PGR 4 in the Works !

[Rodster]

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=67478

Microsoft's planning to release Project Gotham Racing 4 on Xbox 360 towards the end of 2007 or in the first half of 2008.

That's according to, er, Peugeot, of all people, who appear to have let the cat out of the bag as part of a design competition announcement.

The Peugeot Design Contest 2007 (4th edition) announcement invites people aged 14 and over to design a concept for a new car and submit it between October 6th and December 4th.

But it's this bit you'll care about:

"In addition, the winning concept car will be included by Microsoft in the Project Gotham Racing 4 game, exclusively on Xbox 360 that will be released towards the end of 2007 or first half of 2008. The future winner is hereby informed that he/she will not receive any remuneration for this."

Microsoft hasn't said anything about PGR4 to date, but since Bizarre Creations finished PGR3 for the Xbox 360 launch last November, the timing sounds about right.

Presumably we can expect an announcement in the near future. At X06, for example.

Microsoft hadn't responded to our request for comment at the time of publication. Mainly because we didn't give them time to. We're so unpleasant.

We'll let you know if they get back to us.

[ofdman]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

dang...thats a looooooong wait.

get back to me next year and maybe i'll get a little more pumped for it then.

[Flawless]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

From the new OXM UK...

We've Played it and you Won't Believe how good it looks! See the first screens Only in OXM Next Month!

...

[pk500]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

From the new OXM UK...

We've Played it and you Won't Believe how good it looks! See the first screens Only in OXM Next Month!

...

And isn't that what gaming is all about these days, how it looks?

No offense directed toward you, Flawless. I'm just dismayed about the growing emphasis of style over substance in all video games these days.

Graphics always have taken priority, but now it seems there's hardly any pendulum to balance. Graphics seem to be EVERYTHING now.

Take care,
PK

[DW Rutledge]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

And isn't that what gaming is all about these days, how it looks?

No offense directed toward you, Flawless. I'm just dismayed about the growing emphasis of style over substance in all video games these days.

Graphics always have taken priority, but now it seems there's hardly any pendulum to balance. Graphics seem to be EVERYTHING now.

Take care,
PK

in this case, graphics and "kudos".

[Flawless]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

PGR 4 to have dynamic weather conditions

The blurb mentions that the game will have dynamic weather conditions, in addition to a revamped Kudos system and online matches.

[pk500]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

PGR 4 to have dynamic weather conditions

So in other words, it's back to the future. This is nothing new: The original game in this series, Metropolis Street Racer on the Dreamcast, had dynamic weather conditions.

That game was released in January 2001, more than six years ago.

It's good news, but it's another example of developers stripping features for next-gen consoles and then returning them to sequels as some sort of "new innovation." Horsesh*t chicanery, in other words.

Take care,
PK

[bkfount]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

So in other words, it's back to the future. This is nothing new: The original game in this series, Metropolis Street Racer on the Dreamcast, had dynamic weather conditions.

That game was released in January 2001, more than six years ago.

It's good news, but it's another example of developers stripping features for next-gen consoles and then returning them to sequels as some sort of "new innovation." Horsesh*t chicanery, in other words.

Take care,
PK

word...

[TCrouch]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

Paul, would you quit sugarcoating stuff so much, please?!?!?!?

Tell us how you really feel.

No, really....

[Flawless]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

Project Gotham Racing 4 details surface

A list of interesting excerpts from the accompanying article:

• Enhanced Weather Simulation: “One of the slickest new features in PGR is its weather. Bizarre’s using what it likes to call ‘extreme weather’ for more than just making the sky gray. Water beads up on beautifully on all the gorgeous paintjobs, spray jets out from the tires, and in the in-car view, wipers move and windshields ice up.”
• Enhanced Raceway Environments: “A TV-style intro sets up each event, with a commentator offering wisdom…Choppers buzz overhead, camera crews and video vans are everywhere, and hordes of fans line the track. They’ll wear gear with your logo, wave your national flag, and react far more obviously to your performance.”
• Extended Car Selection: “PGR4 will deliver a much broader set of vehicles, ranging from a vintage’63 Corvette Sting Ray and the ’54 Maserati 250F to the sleek, ultra-modern Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.”
• On the tracks: “You won’t want to miss out on your viewing time with PGR4’s tracks, which tally up to 200-plus in 10 locations.”
• On Xbox Live initiatives: “PGR4’s cooking up a mysterious new matchmaking system (like Halo 2’s).”
• On in-car view: ” Bizarre has two key improvements in the works.You’ll now see drivers moving more- feeding the wheel as they zip through turns or pumping their fist after a win. Special effects will also crank up the tension in key moments: you’ll get a shake effect at high speeds, and your vision will blur after spending some quality time with a a wall.”
• In conclusion: “PGR4 feels hugely promising- like a proper sequel with loads of cool new toys.”

That’s all we managed to secure from the OXM guys, so for the full story and a bunch more you’ll need to grab a copy yourself when it hits stands April 10th.

[taylor34]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

They'd better make it like 2 instead of 3. 3 was a very poor sequel compared to 2. 2 was one of the best games I'd ever played, 3 was one of the most disappointing.

Taylor34

[Flawless]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

Some more info.

• New vehicle type you would never expect in PGR4.
• Three other cities around the world and a new Fantasy track.

• On Shanghai: Dressed beautifully at noon and night, it stretches from the modern chinatown to the old town by the river, and some straights that rival the bridges of New York. Speaking of the big apple, you'll drive it again in PGR4, as all of PGR3's cities return....but heavily upgraded with new lighting and layouts.

• Career: You will begin by creating a driver, selecting their gender, nationality, logo and livery scheme.

• AI: It's much cleverer this time around, they can race right up against you or hit you if they choose. Some will be timid, others will completely block you, all of them will respond to your actions and mistakes.

• Cars: We wanted iconic vehicles this time, any vehicle thats a poster vehicle. Not only will they all sport detailed in-car views, but they'll also take a tad more body damage (though still not much.. thanks prissy manufacturers) You will see drivers move more, feeding the wheel as they zip through turns or pumping their fist at a win.

• Online: Competition will remain an 8 player affair. Bizarre's delivering a seperate physics model for online, to alleiviate some of the cheap tricks we've been pummelled with. It's harder to knock off an opponent, unless you knock them into a puddle or some ice.

[pk500]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

You must give Bizarre Creations credit: At least it puts a proper cockpit cam with unique cockpits for each car in this game, unlike Forza and Forza 2.

Take care,
PK

[Rodster]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

PGR 1 and PGR 2 are still my favorites. They had a certain charm about them and the Radio DJ's added to the fun. PGR 3 got too serious and tried to become a "Forza Lite". It appears PGR 4 is on the same path.

[pk500]

Re: PGR 4 in the Works !

I'm old school: My favorite in the series still is the original, Metropolis Street Racer for the Dreamcast. Very hard, very immersive, very ahead of its time. My second fave is PGR 2.

Take care,
PK