Skip to Content

AOL Games

PGR3 posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Third PGR3/PS3 mix-up demands 300 joke


When we found out that Project Gotham Racing had been used to promote the PS3 for a third time, it took every ounce of strength we could muster to avoid making a 300 "This is madness!" joke. The truth is though, this is madness. First, PGR3 was used by Sony to promote a trailer for Gran Turismo HD, then it was used again by Kia for a PS3 promotion. This time the offending publication is from Media Markt, one of Europe's largest electronics store chains, which overlays a PS3 on top of this image from PGR3. In an ironic twist, the article in question is apparently about the Playstation 3's future.

At this rate, we'll be seeing PGR3 images in the next ad for Ratchet & Clank.

PGR3 scores a hat trick with Sony advertisements


The first time was amusing, the second time was embarrassing, but the third time ... wait, three times? Apparently Dutch advertisers have the same problem in keeping Project Gotham Racing 3 and Gran Turismo: HD separate. A Mediamarkt magazine published a PS3 article and emblazoned the 2-page spread with the infamous PGR3 Saleen picture, the same one used in advertisements and promo shots when the game first came out in Fall of 2006.

In case you forgot what Gran Turismo: HD looks like, feel free to click here or here for some recent coverage. In case you forgot what PGR3 looks like, stay tuned for more Gran Turismo: HD coverage. As press coverage ramps up, chances are good someone will slather yet another PGR3 shot in error.

[Via Joystiq]

Dj vu: PGR3 image used to promote Sony


Back in January Xbox 360 Fanboys everywhere erupted with laughter when Sony accidentally used an image from Project Gotham Racing 3 to promote Gran Turismo HD. Well, it's happened again, though Sony likely isn't at fault. A KIA website ad used an image of a car from PGR3 which alternated with the real version the same car. Making this even funnier is the Playstation 3 branding all over the screen. As CVG notes, it was more likely someone at KIA who made the mistake, not Sony. Still, the irony of using an Xbox 360 game to promote the graphical realism of the PS3 is just too good. The ad has since been changed, but you can see the offending image (including the telltale license plate) above.

[Via CVG]

Bizarre auctioning off pumpkin car


In the market for a 1988 Ford Granada Ghia? No, well that's not the point. Earlier this year developer Bizarre Creations prettified a Granada (called the "Granzilla") to race in Europe's Scumball 3000 rally to earn cash for the NSPCC charity. They placed 10th in the rally and earned some cash, but they want more. So, they decided to eBay their Granzilla in hopes of earning more cash for the NSPCC. According to Bizarre, the Granzilla has "2 cup holders, an engine, and a steering wheel" and is pimped out with rally stickers galore. What more could a fanboy want other than an advanced copy of PGR 4? If you live in Europe, have some extra cash, and want to help out charity head on over to the eBay auction and bid, bid, bid away. We know you love the pumpkin car.

[Via IGN]

CGS boasts $5 mil payroll, Playboy Mansion pro-gamer draft

hef and palsHosting its inaugural player draft far from the storied sanctum of The Garden, with a paltry $5 million league-wide payroll, (an amount routinely squandered on a single signing bonus for a young athlete in another professional league,) the Championship Gaming Series continues to take baby steps toward becoming a marquee "sports entertainment" business. Still, come June 12, 60 prospects will split the riches, as they're contracted to join one of six city-based squads that will compete in a small variety of games leading up to the CGS Grand Slam and World Championships this October. Not a bad gig, eh?

But what of this Playboy Mansion draft locale? If CGS is to be taken seriously, it's gotta avoid these WWEsque publicity stunts ... right? Maybe not. A lil' scantly-clad drama might be just the lure needed to hook viewers who might not otherwise tune into a glorified LAN party.

PGR3 image used to promote Gran Turismo HD


Major Nelson just caught Sony in a major faux pas. On the PSP Connect site -- a site that offers downloadable goodies for PSP owners -- there is an ad for a new Gran Turismo HD trailer. There's only one problem though, the image used for the ad is from Project Gotham Racing 3. Seriously, check out the original image on Bizarre's website. Looks like someone didn't get the memo that GTHD and PGR3 are, in fact, different games. And just in case someone wises up and changes the picture, Major Nelson caught it on his Flickr account. We won't even go in to the hilarity of mistaking a year old 360 launch title for a brand new "4D" Playstation 3 game. Oh no, we couldn't do that. It would be too low. Check out the incriminating evidence after the break.

Continued →

Sony site confuses GT:HD with PGR3


Hey, it's an easy mistake to make. Both Gran Turismo: HD and Project Gotham Racing 3 feature fierce and fancy cars hurtling about lavishly rendered tracks -- for all intents and purposes, the two games are identical. Of course, our amazingly trained eyes immediately noticed the bizarre appearance of a PGR3 render on the Sony PSP Connect website, innocently advertising a new downloadable GT:HD trailer.

"That's not true HD!" we exclaimed, index fingers twirling in the air. "Anyone with barely functioning eyes can see that's an image from a graphically inferior competitor!" We ended off with a resounding "HMPH!" before navigating to the next amusing, albeit inconsequential piece of news.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

360 Racing Wheel reviewed


Remember that spiffy racing wheel that Microsoft announced a while back? You know, the one that comes with the special force feedback version of PGR 3. Yes ... that racing wheel! Over at Xbox Canadian Live they got their hands on one to demo, and the short and sweet version is that they absolutely love it. The force feedback option sounds extremely fun especially with Forza 2 when it drops. Though, I'm not a huge race fan, I could see this little accessory adding to the enjoyment of a game. Are you willing to drop some cash on this bad boy so you can experience what real racing feels like? Seriously, why wouldn't you purchase this wheel? (I guess you probably wouldn't purchase this if you're totally broke and hate racing games or despise wheels in general ... then I can cope with your decision.)

Xbox 360 launches in South Africa


If you're a gamer living in South Africa, chances are that your visual periphery was dominated this past weekend by Microsoft's Xbox 360 launch and its accompanying marketing campaign. Nearly a year after the system's first-worldwide launch, the Xbox 360 became officially available to eager shoppers at the stroke of midnight on Friday, 29 September. Playable in-store kiosks, radio advertisements, campus tournaments and vaguely sinister cardboard stands announced not only the arrival of "the next generation of gaming," but the expansion of choice.

Unless you wanted to import the original Xbox or stick your hand into the awkward and tangled mess of Gamecube distribution lines, the PlayStation 2 was the only console the average gamer could reliably and affordably find in game stores. The merits of Sony's system have long since been established and it's easy to argue that South Africa got the best console out of the bunch, though "best" loses much of its meaning when it becomes interchangeable with "only." Consider for a moment how your gaming habits might be affected if two out of three consoles weren't readily available to you.

For comparison's sake (and because we didn't have much else to do) we attended one of the midnight launches at BT Games (Northgate) in Johannesburg, taking care to snap pictures and generally harass people who simply wanted to pick up their pre-orders in peace. Several midnight events took place all over the country, coinciding with the beginning of rAge -- a gaming expo we'll tell you about later.

Continued →

New Xbox 360 bundle hits UK tomorrow

Console bundles are often reviled during a system's launch period, as they make it practically impossible to leave the store solely with the item you wanted to purchase in the first place. A less bungled bundle, like the £299.99 Xbox 360 package launching in the UK tomorrow, comes several months after launch and doesn't deluge you with a bunch of games, accessories and HD televisions that you weren't quite ready to spend money on yet. Eurogamer reports that the deal in question includes 2 wireless controllers, a copy of Project Gotham Racing 3 and, quite generously, a Premium Xbox 360 as well.

How efficient can a bundle be at swaying your interest? Does the higher price tag or the lack of choice make it less appealing to those in the know?

See also:

New 360 Platinum Hits for $29.99

It's platinum, get it?Microsoft has officially announced the first batch of Platinum Hits for the Xbox 360. The games are:

Perfect Dark Zero
Project Gotham Racing 3
Kameo: Elements of Power
Need for Speed Most Wanted

Conspicuously missing from the list is Call of Duty 2, the 360's first million seller. The first four Platinum Hits will be available for the bargain price of $29.99 starting October 15th -- the second set should be announced in the spring of 2007. It's a far cry from what we considered a bargain last gen, but it's definitely better than nothing. So, for those of you that haven't picked these up yet, will a $29.99 price tag make you reconsider?

See the full press release after the break.

Continued →

Scramble delayed, have some UNO instead

Scramble, Konami's arcade shooter that was slated to hit Xbox Live Arcade today, has been delayed. According to the press release that arrived in our inbox, the game hit some bumps during the certification process. As such, the boys in Redmond are giving it an extra week to iron out the kinks. So, whatever will we do with our empty Wednesday? Grab the new PGR3 theme deck for UNO, of course! Depending on who you ask, it might actually be more exciting than Scramble.

Anybody grab the deck yet? Any spiffy cards?

25-year-old XBLA game delayed by a week

In a moment that's sure to elicit a grin or an unstoppable urge to fling your retinas into the back of your head, a game that was released in 1981 has somehow managed to be delayed for a week in the year 2006. Konami's side-scrolling shooter, Scramble, was all set for release this Wednesday when Microsoft's elite and possibly overworked team of testers concluded that the game simply wasn't ready to hit Xbox Live Arcade. The official word reveals that "during the final testing and certification of the title, we discovered some minor issues that should be addressed. Therefore, we are going to take an extra week and fix these items to ensure a high quality game experience for all when the title does launch on its new date of Wednesday, September 13."

This isn't the first time the weekly XBLA release schedule has had to make due without a new game -- this week's replacement is a Project Gotham Racing 3 UNO deck priced at 100 points ($1.25 in non-funny money). As exciting as theme decks and picture packs may be, the consistency of game releases has been somewhat shaky so far. Let's hope future XBLA Wednesdays don't have more games taking XBLA sick days. Har.

[Thanks Matt!]

Rumor: Free Game with 360 starts today

Video Game Jocks is reporting that Microsoft will begin giving away a free game with the purchase of a new Xbox 360. The promotion applies to either a Core or Premium console. The available games are: Project Gotham Racing 3, Kameo: Elements of Power, Perfect Dark Zero or Dead or Alive 4. Supposedly the deal begins today and runs through September 22nd.

For now, take this with a grain of salt, as the article fails to link any source information whatsoever. If anyone can find the actual announcement, hit us up with a tip and see your name inside pretty brackets.

[Like This]

PGR3 photo mode is Live


Like driving spiffy cars? Fancy yourself to be a talented photographer? Then put those talents to use in Project Gotham 3's new photo upload feature! All you need is Xbox Live, PGR3 and a Passport account. The overall process is simple, just take a picture in the game, upload it, head over to the PGR3 website, sign in, and share your photos. Hit the read link for more detailed instructions.

Now somebody post some kuh-razy photos in the comments section.

Joystiq Features





Featured Galleries

Dawn of Heroes (DS)

Dawn of Heroes (DS)

ToeJam & Earl 4 concept art/pitch

ToeJam & Earl 4 concept art/pitch

Comet Crash

Comet Crash

Darksiders (11-06-09)

Darksiders (11-06-09)

Skate 3

Skate 3

Mass Effect 2 (11-06-09)

Mass Effect 2 (11-06-09)

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (DS)

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (DS)

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon (Wii)

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon (Wii)

T-Freestyle NW (Wii)

T-Freestyle NW (Wii)

 


Team Joystiq

 
Chris Grant
Editor-in-Chief, Email
James Ransom-Wiley
Managing Editor, Email
Ludwig Kietzmann
Senior Editor, Email
Andrew Yoon
East Coast Editor, Email
Randy Nelson
West Coast Editor, Email
Justin McElroy
Reviews Editor, Email
Justin Glow
Developer, Email

Joystiq Podcast

New episodes every Friday! Now playing: Joystiq Podcast 115, for Friday, Oct., 30.



Archive | RSS | iTunes