GC Leipzig screenshot mania!

Test Drive Unlimited

What is it? Test Drive Unlimited is, as the name suggest, a car game. Based in Hawaii, you will race around in a number of rather flashy cars, as is usual with these games. What is more interesting about this particular game is Atari's promise to mix online with offline gameplay. Essentially this is a racing game, with lots of innovation and new features to make it stand out from the crowd.


Why we're excited:
Easily answerable, just take a look at Atari's rather ambitious factsheet detailing the game plans:

"The Challenge:
Choose from an astounding 360 multiplayer and solo challenges, including a combined online and offline total of 125 race challenges, 44 time challenges, 51 speed challenges, 40 club challenges and many more. And if that’s not enough to satisfy you, design your own. Challenge gamers around the world to take you on in 8 player races or meet with 1000s of other petrol heads in the 24/7 online community to chat, trade and race.

The Vehicles:
Offering an unprecedented choice of the world’s most luxurious cars and bikes, Test Drive Unlimited features 90 of the most desirable vehicles on the planet, including Lamborghini, Ducati, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Shelby, Mercedes, Pagani, Koenigsegg, Saleen and Jaguar – each officially licensed. Additional vehicles will be made available via Xbox Live® Marketplace after launch.

The Location:
Explore over 1000 miles of Hawaii’s Oahu island paradise, where every metre of road, building and landmark is mapped out using authentic GPS data. From the volcano rises to the sun-drenched streets you’ll experience one of the most diverse and challenging terrains on the planet.

The Individuality:
Customise your avatar with a choice of popular branded clothes and create your own unique look with a vast range of hair styles, colourings and the ability to fine tune all the facial features. Personalise your car or bike with options from the actual manufacturer’s catalogue then boost each vehicle’s power with performance upgrades.

The Lifestyle:
Stack up the cash by winning races and completing challenges then go beyond racing by bagging yourself a fine crib in the hills and filling your garage with sleek, sexy models of automotive art. As you cruise around the island, admiring the landscape and seeking out new challenges, watch out for convoy missions to take on, hitch hikers looking for a free ride, and even girls to pick up.

The Showrooms:
Cruise into the classiest car and bike dealerships completely furnished to precisely replicate the manufacturers’ real-life showrooms, from the walls, to the carpet and the floor plan. Purchase new rides, or take them for a free test drive. Every vehicle is rendered with incredible fidelity and boasts unrivalled interior details including full car functions such as radio, electric windows, horn and more."

Will they be able to pull all that off? If the screenshots are anything to go by then things certainly look positive.