rec.autos.simulators

by **Internet Use** » Wed, 12 May 2004 21:25:43

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Microsoft revving up Forza Motorsport

MGS' self-developed racer will let Xboxers create, customize, and drive
their dream machine.

Microsoft Game Studios announced today that it has a new racing game in
its garage. Being internally developed exclusively for the Xbox, Forza
Motorsport "gives Xbox gamers who are passionate about cars and racing
the opportunity to own, customize, and race their favorite cars in a
realistic driving simulation," according to the company.

The announcement for Forza Motorsport does promise a number of ways that
players will be able to make their car their own. First, they will be
able to choose from more than 60 real-world brands, including Mazda,
Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, and Dodge.

After they select a chassis, players can go inside the guts of their car
by adding nonstandard engines, suspensions, superchargers, and brakes.
True gearheads can go one step further and tinker with their engines'
gear ratios, fuel-mapping, forced induction pressure, and ignition timing.

Once they're finished with the inside of their rides, players can begin
detailing the exterior, adding rims, spoilers, decals, side skirts,
fender flares, and airdams to a customized paint job.

As far as the game's mechanics go, Microsoft said it brought together
automotive engineers and game programmers to re-create "authentic car
performance." For a change, this authenticity will include damage and
wear, as well as heat and pressure changes that disrupt a car's
suspension and aerodynamic load.

Another new aspect of Forza Motorsport is its inclusion of drivatars,
AI-controlled drivers you can "train" in your own original driving style.

Microsoft also promises that the game will feature glossy graphics on
par with the Gran Turismo series. Camera and atmospheric effects like
lens flare and heat shimmer add realism to the international tracks,
which will include Germany's Nurburgring and a street course in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.

Last but not least, Forza Motorsport will be Xbox Live-enabled and will
offer "intense multiplayer wheel-to-wheel racing" as well as individual
time trials.

For more on Forza Motorsport, check out GameSpot's preview.

by **Steve Smit** » Thu, 13 May 2004 02:53:13

Thanks for posting the PRESS RELEASE. I wonder if Ford (which owns the
"Forza" nameplate for an Italian-built Range Rover-esque SUV it once
powered) will object to the name of this game, which appears to be
Micro$oft's attempt to create a Gran Turismo franchise for the Xbox.

Screenies here:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/sports/forzamotorsport/preview_6096813.html

by **Internet Use** » Thu, 13 May 2004 03:36:24

> Thanks for posting the PRESS RELEASE. I wonder if Ford (which owns the
> "Forza" nameplate for an Italian-built Range Rover-esque SUV it once
> powered) will object to the name of this game, which appears to be
> Micro$oft's attempt to create a Gran Turismo franchise for the Xbox.

> Screenies here:

> http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/sports/forzamotorsport/preview_6096813.html

The press release was ALL that was available this morning. It's news
(good news) for the sim community, don't see any reason not to post the
PRESS RELEASE. There's now a movie available over at www.xbox.com.

ps. I bet Microsoft beats the West brothers to market...

by **Peter Ive** » Thu, 13 May 2004 09:36:26

Mmm, so maybe that will affect acceleration and top speed.

So the cars will look unique.

But will it be based upon real world physics, or will the cars just
slide about a bit more?

Nothing here that seems to indicate it's going to be a sim and not a
game.
--
Peter Ives (AKA Pete Ivington)
Remove ALL_STRESS before replying via email
If you know what's good for you, don't listen to me :)
GPLRank Joystick -50.63 Wheel -25.01

by **J.D. Elli** » Thu, 13 May 2004 09:49:02

I couldn't find any evidence of Ford having hands-on involvement or
ownership of *Laforza* from a brief Googling. Loks like they just sold them
some 5.0L's.

-jde

by **Steve Smit** » Thu, 13 May 2004 19:58:08

My memory is hazy, but I think Ford licensed the name to the Italian outfit
that made the Cleveland-powered SUVs. Ford usually doesn't get involved in
selling crate motors unless they get a piece of the action (viz. Shelby,
Alpine, Pantera).

> > Thanks for posting the PRESS RELEASE. I wonder if Ford (which owns the
> > "Forza" nameplate for an Italian-built Range Rover-esque SUV it once
> > powered) will object to the name of this game,

> I couldn't find any evidence of Ford having hands-on involvement or
> ownership of *Laforza* from a brief Googling. Loks like they just sold
them
> some 5.0L's.

> -jde

by **Steve Smit** » Thu, 13 May 2004 19:59:18

These are the guys, after all, who did the physics for Midtown Madness.
Amusing...but not realistic.

> >http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/05/10/news_6096668.html

> >Microsoft revving up Forza Motorsport

> <snip>

> >After they select a chassis, players can go inside the guts of their car
> >by adding nonstandard engines, suspensions, superchargers, and brakes.
> >True gearheads can go one step further and tinker with their engines'
> >gear ratios, fuel-mapping, forced induction pressure, and ignition
timing.

> Mmm, so maybe that will affect acceleration and top speed.

> >Once they're finished with the inside of their rides, players can begin
> >detailing the exterior, adding rims, spoilers, decals, side skirts,
> >fender flares, and airdams to a customized paint job.

> So the cars will look unique.

> >As far as the game's mechanics go, Microsoft said it brought together
> >automotive engineers and game programmers to re-create "authentic car
> >performance." For a change, this authenticity will include damage and
> >wear, as well as heat and pressure changes that disrupt a car's
> >suspension and aerodynamic load.

> But will it be based upon real world physics, or will the cars just
> slide about a bit more?

> >Another new aspect of Forza Motorsport is its inclusion of "drivatars,"
> >AI-controlled drivers you can "train" in your own original driving style.

> >Microsoft also promises that the game will feature glossy graphics on
> >par with the Gran Turismo series. Camera and atmospheric effects like
> >lens flare and heat shimmer add realism to the international tracks,
> >which will include Germany's Nurburgring and a street course in Rio de
> >Janeiro, Brazil.

> >Last but not least, Forza Motorsport will be Xbox Live-enabled and will
> >offer "intense multiplayer wheel-to-wheel racing" as well as individual
> >time trials.

> >For more on Forza Motorsport, check out GameSpot's preview.

> Nothing here that seems to indicate it's going to be a sim and not a
> game.
> --
> Peter Ives (AKA Pete Ivington)
> Remove ALL_STRESS before replying via email
> If you know what's good for you, don't listen to me :)
> GPLRank Joystick -50.63 Wheel -25.01

by **Steve Smit** » Thu, 13 May 2004 19:59:49

I just hope (for their sake) that it's half as good as the Gran Turismo
series....

> > Thanks for posting the PRESS RELEASE. I wonder if Ford (which owns the
> > "Forza" nameplate for an Italian-built Range Rover-esque SUV it once
> > powered) will object to the name of this game, which appears to be
> > Micro$oft's attempt to create a Gran Turismo franchise for the Xbox.

> > Screenies here:

> > http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/sports/forzamotorsport/preview_6096813.html

> The press release was ALL that was available this morning. It's news
> (good news) for the sim community, don't see any reason not to post the
> PRESS RELEASE. There's now a movie available over at www.xbox.com.

> ps. I bet Microsoft beats the West brothers to market...

by **J.D. Elli** » Thu, 13 May 2004 20:16:42

Ah, seems weird they'd allow them to languish, and be such a flop. Esp.
since didn't it come out before they took over Land Rover?

-jde

by **Ruud van Ga** » Thu, 13 May 2004 21:28:50

Those 2 statements are a bit contradictory I think. You don't put lots
of juicy bits in a car and expect to be able to drive it well. At
least not the mass. ;-)

Ruud van Gaal
Free car sim: http://www.racer.nl/
Pencil art : http://www.marketgraph.nl/gallery/

by **Steve Smit** » Fri, 14 May 2004 06:29:23

Yes, it did. Ford doesn't always take a position in the stock, but they've
been known to be picky about who uses their stuff. Not just hardware; every
manufacturer sits on a pile of exclusive names (badges), held by gentlemens'
agreement. For one long stretch, Porsche had failed to register the name
"Carrera" and Chevy almost took it up as a nameplate for the Camaro (a name
which itself means "shrimp" in some obscure Portugese dialect). From the
same folks who pretended they didn't know "Beretta" was the name of a gun
manufacturer.

> > My memory is hazy, but I think Ford licensed the name to the Italian
> outfit
> > that made the Cleveland-powered SUVs. Ford usually doesn't get involved
> in
> > selling crate motors unless they get a piece of the action (viz. Shelby,
> > Alpine, Pantera).

> Ah, seems weird they'd allow them to languish, and be such a flop. Esp.
> since didn't it come out before they took over Land Rover?

> -jde

by **J.D. Elli** » Fri, 14 May 2004 08:53:46

They have quite the record of poorly chosen names. Didn't "Nova" and
"Fiero" have some humorous translations?

-jde

by **Steve Smit** » Fri, 14 May 2004 09:17:11

Yup. Nova = no va, or "no go."

> > From the
> > same folks who pretended they didn't know "Beretta" was the name of a
gun
> > manufacturer.

> They have quite the record of poorly chosen names. Didn't "Nova" and
> "Fiero" have some humorous translations?

> -jde

by **Ken Bear** » Sat, 15 May 2004 05:39:54

> > > From the
> > > same folks who pretended they didn't know "Beretta" was the name of a
> gun
> > > manufacturer.

> > They have quite the record of poorly chosen names. Didn't "Nova" and
> > "Fiero" have some humorous translations?

> > -jde

Bzzzt. Urban myth.

http://snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp

KenB

by **Steve Smit** » Sat, 15 May 2004 05:58:43

Uh-uh. I was working for Chevy's ad agency at the time. You wouldn't
believe the furor....

> > > > From the
> > > > same folks who pretended they didn't know "Beretta" was the name of
a
> > gun
> > > > manufacturer.

> > > They have quite the record of poorly chosen names. Didn't "Nova" and
> > > "Fiero" have some humorous translations?

> > > -jde

> > Yup. Nova = no va, or "no go."

> Bzzzt. Urban myth.

> http://snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp

> KenB