Forza 2 jacks PGR3 technology
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Jun 21st 2006 at 9:55PM }
As much as we'd like to envision Microsoft programmers bursting into the UK offices of Bizarre Games, waving oversized pistols around and demanding that employees dump their precious code onto an external hard drive, the word "sharing" is the one used to describe the technology deal between the Project Gotham Racing 3 developer and the Forza Motorsport 2 team. In an Xbox World Australia "In Forza Motorsport 2, you won't just be watching a bunch of Ferraris racing together. You'll be watching completely customized Ferraris racing in a simulation environment. The personality of the driver emerges in Forza Motorsport TV. Paint schemes and physics mastery add to the excitement and diversity of the 'telecasts'." Exciting news, certainly if you've discovered that watching is the best part of playing a game.
All joking aside, it is heartening to see PGR3's solid online implementation finding its way into another flagship franchise. Greenawalt goes on to highlight the game's 60 frames-per-second graphical glory, its more nuanced Drivatar AI system and a photo mode that -- get this -- may allow you to share your virtual snaps with friends. Let's hope Microsoft remembers to share that marvelous technology with the Project Gotham team.
Well, maybe not all joking then.
[Via Eurogamer]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
macattack @ Jun 21st 2006 10:07PM
Yeah on Major Nelson's last podcast he interviewed one of the guys working on FM2 and he mentioned the same, and how they biuld of eachothers technology.
Dan Choi @ Jun 21st 2006 10:12PM
Yeah, Major Nelson got some quality time in with the Forza guys (including Che Chou, their new community manager) in his double-sized blogcast this past week. Check it out below:
http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2006/06/18/Show-_2300_179-The-one-with-three-interviews.aspx
I believe they mention how Microsoft Game Studios has it set up so there can be a Forza one year, followed by a PGR the next, then a newer Forza the third year, and so forth. Technology sharing should mean a lot of incremental improvements for both series with each year's release.
Zacky V @ Jun 21st 2006 10:29PM
Yeah that would be awesone Dan, but I dont want this to turn into Madden and we only get like one new thing every other year.
Btw Prey is on Marketplace in a hour and a half, YAY
Tony @ Jun 21st 2006 10:41PM
Forza is one of my favorite Xbox titles and I had been hoping for a sequel on 360 since the first came out. I was very happy this E3. Really cannot wait for the title.
Now if they do a Rallisport Challenge 3 I'll be very content.
LongshotX @ Jun 21st 2006 11:02PM
Sounds pretty exciting!
heavyness @ Jun 21st 2006 11:27PM
not to surprising. if one studio does it right, why re-invent the wheel. this will cut down on development time and money. they are all part of Microsoft Game Studios, so it only makes sense.
Zacky V -> how can this turn into a Madden when its 2 completely different games? PGR is more of an aracde racer while Forza is a sim. while some will buy both, most people go one of the other. me, i like my PGR, couldn't really get into sim racers.
james f. @ Jun 21st 2006 11:44PM
After being thoroughly bored by the E3 trailer(no ingame) this sounds GREAT! Back in the ninties Gran Turismo is THE game that made me a ps1 owner. But FORZA 1 really wooed me from the gran turismo franchise. PGR3(an excellent game)done the sim way will make Forza 2 an excellent title. Can't Wait!
Salman @ Jun 22nd 2006 1:46AM
60 frames per second, not sure if my LCD can handle that! I think the trend seems to be giving the user the ability to customize.
MS seems to be blowing this one... @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:06AM
If you went to E3 and saw the Forza teaser, you know what I am talking about. There is no evidence Forza for 360 is going anywhere. They're almost certainly way behind on it.
PGR3 was a huge step down in gameplay from PGR2. So many cars were stripped out that they then ripped out the classes. You can race any car in any race. This strips down the experience too much. This is the same problem GT3 had, I'm shocked to see MS follow in those footsteps.
Anyway, given the lack of progress on Forza, I'm sure Forza 360 will be a quick and dirty port of Forza. This does not bode well. We're looking at the PGR3 experience (or worse) all over again.
I'd love to be surprised, but I don't expect to be.
It's too bad. This advantage is MS' to lose. And sadly they're losing it.
What I wouldn't give for a new Rallisport Challenge. Now there's a game (Rallisport Challenge 2) that delivered. It delivered far beyond what could be expected as a sequel to the unremarkable Rallisport Challenge. And bizarrely, it is done by the same studio who did Forza. Why does Rallisport Challenge 2 look so fantastic and Forza like such crap?
I think I'm gonna bust out Rallisport Challenge 2 right now.
PGR2 is the best non-sim racer for any platform. PGR3 can't touch it.
Catastorphic @ Jun 22nd 2006 8:53AM
Forza on the Xbox was the best driving game of last-gen.
60 FPS and gorgeous graphics with the awesome spectator mode? Forza 2 is looking fantastic, color me excited!
ivanv4 @ Jun 22nd 2006 9:50AM
I can`t wait for it!! XD That game is gonna make me buy an X360.
Scott @ Jun 22nd 2006 10:09AM
mmm rallisport challenge 2, now that was a fun game. I loved intentionally hitting boulders to send my car flipping down the road with parts flying off.
VampireHunter Z @ Jun 22nd 2006 1:15PM
Finally I can stop hearing people whine about "I want 60 fps! Waaa". It's not that important thing but they are giving it anyway. Lots of Kudos. This game will rule XBL.
GTgamer @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:54PM
I'm am so unbelievably excited to get Forza 2 for the 360. Forza was awesome (as well as the Rallisport games...except for the eerie feeling of absolute "loneliness" that the first Rallisport always gave me). Buying the original Forza and Psychonauts in the same week lead to an unbelievable battle for play time last year.
Forza 2, new 360 pedals with force-feedback...oh, it's going to be so sweet...at least it BETTER be sweet or I'm going to riot.
phl0w @ Jun 22nd 2006 7:01PM
A racer not running @60fps is like watching a slide show, that's why GT4 and RSC2 owned Forza and PGR2 big time, which I both stopped playing at some point cause I couldn't stand the 30fps anymore.
RSC2 was simply the best looking racer ever