Atari has announced to publish Simbin’s RACE Pro for the XBOX 360, bringing a true simulation to the most popular next generation gaming console.
This confirms the initial rumors about Simbin’s first XBOX game, just the name and the publisher have been falsely rumored. RACE Pro will bring most of GTR Evolution’s content to the XBOX360, including the WTCC, Formula 3000, Mini Challenge and the GT and production class cars.
The game will feature 13 tracks, two of them are completely new as RACE Pro will let players race around Laguna Seca and Road America. This marks the first time that a Simbin game includes American tracks, not a bad idea to appeal to US gamers. There is no mentioning of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, seeing that the GTR Evolution cars are included leaves the possibility open though.
Atari’s statement also includes mentioning of the new-generation Lizard graphics engine, however it’s specifically called “physics engine” there. We´ll have to wait for further information to see whether that’s a typo or what kind of graphics engine RACE Pro will use.
RACE Pro will enable 12 players to race eacher other via XBOX Live, players at home will be able to compete using the brand new Hot Seat feature. RACE Pro is scheduled to be released this fall, stay tuned for more info!
Raikku
July 11th, 2008 at 18:54
Nice, XO’s GTR got canceled, but hopefully this make its way to release.
But, they have to make Logitech’s wheels workable with XO. XO’s own wheel is pathetic crap.
Timmun
July 11th, 2008 at 18:55
Now, if they just leave out that fake motion blur.
Anonymous
July 11th, 2008 at 18:55
Looks like Lizard.
Anonymous
July 11th, 2008 at 18:58
That motion blur looks realistic actually – it’s not overdone at all. If you haven’t noticed real life has motion blur too.
rauninho
July 11th, 2008 at 19:11
henri ftw :mrgreen:
Anonymous
July 11th, 2008 at 19:12
“Real life has motion blur too.”
Really?
Anonymous
July 11th, 2008 at 19:27
that’s as ugly as rd:grid…. god damn… simbins are getting worse and worse .. very sad
Abdul
July 11th, 2008 at 19:31
Fantastic News. Reason to go out and buy a 360 now after selling mine a few months ago.
Anonymous
July 11th, 2008 at 19:39
Take your hand and move it rapidly across your face – can you maintain a crisp image of it? Also, when you’re in a moving car, stationary objects on the side of the road will look blurred as you pass by them. So yes, you experience motion blur in real life. However, sometimes this effect is overdone to the point that it becomes unrealistic. Whether or not Simbin have nailed this aspect of the game can be better determined from actually playing the game from the in-car view, rather than from a screenshot.
drowsy
July 11th, 2008 at 19:48
The problem with motion blur in games tends to be that the player can look at any part of the screen, and some angles can make the blurred parts look… Interesting. But I like the effect, it looks much better in motion than in stills though, so I wouldn’t judge the graphics until we see some video.
ermax18
July 11th, 2008 at 20:13
But thanks to Microsoft, the Xbox360 only support Xinput devices which rules out all good wheels. So that pretty much proves it will be an arcade game. What a shame. It would be cool if someone made a hardware solution to convert a DirectInput device to a Xinput device.
austin
July 11th, 2008 at 20:21
I dont think console gamers can handle sim games,, i posted some sim games on my local car club forum and people keep talkin about forza and grid. Lets face it, console gamers like the excitement of street racing, drifting, and violence. They dont like games that dont have music or a high learning curve. Im talkin about 20 year olds too, not little kids.
Beats
July 11th, 2008 at 20:27
Cool stuff. Those two screens match the ‘leaked’ ones you posted a little while back, which also showed a picture of an F3000 at the ‘ring, so I think it’s safe to assume the nords is in.
Nice to see a couple of American tracks, especially Road America. Graphically it looks decent enough, but I just have to echo ermax18’s sentiments and say it’s a shame we’ll be forced to use Microsoft’s crappy offering if we wanted to use a wheel.
skytrill
July 12th, 2008 at 00:27
“I dont think console gamers can handle sim games”
can’t agree more Austin. ive been talking with street racing enthousiasm.. they play need for speed.. and for them a hardcore simulation is forza or.. the ultimate racing simulator of course “cough” .. gran turismo.
consoles are made for arcade games, a true simulator such rfactor, lfs, netkarpro would be way too difficult so they would say it suck..
Operation flashpoint (the only war sim i know) came out on console after it’s pc release.. it was a flop, no one bought it.. they prefer halo.
GT5 is coming out late 2008 without a clutch system.. they’re talking about the graphics instead of the tires modelling.. oh yah real sim! (kids only)
long live the pc
trebor901
July 12th, 2008 at 00:57
PS3 would be fine for proper sims as you can use the G25 on it.
navalhawkeye
July 12th, 2008 at 01:16
“I dont think console gamers can handle sim games”
I disagree…somewhat. A lot can’t handle them…but you’d be surprised at how many can. So I think that comment is quite ignorant. I started playing arcade game, same with many of my friends…and we moved to sims, and transitioned very easily, and are now very fast on sims. All of your comments are very generalized, and makes it seem like you have no idea what your talking about. Again…your comments aren’t false…but they don’t describe everyone.
I can’t wait for it to come out!
ermax18
July 12th, 2008 at 02:20
navalhawkeye: Have fun simulating a car with your gamepad. :)
skytrill
July 12th, 2008 at 04:24
“and we moved to sims, and transitioned very easily, and are now very fast on sims.”
see… you’re racing on sims.. my comment was for those playing exclusively on consoles… read twice before calling me an ignorant… that was lame and cheap
Roadblock
July 12th, 2008 at 07:39
It would be nice to their new Laguna Seca and Road America released for the PC version of RACE07 or maybe added onto GTR Evo.
Raikku
July 12th, 2008 at 11:40
People actually say that Ferrari Challenge in PS3 is very good game, its between sim and arcade-style and with G25 its very good to drive.
Anonymous
August 21st, 2008 at 06:13
F355 Challenge Deluxe (Coin op) will never be touched