Test Drive Demo Now On Live

Atari, one of Australia’s leading sources of interactive entertainment, very proudly announced today that development is complete on Test Drive Unlimited for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the groundbreaking title is on schedule for Australian launch from September 28th 2006. Gamers can sample the game for themselves by downloading the playable demo available later today via Xbox Live Marketplace.

Developed by Eden Games, Test Drive Unlimited has already excited gamers with its massive array of single player challenges and diverse online multiplayer delights. The new demo features stunning new vehicles, new challenges, longer play time and a host of other enhancements to give gamers a tantalising taste of racing reinvented.

The first Test Drive Unlimited playable demo, released during E3 2006 as part of Microsoft’s initiative to bring gamers closer to the event, was downloaded close to 200,000 times from Xbox Live Marketplace in one short week, bringing the demo in third place overall amongst all downloads during the period. Feedback from the global gaming community proved vital in giving Eden Games a clear direction to improve the quality of the final game and deliver the incredible experience Test Drive Unlimited now offers.

With the new demo allowing up to one hour of play in a 60km² area of the graphically polished and geographically accurate Hawaiian island of Oahu, players will have time to discover a stunning new house, three delicious new super cars – the Ferrari F430, Ford Mustang GT and AC Cobra – and one brutally powerful motorbike, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. Players can choose to accept one of the four new offline challenges, take on either of the two new online challenges with up to eight players racing simultaneously, launch instant challenges against anyone they encounter on the road, or just burn gallons of virtual gasoline tearing around the lush tropical roads in free ride. Other enhancements include tighter handling, snappy gear changes, customisable speed blur effects, optional in-car camera vibrations, improved netcode allowing eight player online races, fully operational v-sync, an incredible level of overall graphical polish, and much more.

“Test Drive Unlimited is quite simply the first truly next-generation racing game and everything we promised it would be,” said Cyril Voiron, Marketing Director, Atari Europe. “The sheer size and scale of the game is almost beyond comprehension. Visually it is a pleasure to behold, but the real marvel is the tremendous depth of content which is a reflection of the possibilities afforded by Xbox 360 and Xbox Live and the incredible hard work and dedication of Eden Games in delivering such a masterpiece.”

While the new demo gives a good flavour of what to expect from Test Drive Unlimited, it barely scratches the surface of the final game which offers over 1000 miles of roads, 90 of the world’s most exclusive super cars and bikes, and unlimited online challenges. Test Drive Unlimited is racing reinvented.

Set on the open roads of the stunning Hawaiian island of Oahu, Test Drive Unlimited features 90 of the world’s most desirable super cars and bikes. Players can push the pedal to the metal and tear up the tarmac in an infinite number of racing challenges, or just kick back and guide their mechanical finery along the highways taking in the lavish scenery. In single player, or online with 1000’s of other drivers, the unrivalled size and freedom of Test Drive Unlimited represents a landmark in video gaming. There are no predetermined circuits or graphical trickery – players can go wherever they choose, whenever they choose and race whoever they choose all in a spectacular wide open tropical setting.

The September 2006 edition of 360: The Official Australian XBOX Magazine declared the “future of online racing is here” and honoured Test Drive Unlimited with a spectacular 9 out of 10 score and the prestigious ‘MUST BUY’ award. The review continued:

"Driving freely in a thriving virtual world is... a creative vision that has never been realised to such an extent as we've seen in Test Drive Unlimited. Thanks to Xbox Live, Test Drive Unlimited is a whole new experience and so much more than 'just another racer.' It's a racer's paradise and, if you're a car fanatic, a reason to sign up for Xbox Live."

Test Drive Unlimited is scheduled for release across Australia and New Zealand on September 28th 2006.

Keep tuned into NZGamer as we've got a hands-on preview coming up for this one real soon.