Ferrari: The Race Experience steers towards Wii and PSN

System 3 has announced yet another Ferrari-licensed racing game, Ferrari: The Race Experience, presumably a follow-up to last year's Ferrari Challenge Deluxe. Like System 3's previous efforts, this will be hitting both Wii and PlayStation 3. However, PS3 owners will only be able to find the game on the virtual shelves of the PlayStation Network. Why? System 3 explains that it's become too costly to deal with retail. "The vast amounts of money required in securing a decent in-store presence through co-operative marketing [makes it] easy to see why some games are doomed before they start. By going down a download only route, System 3 is quietly confident that it can service consumer demand directly and efficiently."

While many of System 3's future releases will be exclusive to download platforms, the company did admit that it can't give up on retail altogether. "Obviously we are not moving away fully from boxed product as we are committed to maximising our games across all formats and Wii games, for example, are still only released as physical product."

Reader Comments (27)

Wii & PS3. That's an odd combo isn't it. Well for me at least.

@Prboi haha i thought the same thing

@jeffreyhaywood

Usually It's 360 & PC, PS3 & PC, PS3 & PSP, Wii & DS, or 360 & PS3

@Prboi

It's NEVER PS3 & PC.

@PS1

DC universe is PS3/PC :P

Is anybody really gonna buy this.

@GordoJones88

If it looks good I will off of PSN.

@gold5225

Yeah, me two. I'll consider it off PSN if the price isn't too high and the game is pretty good. These guys have made some good games, IMO. They aren't Polyphony, but they have entertained me pretty well anyway.

I think this is an extremely smart way to sell their product I wasn't going to be able to sell the game used for more than a couple bucks anyway. I'm really happy with this.

That looks atrocious.

It's a smart decision, one I imagine was a hard pill to swallow for them. Props for going through with it regardless.

Not sure about buying it. Might pass.

That is some terrible box art right there.

Must be a slow news day to cover shovelware...

@Thrasher666

Well, think about it like this.. I'm sure it won't be as long of a game, or as beautiful of a game as Wipeout HD/Fury, and that fits on your PS3 just fine, right ;)?

They make a great point about the whole digital distribution thing as it pertains to smaller studios' efforts to deliver their product at an appealing price point without tying too much overhead in physical distribution resources.

In this case specifically though, I'm pretty sure they're telling us that this game sucks too much for store shelves.

@Shadsy

There are also plenty of awful movies shown in theaters but that doesn't negate the concept of straight to DVD movies. Do you really not understand what I'm saying?

@soypancho

sounds like maybe you're the one who doesn't understand.

I'm sure there are PS3s out there that aren't online and don't shop PSN. But the spendy PS3 gamers are all online. They can save a lot of money, so if they price this accordingly, gamers can get the game for less. And everyone comes out better off (aside from the middle man).

Comparing this to DVD completely misses the point.

I understand times are hard but why doesn't System 3 just release it on Wii? I am sure people would rather have a physical copy then digital download then having to wait for it to download. I just wonder the cost? 49.99?

@Art84

48% (and rising rapidly every year) of the PC gaming market disagrees with you.

@Art84

You're sure everyone would rather have a physical copy?

I hate physical copies. I love downloaded games. I don't care that it takes a while to D/:L, I love that I can just browse through my games and pick one I like.

Now, I accept that I can't have Fallout 3 on my HDD, or GT5 or MGS4 or whatever. But it's a bit of a shame. I can't sell my games used, it's true. I don't really mind.

I know a lot of people appreciate having a disc. There are very good reasons... DRM can't steal your game, you can trade it, etc. But count my in with appreciating downloaded copies.

@Dustin F

I am not against digital downloads, I have tons of PS1/PSN games on my PS3 even Sector 8 which is only available on PSN. Its just having to wait for a download to download against having the disc and inserting in your console and playing it from the start. I just wonder how many people would buy this on PSN? I probably would if were cheap but I doubt it.

@Esposch

Thats the PC market, I am not a PC gamer only a console gamer. But having nothing against digital downloads. I have tons of PSN/PS1 games on PS3 hard drive.

@Art84

Actually, your comparison is pretty poor. You can't just pull the disc our of your butt. You need to go and get it. Downloading is much easier than going to Best buy or Amazon and waiting for the package.

And for many gamers, perhaps most in the target demographic, it's also much faster.

Download wait? Not an issue.

GT5 is the better game on PS3

@Art84
Let's speak the obvious.

@Javr
OOH, nice tame machine ya got there!

@Javr
*time
Friggin lack of an edit button.

Ferrari: The Race Experience

Ferrari: The Race Experience steers towards Wii and PSN

Reader Comments (27)

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 1:15AM Prboi said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 1:18AM jeffreyhaywood said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 1:24AM Prboi said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 3:09PM PS1 said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 3:55PM blah604 said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 1:15AM GordoJones88 said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 1:06PM gold5225 said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 10:53PM Dustin F said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 1:20AM Esposch said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 1:24AM ch3burashka said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 1:34AM Meghterb1985 said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 1:57AM Fuzunga said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 2:10AM dissectional75 said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 2:45AM HTCEVO said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 2:55AM soypancho said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 4:24AM soypancho said

Posted: Aug 1st 2010 12:38AM Dustin F said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 9:49AM Art84 said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 8:23PM Esposch said

Posted: Aug 1st 2010 12:46AM Dustin F said

Posted: Aug 1st 2010 9:36AM Art84 said

Posted: Aug 1st 2010 9:37AM Art84 said

Posted: Aug 4th 2010 4:39AM Dustin F said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 5:24PM Art84 said

Posted: Jul 31st 2010 8:01PM blahblah55 said

Posted: Aug 1st 2010 10:05PM KirbyCommando said

Posted: Aug 1st 2010 10:06PM KirbyCommando said

Ferrari: The Race Experience Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

38 Studios, Schilling ask Rhode Island for more money; state officials freeze

Featured Stories

Rhode Island owns Amalur, all other 38 Studios intellectual property if studio defaults

Editorial: I can never play Diablo 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 review: Running in place

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW