Online Wheeling-n-Dealing

Playing Ridge Racer™ 6 against a dozen computer-controlled drivers is a great way to kill an afternoon. Smoking a bunch of two-bit, trash-talking chumps from half the countries of the European Union in real time over Xbox Live®—now that's divine.

Just ask any Xbox 360™ owner who's experienced the pleasures of an Online Battle, which you can compete in for fun or to improve your standing on the global rankings board. You haven't lived until you've shed blood, sweat and tears over the outcome of diesel-drenched, edge-of-your-seat broadband showdowns.

Unfortunately, the competition's tough out there. If you want to get ahead, I suggest you take some advice from yours truly before popping that clutch and plowing into high gear.

Establish an early lead.

Start Smart
Experienced players always kick off competitions with a sudden burst of speed. You can too by keeping your RPM below the red line while the pre-race clock counts down. Once the word "GO" appears on-screen, floor the accelerator. Time things right and gain a brief momentum boost that fades quickly. It remains in effect just long enough for you to outpace rivals from the get-go and maintain equal footing with those who also hit the fast start.

Barrel into competitors, slam into their side during
drifts, and otherwise make a nuisance of yourself.

Use it to establish a foothold high in the rankings from the start. There's nothing worse (especially with voice chat functions enabled) than having to play catch-up against a smack-slinging competitor.

Hog the Highways
Your car isn't just a stunning marvel of engineering and design; it's also your ace in the hole. Use it as a weapon—put your vehicle in the path of onrushing drivers whenever possible, creating an immediate obstacle. Hog the best routes around corners for yourself, drift on narrow stretches of road (leaving even less room for passing), and whenever you see someone kicking off a sprint, be a jerk and zip right in front of them.

This isn't a demolition derby or weapons-laden arcade outing. (Sorry, Full Auto™ fans.) Foes can't cruise right through you; what they do is look for is a way around. By constantly putting yourself between them and open lanes, keep them from advancing.

Even if they do manage to maneuver past you, provided you've been properly applying this technique, at least they're forced to chart a less than optimal course. While you zip merrily along a track's shortest route, they're wasting precious seconds on unnecessary detours.

Brace for impact in 3, 2 …

Get Your Swerve On
In real life, veering from side to side would get you pulled over … and a possible DUI conviction. Here, it can potentially earn you a collectible achievement or coveted spot on the top of the charts. A racer who's constantly moving is hard to predict. Other drivers won't know if you're suddenly going to swerve left or right, meaning any strategy they attempt in hopes of overtaking you will be a gamble.

Roll along in a single, straightforward fashion, and anyone can find openings in which to make passing attempts. Skid around like a drunken prom date, and there's a good chance you'll randomly collide with your opponent, knocking them off course, or they'll slam right into your bumper and slow to a crawl. Be crafty—force opponents to think each time they're pondering passing, and make them more hesitant to do so. Not to mention that they're much less sure of themselves behind the wheel when they do.

Push It Good
A pity I know, but this isn't a game for the faint of heart. Out there on the road, be aggressive. Wield your sedan like a sledgehammer—barrel into competitors, slam into their side during drifts, and otherwise make a nuisance of yourself. A slight nudge is all it takes to send troublemakers into a tailspin at high speeds or win races by a nose. Bullying might not get you far in the classroom or workplace, but it pays to be a punk here.

Life in the fast lane.

Flame On
Even more so than in single-player events, nitrous-fueled turbo boosts can instantly shift the balance of any head-to-head showdown. Employ them strategically and sparingly. Save your stocks for when they're truly needed, like during last-minute duels or if you discover a chance to overtake multiple rivals in one fell swoop on a single straightaway.

Study hard, Sparky. Then fire up that gamertag and get rolling. With any luck, I'll see you soon—hopefully fading off into the distance after I've busted one of these slick moves out—at the races!

Article by Steve Richter