Microsoft and Turn 10 might be determined to seek and destroy acts of hatred and discrimination plastered on Xbox Live, but the publisher and developer of Forza 2 couldn't act fast enough to prevent a 1957 Mercedes 300SL, defaced by pro-Nazi symbols and sentiments, from being offered through the game's online auction mode. 360-gamer recently pointed to the unsettling item, criticizing the moderators for their inability to keep this kind of content off of the Xbox Live servers; or at least promptly remove it (apparently the car's been Live for a while).

Whether adolescent mischief or true delusion, a small percentage of user-generated content is always going to incite "discrimination, hate, or violence towards one person or a group." While Microsoft clearly defines the boundaries of condemnable content in its Online User Policy*, the company fails to suggest how it might protect its users from being victimized by such content. Probably because it can't.

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival can be described in many ways, but gamer's paradise is not the first phrase that comes to mind. Monstrosity of music, perhaps, or neo-hippie nirvana -- these are much more apt descriptions. However, one tiny corner of the farm was in fact an electronic Eden, gamer style, at this year's festival.

We were curious about the console's presence at the festival, and the Microsoft rep on hand wasn't shy about answering questions. "Why not Bonnaroo? There are tons of people, it's good exposure for the system, and it's a great chance to demonstrate the 360." From what we saw of the crowds in the tent, she was right about the exposure. The Arcade was never empty, and several of the consoles had small crowds clustered around the screens.

The Xbox 360 Discothéque Arcade, like so many of the enclosed structures at Bonnaroo, didn't look like much from the outside. Dust-streaked white walls shielded gamers from the boiling Tennessee sun, and the doorway was perfectly positioned to catch the occasional (and very welcome) breeze. Inside, thick shag rugs and battered sofas turned the Arcade into the perfect chill-out area. While the tent wasn't air-conditioned, the simple presence of shade made the Arcade a big draw for gamers and nongamers alike.

The latest US video game sales data, as compiled by the NPD group, indicates that the popularity of Nintendo's delightful money-printing machines shows no sign of, well, change. The DS and its host of pocket monsters dominated hardware and software sales in May, a month marked by a 49% increase in overall industry sales to $815.5 million. GameDaily BIZ reports that the considerable rise was due in part to console hardware sales climbing 79% to $221.4 million.

The NPD has not yet provided a complete breakdown of hardware sales per platform, but the initial sales ranking gives more than enough food for thought. Sony's PSP grabs the number three spot behind the DS and Wii, trumping the PS2, the Xbox 360 and the PS3. Perhaps that early April price drop is paying off.

We'll add the exact sales numbers into the ranking below as soon as they become available. As always, you'll find the software's top ten after the break.

• Nintendo DS: 423K
  
• Nintendo Wii: 338K
  
• Sony PSP: 221K
  
• Sony PlayStation 2: 187K
  
• Microsoft Xbox 360: 155K
• Sony PlayStation 3: 81K

[Update: additional numbers added from a Bloomberg report.]

Joystiq reader Mike Black, in purportedly his first tip ever (bless his heart), has drawn our attention to a custom Forza 2 design he made "after around 30 hours of work and over 2000 layers." We're impressed, especially given that it's one of our favorite RPGs of all time (full picture). Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Joystiq interviews Gamecock about EIEIO and E3 funeral
Readers pick best webcomic: extra baggage
Today's pitchiest video: Mega Turtle Cousins

News
Capcom gets Steam power
Speedball II in development for XBLA
Take-Two takes in about $50 million less
New GTA IV trailer coming June 28
Eight more tracks from Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s
New video from Chocobo's Dungeon Wii
Boy defends home from PS3 robbers with katana
America's Army exclusive to Xbox 360
EA employs Cider to bring games to Mac OS X
Adventure game Secret Files: Tunguska coming to Wii, DS
ESRB's censorship wound re-opened, user-made content to break the ratings system
Halo's Todd McFarlane controllers and wireless headset
Alone in the Dark releasing this November
Raiden IV port could hit the Dreamcast
Microsoft defends Pac-Man CE price
BioWare MMO planned for 2009
Telltale secures $6 million for multi-platform episodic content
See LotRO's Shores of Evendim in all their video glory
SimCity Societies officially building this November
Mad Tracks fills in pothole and gets patched
Soul Calibur 4 unveiled for Xbox 360, PS3 in this debut teaser
Square Enix chief: 360, PS3 too fancy for today's market
Insomniac staying out of Church vs. Sony scandal
Sony promises to 'aggressively pursue' PS3 pirates
Bungie's Marathon for 360 makes the grade in Germany

Rumors & Speculation
Crush producer considers multiplatform release, level editor
Pachter places prediction on May NPD numbers
Rumorang: Conflicting reports on PSP redesign
Rumor: New Bonk game headed to the Wii
Survey hints at PS3-PSP connectivity possibilities
Halo 3 will boost BlackSite sales, dev prays

Culture & Community
Every NES title screen in five minutes
Mega 64 to host premiere screening in San Diego
The face of Halo's Master Chief?
Massive videogame mosaics

Just another ridiculously good user-created paint jobs in Forza 2. With this car, you know you've got the full power of Professor Chaos and General Disarray at your disposal. Check out the highlights for this weekend:

Joystiquery
Podcast Rodeo for June 3: Eared Science
Today's chiefiest video: Master Chief Sucks at Halo
Today's line rideriest video: Line Rider Super Mario Bros. 1 - 1
Today's most Zordonic video: Sega CD Power Rangers
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup: pimp my mount edition

News
'Spy Hunter' movie to be helmed by Paul W.S. Anderson
Meet Codemasters' new, synergistic face
Mad Tracks bug causing madneess
European Commisioner: MS has a week to explain Xbox 360 scratching disc issue
Smash Bros. Brawl update brings out fireworks
New Tekken 6 screenshots, artwork released
FFXIII interviews extracted from LEVEL magazine

Talk, talk, talk
Top ten things wrong with Games for Windows

Culture & Community
Blizzard Warcraft regional finals in San Diego today
Transformers figure turns 'Game Boy' into 'Game Bot'
Build your own Tetris shelves, budget version
GameCity returns to Nottingham in October
Crazy good Forza 2 custom paint jobs

Alright, this is getting ridiculous. For the third time in almost as many months, a sports model from Project Gotham Racing 3 has becoming an unwitting spokesmodel for Sony's PlayStation 3. Having already been mistaken for Gran Turismo HD and used to promote the PS3 in a KIA ad, Microsoft's exotic car racer now finds itself inside Dutch magazine, Mediamarkt, as posted in the Bizarre Creations forums. The depicted Saleen has likely been in those pages before... just not in an article discussing the PlayStation 3's future.

Is this indicative of some deeply rooted desire for a multiplatform excursion for the series? Perhaps it's some subtle commentary on the lack of distinguishing features in the racing genre? We'll ponder these questions and more once we've finished our race in the Forizmo demo. Or whatever.

[Thanks, v]

In a politely worded e-mail, Microsoft has announced that seriously simmy sequel, Forza Motorsport 2, has at last gone gold. Having hit Ctrl+S for the final time, the team at Turn 10 Studios has sent the finished code off to the disc pressers, shortly before collapsing into a nearby and distinctly unhygienic pool of blood, sweat and oil.

A demo of Forza 2 is currently available on the Xbox Live Marketplace and the full game can be expected to arrive on 29 May. UK retailers currently list a June 8th release date for those that enjoy driving on the wrong side of the road.

[Via Microsoft press release]

A just punishment for such a terrible mangling of words, not to mention the trickery of "Final Forza 2" leading people to believe that Microsoft was releasing a bizarre automotive RPG, complete with mutant mechanics and bottles of restorative oil. No, the relevant game is Forza 2, simmy sequel to 2005's foray into car customization, reckless racing and all-round Gran Turismo-ing.

The official Forza Motorsport 2 website has unveiled the full list of cars to be included in the final game when it screeches into stores this May. Numbering 310 and representing enough reflective metal to burn holes through the back of your head, the list of cars is sure to please fans unsatisfied by the forthcoming demo's comparatively meager offering of 24 vehicles. It's noted that seven of the 310 cars have been deemed "special," with some only being available to pre-order deals and the game's collectors edition. The "controversial unicorn cars" will also be exclusively available for a limited time in the game's online auction house.

Racing enthusiasts are encouraged to look, use the Forza page and inspect the list closely as they attempt to answer the question, "Is there vroom for improvement?"

Update: Article author shot as well.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

After popping up in a scanned page of Official Xbox Magazine, the Forza 2 demo has been given the official and unrelentingly green light by the Microsoft pit crew. The Redmond giant tells Eurogamer that further details regarding the demo, including its time of arrival on the Xbox Live Marketplace "will be confirmed in the coming weeks."

As if sensing the impatience surrounding Forza 2's May release, Microsoft also doled out another list of cars set to be featured in the final product. Though you might better judge them after the break, we feel confident in confirming them all to be fast, shiny and the sort of expensive that demands the use of words like "ludicrously," "disgustingly," "outrageously" and "quite."

In a brief and somewhat enthusiastic e-mail, Microsoft has today announced that Forza Motorsport 2 is expected to come roaring out of the development pits in May, straight into the open arms of driving enthusiasts. It could get messy, but getting down to the nitty-gritty and tweaking speeding hunks of metal until they reach peak performance is what the game is all about.

The official site has also been updated with a full track listing, which includes such exotically named locales as Nürburgring Nordschleife, Sunset Peninsula Infield and, err, Test Track. If you still crave satisfaction and insist on doing everything you can for za motorsport (OOF!), consider purchasing two more Xbox 360s and indulging in ludicrous, triple screen immersion (as seen above).

After several days of internet murmurings and a noticeable lack of response from Microsoft, a delay in Forza 2's holiday release has manifested in that cruel place often referred to as "reality." Posting on the official Forza Motorsport forums, community manager Che Chou (username "chespace") revealed that the speedy sim sequel would overtake the 2006 holiday period and that the team would not "announce a new date until X06. Gotta do what you gotta do to get things right, y'know?"

Oh, we know. Given the game's relatively brief development time (the first Forza hit the Xbox last year), lofty goals and glut of prerendered promotional trailers, the news will likely disappoint more than it surprises. The few weeks leading up to Microsoft's X06 event are sure to be filled with speculation regarding the new release date -- we hear March 2007 is pretty popular these days. In the meantime, Microsoft expects you to gaze upon the latest screenshots, one of which features a rather exciting wall.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

See also: Forza 2 jacks PGR3 technology