An Ocean of Cars

By Keith Proctor

You know the Microsoft Game Studios folks are serious about Forza Motorsport™, the company’s newest racing title, because they aren’t shying away from using the “S” word when discussing the game: Simulation. The MGS folks want you to compare Forza Motorsport to real-world automobiles and auto racing, not just other video racing games.

The E3 2004 buzz surrounding the game’s announcement is focused on the game’s spot-on graphics, realistic physics (the damage modeling will blow your mind … and your in-game budget), and the game’s lineage (many members of the development team are alums of the highly successful Project Gotham Racing®, Midtown Madness®, and RalliSport Challenge franchises).

But, the aspect of the game that has me drooling is the vast lineup of cars. Forza Motorsport is scheduled to ship with hundreds of cars from more than 60 manufacturers. You can tune and upgrade more than 40 ways under the hood and customize the cars with parts from more than 150 aftermarket partners, including HKS and Jackson Racing.

Behind the wheel of the super car of your dreams.

The list of car makers is the crème de la crème of the auto industry. There will be cars from the world’s best-known and most successful mass-market manufacturers, like Nissan, Honda, GM, Volkswagen, Daimler-Chrysler, Subaru, and Ford as well as the more highly-evolved and priced-to-be-rare offerings from legendary race-winning companies like BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari.

That’s why I’ll be counting the days until I can get my paws on the final version of the game. I’ve been playing a limited build of the game for more than week, and it only teases at the game’s full potential. But, like a smitten deep-sea fish, I’ve swallowed the bait—hook, line, and chartered boat.

Like just about every other hardcore racing game fan I know, I’m attracted to the high-powered, unique, built-for-racing machines I could never afford to buy. However, I’m also looking forward to learning the nuances of the game, using a car that’s just like one of the vehicles parked in my driveway (at my house, that would be the older model Subaru and Volvo station wagons). I really like the idea of racing an in-game car that’s the same make as mine, especially when I can add on every piece of after-market equipment one can imagine.

Turn a sensible car into a speed demon.

You think I’m kidding? I’m really looking forward to playingForza Motorsport because I’ll be able to take the car in my driveway and add a turbocharger, upgrade the brakes and suspension, reduce the weight, get a custom paint job, throw on racing tires and wheels, and change the transmission. The best part is: I won’t have to ask my wife’s permission. (She won’t even let me replace my radio-cassette player with one that will play CDs.)

Be sure to keep an eye out for me in your rear-view mirror when you’re playing Forza Motorsport on Xbox Live™.I’ll be easy to spot. My Gamertag is daddynathan, and I’ll be passing you in my neon green, turbo-charged Volvo wagon with the full aero package (side skirts with front and rear wings).

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