Author Topic: Test Drive Unlimited 2 (Read 4912 times)

Stoney Mason · « **on:** April 29, 2010, 12:48:04 PM »

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Test Drive Unlimited 2 First Look
Head to the Mediterranean Sea in style.
by Ryan Clements

April 29, 2010 - The videogame landscape is filled with racing games. With such a crowded genre, how are developers supposed to create a product that can stand out from the rest while still maintaining a certain familiarity to capture an audience in the first place? The developers at Eden Studios are tackling these challenges in Test Drive Unlimited 2, a "massively open online racer" that combines the online functionality of an MMO with a traditional arcade racer. I recently had the chance to sit down and watch a demonstration of Test Drive Unlimited 2 and I was impressed with the amount of multiplayer options available to players. With a lovely Mediterranean locale and some extremely exotic cars to drive, Test Drive Unlimited 2 has the potential to be the next great multiplayer racer.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 is set on the island of Ibiza. The developers at Eden Studios used actual topographic information to design the environment and recreated a number of the island's towns in detail. All the road networks are designed to be as true to life as possible, so players will feel like they're really racing on Ibiza itself. The island has a full day/night cycle (and weather effects!) which spans approximately two hours, so players will be driving their cars of choice through rainy nights and brilliant sunsets.

But like the first Test Drive Unlimited, this sequel isn't just about racing. Test Drive Unlimited 2 is designed to celebrate a luxury lifestyle in a number of ways, from expensive cars to lavish homes. The game tells a "rags to riches" story, so players will be earning money to purchase new items, be it clothing or new cars. It's great to see a racing game that pays attention to elements outside of traditional races, as a lot of care has gone into designing the game's interior environments. These environments are feasible because Test Drive Unlimited 2 allows players to walk around the game world with their avatar in first-person. More importantly, almost any location in-game is also a location where other players can meet up and socialize.

This multiplayer functionality is an absolutely crucial part of the Test Drive Unlimited 2 formula. Players can walk around each other's homes and even peruse car dealerships together. A full set of emotes has been built into Test Drive Unlimited 2 and the game will obviously support voice chat for those with headsets available. I was impressed that players shopping for new cars will even be able to climb inside a potential purchase with another player in the passenger seat. Friends can discuss the interior and admire the intricate detail Eden Studios put into rendering the leather stitching, dash boards, and the countless dials that come with cars of high class.

Although the obvious appeal of Test Drive Unlimited 2 will come from racing against the competition, you'll be able to invite other players into your car for joy rides, which sounds like a fantastic feature if you want someone to give you directions to a particularly charming spot or good road to race on. Little touches like these definitely enhance the game's multiplayer support.

If you're interested in plain ol' racing, there's also plenty of that to do in this game. Players can create their own challenges and put up personal funds as the reward for completion, or they can bet on races and instantly challenge another player in the area. Of course, this multiplayer support is made even more robust with the return of racing clubs, which was a feature in the previous game. Adrenaline junkies will be able to form clubs and purchase swank club houses to meet in which even come with their own exclusive club cars. Rival clubs will be able to participate in club challenges or clubs can compete internally to see who's the best and brightest driver of the group.

All these online mechanics would be great on their own, but there's a full suite of options for those more interested in their own car collection. Players will be able to tweak their rides with custom paint jobs, decals, rims and more, and they also have full creative control over their avatar's appearance. Remember, Test Drive Unlimited 2 is all about living the luxurious life, so don't be afraid to spend money on that vacation home in Hawaii.

Yes, Hawaii returns in Test Drive Unlimited 2. The entire island is fully traversable and has been modified to keep the locale fresh for players that sunk time into the original game. I was amazed that the developers would take the time to build a whole new island and then include a reworked version of the original game world as well. Talk about an ample supply of content...

Unfortunately, the demonstration of Test Drive Unlimited 2 was entirely hands-off, so I couldn't play. But from the looks of things, the game was already running smoothly (even in its early state) and the car models were slick. My only concern was the actual handling of the cars, because they looked to be a little stiff when the developers were playing. There's no way for me to know for sure, of course, so I'll just have to reserve my judgment for when I can play the game for myself.

It's worth noting that the demonstration ended with a hot tub party on a massive yacht. Amazingly, one of the homes players will be able to purchase is an actual yacht that cars can drive onto and take elevators up to the deck. As the camera pulled back to reveal the setting sun, the Eden Studios representative presenting the game concluded with my favorite sizzler line of all: "with Test Drive, the possibilities are Unlimited... 2." Epic win!

Test Drive Unlimited 2 is scheduled to launch this fall for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. And according to the developers, there's plenty more to come.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/108/1086774p1.html

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2010, 01:23:41 PM »

I heartily approve of this new setting.

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2010, 01:24:51 PM »

GET IN MY CONSOLE NAOW!!!

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2010, 01:25:34 PM »

I loved the first TDU.

That's even acknowledging the fact that it was incredibly janky and the racing model wasn't exactly top notch.

I'm very interested in this one. We'll see if the novelty has worn off though.

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2010, 01:27:55 PM »

I drove around so much in TDU I accidentally got the achievement for driving all the streets. Turn on some tunes and just drive, it was simple and fun. One of the best cruising games ever made.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2010, 01:29:59 PM »

Quote from: G The Resurrected on April 29, 2010, 01:27:55 PM

I drove around so much in TDU I accidentally got the achievement for driving all the streets. Turn on some tunes and just drive, it was simple and fun. One of the best cruising games ever made.

Agreed. Something about just driving around that world was really fucking cool. No other racing game this gen has quite captured that feeling for me. Paradise didn't do it for me like this game did even though on a technical level Paradise is above it. But I like TDU so much more.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2010, 02:14:37 PM »

I must have done the circuit of the island race at least three or four times. The trick is to go with a motorcycle; the top speed isn't quite as high, but you get better maneuverability and motorcycles won't lose traction and spin around like the cars will.

Then I found a quick and easy time challenge that netted me more money overall per time spent.

Mupepe · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2010, 03:06:25 PM »

TDU was incredible. Pulling up to another car, rolling down your window, revving your engine and taking off in style was awesome.

Bebpo · « **Reply #8 on:** April 29, 2010, 03:25:06 PM »

Looks nice. Will keep on eye on the PC version. I don't remember TDU getting a PC version?

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2010, 03:26:26 PM »

Quote from: Bebpo on April 29, 2010, 03:25:06 PM

Looks nice. Will keep on eye on the PC version. I don't remember TDU getting a PC version?

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/testdriveunlimited/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review

tiesto · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2010, 08:33:35 PM »

Considering the game is set in Ibeefa, I really expect a lot from the soundtrack...

pilonv1 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2010, 09:45:33 PM »

I'm just glad they put the other island in too. Should be fun

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #12 on:** April 30, 2010, 12:52:44 PM »

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Stoney Mason · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2010, 11:42:04 AM »

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ferrarimanf355 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 08, 2010, 03:30:15 PM »

I'm more excited for this than Gran Turismo 5.

So, are we gonna start an EB club when this comes out?

Wario64 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 08, 2010, 03:52:27 PM »

this game will shit all over blur, split second, gt5

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #16 on:** May 09, 2010, 07:37:50 PM »

:O

Fuck awesome open world racing plus n-tss-nn-tss techno

YES PLEASE

Akala · « **Reply #17 on:** May 09, 2010, 09:04:11 PM »

the ibiza angle looks like pure cheese. I don't think I ever got around to trying the first one.

maybe that's why I'm so skeptical. $:-\$

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #18 on:** June 14, 2010, 10:02:46 AM »

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Bildi · « **Reply #19 on:** June 14, 2010, 08:48:36 PM »

Quote

These environments are feasible because Test Drive Unlimited 2 allows players to walk around the game world with their avatar in first-person.

YES.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #20 on:** July 02, 2010, 07:48:34 PM »

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Stoney Mason · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2010, 11:58:17 AM »

Delayed into 2011.

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2010, 12:08:41 PM »

Oh well. I'll still be around then

Wario64 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 12, 2010, 02:33:46 PM »

dammit.

ferrarimanf355 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 15, 2010, 09:02:15 PM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on August 12, 2010, 11:58:17 AM

Delayed into 2011.

I'm cool with that, more time for NFS Hot Pursuit, then.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #25 on:** October 23, 2010, 05:04:00 PM »

You can get beta codes here for the PC version.

http://gamers.eurogamer.net/giveaways.php?id=87062

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #26 on:** October 23, 2010, 07:07:03 PM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on October 23, 2010, 05:04:00 PM

You can get beta codes here for the PC version.

http://gamers.eurogamer.net/giveaways.php?id=87062

Gonna jump on that.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #27 on:** October 24, 2010, 12:54:03 AM »

Kind of lame that the beta is only open four hours every day. $:-\$

GilloD · « **Reply #28 on:** October 24, 2010, 01:21:46 AM »

I got into the Beta like 6 weeks ago but then I bought Minecraft

Corporal · « **Reply #29 on:** October 24, 2010, 01:28:43 AM »

Code no worky. Corporal sad. :'(

pilonv1 · « **Reply #30 on:** October 24, 2010, 01:50:13 AM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on October 24, 2010, 12:54:03 AM

Kind of lame that the beta is only open four hours every day. $:-\$

All the beta's I've been in lately are like this.

Corporal · « **Reply #31 on:** October 24, 2010, 02:01:04 AM »

Huh, got it to work somehow. Maybe there's some sort of delay between the key being issued and the key being valid.

Now downloading the installer at glacial speeds. Why can't these clowns just give us a torrent or use Steam. Sheesh.

The things I do for free entertainment...

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #32 on:** October 24, 2010, 02:04:58 AM »

Quote from: Corporal on October 24, 2010, 02:01:04 AM

Huh, got it to work somehow. Maybe there's some sort of delay between the key being issued and the key being valid.

Now downloading the installer at glacial speeds. Why can't these clowns just give us a torrent or use Steam. Sheesh.

The things I do for free entertainment...

You can download, install, and even launch the game, but you won't be playing it until the game server is back online tomorrow.

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #33 on:** October 24, 2010, 02:52:49 AM »

[youtube=560,345]6NZiA_weP6U[/youtube]

Does the beta have HAWT ASS FRENCH ELECTRO like in the above trailer?

chronovore · « **Reply #34 on:** October 25, 2010, 08:11:36 AM »

Quote from: Stoney Mason on May 07, 2010, 11:42:04 AM

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Oh, cool, it ships with DJ Hero as a pack-in? I knew they'd end up just giving that away.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #35 on:** October 25, 2010, 10:08:36 AM »

The beta's open right now. I tooled around a bit, but didn't actually do any races.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #36 on:** December 06, 2010, 10:41:05 AM »

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G The Resurrected · « **Reply #37 on:** December 06, 2010, 10:47:31 AM »

Day one, I'm having one hell of a time figuring out where I'm going to purchase my copies from though. So many Exclusive cars, and then Gamestops Casino add-on.

ManaByte · « **Reply #38 on:** December 06, 2010, 11:06:52 AM »

Already have it pre-ordered through Steam.

Beezy · « **Reply #39 on:** December 06, 2010, 11:29:32 AM »

This game looks like it might be good even though it looks pretty sterile. It's not open world, is it?

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #40 on:** December 06, 2010, 11:56:25 AM »

Quote from: Beezy on December 06, 2010, 11:29:32 AM

This game looks like it might be good even though it looks pretty sterile. It's not open world, is it?

It's exactly open-world.

Beezy · « **Reply #41 on:** December 06, 2010, 12:05:36 PM »

instant pass

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #42 on:** December 07, 2010, 07:50:13 PM »

Test Drive Unlimited was a great game to just cruise around in, not have to worry about racing other cars, just relaxing and checking out the scenery. Kind of boring, I suppose, but I really like that about it. It had a lot of extra stuff to do besides racing and cruising though, like trying to get super cars to a certain destination without damaging them or driving people to various destinations without running out of time. I also like the race that took you all the way around the island. It's a different kind of racing game though, not like Burnout or Need for Speed, or even Gran Turismo.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #43 on:** December 07, 2010, 08:00:41 PM »

I liked it for the same reasons I like games like Risen and Fallout, sometimes I just want to explore the world that's been created. Driving around Hawaii through the different areas and scenery was quite relaxing.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #44 on:** December 07, 2010, 08:02:03 PM »

Yeah, that's how I feel about it. Some people aren't big on that though, they want a tightly controlled environment with scripted events and that's cool too, but, to me, TDU just provides such a unique racing experience. I played it a lot on the Xbox360.

pilonv1 · « **Reply #45 on:** December 07, 2010, 08:07:52 PM »

I didn't even like the races that much, just the time trials and delivery missions.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #46 on:** December 14, 2010, 10:16:45 AM »

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MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #47 on:** December 18, 2010, 06:00:08 PM »

u guys just sold me on tdu i was really let down by hot pershits nfs because its way too linear I just want to drive and listen to Eletrci Feel justice remix

god where is my midnight club 4

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #48 on:** December 28, 2010, 09:19:04 AM »

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chronovore · « **Reply #49 on:** January 04, 2011, 10:06:09 PM »

I remember some dev once said when they don't know how to extend the gameplay of a game, they just stick in gambling or a maze. Or both. It's a giveaway of not knowing what else to do.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #50 on:** January 19, 2011, 03:04:30 PM »

[youtube=560,345][/youtube]
[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

ManaByte · « **Reply #51 on:** January 19, 2011, 03:08:36 PM »

McLaren SLR

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #52 on:** January 19, 2011, 09:16:01 PM »

Ohhhh yeah, stupid cutscenes!

ManaByte · « **Reply #53 on:** January 20, 2011, 03:18:26 AM »

Yea get that story shit out of racing games. The Codemasters career stuff in F1 and Dirt was tolerable and it wasn't bad in NFS Shift, but this looks so bad you better be able to skip it.

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #54 on:** February 03, 2011, 08:00:00 PM »

Fuck me, looks like this is out in 2 weeks. Didn't hear about it until there was a GAF thread with the GI review (8.5, whatever). So hyped. This better support the MS steering wheel.

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #55 on:** February 03, 2011, 08:08:13 PM »

Preorder at Amazon at $49 for $10 amazon credit and release day delivery. Win

pilonv1 · « **Reply #56 on:** February 03, 2011, 08:27:22 PM »

Quote from: Sho Nuff on February 03, 2011, 08:00:00 PM

Fuck me, looks like this is out in 2 weeks. Didn't hear about it until there was a GAF thread with the GI review (8.5, whatever). So hyped. This better support the MS steering wheel.

The last one did.

I completely forgot this was out soon too. Still umming and ahhing over the PC version instead of 360. I guess it depends where the Bore club is setup

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #57 on:** February 08, 2011, 12:42:50 AM »

My Amazon copy shipped

I heard the car handling might be kind of flaky though $:-\$

But it is full of awesome electropop techno, Prole get in here!

Phonat

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #58 on:** February 08, 2011, 09:27:06 PM »

I forgot to put this on my gamefly.

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #59 on:** February 08, 2011, 11:35:26 PM »

THIS GAME IS TURRIBLE, I HURLED THE DISK ACROSS THE ROOM

WHO PROGRAMMED THESE CAR PHYSICS AND WHO DIRECTED THE AWFUL SNARKY NPC VA WORK

RAGE RAGE RAGE

News:

Author Topic: Test Drive Unlimited 2 (Read 4912 times)