Race Driver: GRID demo races to a million downloads

by Jason Dobson { May 26th 2008 at 9:30PM }

With the latest in Codemasters' Race Driver series, GRID, expected to roll up to the starting line next week, the company has announced that the demo for the upcoming, not to mention decidedly un-boring racer has been downloaded over a million times over Xbox Live, PSN, and the PC.

The demo, which was released a couple weeks back, offers a look at what players can expect when Race Driver: Grid races to European retail shelves on May 30. Following this, North American players will be able to slip behind the wheel on June 3, while a more touchable version for the Nintendo DS is expected around the same time as well.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

Tags: codemasters, demo, grid, race-driver, race-driver-grid, racedriver, racedrivergrid

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

ApolloIV @ May 26th 2008 9:43PM

I've yet to try this. Joystiq legion, should I?

Wii60Warrior @ May 26th 2008 10:00PM

Yes

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ May 26th 2008 11:52PM

I gave it a try and thought it sucked ass ... deleted it about an hour later ... Its terrible

ScottyGEE @ May 27th 2008 6:04AM

An hour? You're too generous! I gave the Turok demo a lot less =p

Wrong game I know but still... >_>

MN Guy @ May 27th 2008 8:06AM

I thought the demo was excellent. Fun racing and the demo gives you a lot actually.

The game plays almost exactly like a polished version of Dirt, their last game.

MasterCKO @ May 27th 2008 1:26PM

Yes! This game is a ton of fun.

Lars @ May 27th 2008 1:32PM

I thought it was kinda crappy. I mean, I suppose if you're really into racers and just gotta have a new one every month then go for it. But if you're like me and just occasionally want to do some racing then there are better options out there...

I'm surprised at the attention this game has gotten. Are racers the new shooters?

Karamo17 @ May 26th 2008 9:48PM

Does that really matter, I downloaded the demo on my PS3 and deleted it soon after, the game does nothing for, so the download means nothing and wont predict sales at all

The_Punisher @ May 26th 2008 9:50PM

No other company annoucned it, so it's gotta mean something......Still, agreed.

DonWii @ May 26th 2008 10:00PM

Same here.

Jordan @ May 26th 2008 9:46PM

I downloaded this demo not expecting anything.

Now I can't wait to buy it! Great game!

Justin @ May 26th 2008 9:52PM

That just means that at least that many people won't buy it when it comes out. Including me.

Lars @ May 27th 2008 1:35PM

Haha, too funny. It kinda makes me wonder.... I understand why a good game or a really fun game might want to push a demo so that people can look past the screenshots and hype videos. But why would you do it for something crappy. Like if Conan hadn't released a demo, I probably would have just bought it. After playing the demo... not so much.

jayeffaar @ May 26th 2008 9:53PM

The racing looks like a lot of fun, but unfortunately (for me), one of the three events in the demo is a drifting contest. I am definitely not a fan of figure-skating on wheels in racing games.

As to whether the demo download numbers mean anything? I'd say it at least shows potential interest in the game from tons of people and that they know that it's coming up. That can't be a bad thing for the publishers.

DiRT @ May 26th 2008 9:56PM

I also deleted it soon after and I feel I'm not the last one around here who will step up to say so. There's no way I'll pay money for this game. Good thing I got the demo to help me make up my mind.

why not the LS2LS7? @ May 26th 2008 9:57PM

GRiD bears as much relation to the Race Driver series as Outrun does to Sega GT.

I don't begrudge Codemasters the money, as they really need it. But please Codemasters, take the cash and use it to make another good sim racer for us diehards, not this Midnight Club stuff.

Wii60Warrior @ May 26th 2008 10:02PM

I love the game and I'm definitely getting it. While it probably won't satisfy reality sim junkies into Forza or GT I find it to be just plain FUN.

My only issue is that it has only 45 cars. HOPEFULLY they'll make more available thru DLC? Thats just random wishing on my part though.

I think people should give this game a chance.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ May 26th 2008 11:54PM

Damn Premature Ass

Was that a halfway civilized post not bashing the PS3?

Maybe you have turned a new leaf ...

If you want fun driving with Crashes thats not a sim style racer get Burnout Paradise ... It is the pinnacle of Arcade style and open world racing ...

I thought this game was trash ... But thats just on emans opinion

Wii60Warrior @ May 27th 2008 12:19AM

Umm fuck you.

Your typical arrogance shines thru again. Just because I hate the ps3 doesn't mean everything I say is automatically invalid or not worth reading.

I may hate you and the other sterotypical sony asshats but I still read what you guys say and respond accordingly...

Unlike you I don't dismiss anyone just out of hand.

Again fuck you and your arrogant holier than thou butt.

ViagraFiend @ May 27th 2008 10:07AM

I dont know why you would wish for DLC cars. Look, if a racing game comes with 45 cars these days, I'm not buying it. Youre probably right, they will have car packs that you can buy for 8 bucks a piece. Then, once you have spent 100 bucks on the game, you may have the same amount of cars that the shittiest current racer has.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ May 27th 2008 10:32AM

It looks like someone is feeling a little insecure ... I never dismissed anything you said ... I was never being the slightest bit arrogant ... Your the one always on here talking out of your ass blabbering on like an idiot ... In fact, I was impressed that you were actually able to post something coherent on the subject instead of going into your typical anti-PS3 tyrade ...

So stop being so uptight and learn to have a little fun in your life ... The most ironic thing I have heard all week is you calling me arrogant ... You have typically been the most pig headed and arrogant console zealot that existed on this site ... Why do you think I asked if you had turned a new leaf ...

It looks like you are trying to rebuild your image but your insecurties are holding you back ... If you could actually comprehend what I wrote instead of going into an immiediate rage you might have seen something more than a personal attack!

BTW - you are always disregarding someones opinion especially if they have anything positive to say about one company in particular ... So quit trying to front

NATO_Duke @ May 27th 2008 10:57AM

A lot of people were calling GTA5 Prologue a demo for only having some 75 cars in it. Seems that 45 is a real slim amount to me. I would hope they release some more cars to bulk that up.

why not the LS2LS7? @ May 27th 2008 11:41AM

Wii60Warrior:
If bother to take the time to hate a piece of hardware, then yeah, it pretty much does make all your opinions invalid.

If you merely didn't own or didn't like the PS3 it'd be different. But if you can bother to work up a hate, you're useless as a reviewer of video games.

You have to have an open mind.

Jeff @ May 26th 2008 10:06PM

Gorgeous graphics with great performance on PC.

Sadly, I just can't into the gameplay. Something weirds me out about this style of racer.

Shogan @ May 26th 2008 10:42PM

I downloaded the demo. I bumped into another car, which apparently dented my car enough that I could no longer turn to the right. The next turn was a right turn. I deleted this game immediately.

Jtenma @ May 26th 2008 11:03PM

I lol'd at your comment then proceeded to roflmao. With that being said, allow me to fix your comment, you forgot something...

"I downloaded the demo. I smashed into another car at 150mph, which apparently destroyed my ability to steer properly enough that I could no longer turn to the right. The next turn was a right turn. And since I forgot to use the "rewind feature" to go back in time to fix what I did wrong and learn from my mistakes, I deleted this game immediately.

Thank me later :}

Shogan @ May 26th 2008 11:06PM

lol I did not know there WAS a rewind feature, but I wasn't going fast, this was in the first curve of the track.

I'm not too big on the realistic racing games like (I guess) this one and Forza, and it's honestly because I suck at them.

Jtenma @ May 26th 2008 11:20PM

Yes, depending on your difficulty settings, you have about 4 rewinds. But, it is still not as easy as it sounds though...

You must start rewinding as soon as you mess up. What I am trying to ssay is, DO NOT HESITATE..or you may mess your chance(you have a limited number of "flashbacks" and the rewind meter can only go back so far).

Shogan @ May 26th 2008 11:27PM

I may give this another shot then. A lot of people seem interested, and if it's more than just a standard technical racer, I might like it. Really looking forward to Midnight Club LA though, mostly for LA...

Ally @ May 27th 2008 11:06AM

FYI, this isnt a "realistic" game in the same vain as Forza or Gran Turismo, its (in my opinion) horriby arcadish,yet still trying to be like Forza/Gran Turismo.

Definatly wont be picking it up.

ericdrum @ May 27th 2008 12:02AM

Beautiful looking game. Great presentation too. It's really well done for what it is. But if you like Forza or GT and like how every car feels different and every car has weight, than you will really dislike the gameplay. It's very arcadey. The cars have no weight to them. You can race without breaks in this game. I really want to like and get this game but I'm not going to purchase. PGR feels better than this game as well. I just don't like the handling at all.

Jtenma @ May 26th 2008 11:11PM

I have to disagree with that last bit there, the handling grew on me after awhile. I found once I got the hang of it the driving was like dancing at a ballroom.

Until (when playing onine) a big ass pile-up happens in front of you and, unable to avoid it, you wreck!

And driving without breaks?...have you tried the muscle car competion? After that one stretch, where your mustang is going over 160 mph...I wanna see you take THAT turn without braking!

klitorisaurus @ May 26th 2008 11:46PM

I agree with you, the handling just feels off. Might rent it but most definitely not purchasing it.

ericdrum @ May 27th 2008 12:01AM

I got used to it fast enough, but I just didn't like the way it felt. It's just personal taste. Another thing is that in FM2, you can actually have long stretches of driving in traffic with little or no bumping. In this game it felt like every time that I got into traffic there was going to be crashing somewhere. It forced me to start being overly aggressive in traffic because staying in traffic was going to get you in a wreck. And believe me when I say I'm bummed about this because I sooooooo want to love this game, but I have to be honest with myself and it just doesn't fit my style of racing.

why not the LS2LS7? @ May 27th 2008 11:51AM

I agree ericdrum.

I wanted to love it, I like Codemasters efforts in general (I even own DiRT). But this is just DiRT with asphalt tracks.

In DiRT I expect a little bumping, I've seen CORR. But on-road I don't expect it. And on top of it, the driving model feels is rather cartoony. Perhaps it's because it was tweaked for dirt racing and not readjusted properly.

Also, I never ever want to participate in drifting competitions.

whistlepig @ May 26th 2008 11:08PM

tried it thought it was pretty good but doubt ill buy it .being 33 years old not really into the cool car club generation drifting and racing games .

Jtenma @ May 26th 2008 11:16PM

Well...I am now 20, and while this game has an arcadey feel to it, this game is far from the street racing, 20 inch rim placing, low riding garbage genre your describing. You can't even customize your car...

With around 45 cars total, it is less about the cars and more about the driving.

I'm kinda on the fence with this game though.

whistlepig @ May 26th 2008 11:19PM

lol i understand , id play it if a buddy brought it over or something just not a buy for me .

Jhongerkong @ May 26th 2008 11:10PM

Wanna get more fun out of the demo?

Just mute your speakers and go "VROOOOOOOM VROOOOOOOOM" as well as the appropriate, yet obnoxious, crashing noises.

Jtenma @ May 26th 2008 11:24PM

Let me start out by saying: LOL

I do however find the glass "crunching noise" to be satisfying.....

Oh, Oh, and the way your engine sounds when it's about to overheat (more of a "fucked up "steamy" sound).

horngreen @ May 26th 2008 11:18PM

these comments prove you can't please everyone all the time. People bitch when they hit a wall and then can't steer and people will bitch when they hit a wall and can still steer. Why make another hard sim game when Forza is out there. Sure the PS3 could use one as GT is sad and dated but I myself am looking forward to this game. PGR was fun but no damage and Forza is just too diehard for my taste. So a game in between the two seems the perfect fit, should be a blast online, unlike Forza2.

Jtenma @ May 26th 2008 11:27PM

I never actually picked up Forza 2 (have forza 1 and GT series)...

I have heard that the game "has no soul", it feels empty... Is this true?

klitorisaurus @ May 26th 2008 11:49PM

GT is beautiful car porn! It may bot be for everyone but it's anything but "sad and dated."

NATO_Duke @ May 27th 2008 11:08AM

"GT is sad and dated"

That statement is actually pretty sad itself. I have not heard anyone complaining about GT in that way. Now, I love Forza 2, but I would not say that it makes GT look either sad or dated. That was just a loaded comment with no basis. (I have heard criticism over it being too much of a strict sim, but its reviews are pretty darn strong)

Bobby S. @ May 27th 2008 12:28AM

I like this game quite a bit. I have and love both PGR4 and Forza 2.

This game falls somewhere far far far of the scale from those two games which is a nice refresher. It's a mindless racer which is fun to have.

Plus this is a great party game to show off your friends for how dumb they are by sticking to their PS2s and what not.

Games visuals are great, driving is a bit odd but its different so it requires some getting used to. Forwarding in ultra slow mo is hella' fun!

I'll see what the reviews say, then I'll see if I will pick it up or not.

PS - Codemasters has recently bought the FIA F1 license! I'd love to see what they will do to that!

Fortyseven @ May 27th 2008 12:36AM

I installed it a couple days ago but didn't get around to trying it until tonight.

My first reaction: absolutely beautiful game. Love the styling. But then I started playing, and it's the kind of game where if I play like I'm used to, I'll spin out of control and slam into shit.

I was about to give up. But then I slowly got the 'feel' after about 10 tries, and once I got control, I ended up in 1st place. Felt great.

I'm impressed enough with the entire package of audio/visual/gameplay that I might consider snagging it. (Mind you, I don't play too many racing games, so if there's a better one out there, I'm easily ignorant of it.)