Joystiq

You're not worthy: GameStop eXpo rumors

James Ransom-Wiley — 2008-09-10T17:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

Every year (well, at least since being banned from E3) the grand minions of GameStop Corp. descend upon the dessert oasis that is Las Vegas, Nevada -- with a Capital X -- to become better informed about their retail products, so as to make professional recommendations to their far less knowledgeable customer base. With a few cleverly placed posers, 1UP has infiltrated the sore-thumbed masses of regional managers who have traveled great distances to earn bragging rights over the adolescents who, in turn, loiter inside their finely vacuumed establishments. Finally, some payoff for another hard year of underachievement (remember kids, these are just rumors):

A trailer for a new Indiana Jones game (could it be?) will premiere next week ... after everyone's returned home to Nowheresville.
60 GB Xbox 360 hard drive will be $99 with 3 months of Xbox Live and an ethernet cable; or 12 months of Xbox Live for $70 and a copy of PGR4. Decisions, decisions...
Animal Crossing: City Folk will be bundled with the Wii Speak "community mic" and sold for $70. (And after this, Nintendo will be done with peripherals. Promise. *Crosses fingers behind back.*)
GBA's Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories will get a surprise port to ... (wait for it) ... PS2! [Update: As several commenters point out, a Chain of Memories ~~port~~ remake has been available in Japan since March 2007.]

Visit 1UP for the full range of oohs and ahs. Bet you wish you'd forgone that degree and stuck it out at the strip mall, huh? Just imagine: You could be there. Right. Now.

[Image credit: dougward]

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Bizarre Creations finished with PGR4, hands DLC duties to Microsoft

Jason Dobson — 2008-05-09T02:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving, Business

Downloadable content is a prized nugget we all not-so-secretly hope awaits us after taking any game home, but like the midday sun on a carton of fresh milk, it also has us spoiled. However, with Bizarre Creations now parking its ride in Activision's garage, the developer stated that it's closing the books on last year's Project Gotham Racing 4, adding that it will not be releasing any more new content for the stylish Xbox 360 racer.

According to a recent post on Bizarre Creation's official forums by a dev calling himself "Ben," the studio has washed its hands of the game. "Bizarre Creations won't be adding anything more to PGR4 in the future," he wrote. "We've completed the hand-over to Microsoft, so any further add-ons will come from them and not us I'm afraid." The news probably wouldn't sting so much had the last update not been so incredibly cool, leaving us now waiting to see what else the British studio has up its racing sleeves.

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PGR4 DLC brings new cars, modes, achievements

Kyle Orland — 2008-02-08T12:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving, Online

Not content to let their premiere racer rest with just a release and a quick update, Bizarre Creations is offering up new downloadable content for Project Gotham Racing 4. The content is split into two downloadable packs:

Free Challenge Pack (free download!)

A playable, hydrogen-powered Peugeot Flux
Tourist Mode - Just drive around the city and admire the scenery with no explicit goal
"Free Roam" Cat and Mouse Mode - Implements the delayed updates previously discussed here
Seven unlockable achievements

Premium Challenge Pack (400 MS points)
Includes all the content of the Free Challenge Pack, PLUS:

Seven new cars - Including the "1987 BMW M3 E30 DTM," whatever that means
World Challenge Arcade Mode - With 20 new events in three themed chapters
Three more unlockable achievements

The packs will be available for download on Feb. 14, just in time to play Cat and Mouse with your valentine.

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'Safer Scotland' places anti-drunk driving ads in 360 games

Scott Jon Siegel — 2007-12-24T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving, Sports

Proving that not all in-game advertising is used solely for evil, the Scottish government plans to spend £10,000 on virtual billboards to discourage drunk driving, the BBC reports today. The campaign will place anti-drunk driving messages in Xbox 360 racing games like Need for Speed: Carbon, Project Gotham Racing 4, and sports titles like Pro Evolution Soccer 2008.

The Scottish government is elated that the campaign will be going forward, as it believes that video games are a great way of reaching younger audiences. We couldn't agree more, and think that this is one of the smartest uses for ad dollars we've seen in a while. Kudos to the Safer Scotland campaign.

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Reminder: Bizarre not working on PGR5, working on 'new racing series'

Christopher Grant — 2007-11-15T02:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving, Business

Buried in the Q&A section towards the end of a Bizarre Creations newspost regarding an update to the Cat and Mouse mode in PGR4, the recently acquired third-party developer (Activision nabbed the UK-based devs in September if you'll recall) confirm that they won't be working on Project Gotham Racing 5. Instead, they're hard at work on "a brand new racing series" no doubt full of cars and tracks and all the other thrilling hallmarks of the genre.

We'd seen reports stating the same - that Bizarre's second, more action-oriented dev-team (think The Club) would be working on existing Activision IPs and their accomplished XBLA team (think Boom Boom Rocket) would be continuing with that platform while the PGR team would be working on something new - but confirmation from the developers themselves serves as a nice, short reminder for PGR fans that it's a brave new world for Bizarre.

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PGR4 update changes Cat and Mouse mode, adds tournaments [update]

Griffin McElroy — 2007-11-14T23:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

Project Gotham Racing 4 (or as we like to call it, the meaty, primitive husk which envelops and safeguards Geometry Wars: Waves) is going into the shop for a shiny new coat tomorrow, as Bizarre Creations is releasing a free update for the title which will address the concerns of some of their valued vehicular veterans.

~~A major feature of the update~~ is the Cat and Mouse mode's change from a linear race to a free roam chase around the city of your choice. Now, each team will have only one "mouse" car, which must be at least one class lower than the other "cat" cars on its team. Teams earn points by keeping their mouse alive, by having their mouse perform style moves, and by hitting the other team's mouse.

Also scheduled for the update are four tournament modes: Daily Tournaments (Mon. through Fri.), Super Saturdays, Simulation Sundays, and the Global Cup (a grueling, 512-man event which takes two weeks to complete). Rumor has it that, for a fortnight, the winner gets to sit high upon a tower crafted from the bones of their fallen competitors, and declare supreme dominance over all of Xbox Live. Let us all hope for a merciful and benevolent ruler.

Read -- Cat and Mouse mode details
Read -- Tournament mode details

Update: Apparently, the newly renovated Cat and Mouse mode was late for the morning train, and will not be featured on todays update. However, a Bizarre Creations employee has assured us that the new mode will be "rolled out in a separate update in a few weeks."

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PGR4, F.E.A.R. Files demos touch down on Xbox Live

Dan Dormer — 2007-10-09T19:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving, First Person Shooters

Q: After "Demo Monday," was anyone expecting more demos to touch down on Xbox Live today? A: Hell no! But it seems the Live overlords don't mind stuffing more demos down our throats, as Major Nelson has posted the usual copy and paste announcing the arrival of Project Gotham Racing 4 and F.E.A.R. Files: Extraction demos on XBL.

PGR4 is available in all regions, and gives you a taste of Bizarre Creation's latest (and potentially last) installment in the series. F.E.A.R. Files: Extraction combines the paranormal with polish for a spooky first person experience. So what are you waiting for, get downloading! (P.S. Go Pats!)

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PGR4 sets virtual stage for electric vs. petrol showdown

Ross Miller — 2007-09-19T16:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

Do you think a lean, green electric sports car can take on a noisy gas-guzzler? In discussing the invitationals planned for Project Gotham Racing 4, developer Bizarre Creations used "Electric vs. Petrol Showdown" as one example, where you in the Tesla Roadster face off against a Ferrari Testarossa.

Can full, unadulterated speed be met without exhuming fossil fuels? It should make for a fun, philosophical monologue while you maneuver around corners. We do warn you, though, that beating the Ferrari in a race may lead to an excess in smug emissions.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

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PGR4 demo to have exclusive content

Ross Miller — 2007-09-18T12:57:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

A demo from Bizarre Creations' Project Gotham Racing 4 should be hitting Xbox Live soon, according to the developer (via Eurogamer). In addition to five playable vehicles (cars and bikes) that presumably will be in the full game, there will be an Arcade mode exclusive to the demo set in Macau, featuring exclusive challenges.
We're a bit perplexed about the exclusive content. If it's good, why not include it in the full game. Conversely, if the content is not good, or not on par with the full game, why use it to promote the title?

A time trial for Nurburgring Snow will also be in the demo. Project Gotham Racing 4 (with Geometry Wars: Waves) is due out October 2 in North America.

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Project Gotham Racing 4 goes gold

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2007-09-13T18:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

Bizarre Creations has hit Ctrl+S for the last time on Project Gotham Racing 4 and has duly sent the code off to be pressed onto millions of DVDs -- which is an absolutely marvelous format, we're told. If driving through rain or snow at ludicrous speeds is something you find appealing, you'd best start checking stores October 2nd in the US and Oct 12th in Europe. If not, ordering online is by far the safer option.

If you just plain don't want the game (nor Geometry Wars: Waves), then you should have stopped reading three sentences ago. And you especially shouldn't read this sentence, which mentions the game's official website and a full list of its virtual vehicles.

Gallery: PGR4 (Xbox 360)

Gallery: Project Gotham Racing 4 motorcycles

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See Geometry Wars: Waves from Project Gotham Racing 4

Justin McElroy — 2007-09-12T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Driving

As you probably expected, as you fire up your copy of Project Gotham Racing 4, lurking inside will be a new evolution of the Geometry Wars series called Geometry Wars: Waves. This new video offers a sneak peek of what you can expect and as you can see, it's definitely Geometry Wars.

The enemies are obviously acting different (coming at you in waves, appropriately enough), but we don't see much change from the XBLA version other than that. The graphics look a little snazzier, but that could just be out imagination. So, no, it's not going to something you'll pay full price to get your hands on, but it looks like a nice perk if you were planning on picking up PGR 4 anyway.

[Thanks, Jonah]

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Geometry Wars returning in Project Gotham Racing 4

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2007-08-23T17:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Driving

Speaking to Pro-G at the Leipzig Games Convention, Bizarre Creations has revealed that a new Geometry Wars game will be featured in October's Project Gotham Racing 4. Dubbed "Geometry Wars: Waves," the shape shooter will be an exclusive Project Gotham bonus and unlike Retro Evolved, won't be sold on Xbox Live Arcade. That makes for an excellent bonus for racing fans, but a $60 investment for those just hoping to exact revenge on the sneaky green square.

Not to worry though, as Bizarre also stated that Waves is based on Retro Evolved and not a "true" sequel as such. Alternatively, you can be sucked in by the gravity wells of Geometry Wars: Galaxies, out this Fall on DS and Wii.

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Project Gotham Racing 4 releases Oct. 2 in US, Oct. 12 in Europe

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2007-08-23T12:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

Those hoping to steer seductively shaped hunks of metal through rain and snow should be pleased to note that Project Gotham Racing 4 is scheduled for release on October 2nd in America and October 12th in Europe. Those unsure of the Xbox 360 racer's selling points should simply read the first sentence again, noting that said hunks of metal may constitute either cars or motorcycles.

Though initially aimed for a September release, the DVD-loving folks at Bizarre Creations explain that today's two-day delay provides them with enough time to put "the finishing touches on the game to ensure it crosses the finish line at retail as the best title yet in the 'PGR' racing franchise." If you're curious as to what it is you'll be racing, peek past the break to see a list of newly unveiled in-game vehicles.

Gallery: PGR4 (Xbox 360)

Gallery: Project Gotham Racing 4 motorcycles

Cars

Ariel Atom 300 Supercharged 2004
Aston Martin V8 Vantage 2005
Austin Mini Cooper S 1964
Chevrolet Camaro Z28 1969
Ferrari F430 2004
Caparo T1 2007
Caterham R500 2000
Lamborghini Gallardo 2004
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 2005
Tesla Roadster 2008

Not Cars

BMW F 800 S 2006
Honda NR750 1992
Honda CBR600RR 2005
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 2007
MTT Turbine Superbike 2006
MV Agusta F4 Senna 2006
Norton 500 Manx 1962
Triumph Speed Triple 2005
Triumph Trident 2005

Expect a full list of vehicles closer to the game's release.

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Bizarre clarifies DVD limitations remark

Ross Miller — 2007-08-02T11:58:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

After recently commenting on the constraints of DVD, Project Gotham Racing 4 developer Bizarre Creations has a new post on their company website providing some clarification as to their opinion of ye olde disc format.

Citing the much larger number of environments (10 in PGR4, vs. five in PGR3), the article lauds the new lighting system over having two "fixed" times of day (and therefore two sets of textures). "DVD size is absolutely not [their emphasis] a factor that we consider when designing our games ... and PGR4 is no exception. DVD9 gives us more than we need to create a fabulous experience for you guys," it said, later adding, "we've never had to cut content to fit on the disc, and we probably never will." Maybe it wasn't cut, but we're pretty sure they would've planned for more environments on a larger disc.

The original comment, which sparked the discussion, was, "Whilst this wasn't a problem for our dev team, it was a problem fitting all this data onto a single DVD." While we applaud the ingenuity of a new lighting system, they did say the data for two textures could not fit.

Should the extra content situation ever arise, we're sure they could make it downloadable on Xbox Live, possibly for a fee. Bizarre's biggest concern right now should be including a new Geometry Wars onto the disc -- if it's not there, there's going to be heck to pay. Heck, I tell you.

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Bizarre confirms PGR4's cities, comments on DVD constraints

Ludwig Kietzmann — 2007-07-30T19:40:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

Bizarre Creations has divulged the final list of cities to be seen and recklessly raced through in the upcoming automotive extravaganza, Project Gotham Racing 4:

Macau, China
Las Vegas, USA
London, England
St. Petersburg, Russia
Tokyo, Japan
New York, USA
Shanghai, China
Quebec, Canada
Nurburgring, Germany

The sequel to the Xbox 360 launch title will also boast weather effects, motorcycles and a Michelin-sponsored test track, with some of the returning tracks from the previous game seeing adjustments to enhance the flow of racing and prevent pileups. They will also be presented at a different time of day, though this aspect itself will not be adjustable. Posting in the official Bizarre Creations forum, a staff member noted, "You won't see different times of day per city because this involves recreating all the textures again (one for day and one for night). Whilst this wasn't a problem for our dev team, it was a problem fitting all this data onto a single DVD."

To counter this issue, however, Bizarre points to the game's varied lighting models: "For example, Macau is always in the daytime, but if you play it during a storm everything looks darker and more foreboding. If you play during a blizzard then things are slightly tinged blue and everything seems more frozen. Of course, playing this track in sunshine will make everything appear bright and yellowy."

Expect to drive around a bright and yellowy Macau sometime in September (if the game's done, that is).

Gallery: PGR4 (Xbox 360)

Gallery: Project Gotham Racing 4 motorcycles

Read -- Bizarre Studio Update
Read -- Bizarre Creations Forums [thanks, Anonymous]

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Oops: Ferrari crashes while filming PGR4 ad

John Bardinelli — 2007-07-21T12:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

While filming a commercial for the upcoming Project Gotham Racing 4, a Ferrari F430 drifted too wide out the corner and bumped into a concrete barrier. Did a massive explosion ensue? Screams of concerned mothers from the crowd echo in our ears? Well ... not really. Very little damage was done to the car, but considering that repairing the vehicle probably costs more than we make in a year, it kind of puts things in perspective. No Gizmondo executives were harmed in the crash.

The commercial is scheduled to appear in mid-August with PGR4 coming in September. Check out another video after the jump.

[Thanks, JimeneX]

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Project Gotham Racing 4 loses two wheels, gains bikes

Andrew Yoon — 2007-07-10T12:22:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

Peanut butter and jelly.
Cookies and milk.
Cars and bikes.

Finally, Project Gotham Racing 4 brings two great tastes together. In a first for the franchise, the upcoming Xbox 360 racer will allow players to use both cars and bikes in the same race. Bizarre Creations is promising the same level of visual fidelity in the bikes as in the cars -- looking at the new screenshots released today, we're also equally impressed by the racer character models.

A new "Stunt button" will allow players to perform a "crazy move" that will earn the player the series' trademark Kudos. While some may find this move to be controversial, Bizarre Creations notes that the game "won't force you to ride bikes if you don't want to." Regardless, they think players are willing to try something new: "we expect 99% of players to take the bikes out just as frequently as the cars!"

Gallery: Project Gotham Racing 4 motorcycles

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Joystiq hands-on: PGR4 (Xbox 360)

Zack Stern — 2007-07-09T10:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving, Online, Galleries

Project Gotham Racing 4 follows the track of previous PGR titles by recreating cities on a building-by-building basis and then letting the fast cars loose. The September Xbox 360 game will include 10 total locations: New York City, Tokyo, London, Las Vegas, Quebec City, Shanghai, Macau, St. Petersburg, Nuerburgring, and the Michelin Test Track.

I got some hands-on time with a recent version of the in-progress game, with the touted weather and rain specifically being shown off. PGR4 looks and feels like it'll be a fun racer, and this time, motorcycles get to play alongside the cars.

Gallery: PGR4 (Xbox 360)

I rode a motorcycle through a rainy Shanghai night to get a sense of the game. Rain streamed down the face of my chase-camera as I practiced racing and turning. Motorcycles -- new to PGR -- follow slightly different "kudos" rules as the cars; I earned PGR's point currency not only by drifting on turns but also by tricks including wheelies and standing on the bike while racing.

The roughly 30 licensed motorcycles will be able to race directly against the roughly 100 licensed cars, although the game isn't being promoted as a cars-versus-bikes showdown. Instead, the single-player missions will straddle both vehicles, although online drivers can more easily specialize in one type.

In addition to the rain and puddles -- I got a close look skidding on the pavement after failed tricks -- PGR4 will include snow and ice. Volumetric fog -- rendered in a three-dimensional shape instead of a 2D layer -- was also touted. As we drove up the city hills, dense fog at lower altitudes cleared at peaks, showing city vistas. While the demo omitted snow and ice, fog and rain looked good at least.

Developer, Bizarre Creations, says AI will be improved in this version, giving opponents more of a vindictive memory of how you drive and more interest in earning their own kudos. But online play, including team-based racing, seems the most interesting way to race.

Specifics are still being defined, but friends will be able to play together, earning team points and individual points at the end of the race. (A teammate win will earn you points regardless of your own individual placement.)

And if your friends aren't around to help win a race, in-game replays and video sharing will recap that glory. Bizarre hopes it'll create a YouTube-like community within the PGR4 interface, and players will first be directed to Gamertag friends' videos before looking though random clips and top-rated movies.

Motorcycles, new weather, and team tactics make PGR4 worth considering for any racing fan. And the gorgeous real-life city settings still stand out against other titles.

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PGR4 gets career mode, 'dynamic' weather, and (duh) new cars

James Ransom-Wiley — 2007-05-10T14:44:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving, Online

"Dynamic." The coveted buzzword adds a Hemi-like boost to Project Gotham Racing 4's newly announced gameplay element: a weather system -- a dynamic weather system. Wipe out as you power around a corner into a rare Shanghai snow storm, or get pounded by a sudden downpour on your last lap through St. Petersburg. Expect the unexpected. That's next-gen, er, dynamic.

Of course, the stakes are higher while competing in the new career mode. As you act a fool, earning Kudos and dedicated fans along the way, you'll have to balance an addiction to flair with the unsettling fear that a freak weather occurrence could cut short your days of thunder-less glory. That or the "new" AI (the "dynamic" adjective was already taken) will just own your ass -- in style. Yes folks, Bizarre has promised virtual fist-pumping.

PGR4 is tentatively scheduled for a fall 2007 release.

[Via Microsoft media blast]

Gallery: PGR4 (Xbox 360)

PGR4 car roster will include:

2004 TVR Sagaris
1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray
2005 Vanwall GPR V12
1993 Toyota Supra Turbo
2005 Gumpert Apollo
1997 Panoz GTR-1 Coupe
2006 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
1957 Maserati 250F

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Ten concept cars enter, only one races in PGR4

Jared Rea — 2007-02-03T11:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

While these flashy Peugeot concepts won't buck the trend of sports cars resembling electric shavers, one of them will be coming to a Xbox 360 near you via Project Gotham Racing 4.

You may recall this contest from last September when it served as the unofficial announcement of PGR4. Not that anyone thought Microsoft's flagship racer wasn't getting another sequel, but hey, it was nice to know.

The winning entry itself will be chosen by Peugeot, but that doesn't mean you can't choose the winner ... of your heart. Not all the vehicles look better suited for proper grooming as there's even a three-wheeler amongst the like of off-road warriors and tricked out 360 logos running on marbles.

So which are you dying to take for a test drive? Do you think J Allard partakes in ghost riding his whip? Discuss.

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