14 DAY TRIAL // Atari has announced that it plans to a lunch a new racing game, called Test Drive Unlimited 2. The title is set to arrive on the PC, the Xbox 360 from Microsoft and the PlayStation 3 from Sony at some point during the coming year. It will be created by Eden Games.
Atari is saying that Test Drive Unlimited 2 will be based around the concept of Massively Open Online Racing, which they abbreviate as MOOR probably just so that they can differentiate their title from the ever bulging MMO crowd (current leader World of Warcraft, origin Blizzard, population more than 11 million gamers).
Players will be able to become drivers, collect vehicles, form new teams and then share their achievements and creations. Atari is saying that the offline and online elements of the game will be completely integrated, with the single player narrative mode being played both alone and with other gamers.
Test Drive Unlimited 2 will also push the limits of a driving engine, introducing complete vehicle damage, full physics integration, a day and night cycle, weather, which affects the actual racing, a new island that can be explored to find the best racing lines and a variety of vehicles, which will please the most faithful videogame enthusiast. The developer is not stating exactly what cars will be featured in the game but promises a huge selection.
Jeff Lapin, who is the Chief Executive Officer of publisher Atari, said that “After the highly successful Test Drive Unlimited which redefined the genre with massively open online racing, Test Drive Unlimited 2 will be an innovative evolution in racing games, expanding its unparalleled multiplayer experience and immersing players in a world full of new online content and lifestyle customization. The game fits squarely into our strategy of moving online and generating new revenue streams while maintaining our current retail business.”