Just in time for the British Grand Prix this weekend, our last look at Gran Turismo 6 from E3 takes place on the iconic Silverstone circuit, which makes its belated GT debut. It's great to finally see Silverstone make an appearance in Gran Turismo, although at this stage its colour palette looks a tad too […]
NewsMartin Bigg
We've finally done it. We've finally found another man of Alan's ginormouse stature who is willing to clamber into a cramped racing cockpit for the cameras. This latest 'tall man friendly test' was performed at E3 on the Ubisoft stand displaying The Crew in its showpiece triple screen setup and motion rig. Our mysterious tall […]
NewsThis month marks the 13th anniversary of Codemasters' Colin McRrae Rally 2.0, a beloved title that many rank as the best in the series. Released in 2000, it came at a focal point in Colin's career when the world-renowned champion left Subaru and joined Ford to drive their new Focus rally car, which also starred […]
NewsFollowing from this week's eventful Le Mans race weekend, we thought it would be apt to go for a ride on the shortened Bugatti Le Mans track in MotoGP '13. While our comprehensive coverage has so far centered on the PS3 game, Alan turns his attentions to the Xbox version. From his findings, we can […]
NewsSummer is officially here, but if you're British you wouldn't know it. Looking out the window right now reveals dull overcast skies that make venturing outside not particularly desirable. Thank goodness, then, that the Top Gear summer series is just around the corner. The boys will be back on telly Sunday June 30th in […]
NewsWhilst having a test drive of the PS4's flagship racer DriveClub at E3, our cameraman managed to have a chat with Design Director Paul Rutchynsky, a veteran member of Evolution Studios who first worked on WRC: Rally Evolved eight years ago. Most notably, Paul reveals that the free version available from day one for PlayStation Plus […]
InterviewsUbisoft Reflection's Driver San Francisco featured some of the most refreshingly innovative open world multiplayer modes thanks to its ingenious shift mechanic that allowed you to zoom out of the map and span instantaneously into other moving cars, making for some frantic, chaotic and unpredictable matches that often resembled the chase scene in The Matrix […]
NewsAs shown by our of recent run of E3 videos, not everyone is an expert at playing racing games – when asking if we could film passers-by on an E3 games booth, it's fair to say there was a decidedly mixed set of driving skill levels on display to put it politely. So, when given […]
NewsIt's fast becoming common knowledge that The Crew will put the 'massive' into massively multiplayer online racing. Spanning some 5,000sq km, Ubisoft have taken on quite an audacious task to say the least: to create a richly detailed open world representing the entirety of the US.- So far, we've seen condensed versions of New York, Los […]
NewsJust what the racing game world needs: another Asphalt game. Forgive my cynicism, but this marks the eighth installment of the Asphalt mobile games, a series that is churned out in quick succession by Gameloft but continually shows little in the way of evolution. Asphalt 8: Airborne could be the exception, however. A refined version […]
NewsEvolution's words on DriveClub's driving physics have still left us pondering over exactly how it drives. While DriveClub is positively draped in next-gen graphical goodness and the "highest definition car models ever used in a game", all of it could be wasted if the driving physics aren't up to scratch. The developers have gone on […]
NewsBy now, we've all seen EA's E3 showing of Need for Speed: Rivals. But just in case you haven't, we've managed to obtain the entire on-show demo in pixel-perfect high resolution for you to digest: Watching the demo does raise a question, though: what will Rivals offer that is actually new to Need for Speed? […]
NewsRacing driver Nicolas Hamilton, who currently competes in the European Touring Car Cup, has spent some time at Slightly Mad Studios to provide feedback on Project CARS, having recently becoming an official Handling Consultant. Having spent his early years kart racing despite being disabled with cerebral palsy, it's unsurprising to find that Nicolas focused much of […]
NewsStill want more Forza Motorsport 5 footage? Oh, go on then. Can't say we don't spoil you. As part of our Forza Motorsport 5 E3 coverage, we managed to take a drive around the new eye-wateringly pretty Prague circuit from an alternate angle using the exterior view. While we wouldn't normally drive a racing simulation with […]
NewsMilestone's highly anticipated MotoGP '13 races off the line this week in what promises to be the most authentic video game recreation of the sport in years. We managed to get hold of the game early to put it through its paces in our extensive and exclusive hands-on gameplay videos that take you along for […]
PreviewsHaving taken us through the initial stages of the career, testing the handling models and experimenting with the different bike classes, we've reached the end of our batch of introductory MotoGP '13 videos. In our final run, Alan takes us for a ride along the Catalunya circuit located in sunny Spain in the remaining bike class […]
NewsWe've got some more gameplay action from The Crew's triple screen setup at E3, this time focusing on a team-based multiplayer match where the objective is to track down and take out an enemy Hummer. Suffice to say, the random player we recorded could probably do with some driving game lessons and spends the majority […]
NewsIt's been revealed that one of the seven new tracks to feature in Gran Turismo 6 will be the US Willow Springs circuit, a track that is not often seen in racing games. It's surprising, to be honest, as Willow Springs has a lot of racing pedigree. Founded in 1952, Willow Springs is heralded as […]
NewsOur latest look at Gran Turismo 6 from E3 takes us round the new mountainous Matterhorn Circuit, as part of GT6's seven new locations which also include Silverstone. Unfortunately, while we were able to get direct audio, the music sound settings were dialed up and drowned out the engine sounds, so you'll have to make do […]
NewsBritish independent developer Brain in a Jar, the team behind last year's NASCAR The Game: Inside Line, have been working on another PC single seater racing game known as OpenWheel, and have started a Kickstarter campaign to gain additonal funding for the project. As the name implies, OpenWheel will contain a range of open wheel class […]
NewsIt's been a somewhat quiet period for Assetto Corsa, with no news on the title to report on apart from a handful of car and track reveals. Since then, Assetto Corsa has been Greenlit for release on Steam not long after the recent announcement of Project CARS' impending arrival on the popular platform. As well […]
NewsSo, we've had our first race with the top tier MotoGP class, but now it's time to take the Moto3 class for a spin round a lovingly recreated Silverstone as our exclusive MotoGP '13 hands-on gameplay coverage continues. Once again, Alan opted to ride with the Standard physics as he eases himself into MotoGP '13 […]
NewsWhile trawling through the exciting E3 show-floor we were surprised to find The Crew available to play on a triple screen with a wheel – a swanky setup normally reserved for high-end racing titles. Indeed, f the handling from Driver: San Francisco is anything to go by i'm not entirely convinced The Crew will lend […]
NewsUbisoft's ambitious open world driving game The Crew was one of the standout surprises at E3 for automotive fans, and we're now able to blow the doors wide open with a series of gameplay videos taken directly from the show-floor. I'm a massive fan of open world city driving games having racked up the hours […]
NewsWRC3 was something of a technical marvel on Sony's handheld PlayStation Vita – to this day it remains the only rally game available for the console, and it's certainly the most realistic driving title on the platform. With MotoGP '13 fast approaching next week, Milestone are continuing to support the Vita despite its current vapid […]
NewsFollowing our first foray into MotoGP '13 and a test of the handling models, it's now time for our first race along the Spanish Circuito Permanente de Jerez track as Alan starts his career and grows more accustomed to the game using the Standard handling model. Unlike the previous videos which were based on preview code, […]
NewsAs part of our comprehensive coverage of MotoGP '13, we're delving deep into the game exploring all of the available options at our disposal. We thought we'd take the opportunity to test out the various handilng setups that Milestone have implemented to suit players of various experience levels when it comes to bike games. First up […]
NewsWe've said it before and we'll say it again: visually, Forza Motorsport 5 is setting the standard for next generation racing titles to follow, and it's looking every bit as good in-game as the initial trailers led us to believe which our E3 gameplay footage will testify. We scoured the show-floor to bring you some […]
NewsThe rumours were right: Ivory Towers and Ubisoft Reflections have been busy bunnies (sorry, my mind is still overloaded with bunnies after watching Ubisoft's E3 conference…) preparing their take on the next generation of driving games. As we were expecting, it's called The Crew, a next-generation, mission-based driving game set in in a sprawling open […]
NewsMuch mystery still surrounds Evolution Studio's pet project DriveClub, which represents their first foray into the next generation. While the team are keen to spout out corporate jargon about how DriveClub will revolutionise the racing genre with its suite of social community components, it's still unclear how the concept will work in-game. It's a similar […]
NewsOne of our most long-requested features in Forza Motorsport is the inclusion of open-wheel race cars. In fact, back in 2011 Alan posed the qauestion to Turn 10's Dan Greenawalt about their whereabouts, which you can see towards the end of this video below: It's safe to say, then, that we were elated to discover […]
NewsAs part of Microsoft's E3 conference, Forza Motorsport 5 was given a more extensive showing following last month's reveal, including an on-stage demo, an obligatory new trailer and details on how FM5 will utilise Xbox One's online cloud technology. After a brief history lesson on McLaren and the surprise appearance of a P1 in the […]
NewsWith less than two weeks until the final release of MotoGP '13, Milestone have released a new TV Spot trailer comprising of fresh gameplay footage and some motivational commentary: It's arguably the best visual representation of the game to date, highlighting MotoGP 13's lighting effects and advanced dynamic weather systems. We'll be taking you along […]
NewsE3: a time of year game journalists love to hate. A time where gamers gather to consume every nugget of new information for the year’s most hotly anticipated games and revel in its standout surprises. This year’s event is set to be particularly momentous, too. It signals the start of the next generation, with both […]
FeaturesRemember LocoCycle, the loony-looking XBLA game in which you control I.R.I.S., a karate-kicking bike, whilst dragging a hapless Spanish-speaking engineer named Pablo currently being developed by the zany folk at Twisted Pixels? Well, if not then you ought to because we featured it in our 2013 preview a few months back. It certainly seemed to […]
NewsYou would think that hardcore truck simulator games would be a niche genre that appeals a very limited audience. And yet the success of Euro Truck Simulator proves there is a dedicated market, particularly in Europe. It's surprising, then, that a slew of off-road spin-offers games have so far failed to materialise whilst its popularity […]
NewsWe're big fans of innovative indie projects here at VVV, and so we were instantly intrigued when this upcoming racing simulation was brought to our attention. Developed by a small Indie Software House, Universe of Racers is a free-to-play PC racer described as an "easy to play realistic drive simulation" with a range of race […]
NewsGrid 2 prides itself on its sheer variety of racing disciplines, offering everything from touring cars and European hot hatchbacks, to Japanese drifters and US muscle cars. And yet, strangely, there's a distinct lack of open wheel racing cars in comparison to the original Grid, which featured Formula Fords among others that were terrific fun […]
NewsAs more people get to lay their hands on development kits for the head-tracking Oculus Rift VR headset, more titles are being tested with the promising device. F1 2012 is one of the first racing games to be given the Oculus Rift treatment, and a new demonstration video gives us an insight into how Oculus […]
NewsIt's no secret that Codemasters' decision not to include a cockpit camera in Grid 2 prompted some serious backlash from the community. Watch any one of our Grid 2 videos and you're almost guaranteed to find a damning user comment about the controversial omission. Codemasters insist that it was removed in order to optimise the […]
NewsWith Forza Motorsport 5, Gran Turismo 6, Need for Speed Rivals and Driveclub set to make an appearance, this year's E3 promises to be an eventful show for racing game enthusiasts. Last year Ubisoft arguably stole the show with their surprise unveiling of Watch Dogs, a new open world IP set in a sprawling alternate […]
NewsWhile we wait to get our own hands on Grid 2 due out this week, we thought we'd share this gameplay video review courtesy of our sister Eurogamer network channel Outside Xbox. While much praise was given to Grid 2's graphical prowess and damage modelling, Outside Xbox criticised its repetitive career mode, limited car selection […]
NewsWhen it comes to rider animations, MotoGP has always been lacking. Bail off the bike, and the embarassingly primitive physics left a lot to be desired. Not so in MotoGP '13. As we've discovered in the various gameplay videos released over the past few months, Milestone have gone to great lengths to ensure that the […]
NewsRemember the last time you snarled at the extortionate price of a collectors edition game with esoteric extras that did little to justify the higher cost? Wait until you see this. Because this is no ordinary collector's edition. In fact, it's officially the most expensive video game ever. This dubious honor goes to Codemasters, who […]
NewsWow. It's been a momentous week for major racing game announcements, hasn't it? First Gran Turismo 6 was revealed as something of a swansong for the currently generation. Then, in a somewhat unsubtle attempt to trump Sony, Microsoft came along with the surprise announcement that Forza Motorsport 5 would be a launch title for the […]
NewsIt’s incredible to think that in just six days we’ve had two major racing game announcements in what is a pertinent period for the genre. Last week saw the reveal of Gran Turismo 6, but today it was Microsoft’s turn to show their hand and announce the next installment to Gran Turismo’s arch rival: Forza Motorsport 5. […]
NewsAs you'll no doubt be more than aware of, Gran Turismo 6 was formally announced this week. But while many exciting developments were revealed, there were still a few questions that have been left unanswered – many of which were outlined in my GT6 expectations feature last week. Chief among which was the Standard vs. Premium […]
NewsNot to be outdone by the unveiling of Gran Turismo 6 this week, Evolution Studios has unleashed some new swanky screenshots of their debut PS4 project DriveClub, further showcasing the highly detailed car models, interiors and environmental lighting. While the majority of the cars have been featured before such as the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG […]
NewsYesterday saw the long-awaited announcement of Gran Turismo 6, which, as we were led to believe all along, has so far only been confirmed for PS3. With the PS4 set to be unleashed later this year, however, many were left baffled over the thought of GT6 not making an appearance to take advantage of the […]
NewsHere it is. The announcement we've been waiting for, and undoubtedly one of the biggest racing game news stories of the year: Gran Turismo 6 has been officially announced. It's coming to PS3 this year. And we've got all the details. Are you sitting comfortably? Series founder Kaz formally announced Gran Turismo 6 at […]
NewsContinuing our extensive Grid 2 play-through, Alan got a chance to have a quick demonstration of LiveRoutes in action on the Dubai circuit, Codemaster's innovative new gimmick that dynamically alters the route of the track after each lap. Racing round the street circuit of Dubai, here we see Grid 2 at its most visceral, as […]
NewsRoad Redemption, a spiritual successor to the timeless Road Rash bike combat series from indie developer DarkSeas Games which we reported on last month, has secured its Kickstarter funding, raising $182,791 with over 4,400 backers after beating its target of a modest $160,000 just two days before the deadline. As a result, Road Redemption's road map […]
NewsNext week will almost certainly mark the long-awaited announcement of Gran Turismo 6, which, contrary to popular expectations, will be released on the ageing PS3 if sources are to be believed. The fact that the event is being hosted in Silverstone just before E3 only heightens the probability. If the rumours turn out to be […]
FeaturesCodemasters continue their tour of Grid 2's global assortment of tracks in the Undcovered video series. This latest look takes us to Miami behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang Boss 302, in a bumper to bumper race on a comact street circuit that should look familiar if you've played DiRT Showdown. Discuss Grid 2 […]
NewsWith Trials Evolution’s potent popularity still regularly resonating with XBLA players, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that the successful series originated on the PC. And it all started with a crudely animated online Flash game hosted on Miniclip that did well to distract me in laborious school computer classes. Its success was thanks to decidedly […]
ReviewsNews surrounding Evolution Studio's ambitious socially-connected DriveClub for the PS4 has been thin on the ground since its next generation announcement, but details are slowly starting to emerge as we get closer to its inevitable showing at E3 next month where we hope to gain a greater understanding of Evolution's nine year project. The new […]
NewsTeam VVV recently visited The Gaming Den in central London, a weekly community event hosted by The Average Gamer where like-minded gamers of all ages can indulge in their favourite hobby, try out the latest games on gigantic screens whilst reminiscing on retro titles and nab some freebies in competitions. Grid 2 had a […]
FeaturesMilestone has released the third in a series of gameplay trailers for MotoGP '13 that shows just how far the game has come during development in recent months. And what's on show looks very promising indeed. In what is our first glimpse of the 2013 season content in action, we hitch a ride with Valentino […]
NewsItalian developer Milestone are commonly associated with their licensed, specialist simulation racing titles such as WRC and MotoGP. Imagine our surprise, then, when they announced WRC Powerslide for PSN and XBLA, an unapologetically arcade take on WRC that adds an overhead camera, accessible arcade-style handling and a plethora of pantomime power-ups. We caught up with Lead […]
InterviewsMilestone has unveiled the official packshots for MotoGP '13 in the run-up to its release next month. Just as they did for WRC3, the box art will vary for each region. Not that we're biased or anything, but the UK art is our favourite, featuring Cal Crutchlow leading the pack with reigning world champion Jorge […]
NewsAs if the Team VVV website wasn't already gridlocked with Grid 2 content this week, Alan's put together an extended first look at the PS3 version of the game in action, taking us on a series of races spanning multiple locations from some early events in the WSR championship career. He also got the chance […]
NewsIt's easy to think that Grid 2 offers more of the same as its predecessor, but that hasn't stopped Codemasters attempting to innovate the genre. Whereas Grid was known for introducing the now obligatory Flashback system to racing games, Grid 2 has its ownquirky trick up its wheel arch: LiveRoutes. First unveiled in the Eurogamer […]
NewsAfter teasing us about a forthcoming fixed paddle rim add-on, Thrustmaster has officially unveiled the final product as the Ferrari GTE Wheel Add-On Ferrari 458 Challenge Edition, compatible with the T500 RS and the Ferrari F1 Wheel Integral T500. Not that it took long for the community to speculate the tease as a Ferrari-branded product […]
NewsCodemasters are certainly being consistent with these regular track reveal videos. So far this week, we've been given a front seat view of races set in Brands Hatch, Cote d'Azur and the luminous fictional Paris circuit in a series of short but sweet gameplay videos showcasing Grid 2's raw intensity in ernest. This latest video gives us […]
NewsBack in March last year, Auto Club Revolution, an ambitious free-to-play PC sim racer from Eutechnyx, started its open beta engine, beginning a new wave of browser-based social racing games for grown ups. Farmville this is not. Since then, its fanbase has enjoyed continuous support and updates, including a slew of car collaborations – the […]
NewsThe community has been crying out for it since WRC3 was released some six months ago, Milestone has finally answered your prayers and released a long-awaited patch that addresses many issues, bringing the game up to version 1.01. The PS3 patch was released earlier this month, but now the PC and Xbox 360 versions have […]
NewsThrustmaster's exquisite flagship T500 RS wheel, notable for being the official GT5 and being a rather sizable beast of a peripheral, will soon be getting a brand new body in the form of a new wheel rim with fixed paddle shifters. While most wheels typically include paddle shifters that are attached to the wheel rim […]
NewsAnother official Grid 2 video has hit the web head-on, showcasing some white-knuckle laps on the long-requested Brands Hatch circuit, which was last seen when Chris Harris was appointed as a handling consultant and also opened this year's BTCC. No sooner as one video is released and we see yet another new Grid track reveal. This comes […]
NewsWith the release of Grid 2 now just around the corner, excitement for Codemasters' long awaited return to the track is mounting. After our last video preview blowout, Team VVV were invited to Codemasters HQ for another hands-on session with the latest build. As always, Alan was on-hand to capture his findings in a series […]
NewsProject CARS has been the subject of an on-going investigation by the FSA, who are questioning the ethics of Slightly Mad Studio's WMD crowd-funding scheme, which they believe falsely advertises as an investment opportunity. Unsurprisingly, many have feared that the outcome could put the project in dire jeopardy. Fortunately, Slightly Mad Studios has now shed […]
NewsThere's never a dull day in the weird and wondrous world of Minecraft. From Sonic the Hedgehog's Green Hill Zone to intricate constructions of just about every Star Wars vehicle, legions of fans have poured countless amounts of hours building replicas of just about anything and everything, brick by virtual brick. It was surely only […]
NewsCar damage in racing games. How hard can it be? Well, very, very hard if the current standard is anything to go by. When you consider the complexity of rendering a realistic crash, it's hardly surprising that current hardware struggles to cope. Codemasters and Criterion have done a commendable job with their intricate damage modelling […]
NewsThose of you who are hotly anticipating Slightly Mad's Project CARS will no doubt be disappointed to learn that the ambitious crowd-funded racing simulation will no longer be meeting its target release date later this year. This was already announced a while back, but a specific time slot wasn't disclosed. However, a WMD forum moderator […]
NewsWith the MotoGP championship currently underway, Milestone has released a shiny new set of previews that showcase several previously unseen tracks for MotoGP '13. Picture-perfect reproductions of the Jerez (which was featured in the recent gameplay trailer), Sepang and Laguna Seca circuits are all featured, and there's very little to complain about graphics-wise. Indeed, from […]
NewsSo far, coverage related to Grid 2 has centred on its single player component and the inane waffling's of Patrick Callahan, the fictional face of the World Series Racing. Now however, with Grid 2 racing into stores in just six weeks time, Codemasters has finally lifted the bonnet on what should hopefully be the driving force […]
NewsRoad Rash has been long overdue a remake, if you ask me. After all, the vehiclar combat genre has recently had a new lease of life, with last year’s Twisted Metal reboot proving popular and Carmageddon’s successful Kickstarter campaign which will see the controversial car combat series make a comeback later this year. While not […]
NewsWhile you could argue that the number of quality console-exclusive games on PS3 has outnumbered those on Xbox 360 in recent years, there’s a certain bike game that has left PS3 owners understandably envious. I’m talking of course about Trials Evolution, RedLynx’s ridiculously addictive XBLA success story that is played adoringly by millions over on […]
ReviewsGerman racing game gear manufacturer Fanatec has announced a partnership with Kunos Simulazioni that will allow customers to gain access to activation codes for netKar Pro and the Assetto Corsa technology preview. The promotion applies to the purchase of any Fanatec product on their official website but will only be valid throughout April. What's the […]
NewsWhile by no means a terrible game in its own right, Ridge Racer: Unbounded had the misfortune of being wrongly tied to one of the most acclaimed arcade racing game series in history: Ridge Racer. Indeed, we at VVV have very fond memories indeed of Ridge Racer, but Unbounded sadly didn't fit the bill and […]
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