Forza 3

[Malc]

My copy arrived from GAME today, royal mail postie put it through the door as well.

Firstly the game starts with an introduction if it's your first time playing it and there's a male voice that introduces you to the game, he's probably someone important from motorsport but I don't recognise him.

If you're going to install the game, then I would recommend installing disc 1 and play that from the off, then right at the start it asks if you would like to install the second disk whilst in game. I installed both discs from the dashboard and it didn't seem to recognise that I had already installed it (the content may be there, it's just the start menu didn't recognise it first off).

The very first race is an introductory race that puts you in the Audi R8 around the same track and variation that the demo included. However, this time you're racing against different cars like the Ferrari 360 (or a similar variation of that car) which looked georgeous as I overtook on turn 4.

After the 2 lap introduction race it allows you to buy your first car, there's about 8 different cars if I remember correctly with all of them being your usual low level first car. I chose the Ford Fiesta and after a good minute of watching the swish camera angles on the car I picked it in Silver. The car models are insanely high in detail, with the graphics not looking to have been improved from the demo; which is no bad thing.

I had a quick browse through the menus and they are all cleanly presented and easy to navigate. You can also have your own storefront which other Xbox Live users can view and see everything you've created. Although I haven't done anything yet myself, you can create designs on cars; designs off cars and custom set ups (if you're good at drifting then you can create a custom car tune that others can purchase). All of these you're able to sell through the game, with a limit if you want your stuff to be kept rare.

Overall it looks gorgeous and is perfectly presented. I'm looking forward to playing some more later on.

[NTSC-UK Ed:
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[stevie vip 99]

you not get banned then malc??

been reading a few forums on gamertags being banned for playing the game early.

[PeteJ]

Only pirated versions, they can tell which have been bought legit.

[Malc]

I think the reason people are getting banned is because MS are looking closely at who's playing it early. Reviewers are fine, and so are those who have purchased the game legally from a retailer (just keep hold of your reciet as proof).

The people playing it early are being observed closely and those with a bootleg copy are getting banned because MS can see who have a copied disc. So long as I don't start installing the bonus content disc on mates accounts and copying the play disc for them I should be fine.

Should be...

[stevie vip 99]

not from what i've been reading, people have also been banned who have original copys.

hopefully ban will be lifted for them when the mistakes have been sorted out.

[Bassman]

I rang up the Xbox Support number to confirm that it was OK to play the game.

Not too keen on always starting from the back of the grid. Nice to see prize cars everytime the Driver Level increases (now up to Level 8). Finished the first season.

You can hire a driver in Season 2 (and beyond I presume). Strangely picking up race series from the Event List allows you to race with cars that are above the Class for the race series you are attempting.

[Uli]

any improvements over FM2 in terms of driver AI? i strongly hope Forza 3 can also deliver on the single player side of things, like a well paced career mode, challenging races with a better balanced difficulty on medium setting and most of all more believable driver AI.

[FreelancePolice]

I noticed in the demo driver's would spin out without any sort of player interference. I don't know how rare it was in F2 but I rarely saw it (can't even recall a proper spin off) so it was nice to see some aggressive driving in the f3 demo.

[Johnny]

If you're going to install the game, then I would recommend installing disc 1 and play that from the off, then right at the start it asks if you would like to install the second disk whilst in game. I installed both discs from the dashboard and it didn't seem to recognise that I had already installed it (the content may be there, it's just the start menu didn't recognise it first off).

Do you know what size the install is for each disc? I have 7 gig left and hope it's enough!

[TheForce]

I have been calling several gamestores in the area, not one of them is selling the game overhere... looks like I won't be playing this before Friday

I think I won't be turning on my 360 till I have it.... It would be killing me to see other people playing this and me not even owning YET...

you can create a custom car tune that others can purchase

hmmm, before it was free to download from the leaderboards (if it wasn't blocked) , now if they want to share it you need to pay for it... could still be interesting though when the top players are selling their winning set ups... I suck at it so it would be very welcome if done properly

[Spatial]

Do you know what size the install is for each disc? I have 7 gig left and hope it's enough!

edit: never mind, see Malc's post below - he knows first hand.

People are saying you can install just Disk Two if you want and run Disk One from the disk drive.

[joe90]

you not get banned then malc??

been reading a few forums on gamertags being banned for playing the game early.

I think only US accounts have been banned, no pal ones as far as i have seen.

/edit, just checked.. mine not at home .. bah

[Malc]

any improvements over FM2 in terms of driver AI? i strongly hope Forza 3 can also deliver on the single player side of things, like a well paced career mode, challenging races with a better balanced difficulty on medium setting and most of all more believable driver AI.

I haven't played that many races yet, but the AI seemes the same as the demo as far as I can tell. I'm playing with them on hard difficulty and have yet to see a car spin out. They are pretty agressive at times though, lots of cars forcing me off the track and coming across the road to stop me overtaking on the inside/outside.

Do you know what size the install is for each disc? I have 7 gig left and hope it's enough!

Disc 1 is 6.8GB, disc 2 is 1.9GB (but you can choose parts of the content if you haven't got enough space; such as the Asian pack, American pack etc).

hmmm, before it was free to download from the leaderboards (if it wasn't blocked) , now if they want to share it you need to pay for it... could still be interesting though when the top players are selling their winning set ups... I suck at it so it would be very welcome if done properly

Anyone can choose a price of 0 if they want to give away the setup for free, but i'd imagine not too many people would be doing that, especially if their tuning setup is one of the best.

I have to say that Turn 10 (thanks to being part of Microsoft) have done an excellent job of integrating the online components of Forza 3 seamlessly with the menus. If you think of Halo 3's menus and how well they incorporated the single player campaign with the multiplayer features and vice versa, well this is exactly the same with Forza 3! A lot of the features were already present in Forza 2, but they've cleaned it all up and added some new features like being able to rate anything people have produced, or being able to search specifically with words to find the thing you're looking for.

I also had a go in the 'arcade' type mode where you can drive any car on any track and I must say, when you get a chance to, have a go in the Bentley Speed 8 (in-car view). To quote sniff petrol:

At one moment I lifted off mid-bend and felt the cheeky tail shuffle sideways. I just caught it with a dab of oppo and I was away.

The Bentley Speed 8 is a bitch. And I spanked it.

[Johnny]

Disc 1 is 6.8GB, disc 2 is 1.9GB (but you can choose parts of the content if you haven't got enough space; such as the Asian pack, American pack etc).

Cheers for that. So what all is on the second disc? Is it bonus stuff or content that is integral to the career mode?

[ChrisF]

Cheers for that. So what all is on the second disc? Is it bonus stuff or content that is integral to the career mode?

It's a load of cars. You don't have to install them if you don't want.