Forza 4 (360) scheduled for Autumn 2011

[nakamura]

It needs more then 5 new tracks, most of the Forza 3 tracks are rubbish. 16 cars in a race is superb though.

[charlesr]

More tracks. Hill climbs. Less cars.

[JP]

Looking interesting.

For me it's a simple matter of whether they're wanting to return to the superior earlier games or whether they're determined to try and force it further into the mass market. I know the franchise has never been a major seller but I'm really not convinced that pandering to designs by committee is going to improve that.

I'd be willing to buy a 360 for this but they need to do a few things for me to even consider that.

• They can't continue to simplify real life tracks to make them easier to drive.
• You have to be able to turn off all the driving aids as things like the compulsory steering buffer was a real issue in the last game.
• Cars need to be accurately modelled and sticking a random stuff inside just doesn't cut it.
• The Turn10 designed tracks are bloody awful and are better suited for pure arcade racers, I know that it's the same for the vast majority driving games where the ingame tracks are a shadow of the real world tracks but Turn10 are consistantly delivering the poorest.
• It's still not a pretty game, the driving sections in the video could well be from a patched version of Forza 3. The photomode/garage graphics do look superior to the racing which you'd expect anyway.
• They must add proper wheel support for proper steering wheels as the official Microsoft wheel is as poor as I've used.

If they manage to sort these things out then I will buy a console to play it but the worry is that they seem to be moving further away from the good games they've made with each release.

I do get the feeling from the video that they're trying to tick off boxes on a GT5 list but they shouldn't be trying to do that, they have the talent to make their own game and make it really good. I'm sure they're probably looking at the ridiculous sales figures of the GT series when they do that but they need to concentrate on making their own game irrelevant of the fact that GT games constantly outsell these.

It really is something I hate about games companies (Not just Turn10, many do it) at the moment where they just don't seem to have the balls to make their game instead of cutting and pasting other companies game features into their engine.

I'm sort of cautiously optimistic about this at the moment but some of the backward steps that Forza 3 had will mean I stay very cautious about this game.

[merf]

do they really think waving your hands around to look at a car model and a glorified Kinect Joy ride mode is a game changer ?

that said stoked for this as a classic control wheel based racer, reckon it will be awesome.

[nakamura]

• They can't continue to simplify real life tracks to make them easier to drive.
• You have to be able to turn off all the driving aids as things like the compulsory steering buffer was a real issue in the last game.
• Cars need to be accurately modelled and sticking a random stuff inside just doesn't cut it.
• The Turn10 designed tracks are bloody awful and are better suited for pure arcade racers, I know that it's the same for the vast majority driving games where the ingame tracks are a shadow of the real world tracks but Turn10 are consistantly delivering the poorest.

These are massive points for me. The real life tracks feel flat, smooth and completely easy to drive, even with the aids off. Also like you said the fantasy tracks are pretty poor, certainly compared to the superb circuits like Trial Mountain, Deep Forest and a few others.

I really liked so much about Forza 3. The customisation, cars, menus, hill climbs, engine sounds. Unfortunately the game itself is still lacking for me. Would love Forza 4 to shine.

[JP]

I agree completely with what you say about the tracks to be honest.

I think you're right about the Gran Turismo tracks you list also, I would easily rate Polyphony's tracks as the best designed tracks of this type of game and could list loads of the Original Courses such as Grindelwald, Deep Forrest, Midfield, Red Rock as well as loads of others as some of the best available.

Strangely, I found the new Cape Ring tracks feel and look like they were designed by Turn10 as nothing felt genuine about it.

I appreciate that the real world tracks aren't laser scanned in either franchise as they are in iRacing but the difference in the feeling of racing around the Nordschleife, feeling every bump, every kick, the variation in grip on different corners is really where GT5 got it right.

I know that Turn10 have preferred to have more effort into modelling things like trees which is nice but I would gladly sacrifice those types of details for accurate track modelling.

I did enjoy Forza 3 and I really don't want it to sound like I didn't but doing things like widening the N?rburgring to make it easier is unforgivable in a game that they want to be taken seriously as a driving game which is what they wanted with the earlier games.

I am felling positive about this game which is obvious as I'm willing to buy a 360 just to play it but the more they talk about Kinnect controls, driving for everyone, Hollywood style effects, one button driving, etc, the further away I get from buying that console.

There's a long way to go yet and this video is there to a specific job which I think it's done. I'll be keeping any eye on this as it develops but at the moment there are loads of OK arcade style races like Shift 2 on the PS3 so if they're aiming to produce that sort of game experience, I don't need to think about buying a 360.

I really hope they're able to produce something special though as they've hinted that they can in earlier games and I don't want Microsoft leaning on them with lists of things that are found in better selling games.

Going to stay positive though.

[Neon Ignition]

Depends how this unfolds for me. Forza and GT have always shared too much content to hold my interest. I'd like to see real life locations used as race tracks that aren't the same old ones we always get. I'm p****d off at the mere sight of the Nurburgring these days

[EvilBoris]

It seems like they aren't going for full on simulation , I guess there are plenty of people who are into their real life cars but aren't good at racing games. GT5 this ain't

[Malc]

16 cars in a race is superb though.

From that leaked trailer it looked like there was still only 7 AI opponents. And the narrator said 16 player races when talking about the online side of the game.

I'd imagine if they want to keep the consistency of 60fps they need to keep the AI processing to a minimum.

[talizker]

Pre E3 Forza Motorsport 4 Press Release on MajorNelson.com.

Gear up for the highly anticipated launch of ?Forza Motorsport 4? by pre-ordering today

This fall, the highest rated racing franchise of this generation returns with ?Forza Motorsport 4?, the biggest racing game of the year. Starting today, fans can pre-order the game at U.S. retailers for $59.99 (US ERP). For even more incentive to pre-order, Turn 10 Studios confirmed today that fans who pre-order ?Forza Motorsport 4? at participating U.S. retailers will receive a token to unlock one of the following five cars, while supplies last:

? Available at Amazon.com- Subaru Impreza WRX STI: The Subaru Impreza WRX STI is the highest standard-edition trim in the Subaru compact car line. The STI is recognized as a speed demon on race tracks, winning first place at Super GT in 2008.
? Available at Best Buy- BMW 1 Series M Coupe: Reaching top speeds of 250 km/h, the 1 Series M Coupe is the high-performance version of the famed BMW 1 Series Coupe.
? Available at GameStop- Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde: The creation of Italian automaker Alfa Romeo and first introduced at the March 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Giulietta contains an exclusive Quadrifoglio Verde configuration with a 1.7L turbocharged engine that will steer you to victory.
? Available at Wal-Mart- MINI John Cooper Works Clubman: MINI enthusiasts around the world rejoice! The JCW Clubman sports a 1.6-liter four-cylinder MINI engine that has been tuned and turbocharged to include 208 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.
? Available at Target ? Honda CR-Z EX: The Honda CR-Z EX is Honda?s sport hybrid with an ultra-modern and sporty look, featuring 16? wheels and tires, low-to-the-ground stance and swooping bodywork. Additionally, its six-speed manual transmission makes it the only hybrid with three pedals.

This same list of cars is available in other regions worldwide and more information for those regions is coming soon.

Rev up for the Limited Collector?s Edition
For ?Forza? fans who crave the VIP treatment, a Limited Collector?s Edition will also be available. Stay tuned for more details on the exclusive content the Limited Collector?s Edition will offer.

Be one of the first to purchase ?Forza Motorsport 4? and receive the ?Ship Bonus? car pack
A limited quantity of ?Forza Motorsport 4? games at retail will include an exclusive in-game car pack available at launch that boasts five incredible cars for fans to race, tune, paint and share. This car pack, limited to the first production run of ?Forza Motorsport 4? game discs, will include:

? Ford Mustang GT Coupe 1965: Take to the road in this classic American stallion, one of Ford?s most successful launch cars behind the Model A.
? Koenigsegg Agera 2011: ?The Agera?from the Swedish verb ?to act??celebrates 15 years of Koenigsegg?s uncompromising philosophy of making dream cars.?
? Lexus SC300 1997: A classic personal luxury coup?, the SC300 combines a powerful racer with a 225hp I6-powered engine.
? RUF RGT-8 2011: The spectacular RGT-8 is powered by a 4.5-liter V8 engine that has been fine tuned to deliver unmatchable sports car power and curb appeal.
? Tesla Roadster Sport 2011: For luxury car fans, the Roadster Sport is electric heaven. Get behind the wheel of this electric two-seater and go zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds with a peak rating of 288 horsepower.

Prepare to hit the road in a Ferrari 458 Italia, the ?Forza Motorsport 4? cover car
Today Turn 10 Studios is also revealing that the cover car for the standard edition of ?Forza Motorsport 4? is the Ferrari 458 Italia. The Ferrari 458 Italia is an 8-cylinder two-seater berlinetta with a mid-rear mounted engine, and represents a genuine break with the past in terms of Maranello?s previous high-performance sports cars. The Turn 10 team has worked closely with Ferrari to include every intricate detail of the Ferrari 458 Italia in the game, from its sleek aerodynamic design to its exquisitely modeled 4499 cc V8 engine, offering players the most realistic driving experience off the track.

?The Ferrari 458 Italia was a perfect fit for the ?Forza Motorsport 4? hero car. It has the ideal blend of style, creative flair, cutting-edge technology and power that makes it just as gorgeous to look at as it is thrilling to take to the track,? said Dan Greenawalt, creative director of Turn 10 Studios. ?We?ve worked closely with our partners at Ferrari to bring this amazing car to life in your living room.?

<end of press release>

[Jebus]

Packshot has been revealed too!

[Neon Ignition]

Gonna have to feature significant changes this time for me to bite, after 2 Forza's and a GT I'm pretty tired of dry sims. The dullness of the boxart doesn't inspire either, lol

[smouty]

Just seen the head tracking with Kinect vid. Looks to be a bit laggy but interesting

[merf]

Interesting but flawed as you turn your head away from the screen so cant see it anymore

[nakamura]

It still looks miles too smooth. Not smooth as in 60fps, smooth as in the road is perfectly flat and the V8 engine causes as much vibration as a Daihatsu 600cc block.

Why can't they get the feel or a car correct? Since Shift, I can't play dull games like this. Pity as there is a lot to like about Forza.