Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PSA: Black Ops 2, Dishonored, Forza Horizon DLC out today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/psa-black-ops-2-dishonored-forza-horizon-dlc-out-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/psa-black-ops-2-dishonored-forza-horizon-dlc-out-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/psa-black-ops-2-dishonored-forza-horizon-dlc-out-today/#comments Today is the day that the game about military battles in 2025 also becomes about Mafiosi battling zombies in the 1930s, and our world becomes incrementally stranger in the process. Black Ops 2's "Uprising" DLC is available on the Xbox Live Marketplace now for 1200 MSP.

Other noteworthy, perspective-shifting DLC today brings "The Knife of Dunwall" to Dishonored. It's available now on Xbox and will be released today on PS3 and PC. And Forza Horizon's "1000 Club" expansion offers new challenges for every car.

Gallery: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

JoystiqPSA: Black Ops 2, Dishonored, Forza Horizon DLC out today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1000-clubblack-ops-2Call-of-Duty-Black-Ops-2dishonoreddlcforza-horizonmicrosoftpcplaystationps3the-knife-of-dunwalluprisingxboxTue, 16 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon rolls out free 1000 Club DLC tomorrow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/forza-horizon-rolls-out-free-1000-club-dlc-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/forza-horizon-rolls-out-free-1000-club-dlc-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/forza-horizon-rolls-out-free-1000-club-dlc-tomorrow/#comments Forza Horizon will get a free infusion of new content tomorrow. Entitled the 1000 Club, the DLC adds over 1000 challenges to complete, along with some new Achievements. The DLC will automatically suggest challenges based on whatever cars a player owns. Based on the trailer, the challenges offer more than racing, tasking players with everything from making huge jumps to just crashing into things. The 1000 Club will also include two new cars, the 1956 Ford F100 and the 1995 RUF CTR2.

Microsoft tells Joystiq that the pack will feature unique challenges for every single car in the game, including the cars from the standard game and those that have been released as DLC.

JoystiqForza Horizon rolls out free 1000 Club DLC tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1000-clubdlcforza-horizonkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosplayground-gamesturn-10xboxMon, 15 Apr 2013 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon's Top Gear car pack DLC hits April 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/forza-horizons-top-gear-car-pack-dlc-hits-april-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/forza-horizons-top-gear-car-pack-dlc-hits-april-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/forza-horizons-top-gear-car-pack-dlc-hits-april-2/#comments
Six new cars will arrive in Tuesday's DLC pack for Forza Horizon, as selected by Top Gear Magazine and Turn 10 Studios. Players will get the opportunity to cruise in the 2011 Ford Transit SuperSportVan, the 1998 Mercedes-Benz AMG Mercedes CLK GTR, the 2012 Aston Martin Vanquish, a 2012 Bowler EXR S, a 2011 Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale Zagato and a 2002 BMW M3-GTR.

The BMW M3-GTR is free for all Forza Horizon players, while the entire car pack can be bought for 400 MSP. Season Pass holders will be able to download the car pack for free.

Gallery: Forza Horizon (April Top Gear Car Pack)

JoystiqForza Horizon's Top Gear car pack DLC hits April 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car-packDLCforza-horizonmicrosoftTop-Gearturn-10xboxSat, 30 Mar 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon 'Meguiar's Car Pack' DLC puts pedal to metal March 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/forza-horizon-meguiar-s-car-pack-dlc-puts-pedal-to-metal-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/forza-horizon-meguiar-s-car-pack-dlc-puts-pedal-to-metal-march/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/forza-horizon-meguiar-s-car-pack-dlc-puts-pedal-to-metal-march/#comments
The Forza Horizon monthly rollout of shiny new DLC drives continues with Meguiar's Car Pack', which is revving up for a March 5 release. The DLC comes without cost to those with the game's season pass, while other can gain access via a 400 MSP pit stop.

The six cars included are the 2013 Audi RS4 Avant, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG, the 2013 BMW M135i, the 2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale, the 2004 Peugeot 206 RC, and the 1998 Nissan R390. If you're looking to take the DLC out for a test drive, the Nissan R390 is a free sample this month. Meanwhile, season pass owners get the 2010 Joss JT1 as a bonus.

Gallery: Forza Horizon (March Meguiar's Car Pack)

Continue reading Forza Horizon 'Meguiar's Car Pack' DLC puts pedal to metal March 5

JoystiqForza Horizon 'Meguiar's Car Pack' DLC puts pedal to metal March 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCforza-horizonmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosplayground-gamesturn-10-studiosXBLMxboxxbox-liveTue, 26 Feb 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon 'February Jalopnik car pack' DLC hits the open road Feb. 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/forza-horizon-february-jalopnik-car-pack-dlc-hits-the-open-roa/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/forza-horizon-february-jalopnik-car-pack-dlc-hits-the-open-roa/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/forza-horizon-february-jalopnik-car-pack-dlc-hits-the-open-roa/#comments
Six rides are being added to Forza Horizon on Tuesday: the 2013 Subaru BRZ, '91 Ferrari 512 TR, 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser, '70 Nissan Datsun 510, and '73 Mazda RX-3. The pass is included with the game's Season Pass or separately for 400MS Points ($5). As a special bonus, the '66 Ford Country Squire will be free for all speed demons.

Continue reading Forza Horizon 'February Jalopnik car pack' DLC hits the open road Feb. 5

JoystiqForza Horizon 'February Jalopnik car pack' DLC hits the open road Feb. 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcfebruary-jalopnik-car-packforza-horizonkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosPlayground-Gamesturn-10turn-10-studiosxboxFri, 01 Feb 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon is bringing in the new year with January Recaro Car Pack]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/forza-horizon-is-bringing-in-the-new-year-with-january-recaro-ca/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/forza-horizon-is-bringing-in-the-new-year-with-january-recaro-ca/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/forza-horizon-is-bringing-in-the-new-year-with-january-recaro-ca/#comments
The new year is on the Forza Horizon (ho ho ho) given that January 1, 2013 sees a bunch of new downloadable cars come to Turn 10 Studios' racer. OK, that's definitely the last time we'll use that joke this year. 2013 is an entirely different matter.

The January Recaro pack features six cars, including the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 1983 GMC Vandura G-1500, 2012 Lotus Exige S, 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition, 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR, and the 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra R. It's priced at 400 MSP, but Season Pass holders get it for free, along with the 2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster as a bonus treat.

Continue reading Forza Horizon is bringing in the new year with January Recaro Car Pack

JoystiqForza Horizon is bringing in the new year with January Recaro Car Pack originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCforza-horizonmicrosoftplayground-gamesturn-10-studiosXBLMxboxTue, 25 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon 'Rally' DLC rolls out these five cars tomorrow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/forza-horizon-rally-dlc-rolls-out-these-five-cars-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/forza-horizon-rally-dlc-rolls-out-these-five-cars-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/forza-horizon-rally-dlc-rolls-out-these-five-cars-tomorrow/#comments Forza Horizon Rally DLC tomorrowForza Horizon's Rally DLC hits the asphalt tomorrow on Xbox 360 for 1,600 MS Points, or at no cost for those who have the Forza Horizon Season Pass.

To insure you're getting your money's worth, check out the following five cars that are included in the Rally DLC pack: a blue and yellow 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi, the "Group B" 1982 Lancia 037 Stradale, the 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth, 1992 Toyota Celica GT-Four RC ST185 and the lightweight 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR. Season Pass holders will have access to a sixth rally car, the 2003 Ford SVT Focus.

A free car isn't such a bad deal, even if it is a Ford old enough to know long division.

Continue reading Forza Horizon 'Rally' DLC rolls out these five cars tomorrow

JoystiqForza Horizon 'Rally' DLC rolls out these five cars tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carsDLCforza-horizonmicrosoftrallyseason-passxboxMon, 17 Dec 2012 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon Rally expansion drifts onto XBL next week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/forza-horizon-rally-expansion-drifts-onto-xbl-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/forza-horizon-rally-expansion-drifts-onto-xbl-next-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/forza-horizon-rally-expansion-drifts-onto-xbl-next-week/#comments
As Vin Diesel and Bow Wow taught us in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, drifting is the coolest possible way to travel from Point A to Point B, regardless of situation, circumstance or the amount of neon lights underneath your car.

We bring this up because Forza Horizon's latest bundle of DLC is a rally racing expansion pack, available next Tuesday, December 18, for 1,600 MS Points. The "Rally" expansion includes five new rally-purposed cars, new stages, new online multiplayer events and even co-driver announcements, so you can keep your damn eyes on the road you lunatic.

Anyone who purchased Horizon's $50 Season Pass will get the Rally expansion for free, along with an exclusive 2003 Ford Focus SVT. Under any other circumstances, a 10-year-old Ford Focus isn't really what we'd call a "motivating incentive."

JoystiqForza Horizon Rally expansion drifts onto XBL next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCforza-horizonkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosPlayground-Gamesquarter-mile-at-a-timerally-expansionseason-passtokyo-driftturn-10xboxFri, 14 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon December Car Pack has a Halo Edition Raptor, 5 more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/forza-horizon-december-car-pack-has-a-halo-edition-raptor-5-mor/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/forza-horizon-december-car-pack-has-a-halo-edition-raptor-5-mor/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/forza-horizon-december-car-pack-has-a-halo-edition-raptor-5-mor/#comments

Forza Horizon's December IGN Car Pack includes six vehicles spanning "the spectrum of automotive excitement," set to drop for 400 MS Points on December 4.

The pack features a 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Halo Edition, 2008 Aston Martin DBS, 2012 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, 2006 Ford GTX1, 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha Open Top, 1993 McLaren F1 and a 1971 AMC Javelin-AMX. The December Car Pack is part of the Forza Horizon Season Pass, which grants access to all monthly DLC packs through March 2013, including December 18's Rally Expansion Pack. The Season Pass runs 4,000 MS Points through XBLM.

Continue reading Forza Horizon December Car Pack has a Halo Edition Raptor, 5 more

JoystiqForza Horizon December Car Pack has a Halo Edition Raptor, 5 more originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCforza-horizonmicrosoftturn-10xboxTue, 27 Nov 2012 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon crashes to $14.99 on Microsoft Store [update: other offers too!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/forza-horizon-crashes-to-14-99-on-microsoft-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/forza-horizon-crashes-to-14-99-on-microsoft-store/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/forza-horizon-crashes-to-14-99-on-microsoft-store/#comments Forza Horizon crashes to $1499 on Microsoft StoreTime to be thankful for the Microsoft Store, which is now offering Forza Horizon for a measly $14.99. Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios' racer released just under a month ago, so 75 percent off its regular price is brimming with Black Friday goodness.

Jordan got revved up for Forza Horizon in his review, speeding all the way to four out of five stars. He said that, while there are a lot of "little, annoying things" about it, Forza Horizon is "a massive toy chest full of hyper-accurate hot wheels."

Update: As commenter JoshHandrich notes, Microsoft Store has a few other handsome Black Friday offers, the lot neatly collected here. Standouts include Dance Central 3 ($14.99), Borderlands 2 ($24.99), NFS: Most Wanted ($24.99), and Dishonored ($24.99).

JoystiqForza Horizon crashes to $14.99 on Microsoft Store [update: other offers too!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-friday-2012forza-horizonmicrosoftmicrosoft-storeplayground-gamesturn-10-studiosxboxThu, 22 Nov 2012 08:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon 'Bondurant Car Pack' DLC coming Nov. 6]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/forza-horizon-bondurant-car-pack-dlc-coming-nov-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/forza-horizon-bondurant-car-pack-dlc-coming-nov-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/forza-horizon-bondurant-car-pack-dlc-coming-nov-6/#comments Though we suspect you'll be busy doing donuts in Master Chief's Warthog on November 6, the date also marks the release of the "Bondurant Car Pack" for Microsoft's other first-party fall release, Forza Horizon.

Priced at 400 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live Marketplace, the November DLC includes a six-pack of new vehicles to augment the moments our review called "incredibly beautiful." But who needs to stop and smell the roses when you can inhale the sweet fumes of a 1965 Shelby Cobra or that 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon? (Okay, we probably should have used the new Lamborghini Gallardo as our second example.)

Full list and details on the new rides can be seen after the break.

Continue reading Forza Horizon 'Bondurant Car Pack' DLC coming Nov. 6

JoystiqForza Horizon 'Bondurant Car Pack' DLC coming Nov. 6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DLCDownloadable-Contentforza-horizonmicrosoftMicrosoft-StudiosTurn-10Turn-10-StudiosXBLMxboxXbox-Live-MarketplaceFri, 02 Nov 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon 'SmartGlass Experience' app now available on Windows 8]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/forza-horizon-smartglass-experience-app-now-available-on-windo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/forza-horizon-smartglass-experience-app-now-available-on-windo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/forza-horizon-smartglass-experience-app-now-available-on-windo/#comments If you've ever been playing Forza Horizon and thought "Man, I wish I could look at a tablet to see the map instead of having to hit the pause button like some kind of cave man," Microsoft has solution for your oddly specific wish.

Available now on Windows 8 and other platforms "soon," the Forza Horizon "SmartGlass Experience" moves Horizon's map from the game's pause menu to the screen of a Windows 8 tablet. There, the map continues to perform all of the same duties as it does in-game, allowing the player to set GPS destinations, get information on events, etc.

Now, however, instead of having to pause the game to look at the map, all the player has to do is put down the controller and pick up a second device to perform the same functions. Whether they pause the game first, or go careening into the side of a mountain, is entirely up to them.

Gallery: Forza Horizon (Smartglass)

Continue reading Forza Horizon 'SmartGlass Experience' app now available on Windows 8

JoystiqForza Horizon 'SmartGlass Experience' app now available on Windows 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forza-horizonkinectmicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosmicrosoft-studiospcPlayground-Gamessmartglassturn-10xboxTue, 30 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox SmartGlass launches for Windows 8 tablets October 26]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/xbox-smartglass-launches-for-windows-8-tablets-october-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/xbox-smartglass-launches-for-windows-8-tablets-october-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/xbox-smartglass-launches-for-windows-8-tablets-october-26/#comments
Microsoft confirmed today SmartGlass will launch alongside Windows 8 tablets on October 26, with Dance Central 3 and Forza Horizon among the first games to support it. The Xbox 360 app, which turns devices into secondary screens for the console, will be available for Windows 8 phones at launch on October 29. SmartGlass is expected to arrive on iOS and Android in 2013.

SmartGlass is implemented in the latest Xbox dashboard update, which Microsoft tells us it's rolled out to 3 million users so far. Another wave will receive the dashboard update today, so more users should have access to SmartGlass when the companion app becomes available for Windows 8 tablets on Friday.

Continue reading Xbox SmartGlass launches for Windows 8 tablets October 26

JoystiqXbox SmartGlass launches for Windows 8 tablets October 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddance-central-3forza-horizonhalo-4home-run-starsiosipadiphonemicrosoftmobilerelease-datesmartglasswindows-8windows-rtxboxTue, 23 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon drives today into a much better place]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/forza-horizon-drives-today-into-a-much-better-place/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/forza-horizon-drives-today-into-a-much-better-place/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/forza-horizon-drives-today-into-a-much-better-place/#comments
Hey, Timothy, remember when we talked about wanting a modern Knight Rider game but with a sultry-sounding lady car? Well, Timbo, it looks like someone's been paying attention.

JoystiqForza Horizon drives today into a much better place originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forza-horizonmicrosoftplayground-gamesturn-10-studiosxboxTue, 23 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon 'Rally Expansion Pack' kicks up dirt December 18]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/forza-horizon-rally-expansion-pack-kicks-up-dirt-december-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/forza-horizon-rally-expansion-pack-kicks-up-dirt-december-18/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/forza-horizon-rally-expansion-pack-kicks-up-dirt-december-18/#comments Forza Horizon 'Rally Expansion Pack' races in December 18Forza Horizon will veer wildly off the beaten path with a new DLC expansion due December 18. The "Rally Expansion Pack" adds off-road rally racing to Turn 10's racer, including "deeper ruts, higher jumps, and new surface types to explore."

Unlike in real life, it'll be fun to drive in these unsafe conditions because the game provides you with virtual, rally-tuned vehicles and a helpful co-driver. So you're not just out there ruining your own car in some mud.

The Rally Expansion Pack will cost 1,600 Microsoft Points on its own ($20), and will be included at no additional cost as part of the Season Pass.

Continue reading Forza Horizon 'Rally Expansion Pack' kicks up dirt December 18

JoystiqForza Horizon 'Rally Expansion Pack' kicks up dirt December 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcforza-horizonmicrosoftrally-expansion-packrelease-datexboxWed, 17 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon review: Baby, you can drive my car]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/forza-horizon-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/forza-horizon-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/forza-horizon-review/#comments Forza Horizon review Baby you can drive my carThere's no dearth of hardcore simulation racing games out there. They cater to die-hard, petrol-drinking motorsport enthusiasts, but what about that other, less intense breed of car enthusiast? Some may dream of being Rubens Barrichello, but many others want nothing more than an open road and a mid-engine anything.

Forza Horizon is a game for someone who knows the difference between a Lotus and a TVR, but may not know what PSI is most appropriate for slick tires on a sub-70 degree morning. It's a game for people who DVR Top Gear on BBC America, but not the Monte Carlo Grand Prix or Barret-Jackson auction coverage on Speed TV. In essence, Forza Horizon is a massive toy chest full of hyper-accurate hot wheels. Oh, and dubstep. There's a lot of dubstep.

Gallery: Forza Horizon (August Preview Tour)

Continue reading Forza Horizon review: Baby, you can drive my car

JoystiqForza Horizon review: Baby, you can drive my car originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forza-horizonkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosPlayground-Gamesturn-10xboxMon, 15 Oct 2012 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Forza Horizon demo is go go go, also new screens and dev diary]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/psa-forza-horizon-demo-is-go-go-go-also-new-screens-and-dev-di/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/psa-forza-horizon-demo-is-go-go-go-also-new-screens-and-dev-di/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/psa-forza-horizon-demo-is-go-go-go-also-new-screens-and-dev-di/#comments PSA Forza Horizon demo is go go goThe Forza Horizon demo is now live on Xbox Marketplace, waiting for you to buckle up and drive it like crazy. All of which means the game is now on the horizon, releasing as it is on October 23. Alright, we promise that's the last 'horizon' pun we'll make*.

Continue reading PSA: Forza Horizon demo is go go go, also new screens and dev diary

JoystiqPSA: Forza Horizon demo is go go go, also new screens and dev diary originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demoforza-horizonmicrosoftplayground-gamesturn-10-studiosxboxTue, 09 Oct 2012 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon demo pulls into Xbox Live October 9]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/forza-horizon-demo-pulls-into-xbox-live-october-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/forza-horizon-demo-pulls-into-xbox-live-october-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/forza-horizon-demo-pulls-into-xbox-live-october-9/#comments
Forza Horizon launches on the Xbox 360 October 23, but a few weeks before then you'll be able to get behind the wheel early with a demo on October 9. Available free to Xbox Live Gold subscribers for the first week and everyone else after, the Forza Horizon demo will feature a few missions, several of which will be Rivals mode-compatible - you'll be able to compare demo deeds with your Xbox Live friends.

A section of Forza Horizon's sandbox map will be unlocked in the demo and all those who download then purchase the game on October 23 will get a custom 2013 SRT Viper GTS "designed to highlight Forza Horizon's 'gone-gold' status."

Continue reading Forza Horizon demo pulls into Xbox Live October 9

JoystiqForza Horizon demo pulls into Xbox Live October 9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demoforza-horizonmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosplayground-gamesturn-10turn-10-studiosxboxMon, 01 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon gets a Season Pass, $50 for access to all DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/forza-horizon-gets-a-season-pass-49-99-for-access-to-all-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/forza-horizon-gets-a-season-pass-49-99-for-access-to-all-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/forza-horizon-gets-a-season-pass-49-99-for-access-to-all-dlc/#comments Forza Horizon gets a Season Pass, $4999 for access to all of the game's DLCMicrosoft has announced a Season Pass DLC plan for the upcoming Forza Horizon, the latest entry in the racing series that is set in a virtual representation of the state of Colorado. The Season Pass will cost $50 USD (or 4,000 Microsoft Points), and grant access to the game's Expansion Pack set to arrive in December.

Season Pass holders will also nab each of the six car packs as they're released over the next year, as well as five exclusive Season Pass vehicles and a batch of launch day rides. Turn 10 will reveal all of these cars gradually on its Twitter feed. The Season Pass (which represents a 17 percent saving on all of this content) will be available for purchase on October 23, right when the game turns the key for launch.

In addition, we've got tracklists for each of the game's three radio stations, all churning out tunes during the in-game "Horizon Festival." Have a look at the songs, after the break.

Continue reading Forza Horizon gets a Season Pass, $50 for access to all DLC

JoystiqForza Horizon gets a Season Pass, $50 for access to all DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car-packscontentdlcexpansion-packforzaforza-horizonmicrosoftplayground-gamesseason-passturn-10-studiosxboxxbox-liveTue, 25 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon post-launch plan includes monthly car packs, first 'expansion pack' on Dec. 18]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/forza-horizon-post-launch-plan-includes-monthly-car-packs-first/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/forza-horizon-post-launch-plan-includes-monthly-car-packs-first/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/forza-horizon-post-launch-plan-includes-monthly-car-packs-first/#comments Turn 10 and Playground Games will aim to stock the Forza Horizon virtual garage with monthly car packs, design director Ralph Fulton has revealed. There will also be expansion packs, the first of which will launch on December 18.

"What we're really excited about is some expansion packs we have coming, the first of which will launch on December 18th and that will really extend the experience you can have in Forza Horizon," Fulton told Gamerzines. He also confirmed a demo would eventually come to Xbox Live, which seems fitting since it's a Microsoft-published game and also cars.

JoystiqForza Horizon post-launch plan includes monthly car packs, first 'expansion pack' on Dec. 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car-packdlcexpansion-packforza-horizonmicrosoftplayground-gamesturn-10turn-10-studiosxboxTue, 18 Sep 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon dev diary races against the world]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/08/forza-horizon-dev-diary-races-against-the-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/08/forza-horizon-dev-diary-races-against-the-world/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/08/forza-horizon-dev-diary-races-against-the-world/#comments
Forza Horizon takes things off the track into the wilds of Colorado, where for the first time in the series players will have to deal with traffic, sometimes even at night. Just for fun, we like to imagine that every SUV on the road is full of nuns on their way to nun school.

JoystiqForza Horizon dev diary races against the world originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Sep 2012 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forza-horizonmicrosoftplayground-gamesturn-10turn-10-studiosxboxSat, 08 Sep 2012 04:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Taking the road less traveled in Forza Horizon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/taking-the-road-less-traveled-in-forza-horizon/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/taking-the-road-less-traveled-in-forza-horizon/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/taking-the-road-less-traveled-in-forza-horizon/#comments Forza Horizon marks the franchise's first foray into an open-world setting. It's hinged on a fictional racing festival in Colorado, where anyone can show up with their ride and chase the kind of immortality known only to Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. Playground Games, a new outfit composed of former Bizarre Creations and Codemasters folks, is developing the game under supervision of longtime Forza custodian Turn 10 Studios.

Turn 10's Dan Greenawalt equates Forza Horizon to Coachella or Bonnaroo, a grassroots festival celebrating the culture and style of its particular scene. The Horizon festival provides the vehicle (sorry!) for gameplay, a smattering of different race types and challenges wrapped in a diverse campaign.

Gallery: Forza Horizon (August Preview Tour)

Continue reading Taking the road less traveled in Forza Horizon

JoystiqTaking the road less traveled in Forza Horizon originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forza-horizonmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosplayground-gamesturn-10turn-10-studiosxboxThu, 30 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fame is always just over the Forza Horizon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/10/fame-is-always-just-over-the-forza-horizon/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/10/fame-is-always-just-over-the-forza-horizon/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/10/fame-is-always-just-over-the-forza-horizon/#comments Forza Horizon previewRalph Fulton of Playground Games was very insistent that Forza Horizon is not, in fact, an arcade racing game. It may take place in an open-world version of Colorado, may be free from traditional Forza career modes and may feature a youth-focused licensed soundtrack (read: dubstep), but the actual driving is built on Forza's physics engine.

The problem with arcade-style racing games, according to Fulton, is that the appeal of racing different vehicles is lost due to the fact that all cars have to handle roughly the same in order to preserve an "arcade" feel. By using Forza's existing physics engine, Playground Games hopes to circumnavigate this problem and preserve the series' pedigree for for automotive accuracy.

That being said, the only car featured in the demonstration I saw was the 2013 SRT Viper, and as it was a hands-off demonstration, I was unable to compare its handling with my experience driving similar cars in previous Forza games. What I can say, is that the Viper did more than its fair share of drifting around Colorado's mountain roads, and that it racked up wicked popularity points doing so. See, in Forza Horizon, you're not just driving around for the hell of it. You're driving to get famous.

Gallery: Forza Horizon (E3 2012)

Continue reading Fame is always just over the Forza Horizon

JoystiqFame is always just over the Forza Horizon originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012forzaforza-horizonkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosplayground-gamesturn-10turn-10-studiosxboxSun, 10 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon to feature voice-activated Kinect GPS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/forza-horizon-to-feature-voice-activated-kinect-gps/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/forza-horizon-to-feature-voice-activated-kinect-gps/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/forza-horizon-to-feature-voice-activated-kinect-gps/#comments Forza Horizon's take on Kinect integration will be a bit more utilitarian than the dynamic head tracking seen in Forza 4, allowing players to use voice commands to activate the game's GPS system and find their way through Horizon's open-world version of Colorado.

"We received two recurring feedback points while we were looking at this game," Playground Games' design director Ralph Fulton told us during E3. "The first one is really simple, people said 'This world so big, I found it really easy to get lost.' The second is kind of related to that, people said 'Sometimes I forget where I'm going, or what I want to do next.'"

Forza Horizon's solution to this problem is a voice-activated GPS system that the player can use to find specific locations, such as the game's eponymous Horizon Festival ("GPS, Festival, Autoshow"), as well as ask more generic questions ("Where's my next race? Where's my nearest event?"). Once the Kinect registers the player's request, Forza's familiar line of green arrows extends from the underbelly of the vehicle, guiding the player to their destination.

JoystiqForza Horizon to feature voice-activated Kinect GPS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012forzaforza-horizonkinectmicrosoftPlayground-Gamesturn-10xboxWed, 06 Jun 2012 16:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon races onto 360 October 23 [Update: Trailer added!]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/04/forza-horizon-races-onto-360-october-23/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/04/forza-horizon-races-onto-360-october-23/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/04/forza-horizon-races-onto-360-october-23/#comments Turn 10's Forza Horizon will launch on Xbox 360 October 23, Microsoft just announced during its pre-E3 press conference in Los Angeles. Also, there was dubstep. That's the first of E3! Congratulations!

JoystiqForza Horizon races onto 360 October 23 [Update: Trailer added!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3-2012forza-horizonmicrosoftrelease-datexboxMon, 04 Jun 2012 12:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's the first Forza Horizon screenshot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/heres-the-first-forza-horizon-screenshot/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/heres-the-first-forza-horizon-screenshot/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/heres-the-first-forza-horizon-screenshot/#comments ImageBack when Forza Horizon was first officially announced by Microsoft and Playground Games back in March, all we had to gaze upon was a montage of desperately pretty cars and people, living the kind of life you'd expect someone with that kind of a car to live.

Now, though, we've got our first real look at the game in the form of the screenshot above, which features the 2013 SRT Dodge Viper, some rocks, an extremely flat American highway and the same vignette framing we've come to expect from Forza in-game screenshots. Granted, this is but a single image, but from where we're sitting it sure does look a hell of a lot like a Forza game, which is reassuring considering that this is Playground Games' first spin behind the franchise's wheel.

Gallery: Forza Horizon

JoystiqHere's the first Forza Horizon screenshot originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013-srt-dodge-viperbox-artDodge-ViperForzaforza-horizonmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosPlayground-GamesscreenshotSRT-ViperViperxboxThu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forza Horizon spun off by Playground Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/forza-horizon-spun-off-by-playground-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/forza-horizon-spun-off-by-playground-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/forza-horizon-spun-off-by-playground-games/#comments
The developers at Playground Games are about to experience the worst thing about developing a new game in Microsoft's Forza racing franchise. Once you announce it, you have to gradually withstand the pun-heavy headlines that result. Forza Horizon really is a spin-off, though.

Set to launch in Fall 2012, when Forza Motorsport proper takes a break, Forza Horizon aims to adjust the tone of the franchise and inject some new, Turn 10-approved talent into the development pipeline. Microsoft has yet to share much on the game beyond a live-action trailer, which hints at a more playful, festival atmosphere for racing, but was quick to point at the pedigree of Playground Games.

The company was founded during 2009 in England's Leamington Spa, starting with veteran developers from Codemasters (Dirt) and encompassing talent from as far back as Psygnosis. Turn 10 creative director Dan Greenwalt describes the announcement as a new "wing" for the Forza series. You may have seen it leaking over the weekend, at which point it was more of a huge spoiler.

JoystiqForza Horizon spun off by Playground Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forza-horizonmicrosoftplayground-gamesturn-10xboxxbox-showcase-2012Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST