Tour de France 2009: The Official Game pedals onto Xbox Live
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Jul 15th 2009 at 1:20AM } 
($10) . Who needs all that real legwork anyhow?Cyanide Studios, the brains behind the recent Blood Bowl and the popular-in-some-other-country Cycling Manager series must have been quietly working on this in their spare time, because it caught all of us off-guard, including Xbox Live's Major Nelson. But why not release this game just before the actual Tour de France, instead of smack dab in the middle of it? We may never know.
You can play two players locally, and race up to four simultaneously on Xbox Live using one of the official teams in the current race. We just wish they would have included a drug testing minigame or something -- you know, to add some realism. Catch all the pedal-pumping power in the preview trailer right here.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
OMGOMG @ Jul 15th 2009 1:24AM
HOLY SHIT BIKE SIMULATOR GIVE ME 20!
ArchiGamer [thephilosophyofgames.wordpress.com] @ Jul 15th 2009 1:26AM
Really...
WINterfang @ Jul 15th 2009 1:29AM
WOW....that looks fun to play =/.
Jason @ Jul 15th 2009 1:39AM
actually its pretty bad. i played it on my psp and it was... err... actually a lot less fun than watching all 10 stages (so far) back to back.
the sad thing is that it might actually be more fun to simply play versus.com's fantasy tour.
WINterfang @ Jul 15th 2009 1:57AM
I was being sarcastic because they are like a million bikes with little to no room for movement....man this game looks weird.
pearl @ Jul 15th 2009 2:54AM
the only fun you could have with this game would be deliberately falling off and seeing how big a domino effect you could make.
then that would get old too.
this game needs to take some liberties from ROAD RASH
Jeff Smith @ Jul 15th 2009 1:35AM
Is this gonna be like one of those Olympic style, paced-button mashing games . . . . that you play all month?
MystileArmor @ Jul 15th 2009 2:12AM
Unless it's got Activision's involvement. Then you have to buy a freakin' plastic bike first.
ArchiGamer [thephilosophyofgames.wordpress.com] @ Jul 15th 2009 2:15AM
And the outfit too!
mirage @ Jul 15th 2009 9:39AM
The only thing that could make this game even remotely fun WOULD be a fake plastic bike.
CrashSpyro123 @ Jul 15th 2009 6:52PM
You don't actually control the riders, at least not in the demo. You're more of a motivational manager that keeps track of a whole team of riders.
Dishwasher @ Jul 15th 2009 1:36AM
zzZ . .
Joe @ Jul 15th 2009 1:38AM
you mean it comes out on xbox live arcade not just xbox live
MystileArmor @ Jul 15th 2009 2:03AM
Fuck ants much?
Shadsy @ Jul 15th 2009 1:47AM
Those bikers look disproportionately good to their surroundings.
The Dark Wayne @ Jul 15th 2009 1:50AM
i had no idea the tour had even started,or that anyone cared. I cant imagine how this is a videogame, it's not even like an extreme cycling game like one where you can hit other people off or a slightly more open world thing it's just huddled masses, how can that be fun?
Look At This Suit @ Jul 15th 2009 2:24AM
Lance Armstrong is in it again, so we care this year.
Dan @ Jul 15th 2009 9:09AM
It is 90% of the programming on Versus each night but if you only have basic cable you may not have noticed. I've been watching some or all of the stage coverage every night I have time (going to Vegas for UFC 100 put me behind a bit).
MystileArmor @ Jul 15th 2009 1:50AM
Also known as a parade of candy cane coloured men with a midlife crisis.
ArchiGamer [thephilosophyofgames.wordpress.com] @ Jul 15th 2009 1:52AM
I bet you'd like the candy cane coloured men, wouldn't you?!
MystileArmor @ Jul 15th 2009 2:02AM
No, not really. I have to control my urge to run them over whenever I drive past some in my car.
Candy coloured women on the other hand... covered in zee chokolat!!
Ben C @ Jul 15th 2009 2:03AM
Most of those candy colored, polyester-clad men are in their mid-20s and have likely biked more km in their young lives than most of us have ever DRIVEN.
MystileArmor @ Jul 15th 2009 2:09AM
And since you're defending them, I bet you're one of 'm.
brad77 @ Jul 15th 2009 11:54AM
This coming from a boy full of chocolate.
ArchiGamer [thephilosophyofgames.wordpress.com] @ Jul 15th 2009 2:07AM
You mean like this:
[http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/attachments/month_0804/chocolate-covered-nude-woman_pVqEzidb2Edg.jpg]
Also, why did I spell "colored", "coloured"?!
ArchiGamer [thephilosophyofgames.wordpress.com] @ Jul 15th 2009 2:09AM
That should be under Mystile's post.
I -love- this comment system. *HEAVY SARCASM*
MystileArmor @ Jul 15th 2009 2:11AM
The hornball in me says less chocolate, but the fat little german kid says "More chokolat pleeezz"
ArchiGamer [thephilosophyofgames.wordpress.com] @ Jul 15th 2009 2:16AM
After that pic, your belly isn't the only thing growing!!
(too much?)
MystileArmor @ Jul 15th 2009 2:26AM
Yaaah, chokolat coveredz flugel flopper!
Stevetrop @ Jul 15th 2009 2:11AM
Eh I'll pass this up. I do however want Blood Bowl that is the game I'm excited about.
Mr.U2 @ Jul 15th 2009 2:38AM
Looks like they are riding in Germany...
Ryan @ Jul 15th 2009 2:44AM
oh yay, im sure the 3 people that care about this game will enjoy it.
Janichsan @ Jul 15th 2009 3:38AM
Will there be doping in that game? It ain't a real Tour de France simulation without doping.
Tom @ Jul 15th 2009 6:39AM
its actually quite fun! strategy based
StGermain @ Jul 15th 2009 9:18AM
Care to explain how it is fun? I love cycling, I've done it myself a couple of years when I was younger but unless I am missing something there isn't much you can do in this game. If you tell your rider to attack and he's in the middle of the bunch his attack is over before he's even started. I've managed to have Levi Leipheimer win the demo stage after a crazy suicide attack that wouldn't work IRL in a million years :)
Some improvements would be if you were able to make a deal with other teams to work together for the stage, risk giving someone doping, just tell your team or an individual rider to go to the head of the bunch.
Also, the sprinting, what's up with that? It doesn't seem to do much of anything.
I'd love a good cycling game but for me it seems this isn't it.
Dan @ Jul 15th 2009 9:06AM
It looks like this will give more individual rider control than the cycling manager series and thus may be more interesting for the average gamer who is a casual cycling fan. I've been considering the cycling manager game but not sure if I would get into it, though watching the Tour lately certainly helps. Too bad the new official game isn't out on Wii or PC though, maybe they will announce something soon.
Maulok @ Jul 15th 2009 9:17AM
Bicycle sims are go!
B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A, tilt stick slightly left
I can't wait!
Pureshooter @ Jul 15th 2009 10:06AM
B,A,B,A,B,B...crap!!!
GAME OVER, YEAHHHH!!!
tlarkin79 @ Jul 15th 2009 1:50PM
Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, B- Brake, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger, Left Trigger, Right Trigger..
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jul 15th 2009 3:07PM
Actually it is a strategy game,a very dull strategy game.
It is almost as fun as Microsoft Excel.
Brian @ Jul 15th 2009 10:34AM
I would play this game...
... if I could sit 300m out with a sniper rifle.
... if I could drive through the race in a dump truck or steamroller
... if I could plant explosives on the course before the race
... if I could carry a chain, bat, or sword (RIP Road Rash)
Kamal @ Jul 15th 2009 1:17PM
This game might be a little bit early. Wait until Natal ships and then pair this with a stationary bike and MS WILL sell a copy to every bicycle enthusiast out there.
StGermain @ Jul 15th 2009 4:55PM
I think you are on to something here... I would actually buy that without thinking.
Agrippa*Jim*Slade @ Jul 15th 2009 4:59PM
"We just wish they would have included a drug testing minigame or something -- you know, to add some realism"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
You Fing French sympathizer, bet you support the removal of Race Radios too just to see a French national win, which aint gonna happen, Go Astana!!
Bryce @ Jul 15th 2009 5:11PM
Apparently no one has ever played one of these versions (i'm not surprised). It's not button mashing..it's about the strategy of the race. People don't win the Tour de France just because they can last the longest pedaling. There is an intense amount of strategy that is involved to maximize the output while relying on the fact that the riders are only human and their are peaks and valleys of performance...
anyways I digress....no button mashing..only strategy on telling your guys when to push hard and when to rest up in the Peloton.
It's a fun game if you care about the sport...if not, then just move on instead of spewing off worthless crap wasting peoples time...but hey , i guess that's what the internet is used for...so i can't win.