forza posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Since its late October launch, Forza 3 has sped into over 1 million homes worldwide, marking a commercial milestone for Turn 10's critically acclaimed racer. In conjunction with today's release of the game's second and now premium DLC car pack (the first one's always free, ain't it?), dubbed "Hot Holidays," Microsoft has tallied up some Forza 3 stats.

According to the publisher, players have so far tracked 6.6 million hours and 590 million collective miles -- no word on flats or oil changes. Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg tweets that "more than 4M [million] auction bids" have lead to "$18.7 billion" virtual dollars spent (we have to imagine at least a billion went to that gorgeous coop pictured above). Of course, Microsoft has its eye on the real dollars, offering today's 10-car pack for 400 ($5). The full list of cars is posted after the break.

Additionally, a second premium pack has been confirmed for January 12, and -- wouldn't you know it -- that date coincides with the kick-off of the Detroit International Auto Show. You think that was planned?

In one of those "We feel sort of gross about this, but it's okay 'cause we get something cool for free" kinda ways, Microsoft today announced a partnership with Hyundai to bring the Genesis Coupe to Forza 3 as DLC on November 17. And not just one measly version, but three: a Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hundai Genesis Coupe, an HKS Genesis Coupe, and a "one of a kind" Genesis Coupe will arrive as a pack – free of charge! And though the name Hyundai may not exactly be synonymous with high speed racing, we're assured their modded counterparts will help to clear any misconceptions.

We're not sure if it was intentional, or if someone at Microsoft pulled the wrong lever, but the Forza 3 LCE premium theme -- previously reserved exclusively for those that bought the collector's edition -- is now available to the masses for free. We're guessing this was probably a mistake, as the theme is only showing up on the Xbox.com Marketplace, and we were unable to find it in XBLM on an actual console. If you really like Forza, or you just like cars, you'd best get it now before someone in Redmond gets wise.

Add the Forza 3 LCE theme to your 360 download queue

[Thanks, Faiz R.]

Yeah, you read that headline correctly: Audi is giving away Xbox 360 Elites and copies of Forza Motorsport 3 to anyone who walks in off the street*. All you have to do is walk in to an Audi retailer**, and then receive your game and console***. Unfortunately, this amazing offer seems to only be in effect with Polish Audi retailers, so unless you've got the cash for what would likely be a pricey plane ticket****, you might just have to go without.

* - and purchases a Audi TT Forza Motorsport 3 vehicle, prices starting at $37,800.
** - and give them $37,800
*** - and car.
**** - and a fairly expensive, Forza-branded coupe

[Via VG247, Image]

When Forza Motorsport 3 ships on October 27, the retail package will include two discs: One with the actual game and a second with additional content. While the process of importing the tracks from disc two is a relatively simple procedure, we've developed a quick video to show the process in action.

In order to get all of the game's additional content, racing fans will need to have 1.9GB of hard drive space available to import the entire disc. However, as outlined in the video, players can also choose which content they wish to install if space (or interest) is an issue. A complete listing of the game's disc two vehicles and circuits can be found after the break.

Also of note: Microsoft has revealed all new copies of Forza 3 will include a download token for ten classic vehicles and two additional circuits.

Just a quick reminder, folks. Remember that Forza 3 demo that Microsoft promised earlier this month? Yeah, well it's out now. All the gearheads and car fanatics out there can finally get a taste of Turn 10's latest super sim, the full version of which releases next month. The demo clocks in at one gigabyte and contains 5 beautifully rendered cars which can be raced on the Camino Viejo track. The five cars are:

• 2007 Porsche #80 Flying Lizard 911 GT3-RSR
• 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro
• 2009 Ferrari California
• 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR
• 2009 Mini John Cooper Works

We were told at E3 that Forza 3 updates its physics 360 times per second. Try to remember that when you crash dead into a wall, because it's not really a failure, you see. It's an amazing technical achievement.

Add the Forza 3 demo to your 360 download queue

It was only a few months ago that Ferrari officially unveiled the successor to the F430 in the much rumored Ferrari 458 Italia. With Forza 3 just over a month away, we can certainly understand how developer Turn 10 couldn't find extra time to fully develop the brand new car for its game. Even though the game went gold recently, the developer got right back to work, announcing recently that the mid-engine V8 monster will arrive as DLC this holiday. There's even a sweet video of the car in action that you can see above (and compare it with the real thing found after the break).

We pressed Microsoft for a price and only heard back, "We're not announcing any other details about the Ferrari vehicle at this time, other than to celebrate its inclusion in the game since it's a sick car." Maybe Microsoft will gift us all free Ferraris for the hoidays!

Spanning two discs and featuring 400 fully-modeled (and destructible!) cars, Forza Motorsport 3 is gearhead paradise. It's also completely intimidating to the un-tuned gamer. We spoke with director Dan Greenawalt, who claims that developer Turn 10 Studios has designed the easiest-to-play racer on the market and loaded it with enough eye candy, content and feature depth that veteran sim drivers will be itching to get behind the wheel, as well. Oh, and get this: The team drew inspiration from Pokemon and World of Warcraft. Can you guess which genres they might be eyeing for projects down the road?

Continue reading for the full interview.

You've never heard of the Bugatti Veyron, the latest addition to the Forza Motorsport 3 lineup of cars? Neither had we; it's not the type of car we're likely to spot around town. If the above video – detailing the process used to convert the Veyron's various "gauges" and "horsepowers" into equally alluring ones and zeroes – is to be believed, the Veyron is "probably the most coveted car in the world right now."

Coveted is one thing; obtainable another. The $1.4 million, nearly 1000-horsepower Veyron is rare. Rare like: Forza developers Turn 10 tracked one down in southern California with the help of Bugatti but they themselves didn't get a chance to drive it! So if you want to know what it's like to drive one, you have a couple options: Read our sister site Autoblog's First Drive with the Veyron; Go back in time and put one penny in a savings account and, upon returning to your own time, reap the rewards of compound interest; Or you could play Forza Motorsport 3 and crash the thing straight into a wall. And then rewind it.

Stay tuned for our interview with Forza 3's game director Dan Greenawalt, who shares some details on the Veyron, on the game's second disc, the inclusion of damage modeling in Sony's long-time-coming Gran Turismo 5, and what type of game he thinks Turn 10 would make if it changed genres.

After being the first major retailer to release info on the PS3 Slim before Sony itself had announced the system, Amazon Germany is at it again, outing a 250GB Xbox 360 model for 280 euros ($379). An eagle-eyed Engadget tipster spotted the listing, which includes two wireless controllers and a copy of Forza Motorsport 3 in addition to the massively embiggened hard drive.

Since Forza 3 won't be hitting shelves until October 23 in Europe, it stands to reason that this listing represents a deal still a few months off, though Microsoft could very feasibly release this new SKU (sans accessories) earlier. On the subject of new Xbox bundles, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg told us in an interview yesterday that, "I'm sure there will be different offers depending on where you go and what time of the year it is." Looks like we've found at least one bundle so far! We've contacted Microsoft for comment and will update this post when we know more.

[Via Engadget]

We guess a lot of sneaker lovers also enjoy racing games, because Microsoft has announced that Puma will be an exclusive marketing partner for Forza 3. The result of this partnership ensures you'll be gawking at Puma ads throughout Forza 3 and guarantees Puma driver Natacha Gachnang will be the face of the game across Europe.

The partnership will even extend beyond the game, helping to create a Forza 3-branded Puma shoe and enveloping employees who are demonstrating Forza 3 at special promotional events leading up until its October 27 release in – you guessed it! – Puma gear. We think that's kind of good thing though, because the last time we saw the game it was tough to understand the publicists through those big driving helmets they all had on.

Microsoft has announced that Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 3 will be driving onto North American Xbox 360s on October 27. In addition, the company has also revealed the final details of the Limited Collector's Edition of the game, which will be available only at GameStop. The limited edition will grant users VIP status in the Forza community, a keychain, 2GB flash drive and ten exclusive cars. Five of the cars are exclusive to VIP members, while the remaining five were "personally hand-picked, tuned and painted by the team at Turn 10."

Finally, Turn 10 has also announced the winner of the Forza 3 community design competition, namely Justin Van Dusen II of Midland, Michigan. His custom-painted Audi R8 V10 will be offered as a pre-order bonus for the game. Check out a list of the cars found in the limited edition after the break, and be sure to peruse images of the limited edition packaging and cars in the gallery below.

Turn 10 Studios is celebrating the announcement of Forza Motorsport 3 this week by offering up a free car to Forza 2 players who reply to their blog with their Xbox Live gamertag attached. All you have to do is follow the cryptic, Da Vinci code-like instructions buried in their FAQ to link your gamertag, leave a comment on their post, and you'll get a free customized Audi S4 to drive around. At least until the new game comes out in October.

You see that image above, friends (#1)? That was the image revealed last week to PortalXbox.com.br during a briefing in São Paulo, Brazil, teasing the assuredly to-be-announced at E3 2009 Forza 3, developed by Turn 10 Studios. It seems as though Turn 10 likes having a little bit of fun with its game reveals though, as the developer has released the full logo (#3), now with more silliness.

Through the magic of Twitter, Turn 10 linked its followers to "the logo of the new game [it's] working on," found below in the gallery. What's weirder is a little poking around in Turn 10's conversations with others on Twitter reveals another image (#2), though clearer, and this time sans "watersports." Looks an awful lot like what could be a Forza 3 logo to us. One thing's for sure: If this game ends up to be for real, we're going to have an awful lot of egg on our face to wash off. Let's hope that's not the case!