Ubisoft has released a teaser video and a countdown site for its relaunch of the Driver series (the last title of which was released back in the heady days of aught-seven). We knew that there would be a new Driver to see at E3, and the site's countdown lines up with 5 p.m. PDT next Monday, June 14, which happens to be the exact same time that Ubisoft is holding its pre-expo press conference. What are the odds?
The trailer seems to hint at most of the mainstays of the series, including our old friend Tanner (who's been transplanted to California, apparently, and has become a 49ers fan), rip-roaring muscle cars and the old "garage stunts checklist" that players had to pull off back when the series started. The site also links to a Facebook page, where you can "discover the driver's identity" (wait, didn't they just show it in the video?) by clicking the "Like" button. So if Ubisoft's goal was to get Driver fans intrigued, it's probably working. We'll light the fires and kick the tires on the game in about a week.
Reader Comments (65)
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:06PM Voshempa said
Bring back the director mode and I'll buy it.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:13PM lunarlasso said
sweet nostalgia! My brother and I loved that game on the ps1. But isn't driver just the driving (missions) in gta...It was fun then, but don't we get driver and more from gta?
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:57PM (Unverified) said
amen, man! me and my brother played this game all the time on our computer, and i loved it! although you defnitely have a point - it was amazing then, but can it compete nowadays?
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Posted: Jun 8th 2010 12:18AM Chareth Cutestory said
Driver was one of my favorite games of the PSX/N64 era.
Unfortunately, just about every follow up has been completely awful.
Parallel Lines was OK, but not enough to overshadow the abortions that were Driver 2 and "Driv3r."
Hmm... I suddenly crave SoBe, for some reason...
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Unfortunately, just about every follow up has been completely awful.
Parallel Lines was OK, but not enough to overshadow the abortions that were Driver 2 and "Driv3r."
Hmm... I suddenly crave SoBe, for some reason...
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:14PM The MARIO said
OMG He shouldn't be driving like that, it's dangerous.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:15PM Chrisius said
Is this series still relevant? Do people still want this? I don't know if, what it had back in the day can still hold its own in today's market (GTA, Burnout, etc). I guess we'll soon find out what new they're bringing to the table, if any...
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:21PM wittyusername said
LOL those are the maneuvers you needed to perfect to gain access to the missions on the first Driver. I remember because I would always slam into the wall on the e-brake stop.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:18PM (Unverified) said
Yes. The wheelman is back. I hope we get to see some more Jericho.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 7:02AM (Unverified) said
Oh god. jericho is one of my favorite villains in video game history! He had such a
cool attitude.
This teaser is a remake from the tutorial in the first game.
A remake maybe?
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cool attitude.
This teaser is a remake from the tutorial in the first game.
A remake maybe?
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:22PM The Albatross said
This will be a remake of the original game.
All of those driving tests were in the original and it was one of the best modes in the game. Coupled with the San Francisco hint (see the keys), the California driver's license, the car, and the name of the game... it looks like a remake, which is a good thing. Sadly, though, I do not think that Driver can compete with the rest of the games in that genre... it was incredibly unique back in 1999, or whenever, and truly a great game, but GTAIII really changed everything... and Driver has had to play catchup with the GTA series since then, and it's just done it in such a lackluster, forced way, that I'm skeptical of how this one can re-create the original.
All of those driving tests were in the original and it was one of the best modes in the game. Coupled with the San Francisco hint (see the keys), the California driver's license, the car, and the name of the game... it looks like a remake, which is a good thing. Sadly, though, I do not think that Driver can compete with the rest of the games in that genre... it was incredibly unique back in 1999, or whenever, and truly a great game, but GTAIII really changed everything... and Driver has had to play catchup with the GTA series since then, and it's just done it in such a lackluster, forced way, that I'm skeptical of how this one can re-create the original.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 11:47PM (Unverified) said
Except the first game opened in Miami, not San Francisco.
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Posted: Jun 8th 2010 4:45AM kentuckyfried said
I think it still can compete, b/c GTA's driving physics aren't perfect. they're rather cartoony, to me at least.
I loved the first Driver; never finished it. It was a game that had greatness, before the whole GTA3 craze took off.
Sadly, the sequels never lived up to the expectations of the first game. If they can somehow recapture what was lost from the first, they just might have something.
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I loved the first Driver; never finished it. It was a game that had greatness, before the whole GTA3 craze took off.
Sadly, the sequels never lived up to the expectations of the first game. If they can somehow recapture what was lost from the first, they just might have something.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 8:55AM The Albatross said
@Robert E -- Oh yeah... I forgot about that... But nobody remembers Miami in that game. It was all about San Fran.
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Posted: Jun 8th 2010 12:54PM Franklin Gothic said
@KentuckyFried - GTA is probably more fun because the car physics have been tuned less realistically. I don't see many people playing it, if Rockstar used GranTourismo style hyper realism. It would either be too hard for most players or just not satisfying...
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Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:24PM ZombieRobot said
I love this trailer because its a live action film of the first driver's tutorial, but thats probably all I will like about this game unfortunately...
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:23PM funkydunkleman said
I have a feeling I'm going to end up being let down by this game.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:33PM majg said
Man, good memories with that game.
OT: Seems like the E3 info/leaks are building up slower than years past. More like a trickle.
Of course, looks like Rare is definitely up to something.
http://www.xboxic.com/news/6177
OT: Seems like the E3 info/leaks are building up slower than years past. More like a trickle.
Of course, looks like Rare is definitely up to something.
http://www.xboxic.com/news/6177
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:35PM (Unverified) said
Im pumped!! However, to UBISOFT: No director Movie mode, No buy!
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:35PM CaptainProtonX said
The sequel I never really cared to want.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:37PM l555l said
Ubisoft must have some belief in this game. That was not a cheap commercial to make. That, or they finally found a way to spend all the money saved on manuals.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:39PM (Unverified) said
Why would you be let down if you havent even seen any of the game yet? The only reason the last few games had problems was the fault of Atari! Not Reflections who made the game. Now that Ubisoft owns it, they have given Reflections tons of time to make this game, unlike Atari did just looking to make a quick buck.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:41PM JXCGunrunna said
Braking? Breaking? Did i miss something?
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:46PM Cryo said
I remember in Chicago or someplace I would just walk to the stadium just to get that special without the police on my ass. I will probably buy this, seeing as I cant find the first anyways.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:51PM Faenix said
KILL. the live-action trailers. There pointless for VIDEO GAMES. >
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:54PM LuTon James said
The list makes me think it is a remake of the first, which was the best game in the series by far. I'm pretty excited to see how this turns out.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 10:59PM (Unverified) said
Those graphics are amazing!
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 10:09AM Chaz Winterbottom said
Totes! Was that the 360 version or the PS3?
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Posted: Jun 7th 2010 11:23PM (Unverified) said
I might care if it wasn't Ubisoft. They can take their broken DRM and stick it up their exhaust.
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 11:26PM Def Zeppelin said
I loved the first one, I would play so much I'd have dreams about it. Then GTA came out and the sequels to this were just not as interesting to me. This ad was awesome though. Sweet ride!
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 11:34PM Alex McKee said
Braking? Like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brak_(character) ?
Posted: Jun 7th 2010 11:39PM HardBoiled2009 said
even if this is a Remake..... i'l stick too my original Copy. but it was fun too see the games starting from PS1 again.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 12:05AM tenacioustoaster said
With so many trailers coming out and so many games being announced right before E3 I really hope the 'Big Three' have something big in store for us.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 12:12AM (Unverified) said
Just noticed something:
If you look at the Banner on the bottom of the "Countdown" website, the License plate reads " DRV 05" SO maybe it'll be named Driver 5 eh?
If you look at the Banner on the bottom of the "Countdown" website, the License plate reads " DRV 05" SO maybe it'll be named Driver 5 eh?
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 12:23AM Dshark said
Well lets hope it doesn't suck, on that note, I'm getting tired of live action trailers.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 12:24AM DotCom said
Looks like a remake to me...
The old ones where fun in the day. Hopefully they spice it up!
The old ones where fun in the day. Hopefully they spice it up!
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 1:46AM WillPG1212 said
not that this isnt cool..
but im getting tired of "real" trailers. Ubisoft think of somethign new.....
but im getting tired of "real" trailers. Ubisoft think of somethign new.....
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 2:09AM EvoHelix said
Not sure what you guys are complaining about. That driving was slick as hell.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 2:55AM kooda said
First thing i thought when i saw the shoes. "OMG THIS IS THE MOST REALISTIC GAME EVER!!! *SQUEE*. Then i came back to reality and said meh might buy it, oo hes good at driving.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 5:26AM Cheesus Crust said
drIVer! Get it?
dr-IV(4 in roman numerals)-er
So the number's in the name name AGAIN, but this time more subtle.
dr-IV(4 in roman numerals)-er
So the number's in the name name AGAIN, but this time more subtle.
Posted: Jun 8th 2010 6:23AM MrHashbrown said
Meh. Teaser doesn't do much to create excitement. But as long as its fun and goes back to the original game's style, I won't complain.
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