been happier if he had just said
    "If TDU had PGR's handling it would have been a better game."

    whatever, I'll be buying it anyway :)

    Edited by 2 at 08/09/06 @ 15:39

  • vane101 #49 6 years ago

    Yes, the US sites are making a big deal about it's budget price.

    Anyway, looks like the future of multiplayer racers and you can bet that the Need for Speed after Carbon will be just like this.

  • Dezm0nd #50 6 years ago

    looks like TDU isnt region free!

    edited post, apparently we get the DLC free whereas the US gamers have to pay for it.
    Mentioned in the review in Edge this month - The USA get a version of the game with only 80 cars
    Edited by 4 at 08/09/06 @ 15:57

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #51 6 years ago

    On the price thing - some people suggested to me before I wrote about TDU that it might be worth moaning about it but I thought better of it in the end. You're all informed enough to make the decision about that on your own, and I suppose you'll either bite the bullet or not. Although it's a bit of a pain that the US version isn't region-free. Gits.

  • PearOfAnguish #52 6 years ago


    But this title is the endeavour of many passionate people, over many man-years - not a winsome collection of anecdotes from six to ten hours mucking about on a console game.

    Boo-fucking-hoo. They were paid to make it and anyone can say what the hell they like about the end product. If the developers get upset I suggest they find a new job where their work isn't open to criticism.
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 16:05

  • Der_tolle_Emil #53 6 years ago

    I too think that the reviewer was not unfair to anyone in his review. 99% of the time I spent with my 360 was playing PGR3 - It is just sooo much fun driving because the handling is in my opinion the very best I ever experienced - bar none. Easy to learn - hard to master but once you get it down everything works like you want it to. So of course I felt that the handling was weak in comparison when playing TDU, especially with the first demo where I was nearly unable to control the faster cars without crashing into something every 10 seconds. I actually was a bit disappointed but since the slower cars worked fine I thought I just had to get used to it. Then the second demo came and even the faster cars and the bike handled quite ok and I found myself playing the demo far more often than I thought I would.

    I really was excited about this game ever since I heard about it and will buy it tomorrow and quite frankly still would if it only got a 5/10 because I really enjoyed the second demo.

    Again, I think the reviewer simply wished the handling felt as good as it does in PGR3. After all it is a racing game. Handling is 80% of the gameplay which still is the most important part of a game. Besides that his opinion totally reflects mine and I guess a lot of other PGR3 players feel the same - so it is perfectly ok it is in the review.

  • bluebird #54 6 years ago

    What framerate does this game run at?

  • kangarootoo #55 6 years ago

    My thoughts on the comparison made between the two games, which incidentally I thought was perfectly valid.

    1. To gamers that like driving games its an entirely valid comparison to make and it simply mirrors the conversations that will be had in living rooms around the world when people play TDU. It gives player's info they need to make a decision. If the driving mechanic is crucial to you then this might not be good enough, if the online aspect is the most important thing then it almost certainly will.

    2. I'm a dev and I know a lot of them (I haaaate saying that, but in this case its relevant). I personally support the comment made by PearOfAnguish, which may surprise some. Getting your work compared to other titles of a similar type is just an occupational hazard, just like an actor will get compared to their peers and a journalist will get compared to theirs. In fact anyone who works in a publicly visible forum that has a degree of subjectivity to its product (meaning that almost never will EVERYONE like what you have created).

    You need a thick skin to work on games and if you can't hack critisism (sometimes valid, sometimes not, in this case valid IMO) then its going to be a tough industry to work in.

    I personally think the devs of this particular tiutle will be very pleased with the review very proud of their work, and rightly so. I appreciate the sentiments of those defending their efforts against comparison and I'm sure the devs in this case do to, but I suspect they are more than able to take the hit :)

  • AOFanboi #56 6 years ago

    I have Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition Remix on my PS2 - isn't that roughly the same concept, except driving in cities instead of an island? And more offline-oriented?

  • spadge #57 6 years ago

    Dogsdinner; I accept your point, but it's an iteration, not a new thing and it's much harder being 3rd rather than 1st party :-) Particulalry with a publisher thats, shall we say, had it's fair share of difficulties in the last year or two.

    Tom; You just don't see this how a developer reads it, so endeth the conversation really. I just wanted you to try and understand how a little remark, however genuine and well intended, flies in the face of what it took to create something. It totally belittles what (in my eyes) looks to be solid and passionate effort on the part of Eden Studios. You're perfectly right to compare the two, and to pick faults with aspects as is your whim, but to suggest it'd have scored higher had Bizarre done done the game is insulting to Eden - which is my point. I didn't have a pop at the review in wider terms, just the one line you included which, as you may have noticed, got right on my wick.
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 17:09

  • Furbs #58 6 years ago

    Is there any confirmation of the extra downloads for EU'ers? Could someone at EG try and find out?

    Agreed on not mentioning the price Mugwum, its a can of worms that has been debated to death anyway with people on both sides of the fence having valid points. End of the day its a personal decision and were it not for the fact I had some old PSP games I wanted shot of I'd have been in the boycott camp (but I'm too morally weak).

    spadge, stop moaning and get coding Worms for XBLA :p

    I've always wanted to tell a legend what to do.
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 17:12

  • bloodflowers #59 6 years ago

    * Poor graphics. It doesn't matter how pretty it looks paused, when the sense of speed is dulled by shoddy frame update.
    * Poor handling. It's not arcade, it's not sim, it's not even sim-with-handbrake (hello PGR3), it's just .. bland.

    AOFanboi: yeah, sort of like MC3 dub, but you've got it a little wrong about the online/offline aspect - MC2/3 are all about online play - single player is just training. And they have genuinely good handling too. And faster visuals. On older hardware. And we weren't expected to pay full price while the US got them at budget prices. Oh dear.
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 17:35

  • PearOfAnguish #60 6 years ago

    Aww poor Spadge, he's a sensitive boy. Bless his little cotton socks.

    If anyone from Eden has a problem they can voice their own opinions in the comments section.
    Edited by 1 at 08/09/06 @ 17:39

  • Furbs #61 6 years ago

    Sensitive boy who happens to have been behind some of the best games of the 16bit era.

    Not doing your later efforts a disservice btw spadge, its just the whole developer rockstar thing died a death with the 32bit era so I kinda lost track of what your output was :(
    Edited by 2 at 08/09/06 @ 17:56

  • PearOfAnguish #62 6 years ago

    Sensitive boy who happens to have been behind some of the best games of the 16bit era.

    Yes, but so what?

  • SwedBear #63 6 years ago

    To be fair i didn't really see the discussion as arguing if it was wrong or right to compare the games. The only thing argued was if it was really fair saying the game would have been better if Bizzare had done it. That's the point that was argued about. Not that you couldn't compare the games. Of course you can compare the games. They both have cars in them :).

    And thinking of it a bit more. I wonder if it really is so certain that the game could have been better if done by Bizzare. I definitely think it's possible that some corners were cut to accomodate the whole island/MMORG/AI drivers thingy. In the end I think Eden and Bizzare should just join forces to bring us PGR Unlimited.

    As someone said in another thread. The most bizzare thing is that what EA didn't manage with their Motorcity Online thingy is something a Test Drive game seem to manage. The earlier Test Drive games (except of course the C64/Amiga games) were quite .... bad.

  • Furbs #64 6 years ago

    PearofAnguish:

    Him > you

    :)

  • #65 6 years ago

    "This is Atari speaking, welcome to your new game.

    TDU server is currently unavailable, please try later."

    Bastards! I hate Atari and they hate me :/

  • PearOfAnguish #66 6 years ago

    Uh-oh, Furbs is standing up for his hero. Do you have his picture hung on your wall? Do you kiss it every night?

    Ah, young love.

  • #67 6 years ago

    Furbs is a great kisser, and probably the best toe sucker I've ever had the pleasure to jam my foot in their gob.

    You're jealous, and rightly so.

  • PearOfAnguish #68 6 years ago

    This is true. I want to feel his soft lips against my ear as he talks dirty about Worms and Alien Breed.

  • Furbs #69 6 years ago

    PearOfAnguish. Damn right. Infact its laminated. I have an inflatable Superfrog love doll that I use and call out SPADGE! OH SPADGE!!! at that beautiful moment.

  • Red-Moose #70 6 years ago

    Two comments:

    1. The posts in this thread are really long, they are multiple paragraphs and this si not good in the internet adult-ADHD society (i.e., me)

    2. I spent all the time on the demo ramming into other online player cars to mess up their races. Childish, but satusfying. It was like revenge on all the boy racers that cut me off on the roads.

  • BrokenSymmetry #71 6 years ago

    I agree with spadge in this argument. Saying that a game would have been better if it (or parts of it) had been done by another developer serves no purpose at all.

    Also, whereas PGR3 was in many respects a step back for online play (with respect to the great PGR2), TDU is hugely innovative in its online play and structure. It should really be lauded for that.

  • PearOfAnguish #72 6 years ago

    TDU is hugely innovative in its online play and structure. It should really be lauded for that.

    Did you read the review? It says that already. But it also points out that the handling is weak compared to other high-profile racers. And handling is rather important in a racing game, no?

  • Corben_Dallas #73 6 years ago

    Are the Eurppean servers on Live running for this, tried it and kept getting servers on online etc?????

  • Carlo #74 6 years ago

    having played this for several hours, I can say it's fucking great, but also buggy as hell.

    Reminds me of 'opening week' on WoW. The pains are painfull, but if you rise above it, there's a good game underneath. I'm expecting/hoping these bugs will be cleared up once the number of players to number of servers settles down. Although, the frame rate, lock-ups and pauses while textures/maps are loaded in game are unliekly to be fixed anytime soon.

    Take what you want away from my post.

  • jamesbee #75 6 years ago

    I agree with Spadge and others, the comment was unfair and unprofessional. I don't think, after playing what Eden created for the last two days they should have to feel inferior to Bizarre or be told that their product would have been that bit better had someone else made it.

    The game seems to shine when you treat the traffic as you might in real life. Pulling out and accelerating past, nipping back in and looking for your next chance to overtake. The car delivery missions in particular make great use of the world they have created. You really do have to drive around the traffic and pay attention to the road system in order to complete them.

    What Eden have created, in terms of scale is really quite remarkable. For example, one of the online races takes you around the entire outside of the island and clocks in at 195km.

    Carlo: I run my Xbox via the VGA cable on a 32" Samsung LCD and had been running the game at 1366 x 768. I have since dropped the resolution down to 1024 x 768 with no noticeable difference in quality and have since found any small isues I had with frame rate have disappeared. While there is the odd stutter at times due to the streaming process I no find the game to be incredibly smooth, especially for a game with a draw distance equal or greater than Oblivion.
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/06 @ 01:50

  • Weezer #76 6 years ago

    So is this game actually worth buying? How has it been improved - 'cos those first demos were pretty grim/dull/whatever.

  • PearOfAnguish #77 6 years ago

    Perhaps we should establish a charity for game developers whose feelings have been hurt by those awful, awful critics. I even designed a logo:

    :(

  • PSegAgesPete #78 6 years ago

    Poor handling - Erm bet most of you didnt know that you can ADJUST the handling/calibration of STEERING in TDU...

    :)

  • SomaticSense #79 6 years ago

    I'll buy this when they sort out the stupid fucking pricing and admit that they are treating us Europeans like scum compared to the US.

    Shame because I loved the demos and this could be the first game to get me to actually use my XBL gold a/c. But I have principles, and those currenlty involve refusing to be arse-raped by greedy hypocritical games publishers.

    EDIT: Too many typos.......
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/06 @ 11:43

  • Derblington #80 6 years ago

    SomaticSense - So you don't buy games then?
    Edited by 1 at 09/09/06 @ 14:15

  • Xerx3s #81 6 years ago

    The 3rd 8/10 in a row. This bodes well for what we can expect this xmas period (I hope). ;)

  • #82 6 years ago

    I still get that too greggy, but so far while I haven't really enjoyed the multiplayer, I'm loving the single player so that's ok :)

  • smelly #83 6 years ago

    So, people who've played this.

    Is this another one of those "looks pretty, but runs at 20fps" games?

    What is it with "modern" games running slower than "last gen" games anyhuws? Not saying this is one of those - Just interested.

  • #84 6 years ago

    It's pretty smooth to be honest. 500 miles in I had one instance of slowdown during a particularly high speed straight. Dropped to slideshow levels for 10 odd seconds.

    You also get the option to turn on/off motion blur, which is fantastic. A little bit helps, too much looks silly. Turn it off alltogether and the flaws are too apparent.

  • kangarootoo #85 6 years ago

    Can people please stop harping on about the bloody price issue. Products cost different amounts in different countries because they are different markets. This isn't new.

    Does anyone complain that orange juice costs less in the US? What about power tools? Or car insurance?

    For crying out loud just grow up, get over it and move on.

  • smelly #86 6 years ago

    Dropped to slideshow levels for 10 odd seconds.

    Reet.. That's me put off then.

  • SomaticSense #87 6 years ago

    "SomaticSense - So you don't buy games then? "

    Not when the publishers are clearly giving out a "fuck you you stupid Europeans" message. Which is exactly what Atari are doing right now, so I will refuse to buy any of their games until they sort out that stupid hypocritical "Americans deserve this game cheaper than you" attitude.

    And yes, I know what you mean, we get arse-raped by games publishers when it comes to prices all the time. But Atari have gone about 3 miles over that fine line this time, and that is way too far.

    I'll give you an analogy:

    You pop into Mcdonalds to buy a cheeseburger expecting it to be around 99p which you are willing to pay because it is the accepted standard price of a cheeseburger. The bloke in front of you is charged 50p, you assume there has been a price cut or a special offer and you quite rightly now expect to pay 50p as well. No. The McDonalds employee charges you 99p. You ask why and they state "It was only on special offer for that bloke.
    You'll refuse to pay on the grounds of discrimination, and then probably go to Burger King instead even if their burgers are the same, as you'll do it in spite because McDonalds fucked you over.

    America is the "bloke in front", and instead of it being 99p it's £49.99. That's what's pissing me and many others off and why I hope this game flops sales-wise in this region (which I'm doubting will happen) in order to teach Atari not to treat us in such contempt in future.

    EDIT: Yet more typos!! Note to self: learn to proof read......
    Edited by 2 at 09/09/06 @ 22:57

  • SomaticSense #88 6 years ago

    "Can people please stop harping on about the bloody price issue. Products cost different amounts in different countries because they are different markets. This isn't new.

    Does anyone complain that orange juice costs less in the US? What about power tools? Or car insurance?

    For crying out loud just grow up, get over it and move on."

    All games are cheaper in America due to the exchange rate, but this is not the issue. The issue is that Atari announced it as a budget title only in the US but not in Europe. So instead of the game being the usual 50% (approx) more expensive, it is around 2 and a half times more expensive. That is a hell of a difference.

  • FooAtari #89 6 years ago

    I bought TDU, but had missed that it was cheaper than the US somewhere along the line...

    I with you though SomanticSense.

    I think though, that they need to drop the price on 360 games down to an RRP of £40. But thats for the comments section of the related article on the front page.

  • smelly #90 6 years ago

    WTF?

    Are you people STUPID or something?

    EVERYTHING is cheaper in america. If you go into burger king, you can buy a meal for $5, the same meal over here is £5. A tv, exactly the same, and so are games, etc etc

    Its called ECONOMICS.

    The games companies ARE NOT screwing you over. It just costs more over here, the same as everything else does.

    Which is why (big suprise) wages are better over here too!

    Yes kids, some things cost more/less in different parts of the world! Thats the way the world works!

    Its NOT rocket science is it? Or are you all really THAT stupid? Next time you're in school, go talk to your teachers about e-co-nom-ics.

    And they say GCSE's are dumbing down...

  • DaveT #91 6 years ago

    "2. I spent all the time on the demo ramming into other online player cars to mess up their races. Childish, but satusfying. It was like revenge on all the boy racers that cut me off on the roads."

    You see, this is why I don't 'do' online gaming.

    Because the people you meet online are usually complete selfish twats

  • dk_rare #92 6 years ago

    Can people please stop harping on about the bloody price issue. Products cost different amounts in different countries because they are different markets. This isn't new.

    Does anyone complain that orange juice costs less in the US? What about power tools? Or car insurance?

    For crying out loud just grow up, get over it and move on.
    ____________________________

    Now that just isn't fair. Orange juice, maybe they have states that grow more oranges. car insurance, maybe they are worse drivers so they pay larger premiums. But last time I checked most of my games had "made in taiwan" or some shit printed on them, and I am sure America is the same (cheaply made and imported I mean". It's not called economics, it's called They charge it because they feel they can. America doesn't have richer plantations of the magic goo they use to make dvds, their petrol to ship the dvds don't cost any more... quite simply they charge it because we pay for it.

    Except a lot of us aren't willing to pay for it, so we pirate it or we only buy them when they are cheaper in sales a few weeks after release.

  • kangarootoo #93 6 years ago

    @SomaticSense

    "All games are cheaper in America due to the exchange rate, but this is not the issue. The issue is that Atari announced it as a budget title only in the US but not in Europe."

    First off, your facts are simply wrong. Games are NOT cheaper in the US because of the exchange rate, they are cheaper because it is a larger single market, which means the production, marketing and distribution costs per unit are smaller. Which in fact is EXACTLY the reason that Atari freely gave for the price difference.

    And your McDonalds analogy is frankly nonsense, contrived using artificial boundaries to support your flawed point. A far better analogy (as smelly suggested) would be to compare two different McDonalds, one in the US and one in the UK.

    And what do you think you would find if you made that comparision? That McDonalds is cheaper in the US, thats what.

    @dk_rare

    The cost of pressing aluminium is one of the smallest costs involved in the whole process. So the costs of making the discs isn't really what causes the differences we sometimes see. The more customers, the cheaper you can make your products. THAT is why orange juice costs less in the US too, because one juice production plant can more cheaply supply their products to a greater number of customers.

    "They charge it because they feel they can"

    This is true of every company everywhere. That is what is so disappointing about this whole discussion. It just so happens that for some people the price point is a problem, so they act like Atari has invented a new kind of evil. They are just doing what every company on the planet does, i.e. setting their price for their market.

    In no other market have I ever seen so many people rant about "being treated like scum" with regard to a product they DO NOT HAVE TO BUY!!!

    If you don't like the price, don't buy it. I'll say it again especially for SomaticSense. If you don't like the price, don't buy it.

    I mean FFS, do you go into Curry's and shout at their staff about the price of their TVs? Do you go into fish and chip shops and scream at them because their fish is a bit under done. NO, you go somewhere else and spend your money on something else.

    Kids have little hissy fits about this sort of thing because they don't understand and they can't control their emotions. Mature adults have no business acting so bloody victimised when they are ABSOLUTELY in control of their own purse strings.

  • smelly #94 6 years ago

    Edit : kangarootoo beat me to it!



    GAH!! ITS GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GAMES COMPANIES!

    *EVERYTHING* IS MORE EXPENSIVE OVER HERE!

    Its to do with wages, cost of living, inflation, taxes, etc etc etc.

    Now go away, read on economics, maybe go on holiday to america and realise that EVERYTHING costs less over there and dont come back until you know what you're talking about.

    Trying to keep this simple, as some people on here just dont seem to get it:

    A burger may cost $5 over there, and £5 over here. But a burger employee is earning $5 an hour instead of £5 an hour over here. So therefor both employees can buy a burger with their hours wages, even though in effect that's double the amount over here.

    See?

    Understand?

    Or do i have to think up an even more mind numbingly simple explanation to explain this to you?

    And as for using that as an excuse for piracy - get over yourself! A tv costs $200 in the states, but £200 over here, does that give me the right to go into dixons, and steal a tv as "they're ripping me off for charging me double"? Despite the fact i'm getting paid double what an average american earns?

    Edited by 1 at 10/09/06 @ 10:13

  • dllord #95 6 years ago

    100 WooHoo!

  • Inquisitor #96 6 years ago

    Why does everyone seem to think we get paid more than Americans, I think you'll find they get paid the same amount, if not more for doing a comparative job. As for the price point, its not that we are paying more thats pissing people off, its that we aren't having the game be released as a budget title. I think thats quite annoying aswell, but maybe understandable as the company is in such a dire position.

  • smelly #97 6 years ago

    Hmm.. Amazon.com has it for $39.95, amazon.co.uk has is for £39.99.

    Which is the standard deal on most things.. $1 = £1.

  • Furbs #98 6 years ago

    The reason people are slightly miffed about the price differential (which is missed by those who are happy to bend over and take whatever a company decides to do to them) is that in this instance its a decision taken purely for marketing reasons. Its nothing to do with distribution costs, development costs, cost of living or anything else. If it had been the usual price difference between the EU and the US noone would bat an eyelid. Ok the 360 prices in Japan are marketing driven, but I think most gamers would accept that for MS Japan is a special case.

    Just imagine if this became the norm - America paying budget prices whilst us europeans subsidise their purchases on every single game, for no other reason than it helps generate better sales in the companies home (and largest) territory. Thats a bit more than a $10 difference here and there. Imagine Halo 3 coming out for £20 over there and £50 here. Are we wrong to ask "wtf?" and vote with our wallets?

    Sure, bitching about it on the internet is pointless other than raising awareness, but it seems both sides are very concerned about how other people spend their money.

  • smelly #99 6 years ago

    ???

    I dont get this "budget price" thing?

    Are you saying that other places other than amazon are charging less than $39.95?

    Or are you bitching about the $1 to £1 ratio? Which is true for 99.99% of ALL products games or otherwise?

    Have I missed the point? Is amazon.com selling this too expensive, and everywhere else selling it for $20 or something?

    Edited by 1 at 10/09/06 @ 15:32

  • jenguin #100 6 years ago

    smelly.

    360 games in the states from amazon.com cost usually $59.99 see saints row if you want to see for yourself [link url=http://www.amazon.com/THQ-752919 550021-Saint-s-Row/dp/B000BLM5PG/sr=8-3/qid=1157900213/ref=p d_bbs_3/103-3885970-1748614?ie=UTF8&s=videogames
    ]http://ww w.amazon.com/THQ-752919550021-S...[/link]

    test drive unlimited has been released as a budget game over there hence it costs $39.99. $20 cheaper than a full price game - thats why people are a bit miffed.

    J

  • SomaticSense #101 6 years ago

    See, Furbs gets what I'm on about. I am a grown adult (23 at the end of the month), and am fully in control of my money, which is why I've decided not to get it. That's my own personal decision which is not up for debate here. I'm trying to raise awareness as unless people make a stand to what Atari (and it is only Atari that have done this to my knowledge) then ALL games companies will be trying the same thing. My analogy, however flawed, was purely to convey how I feel about the situstion, that it feels like someone else is getting a deal that for some reason I don't deserve.

    But let me get this straight, I KNOW everything works out more expensive over here whether it's the exchange rates, the markets whatever. This isn't the point, that is a COMPLETELY different subject and one that I have accepted a long time ago.
    The fact of the matter is Atari announced this as a budget title so that (in their words) "more people can experience this game and to make it more accessible to all". Which in turn lead to many people (including me) to applaud such a thoughtful gesture to gamers by a games publisher.
    Only thing is, this 'budget' price was only for the US region, and that we had to pay the usual RRP (depending on where you get it from). The normal RRP for a US 360 game is about $60, the normal RRP for a 360 game in the UK is £49.99. But TDU's RRP in the US is $39.99. So why couldn't they have released TDU over here for the equivalent of around 30 or 35 quid? That would still be the usual "more expensive than the US market", but we would still be getting it at a cheaper price, thus living up to their promise of "we want this game to be cheaper and therfore accessible to more". Why didn't we get that budget price?
    This seems to me like they care about the US market much more than ours, which is usually the case, but NEVER to the extent as this. It suggests either that they couldn't really care whether the game is "more accessible" over here, or that they think that all gamers in the European region are all loaded and that everyone could afford it anyway.

    That is what I'm getting at. This is not the usual case of the US being more expensive, but of Atari seeming to treat the US market better than most games developers usually do, and unless people take a stand to stop this attitude it can only get worse and lead to more developers trying the same.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/06 @ 16:14

  • smelly #102 6 years ago

    @jenguin : So that just means that. In relationship to other products, uk gamers were getting a better deal on 360 games in the first place!

    You'd normally expect a £1 to $1 ratio (which is pretty much true for all games, consoles, cds, dvds, electrical goods, etc etc). The fact the average game is $60 in the states, but £50 over here means we're getting a better comparitive deal in the first place - in effect getting a £10 discount over what we'd normally be paying per game..

    But regarldess of which -

    It's $20 cheaper than other full price games - appx £10.

    Amazon.co.uk has it for £39.95, whereas other full price games sell for £50.

    So a £10 discount?

    Or have i totally lost the plot here? I fail to see the problem?

  • jamesbee #103 6 years ago

    My girlfriend got me this for my birthday in Germany and ended up paying 69 euro for it from Gamestop on a pre-order with a test drive face plate 'free'. 69 euro is just way too expensive for any game and of course the deal is made worse by the fact that Gamestop sells it for 69 euro here and the equivalent price of 31 euro in USA, that makes it over 2x more expensive in Germany purchased with the same company.

    As it was a gift I am not going to make a fuss and the face plate is kind of cool but I don't understand the pricing of 69 euro. Most other stores in Germany will surely sell it for around 55 euro. I have found the fluctuation of prices to be very strange in Germany, some games sell for 69 and others for 50 and there is no link to the quality of the game to determine what it will end up being charged at.



    Edited by 1 at 10/09/06 @ 17:41

  • Garwoofoo #104 6 years ago

    Having played this for the last two days, I've decided that it's an excellent game that's well worth full price (more so than a lot of other releases). I've also decided that's the only thing that really concerns me: is it worth what I paid for it? Yes it is.

    The fact some other bloke who lives thousands of miles away from me can get this more cheaply doesn't really seem relevant, and it's definitely a petty reason to deprive myself of a game as good as this one.

  • jenguin #105 6 years ago

    not quite convinced smelly.

    the $1 = £1 was true - not so sure it is now.

    regardless of which - we can buy it for £39.99 - the same as all other xbox games.

    americans usually pay $59.99

    they are given a $20/£10 discount.

    we are not.

    if we were receiving any discount we would see it in the shops for £39.99 and pay £29.99 online.

    J

  • dk_rare #106 6 years ago

    Gears of war, I have been told (read on 1up.com) will cost 60 dollars american, for the standard game. 70 dollars american for the special tin edition (like halo 2).

    That makes the tin edition 160 dollars Australian. And about 60 quid. 60 pounds!!!!!

    Sure Gears of War is meant to be the bees knees and may be worth it... but what if other publishers thing they can get away with it :o

    The horror

  • smelly #107 6 years ago

    >regardless of which - we can buy it for £39.99 - the same as all other xbox games.


    Other 360 games are 49.99? We are being given a £10 discount.

    If you look at amazon.com, americunz dont get any discount...

    (sorry being pedantic here.. I kinda see where yer coming from - but i think yer being overly pesimistic for no reason... )

  • Der_tolle_Emil #108 6 years ago

    This entire price discussion is silly. If those of you complaining cannot understand why a larger market means more buyers and eventually a lower price then I don't know what to say. I actually see it a little bit different - why is every game in the United States about the same price as here in Europe? Europe is a huge video game market, no question about that. But in the end hardly any game will sell about as much or even more than in America. Add that to the fact that you mostly need only one marketing campaign over there and publishers don't have to translate the game to various languages.

    In the end it all sums up as this: The total cost of a game is way lower and you most of the time have more people who will buy the game. Of course it will be sold cheaper - this is common sense and has nothing to do with favouring America or simply ignoring Europe. Again, I honestly believe Americans pay way too much for a game for those very reasons I just gave. Then again judging by the reaction of Europeans about the price difference with this game I totally understand. All the complaints are bad PR. Just don't adjust the price and everyone wins: Europeans for not having to pay more than Americans and the publisher for earning twice the money for every game sold overseas. Everyone is happy.

  • ruckus #109 6 years ago

    Well all I can say is I hope Amazon finaly deliver mine tomorrow. I have no problem with people who rufuse to buy it because of the price discrimination in Europe or pointing out to others why. What Atari did is wrong - I've just looked foreword to this game to much to boycott it (unlike GTR/GTL with it's starforce and lack of AI in lan games).

  • PlugMonkey #110 6 years ago

    For me, the price debate is pretty much redundent. It's still the most tedious game I've ever played! Whether it was 50 quid or 50 pence I'd still be taking it back. Why it's reviewing so well is utterly beyond me. Everyone I spoke to on Live was driving round bored rigid as well. No wonder they decided to drop the price in the states.

    What a load of crap.

  • dk_rare #111 6 years ago

    Even our sister site, gamesindustry.biz, complained about the outragous price of 360 games.

  • dk_rare #112 6 years ago

    And I seriously don't get why some of you are defending the industry for overcharging for games and for overcharging us. And they control the market by locking out American games from our systems, so they CLEARLY know that if we could play the cheaper American games that we would.

  • MrAtheist #113 6 years ago

    The price discussion isnt silly. Its not rocket science either.

    Games normally RRP at $60 in the US, £50 in the UK. Publisher announces they are putting their game out at $40 in the US so more people play it blah blah blah. UK gamers rejoice, it will probably RRP £35! No wait, its still RRP £50.

    Now, kangarootoo-and-the-bend-over-crew think you should grab your ankles and take it with a smile on your face because, well, thats just the way things are. Other people think the situation is unfair and unjustified, another example of Rip-Off Britain. I know which viewpoint I agree with. :)

  • kangarootoo #114 6 years ago

    @Garwoofoo

    +1, a bt of sanity.

    @MrAtheist

    Oh ffs. At what point did I suggest anyone should "bend over and take it". Could it have been at the point where I said "if you don't like the price, don't buy it"? Was that maybe it?

    At no point did I say this price difference was good, at no point did I say we should buy the game and not complain. What I did say is we should stop whining like children and simply exercise our consumer choice.

    Whining like kids means nothing to a corp exec, nothing at all. Not buying their product means everything. So if someone feels strongly about it, stop doing the first and starting doing the second one. And if you are already doing both then how about you realise that the first one is redundant and just makes you look childish.

    Can you imagine a situation other than games where people would use the language that gets used in this issue? If you went to a web forum about cars, would you expect to see people complaining about the difference in US and UK car prices using terms like "they treat us like scum"? Of course not (unless it was populated with stroppy kids only just old enough to drive).

    And we wonder why people often treat games as the pursuit of children, something not to be taken seriously. Anyone reading a thread about this issue on this site or any other, seeing people screaming and shouting just because something they want is more expensive than they would like it to be (and thats really all this is) will just think we are a bunch of kids not able to control our emotions.

    Again, I'm not saying you should "bend over and take it from the man". I'm simply saying show them you aren't happy by not buying the game, because they really don't care whether you spit your dummy out or not.

  • smelly #115 6 years ago

    I for one am never buying ANYTHING in this country EVER again, be it a television, burger, dvd, etc.

    As I can buy them all cheaper in america, so therefor Im gonna boycot those products - i may even steal them from the stores.


    *sigh*. Im leaving this thread now, as it seems (to me) that a few of you really do have a screw loose.

  • MrAtheist #116 6 years ago

    @kanga

    Oooooo touchy! ;)

    Funny you should bring up the car price issue. Thats how the term Rip Off Britain came about. Look into this issue, its the people "screaming and shouting" that stopped us getting massively ripped off compared to other countries.

    PS whats with the videogames for kids rant? Has Doctor Who whisked us back to 1993 or something? :)

  • kangarootoo #117 6 years ago

    @MrAtheist

    "Oooooo touchy! ;)"

    Hehe, I am getting a bit into this aren't I :)

    I'm pretty sure that no-one driving the rip of britain campaign was using terms like "they treat us like scum".

    Actually, I seem to keep referring back to that when it was only really used a couple of times by one person. And I think maybe I'm letting that comment drive me a bit in this discussion.

    As you may have seem in my posts on other subjects, I have a bit of an allergy to over-reaction. The slightest bit of bad news comes along and some people act like its the end of the world, created specifically to annoy them. This is a situation like that. Atari are simply making marketing decisions, we as consumers respond to those decisions with our buying choices. Thats is our role in all of this, stamping out feet like kids isn't (except for those who are kids I guess).


    The "games for kids" ref wasn't communicated very well. My point was that acting like kids doesn't help establish video games as a mature hobby. Every forum thread that is filled with immature vitriol is just another deterrent for the casual gamer. If thats how we appear to the "outside world" then we will never get any further than specialist sites and 1 column inch in a Sunday paper supplement.

    When adults respond to bad news with excessive reactions and rants, that just makes gamers look like hyperactive nut jobs. Which in turn harms gaming and continues the cycle of unoriginal titles aimed at 14-24 yr old males.

    Blah blah, probably best that I drop out of this thread as I seem to have quite successfully continued the whole price issue discussion, which is exactly what I was originally asking that we avoid doing :)

  • tiddles #118 6 years ago

    So, are people enjoying this game? Is it any good? Or are we too upset about the price to have an opinion?

  • paulf #119 6 years ago

    well I'm about 10 hours in and I'm loving playing it, the online challenges seem a bit limited though as I seem to get matched with people who have A class cars when Im driving a C class but I'm really enjoying exploring the island and the single player challenges.

    If you are having issues with the handling turn all the driving aids off for a better drive.

    IMO well worth 50 quid

  • PlugMonkey #120 5 years ago

    "It's still the most tedious game I've ever played! Whether it was 50 quid or 50 pence I'd still be taking it back. Why it's reviewing so well is utterly beyond me."

    Don't talk crap, plugmonkey. If you just bother to persevere past the first couple of hours and get a half decent car (I'd highly recommend the DB9 to all and sundry) it's a top game. Fool.

  • Fatnick #121 5 years ago

    I love it. It won't be for everyone though. Its odd - much more of a 'driving' than a 'racing' game. If you play it in manual with the assists turned off you can have lots of fun just cruising round the Island. Wish there were a few more tracks on the radio though.

  • SomaticSense #122 5 years ago

    Smelly - "I for one am never buying ANYTHING in this country EVER again, be it a television, burger, dvd, etc.

    As I can buy them all cheaper in america, so therefor Im gonna boycot those products - i may even steal them from the stores.


    *sigh*. Im leaving this thread now, as it seems (to me) that a few of you really do have a screw loose. "

    Ahhhhhh. Smelly misses the point AGAIN! This is not a discussion on the "America always get things cheaper" issue. Did you even read my previous comments? How about going to the news article relating to the price issue on this very site to see exactly what all the fuss is about. Then you might have some clue as to WHY this case is different to the norm.

    @ Kangerootoo - That is what I am doing. I am exercising my right not to buy the game, as I feel that this is the best way to show Atari and other publishers that I disagree with what they are doing.
    I feel it is my duty to inform others of how Atari are treaing European consumers and allowing them to then make their decision on whether to buy it or not, as it seems that there are a lot of people who hadn't heard of it before, and are therefore buying the game unaware that there is such an issue that would otherwise fire them up to take a stand and refuse to buy it.

    I'm aware that pissing and moaning rarely acheives anything, but if that pissing and moaning makes others aware of an issue they previously didn't know about, then in my eyes, that has acheived something.

  • LoftusRoadRunner #123 5 years ago

    Awesome game. Handling is fine for me, mind you I'm fairly hopeless at all driving games.

    The whole idea of an open world is superb. I've spent a good few hours just driving to scenic spots on the island - it really does remind me of driving round parts of Greece (I know it's Hawaii but there's somehting in the feel of it). As someone else pointed out ducking in and out of the traffic is very, very realistic.

    Offline races are good, delivering cars great fun, hitchiker and shopping pick ups tough, online racing I've been hammered every time - idea of challenging anyone you bump into adds a real twist, as does the drive in challenge idea (this does seem buggy for now though).

    Compared to the boredom of PGR3 after 5 hours, for me this game rocks...hope other developers come up with new (not sure it is a new concept) concepts like this.

    Almost reminds me of Midwinter on the Amiga for the open ended world.

  • EmiliasHorse #124 5 years ago

    Love this game. Poor old Dead Rising is struggling to get any love at all.

    Oh and as for the price £40 at Tesco more than happy with that,
    yes it's cheaper in the States but I don't care. And doing the math for all to see only makes me bored and want to go back on the highway to driving bliss.
    Edited by 1 at 13/09/06 @ 21:21

  • Royal Fool #125 5 years ago

    Looks like PlugMonkey has a split personality! :D

  • X #126 5 years ago

    I notice the price of the game on the PS2, PC and PSP is around the £25 mark compared to the £40 of the 360 version. I think it's just part and parcel of owning a 360 in this country. Even used 360 games seem to be like £30 or so, bit crazy.

    Might well pick this up though, saw it in Tesco earlier and thought 'god not another Test Drive game' as practically all of them have made me think 'what a load of turd' but this seems a decent bet. Would fit snugly alongside PGR3 as something a bit different. Only similarity is both games have cars in :)

    /hugs his Tesco discount card, £35 \o/

  • X #127 5 years ago

    Just read the reviews for both games and decide which features you would prefer. If you played PGR2 then it's basically that but far better looking. I would say it's worth getting both eventually.

  • gmmiller #128 5 years ago

    While this game may have it's warts and bugs compared to anything out there it's light years ahead in concept! Certainly the game could have been given more development time to better define handling, support for steering wheels (pet peeve? NO "Y" axis support on any known 360 wheel so competing in ad hoc races are impossible!) and less bugs. But the concept! Major kudos to Eden and Atari for the pretty damn good attempt at it. By far the best Test Drive EVER done and the only real successor to NFS Porsche Unlimited where NFS has completely lost what made the game great in the first place. Carbon absolutely sucks not only in comparison but as a successor to the whole NFS legacy.

    We'll see how well Atari and Eden are can patch this game as they work the warts out, but this game is truly where I hope these types of games expand. Free roam and pickup races as well as a pretty decent career mode.

    So far I've spent over 170 hours testing various steering wheels and over 7,000 miles and completed everything in gold off-line. Now that testing is done I'm looking forward to actually re-starting this game using the Microsoft wheel on-line.

    I'm no beginner at Racing SIMS and have over 200 of them I've been through on the PC with my Momo wheel and have yet to see anything like this game. I hope it's successful enough to see more like it.