Forza Motorsport website
by Steve Parsons 
{ Dec 22nd 2004 at 1:57AM }
Microsoft have updated their Forza Motorsport website. Forza Motorsport being the supposed
"Gran
Turismo killer" from Microsoft. (Yeah, just
like "Killzone" was a Halo killer… *cough*) As Flash driven game websites go, this is a good one. Though the fact I'm a
car nut probably helps. The comforting engine noises… Bliss…
You can play with the "Car Builder" feature, which lets you change parts on the cars. More importantly, there is a
list of cars available in the game. As much as I'm a Gran Turismo nut, any game that has the Bentley Speed 8 in it
can't be all bad!
A track list is also provided. Which is where I could point and laugh and say "HAHA! Gran Turismo has the finest
circuit on Earth, the Nurburgring Nordschleife, and you don't", but I would never dream of doing that…
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Masud @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM
Maybe I misunderstood the last line of your article but if you look at the track list on the Forza motorsport page you will see that Forza too has the Nurburgring as a track :)
Steve @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM
Stupid bastard... How did I miss that?:) I mean I look at it now and it jumps right out at me (I know the circuit like the back of my hand)...
Too much Eggnog:)
Chris K @ Dec 18th 2005 9:47PM
A few points:
1) MS has never touted Forza as a GT killer. Everybody else does. So saying "the supposed GranForza Motorsport Turismo killer from Microsoft" is misleading.
2) Just because Sony fell flat on its face with Killzone doesn't mean MS will do so with Forza.
3) The engine sounds are WONDERFUL in Forza, I agree. The Corvette sounds awesome, as does the 911. Compare that to the silly turbine sound coming out of the Camaro in GT1/2/3, and I don't doubt Forza's audio will stomp all over GT4.
4) Playing the Forza demo, their representation of Laguna Seca is MUCH more accurate than Polyphony's. Turns 5, 6, and 10 are pretty bad in Polyphony's representation. Especially the complete lack of a drop in turn 6. You can pretty much go flat out in GT3, which you'd never see a real car do. There's also lots of "magic gravel" in GT3's Laguna Seca, that doesn't slow you down at all. It takes the teeth out of turn 5.
5) From what I have seen so far, the driving model in Forza is better than GT3's. The silly GT3 braking physics are much better in Forza (try flooring the brakes and going full lock in a real car sometime!), and weight transfer feels better to me. Trail braking is realistically hairy in Forza, which is a welcome change from GT3.
6) Forza has autocross. That's a much nicer second form of racing than GT's extremely unrealistic rally mode, IMHO. I can't wait to grab an Elise and go cone hunting!
I apologize if I sound like a Forza fanboy with this post... I've been playing GT since it was out, and have loved every game, but if the depth and tuning options of Forza matches GT4, it will be a better game, hands down. Forza arleady beats GT3 on the track from what I have played, and given Polyphony's past, I doubt the GT4 physics model will be much improved, if at all.
Hopefully Forza makes Polyphony get real this time around. I'd love to have two great racing games. I'm sick of depending on my PC to get a realistic racing game.