Xbox360 Test Drive Unlimited Demo (E3 Demo)

[Yoshimax]

If this should be in the E3 folder can someone move it ? Figured we'd all want to discuss these demos and the potential they hold.

Some people seem to be having difficulty with dload speeds on this but it rocketed down in about 20/25 minutes for me !!

Only had a very quick blast - The graphics look nice I dunno about better than PGR but considering the area you have to drive they're great.

The servers were/are down so couldn't try it online (only had 5 mins) but drove about myself and it was nice - there's a real sense of "freedom" in the game and the handling model and (particularly) the sound are very well done indeed.

Will be on this later to try and get some multiplayer races (as that seems to be the core of the game) so expect more shortly !!!

For now though I'd say it's looking like a buy depending on when it gets released.

[MartyG]

Yeah, servers don't look to be running atm - seems pretty fun actually, liked the way the crashes happen, seems like buying cars will be pretty decent too. Definitely not as good looking as PGR3, but it's got time to be polished, and if the MOOR thing is pulled off well, this game is going to be promising.

One thing I did like a lot was being able to adjust the seat, allowing you to move the seat back and forward, and up and down, changing how much of the dash and steering wheel you see. Oh, and you can wind the windows up and down :) I like neat touches like that.

I also like it that when you brake, rather than go straight into reverse as soon as you hit zero mph on the auto box, you have to release the brake and pull the trigger again to start reversing.

Bit daft that the demo times out after 15 minutes and goes back to the dashboard (well after you've skipped through about 6 screens - though you can use the guide key to skip all that entirely) - utterly pointless thing to do given you can just boot it up again, so why bother timing it out? It's not like you can save the game anyway :/

[Silvergun X]

That's disheartening to hear. :( Hopefully it won't do that online..

[chopemon]

i found it a bit meh

i like the camera shake when you are going fast and the feeling of speed is really good.

it didn't blow me away but i find it difficult to like driving games that don't let me drift like burnout/RR/out run etc.

[Silvergun X]

Wow, this is surprisingly good!

I do like it a lot. :) I just want the online servers to come up!

[EvilBoris]

I'm quite impressed, it looks pretty lovely, its almost on par with oblvion for its outdoor environments.

When I was jus driving around it gave me a proper "just left the airport" holiday feeling, twas well odd, but nice.

Don't think I'd buy it though I'm not a fan of "realistic" racers, I'm shit at em

[Strider]

I found the framerate to be really, really juddery. Oh, and then it crashed :(

[EvilBoris]

I found the framerate to be really, really juddery. Oh, and then it crashed :(

Your 360 isn't set in 50hz somewhere is it?

[dc-arena]

I found it really, really dull. Then I turned it off. As predicted really..

[Strider]

Your 360 isn't set in 50hz somewhere is it?
How would I find that out? It's set up to a 50 inch Samsung DLP and Need for speed underground has exactly the same problem.

Unless of course my Hi-Def tv doesn't run at 60 hertz...

[dc-arena]

NFS: Underground frames out lots because its a pile of shite mate, it aint the TV or 360. "Most Wanted" has that weird streaming crapiness, which again isn't your hardware.

I played Test Drive in 720p and found it to run about 30fps and choppy. Don't think its a hardware fault at your end.

I believe 720p on 360 is 60hz only. However if you didn't switch to PAL60 before changing to the HDTV version of the dashboard (by flicking the switch on the video cable), it might still be 50hz which seems to affect some games.

[EvilBoris]

Plug in the standard leads (composite/component) switch the switch to standard definition , then check on the display section of the 360 dashboard.

Set it to 60hz and put everything.

[Strider]

Yeah it's all on 60hz.

I've noticed these framerate problems on three driving games now, need for speed, full auto and this new game.

Anyway, I'll put it on again after wifeswap and take another look at it.

[dc-arena]

Well Full Auto frames out too mate, its just shoddy games not your hardware. Try RR6 which runs at a solid 60 frames per second and see if that helps.

[EvilBoris]

Yeah it's all on 60hz.

I've noticed these framerate problems on three driving games now, need for speed, full auto and this new game.

Anyway, I'll put it on again after wifeswap and take another look at it.

I know full auto definately had problems in 50hz, maybe try switching it to 50hz, booting up a game in composhite then restarting and changing to 60hz.

[ChrisField]

Jerky for me as well... :(

[marcus]

Seems ok, hoping that graphically it will be tarted up a bit in terms of the jaggies which spoil the look of the cars somewhat. Occasional tearing also. Still, looks to be ok from the go I just had.

[Silvergun X]

Online servers are up. :)

Edited: so i've been playing this online and it's ****ING SUPERB!

I just kept cruising around, found a fellow racer, flashed my lights at him and away we go.

I set a route for him, and we just burned it there. I completely ignored my GPS, cut across the grass, and overtook him to win.

Absolutely brilliant. More please!

[tom-nook]

Seems ok, hoping that graphically it will be tarted up a bit in terms of the jaggies which spoil the look of the cars somewhat. Occasional tearing also. Still, looks to be ok from the go I just had.
Yeah it looks like quite a bit of work is still needed on the graphics; the jaggies & textures are pretty chronic at the moment tbh. It's currently looking more like an Xbox v1.0 game running in 720p than a 360 game.

Wonder how early a build this is?

[El Leone]

Wouldn't be suprised if its a few months old tbh. It takes quite awhile for develoeprs to iron out a good stable code.

[marcus]

I feel as though if I dont use the interior view Im somehow shortchanging myself from the intended realism of the game, same with PGR3 come to think of it.

[Silvergun X]

Now it just keeps crashing. :(

You get into an area with too many people in at once and it just either disconnects everyone, or crashes you out.

[Roost]

Aye mine just crashed twice just as i'd actually found some other people lol

[Silvergun X]

I think the servers are just getting completely hammered.

When you start the game, immediately hit your GPS and plant yourself at the orange challenge marker. Get some races going. :)

Another thing to note - If you get into a duel, and you're wondering why you can't place a marker, it's because you're not placing it far away enough from the starting position.

Races have to last longer than a minute - So if you duel someone, go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off the map and plant it in some far away location.

[Silvergun X]

Oh dear, something's broken.

No games at all are showing up, and nobody's on the road, even though I can apparently connect to the TDU servers fine.

Teething problems? Here's hoping this won't be unavailable at the end of this week.

[ItsThere]

Hey Silvergun, think you're right, was looking for you on the road, got in one race then it crahsed and crashed a few times after that too :(
Try again tommorow :) facy a race on PGR3?

[Silvergun X]

I don't even have PGR3 anymore. :( I traded it in a while ago - I need to buy it again!

I'm just really, really hoping they sort this out... The few races i've had online have been absolutely sublime. Especially the 1 vs 1 duels you can just engage.

Edited: It's working! And I can see more than 5 people without it crashing!

YES!

[ItsThere]

They are pretty cool, I was bombing down a massive straight at 190 in the Lambo and just started beeping my horn at some players I passed, brilliant and not even a gameplay mode :)
Then I crashed head on into someone doing about the same speed and got battered by everyone I passed. Good fun indeed.

[Silvergun X]

It's working it's working it's working. :D

Edit: LMAO, amusing bugs though. I can't get out of neutral and i'm in a race!

Edit Edit: And now it's down again. http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/images/smilie/mellow.gif

[anephric]

I was randomly crashing into doods without realising I was online. I thought they were AI.

Ooops.

I thought, looks-wise, this is fairly smart. It's jaggy as hell, but it runs well enough in 480p.

[melenko]

wheeee i had 1 successful race online

im really hoping theres going to be nicer character models to choose from as well, and a faded iron maiden shirt or something

[Silvergun X]

Alright... As good as this demo is, it's impossible to properly play and get a feel for because it's so INCREDIBLY GLITCHY.

If you're lucky enough to connect to the TDU server to the point where it will actually display player cars on the road, you can only pray it won't crash. :(

As all for this early demo thing as I am, i'd at least like them to be in a playable condition.

Pleeeeease fix it, Atari. :(

[Fireproofradiator]

Hey, I really enjoyed my three minutes before the whole thing crashed!

[Silvergun X]

That's the thing - When it worked, I really enjoyed it too. :(

I'll come on tomorrow night and just hope everything's fixed.

[Freddo]

at least hopefuly the demo being out so long before the game they can use it as testing for the servers and get the full thing flawless straight out the gate.

[Leon Ahoy!]

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/images/smilie/sad.gif I'm very disappointed!

The handling is the main culprit. Think Need For Speed 2 etc... on the PS1, and how light and unprecise it is. It just doesn't feel like a proper focused handling model, and the physics are pathetic. There is no weight or strong feel to the cars.

The graphics are totally underwhelming. Both gritty and lacking in quality, the game looks mostly Xbox quality, with a few things looking 32bit.

Overall... I would say the game feels and looks more like a GTA/DRIVER title etc... than a proper racing game. They are tiny moments that impress, but that is down to the graphics cards on board effects, rather than any flair or imagination.

It's a very cold, anorexic looking game, and far from the impressive warm deep experience I expected it to be.

I can't believe how shockingly poor it all seems. I really had high hopes that this would be a true serious spiritual successor to the 3DO Need For Speed.. but sadly it fails in all respects! http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/images/smilie/sad.gif

[Yoshimax]

Gotta say this was wearing off last night UNTIL the servers came up.

Took a bit of ****ing about (these demos could do with instructions sometimes) till we figured the following :

Go to orange flag on map immediately, then custom game, do the search but pick the top "create game" option - make the game private, invite your mates in and bob's your uncle - It was an absolute blast with 4 of us and I gotta say the inter-car collissions etc are miles better than PGR3 online - can have a right good scrap :)


But why is Lost Planet not up yet ? :pft:

[Silvergun X]

Gotta say this was wearing off last night UNTIL the servers came up.

Took a bit of ****ing about (these demos could do with instructions sometimes) till we figured the following :

Go to orange flag on map immediately, then custom game, do the search but pick the top "create game" option - make the game private, invite your mates in and bob's your uncle - It was an absolute blast with 4 of us and I gotta say the inter-car collissions etc are miles better than PGR3 online - can have a right good scrap :)


But why is Lost Planet not up yet ? :pft:Aye, I was setting up games like this last night - But in my opinion, this doesn't come close to making your own tracks and doing one vs one player dueling.

I know i'm repeating myself but I can't emphasize that enough. For the brief time that it was actually working, it was an amazing thing. At the moment though, it seems they've removed that as the only other free roaming drivers are AI.

I'm sincerely hoping that's only temporary while they fix things, because that multiplayer was just sublime.

[MJR_UK]

ign said this is a tempory demo. does this mean you wont be able to play it after the e3?

[EvilBoris]

ign said this is a tempory demo. does this mean you wont be able to play it after the e3?

indeed

[HaHaUK]

Thought the game was alright. Not as good as I thought it would be.

The MOOR could be a really good addition from what Ive tried so far. Is everyone with a name above the car a real person? I keep getting guys like Quentin and John or something, which doesnt sound like a gamertag.

The demo is very glitchy, at times when looking behind, the whole screen goes white and then fades back to normal, which is annoying. Some of the stuff could do with changing, like flower bushes which act as walls :blink:

And the car handling is a bit light for my liking, going all over the place when trying to turn.

Hope its just the demo, cos this could be a real gem if done correctly.

:)

[JohnMcL7]

I was wondering that myself, I don't think they can be real players - I watched a car drive into the side of a house and just sit there with the wheels spinning, no attempt to reverse or even stop. Similarly I saw another named driver plough into the side of a van and it just sat there with wheels spinning. The names are all the same Francis, George etc.

The flash of white you're seeing is intentional I think, it's a bit of overdone HDR.

I think the game does have a lot of potential, I just hope it can achieve that.

John

[Silvergun X]

The demo WAS filled with real players like that though.

The only thing is, it kept crashing xboxes.

So they removed the multiplayer free roam.

[TheForce]

I'm not to impressed with this, I love the idea of the whole game, but handling of the cars don't feel to good, I priver the handling of the cars like they are in PGR3, not to realistic, but realistic enough to give you the feeling you are in control of your car. I didn't got that while playing TestDrive..

I hope they can improve it because the idea of this game is absolutely great

[Leon Ahoy!]

I'm not to impressed with this, I love the idea of the whole game, but handling of the cars don't feel to good, I priver the handling of the cars like they are in PGR3, not to realistic, but realistic enough to give you the feeling you are in control of your car. I didn't got that while playing TestDrive..

I hope they can improve it because the idea of this game is absolutely greatThe first time I played it I couldn't believe how poor the game is. Both graphics and handling are appalling.

I thought I might have been too harsh, so I have given it a few more goes over the past couple of days, but it really is a poor game in all areas!

I can't believe how bad it is. The visuals are ridiculously bad, the handling is a complete mess. I have heard good things regarding ' Eden Studios ' ... but for what ever reason, they have totally underachieved with this title.

I have shown my mates the game, and they feel the same way. Even people that don't really like racers, have said it feels and looks bad. I personally think Need For Speed Most Wanted looks miles better, and even it's simplistic handling is far better than Test Drives. I would even say Burnout Revenge looks&moves way better, and feels more enjoyable too!

Test Drive is a disaster, and one I have little hope for!

[Paulos G]

I hope they can improve it because the idea of this game is absolutely great
I agree. I think the idea is excellent and that it could be a real blast online. Just needs the execution of the idea tweaking a bit.

[Leon Ahoy!]

I agree. I think the idea is excellent and that it could be a real blast online. Just needs the execution of the idea tweaking a bit.http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/images/smilie/biggrin.gif Tweaking a bit! More like rebuilding from the ground-up, with a team of people that have enough skill to make the design something worth celebrating!

Let's hope someone else copies the gameplay style, and actually makes a good game of it!

[Silvergun X]

I don't see what's so wrong with it.

I love the demo. o_o;

[Paulos G]

I liked the demo too (and have the game on pre-order).

Just read an email from The Xbox Live Team which indicates that there's a second demo due sometime soon (I presume it's soon as the other demos listed are Prey, Saints Row, Chromehounds and Moto GP).

P

[Roddie]

The demo of TDU is what I've had most fun with on the 360, so I can't wait for the full release.

[Concept]

Really impressed with this demo (particularly the freeroam mode, which as mentioned, is on par with Oblivion - and I'd say in terms of streaming fluency and vegetation draw-in ahead of it - in the countryside).

I can't help but think what GTA would be like using a full on first-person mode (like Oblivion on the ground) coupled with a full car interior after seeing how well it works in this demo. The technical quality (yes, the art style is a bit flat) is superb - all I wanted to do was get out and explore.

[Harty]

Did they ever release the second demo?

[dvdmike]

end of this month says instock magazine

[marcus]

Tried the new demo, I think the game is ok but the most disappointing thing for me isnt the handling, but the lack of polish, it feels very rough round the edges still and for a game which looked set to be all about the feeling of driving around a beautifully mapped out island in exotic cars its a shame that it seems to be this way.

I like the inside view, but at times its unplayable because unless you have a sight of the road ahead of you, numerous time I drove up and over a vertical slope in the road only to be met by an obstacle as the road below me took a turn I couldnt of seen.

Not convinced, a rental title for me methinks.

[Roddie]

Been playing the new demo of this as well, still really enjoying it, hope the asian version is region free :D

[Yoshimax]

Like it - as posted in the 1st play it's problem is it seems to be aiming for PGR3 but it's in a different park (just doesn't know it) - If you like arcade racers then get in :D

[Crimson Day]

I just downloaded this and absolutly hated the game admitidly im not a big racing fan although loved nfsmw and undergound. But i found the handling on this game was horrendious especialy on the bike. This demo has really made me lose lose interest in the game completly, well thast just me anyway

[Wools]

I just downloaded this and absolutly hated the game admitidly im not a big racing fan although loved nfsmw and undergound.

Well you probally wont appreciate it at all then! :D ;)

[Crimson Day]

Yea true i much perfer quick racers like that also enjoyed burnout, dont really like the sim type racer tbh so might be why i dont really like this.

[Wools]

Well I'm only joshing but Need for speed is a diffrent breed than test drive but they are still linked.

I'm not a big fan of the demo I must admit but the game feels like it was made for fans of cars. From the front end to giving away models of the Mclaren F1 it just seems to be made by fans. Feel the love! :wub:

Oh and if anyone dosent need the model Mclaren F1, I would happily take it as a gift! Anyone? :mellow: :(

[Hartley Hare]

Im really enjoying it, fingers crossed for region free but I guess im a sucker for drivers, if it's not then £40.00 bar it is :)

[Bada Bing!]

The handling is pish, I'm going to cancel my pre-order I think. Might buy it if it's region free. Right now I feel it's worth £22 (the US rrp) but not much more. It's nice to race people, but when it's impossible to get a feel for the road or predictable handling then what's the point?

[Yoshimax]

Nice gamertag BB ;)

No way would I pay full price but I might grab it 2nd hand from here when the next lull hits 360 (End of Sep till Nov by the looks of it ??)

Dead Rising and Saints Row with a little Just Cause for me this month.

[Bada Bing!]

Nice gamertag BB ;).
I was thinking of changing it as it does seem to be lost on the Americans. Even some English peeps have asked me "WTF kind of name is that?!". :D

[Gavin]

I thought they'd supposed to have improved the handling in this second demo - it's still shit, far too unpredictable, PGR is leagues ahead in this department.

Quite like the free roam thing, works quite well, but if they still insist on charging full price for it over here, they can go **** themselves with one of their mclaren f1 models....

[Skull Commander]

I really hated this, but now I'm addicted. Free roam is the best thing ever online!

[Concept]

I wish my HDTV was back. :(

[snob on]I can't bear to play games stretched in 4:3 when they're designed for 16:9.[snob off]

[stainboy]

Didn't really see the point of this, driving around aimlessly doesn't seem like a game to me :dry: Must be a car-fan thing.

Can see the potential it has of looking pretty on a HD telly though.

[Family Fry]

This is now on my radar.
Had a go on it last night was just driving along minding my own business then I see Soapyyeti 200 yards.....WAIT A SEC thats my m8!
Went straight to him started beeping my horn and chasing him, plugged in my headset and sure as hell he was on there (hadnt noticed on my friends list what he was playing!)
We ended up having a few set races all round the map, a cracking 8 min races at one point we put the marker off the demo map and couldnt actually get to it, off road we went!
Still think the bikes handle awful though but im enjoying racing around the HUGE map.

[Dezm0nd]

Quite amusing game on this the other day, was just sitting there on the crappy bike thinking "I wonder if any Live users are on..." was fiddling about to find out how when suddenly someone called "MuThAEfFeR" or something equally as bad smashed into me with his sports car and sent me flying.

He drove off at 1000mph, i call hit and run. I hope the police got him.

[Hirst]

Not sure what people are saying regarding the handling, seems fine to me given the nature of the cars and roads. To be honest if I was thrashing an old AC around at 120mph around a banked curve, stable would be the last thing I'd expect it to be. People tend to be going too fast and not backing off when they need to like over curvy hill sections with dips etc. The roads are generally very "bouncy" and need to be tackled as such.

I couldn't get on with the bike but I was playing someone who was brilliant with it - the secret would seem to be to not ride absolutely flat out or you'll be off at the first corner, you have to take it easy and then hammer it when you get to a big flat straight.

[Jebus]

The only problem I had with the game was that almost every camera angle (from outside, to inside) was slightly too low and it was difficult to see the road coming...like you needed to just look over the bonnet a bit more...

[Concept]

You could adjust the height of your seat position. Well, at least you could in the first demo.

[Jebus]

You could adjust the height of your seat position. Well, at least you could in the first demo.

Thats rather odd...since we're all watching the game from the same camera positions...why not just make it higher to begin with.

I find it really bizarre that you can do things like that in a game to be honest.

With the default settings I found I could go over a small hill and suddenly SMASH I've hit a barrier, because I couldn't see far enough in front of me to begin with.