2007-05-25 15:04:47 -
REDMOND, Wash., May 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Game Studios today announced that "Forza Motorsport(R) 2" will speed onto U.S. retail shelves Tuesday, May 29, and that the estimated retail price (ERP) of the Xbox 360(TM) Wireless Racing Wheel has been lowered to $129.99 in the U.S.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)
Timed to mark the biggest racing event of the year, these announcements are sure to ignite the driving spirit in gamers and car enthusiasts alike as the 91st Annual Indianapolis 500 kicks off today.
Tuned and developed with the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing
Wheel, "Forza Motorsport 2" supports true force feedback, setting a new precedent for realism in the racing simulation genre that will have gamers feeling every bump in the road and every jolt of acceleration as they take the corners on 12 of the most renowned tracks on the globe. With the game running at an astounding 60 frames per second, authentic simulation physics, and rumble functionality with the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, "Forza Motorsport 2" offers incredible realism and depth for a complete racing experience in gaming.
In addition, to mark the release of the new title, gamers in the U.S. will be able to participate in the "Forza Motorsport 2" Race Weekend, running June 1 through June 3. Gamers will be able to participate in a "Play and Win," Livery contests, gameplay sessions with developers, and a leaderboard tournament. Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheels and other prizes will be awarded to winners. Gamers will experience all the racing excitement they can handle with the following new gameplay experiences:
-- Collect, upgrade and tune hundreds of cars. From sport compacts to
purpose-built race cars, "Forza Motorsport 2" offers more than 300 cars
from over 50 of the world's leading manufacturers such as Ferrari,
Porsche, Nissan, Volkswagen, General Motors and Lamborghini. Players
can take their car to the garage and install alternative engines,
suspension kits, bolt-on superchargers, brakes, rims and racing slicks.
Players can also dial in advanced suspension settings, tire pressure
and gear ratios.
-- Experience an uncompromising physics simulation. Top automotive
engineers, professional race car drivers and experienced programmers
teamed up to create a complete racing simulator experience. Cars incur
dramatic damage and wear, which affects vehicle performance. Advanced
tire and suspension models that respond to heat and pressure changes
as well as weight transfer and aerodynamic load are just a few
examples of how the gamer plays both crew chief and driver.
-- Master real-world tracks from around the world. From the famously
challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife to the green hills of Tuscany,
gamers can race on meticulously designed tracks with an incredible
sense of speed and realism. "Forza Motorsport 2" features 47 ribbons
across 12 environments, including real-world licensed circuits such as
Mugello, Suzuka and Sebring International Raceway.
-- Create and share a masterpiece with the world. Players can express
their inner artist in the paint and upgrade shops with nearly endless
personalization options. They can customize the shape of their car by
combining different licensed rims, performance parts and aftermarket
body kits and create a unique paint scheme using millions of paint and
decal options. Then racers can hit the track and take in-game pictures
of their creation in the "Forza Motorsport 2" Photo Mode, or sell their
work of art to an eager community for in-game credits over Xbox LIVE(R)
using the "Forza Motorsport 2" Auction House.
-- Literally feel the road, just like a professional driver. Through the
rumble functionality in the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, players will
feel uncompromising responsiveness to every acceleration, downshift and
turn, making the racing experience as true to life as possible. With
the latest improvements to rumble, force feedback and wireless
technologies, form and function are placed into high-speed gaming
motion, letting racers feel every bump around the turns at famous
tracks such as Sebring as well as the differences in handling and
stability in each car they drive.
-- Compete in a vibrant online community. Gamers can take their
personalized car onto Xbox LIVE for some intense online wheel-to-wheel
racing. They have the option to compete in private online sessions with
friends or in large public tournaments on Xbox LIVE in the seamlessly
integrated "Forza Motorsport 2" Career Mode.* They can earn in-game
credits and even complete single-player career objectives while racing
over Xbox LIVE. Or they can sit back and watch the best racers from
around the world compete on "Forza Motorsport 2" TV.
Fans can continue to visit http://www.xbox.com/ and http://forzamotorsport.net/ for more information, screen shots and videos.
From the creative minds at Turn 10 Studios, "Forza Motorsport 2" is the game that offers something for every type of racing and car enthusiast, such as optional driving assists for the novice and gameplay options for the serious car aficionado that include the ability to tune, trade, paint and collect players' favorite cars. With Xbox LIVE, players can share and sell their custom creations on the "Forza Motorsport 2" online Auction House and experience an impressively accurate simulation, putting their performance-tuned rides to the test against the best the online world has to offer. "Forza Motorsport 2" will be widely available at retailers nationwide May 29 for an ERP of $59.99.
About Turn 10 Studios
"Forza Motorsport 2" is developed by Turn 10 of Microsoft Game Studios. The experienced development team led by Dan Greenawalt is composed of top developers and real race drivers and car collectors whose pedigrees include work on top racing franchises such as "Forza Motorsport," "Project Gotham Racing(R)" and "RalliSport Challenge." Microsoft also teamed up with top engineers from the likes of Ferrari SpA and Toyo Tires to create incredibly realistic driving physics in a racing simulation game.
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox(R) and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows(R) operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as "Age of Empires(R)," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon(R)"; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com/), including such games as "Gears of War" and franchises such as "Halo(R)," "Fable(R)," "Project Gotham Racing" and "Forza Motorsport"; and MSN(R) Games (http://www.games.msn.com/), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "Hexic(R)."
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
* Xbox LIVE Gold Membership is required to use this feature. Microsoft, Forza Motorsport, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, Project Gotham Racing, Xbox, Windows, Age of Empires, Zoo Tycoon, Halo, Fable, MSN and Hexic are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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Source: Microsoft Corp.
