Why Halo 4's Warthog can be seen but not driven in Forza 4

by Richard Mitchell on Sep 23rd 2011 1:15PM

It's nifty that Forza Motorsport 4 will allow players to examine the Halo 4 Warthog in "Auto Vista" mode, but we doubt we're alone in wondering why you can't actually drive it. According to developer Turn 10's Dan Greenwalt, implementing the UNSC's iconic ground transport is much more complex than it sounds.

Speaking to Eurogamer, Greenwalt explained that the technology used in the Warthog simply doesn't exist in any of Forza's other cars – notably its "crab walking" four wheel steering – meaning Turn 10 would have to build it from scratch. It's not that the Turn 10 team is incapable, Greenwalt noted that they have the specs, but it would be "a big investment" in order to support a single vehicle.

The final straw, apparently, is that there's no way to simulate the Warthog's tires. All of Forza's tire physics are based on real-world tires, meaning that each tire in the game should react to road conditions in a (very) realistic way. Said Greenwalt, "they didn't give us tires from nanotube technology from 2525."

Source: Eurogamer

Tags: forza-4, forza-motorsport-4, halo, halo-4, kinect, kinect-forza, microsoft, turn-10, xbox

Reader Comments (70)

So....

Is Auto Vista 720p or 1080p?

@Mr Hett

So...

The downvote means no one knows?

Google "monster truck"

Or a large ATV.

Or they could have watched some one play halo and make the driving like it is in halo.

@byaboy "much more complex than it sounds"

@byaboy

yeah i think the whole point just flew over your head.

@byaboy

Ever play Halo? If you were allowed to drive it you should be prepared to finish 8 laps down and rolled over down an embankment.

@LinkRazr
Only in Reach... ;)

...Halo 3 on the other hand

@LinkRazr Yeah but what wrong with them having it keep crashing I would just drive it when I'm bored for 5 mins but I'm all ways crashing the warthog.

"a big investment"

How about as DLC?

Why is it even in the game?

@Slomoshun

For fun. This might be the next trend in games after season passes.

@CaptainProtonX

Seriously. Why do games have to meet any standard other than being fun?

@Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En
How fun is it to have a car you can look at but can't drive?

The ability to drive it *should* have been added "for fun" - who cares if the tires don't model realistic tires?

@humpy
+1

I really appreciate their commitment to detail and realism. Goes to show that they're real gearheads and not just being paid to pump out a game.

They couldn't do it to their standards (totally realistic to the specs) so they didn't do it... good or bad thing, I don't know... would have been fun to crash around a track with a less realistic vehicle (2 wheel steering and some mockup rubber tires) but many people would have complained that it doesn't steer with 4 wheels, or the tires should be more or less grippy, etc... so we get nothing but a pretty picture and some clarkson commentary... good enough for me but I would have like a dummy vehicle to play in.

@humpy

Kinda like this comment.

Weak.. Do it right or don't do it at all Turn 10

@leksicon ...that is exactly what they did. They didn't do it at all.

@Once known as Shadsy

What? Didnt do it "AT ALL"? They did: they did the skin but didn't put the driving mechanics and physics.

@Once known as Shadsy
& @BalisticH

They included the beast Warthog in the model viewer, but they don't let us drive it..
If they didn't do it at all, as I inferred, they wouldn't have put it into the model viewer in the first place.. I never liked the "Look but don't touch" approach to things if you know what I mean

@leksicon I was actually thinking that they had the same idea, but when it came to driving it. They would much rather have no drivable Warthog than have one that's only somewhat realistic. So... everyone is right!

Fact check time. Look up the Jeep Hurricane.

@(Unverified)
I think you missed the part where they said "doesn't exist in any of Forza's other cars". They didn't say it doesn't exist at all, it just doesn't exist in any of the other cars that are in the game. Hence, it would have to built from scratch.

@humpy

not pointless article more like pointless question. I thought we all understood that a game that says its a real life driving simulator cannot simulate a car that isn't real. or am i the only one who god that.

No excuse Turn 10. Make it driveable, nao.

Why even put it in the game then..?

@humpy

*piontles

Ok, article. You explained why the Warthog "can't be driven in Forza 4".
What about explaining the titular "why Warthog can be seen" part?

"You can't drive it, because it's not real." isn't exactly Pulitzer material.

Am I the only one thinking that even if it wasn't a big investment to include it in the game it would just be stupid to have a futuristic war vehicle in a realistic driving simulator game?

Does it really have to drive like it does in Halo? I mean couldn't they just use their own driving mechanics with a warthog body??? I think they def could of implemented it in some way...

@BG GRZZ

Then it's not a Warthog.

Actual journalists grilled a game developer about this?

I understand where they are coming from and I did have this question in mind, but JEEZ, anyone would think they were ACTUALLY building a Whathog for real the way they explained :/ Bit over the top.

Bungie had a real Warthog BUILT!? Can't they just take the specs from that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACw5415vONQ

I hate excuses. Don't tell people why you can't show them how you did. They are more than capable and it'd be great fan service for 360 gamers.

@PR0F3TA

Google "Real Halo Warthog"

I don't think that even the warthog that weta made drives like the in-game one.

Bah! I will make my own Warthog and drive it around. I hope drive thrus can support my car!!!

@Mr Hett this is not ign

Meh - I hear what this guy is saying - but I think it's still a cop-out.

I'm betting they'll invest the time post-release and turn it into some DLC....

Those sound like excuses if I've ever heard them. I don't really mind, though, the arcade-y controls of the Warthog wouldn't be a very great match for the precise / technical gameplay in Forza. Some sort of odd compromise would have to be made, which would upset fans of Halo and Forza.

I think its cool its in there, but do they really have to be that anal for a PRETEND car that does not exist? I would not mind missing out on fancy pants tires and steering just to take a Warthog around the Ring.

More complicated than it sounds?

Funny, it sounds like car + forklift = warthog to me

@danijami23
You forgot a chaingun.

And this is exactly what DLC should be used for. If you make content before the game is released, it should be included with the purchase of the game. Thats what the game price is for. For the development of the game.

DLC should be used for game development outside of the game release. Its extra time, and money. So why shouldn't it cost a little more?

Release the game, and then start working on the physics of the Warthog. Then sell it for $3.

I feel a little ripped off when DLC is available the day of a game release, or shortly after. A few years ago, all that content would be available with the game. Expansion packs felt more rewarding, since you knew they were built separately than the actual game.

@hanger3com

Agreed.

And yet I won't be the least bit surprised if an actual drive-able Warthog shows up as paid DLC...

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Forza Motorsport 4

Why Halo 4's Warthog can be seen but not driven in Forza 4

Reader Comments (70)

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:18PM Mr Hett said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 3:58PM Mr Hett said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:21PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:22PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:22PM byaboy said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:31PM solidsnake8282 said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:39PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:39PM LinkRazr said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 3:12PM killer rin said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 4:04PM byaboy said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:24PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:24PM Slomoshun said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:34PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:38PM Zoot Suit Jedi Grammar Hammer En said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 4:43PM BlueRajasmyk said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:25PM Slomoshun said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:26PM Once known as Shadsy said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:26PM ima 747 said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:30PM NinjaJesus said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:35PM leksicon said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:43PM Once known as Shadsy said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:26PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:52PM leksicon said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 3:13PM Once known as Shadsy said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:36PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 3:24PM Grifter02 said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:40PM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:42PM Maxx the Slasher said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:42PM JGordon said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:45PM Mr Hett said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:49PM Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 1:50PM JasonA said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:01PM BG GRZZ said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 10:37PM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:01PM dscuber9000 said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:05PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:09PM Marco le Polo said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:11PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:12PM Slomoshun said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 3:43PM colonel juju said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:19PM YakuzaElite said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:19PM chinedooo said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:44PM Axcalibur said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 2:49PM Electrium said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 3:00PM IronClawt said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 3:02PM danijami23 said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 3:40PM Andrew12h said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 3:03PM hanger3com said

Posted: Sep 24th 2011 3:01AM tendoboy1984 said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2011 3:07PM notoriousEIC said

Forza Motorsport 4 Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is a stranger in a strange land

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW