Race Driver: Grid

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Race Driver: Grid
Developer(s)	Codemasters Firebrand Games (Nintendo DS)
Publisher(s)	Codemasters
Engine	Ego (Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) Octane Engine (Nintendo DS)
Version	1.2 (as of July 30, 2008)
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS
Release date(s)	PS3, X360, PC EU May 30, 2008 NA June 3, 2008 AUS June 5, 2008 AUS June 12 2008[1][2] Nintendo DS NA August 5, 2008[3][4] AUS August 28, 2008[5]
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: E OFLC: G PEGI: 7+
Media	Blu-ray Disc, DVD, DS Game Card, Steam download
System requirements	System requirements
Input methods	Keyboard, Xbox 360 Controller, DualShock 3

Race Driver: Grid (stylised as Race Driver: GRID and also known as GRID) is the latest addition to the TOCA Touring Car series by Codemasters, published and developed by the same company. It was announced on April 19, 2007, and is available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and PC. The game was released on May 30, 2008 in Europe, June 3, 2008 in North America, and in Australia on June 12, 2008.^[1]

Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Portable version 3 Demo 4 Downloadable content 4.1 Future content 5 Development 5.1 Game engine 6 Reception 6.1 Awards 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Gameplay

This game is made by Codemasters, the creators of the TOCA/Race Driver series. GRID is a hybrid between arcade and simulator of mainly tarmac racing that consists of 43 cars. The game features an instant replay feature which allows the player to rewind time by up to 10 seconds. While the instant replay can be used as many times as the player wants, the Flashback feature can only be used a limited number of times, determined by the difficulty setting.

There are several types of competitions for different cars: GT races, open wheel races, demolition derbies, etc. There are also several tracks from different countries, including Japan, United States and European tracks such as Le Mans and Spa Francorchamps. A track through the streets of Milan is also available.

[edit] Portable version

Firebrand Games, the developers of Race Driver: Create and Race, developed the game for the Nintendo DS. The game has 20 circuits, with 25 cars. The game also included an updated version of the Track Designer from Race Driver: Create and Race which allows players to create their own custom circuits and roadside billboards. The portable version was launched in early August of 2008.^[6]

[edit] Demo

On May 8, 2008, a demo was released on the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace. The following day, a PC version was released (which uses SecuROM for DRM).^[7] The demo lets players try two game modes: racing and drifting.

The Demo also features a competition (challenge) to win a BMW 3 series for European based gamers^[8] and a chance to win a Ford Mustang for U.S. based players.^[9] The competitions for Europeans ended on May 31 at midnight, BST, and for U.S. gamers on May 25, 2008 midnight, ET.

The demo also has the two competition tracks available for an online racing experience; it allows up to 12 players to compete online. The demo has been downloaded by over one million people on the three platforms.^[10][11]

[edit] Downloadable content

On December 4 2008, the '8-Ball Pack' was released on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network for 800 points or £6.79 respectively. The pack contains 8 new cars: Car classes in brackets

[edit] Future content

Another pack, the V8 Car Pack, is set to be released in 2009. It is reported to include muscle cars such as the Holden VE Commodore and a new track, Bathurst.

[edit] Development

System Requirements

Minimum Recommended Microsoft Windows[12][13] Operating System Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista CPU Intel Pentium 4 3 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 3000+ processor Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz or Athlon X2 3800+ Memory 1 GB 2 GB RAM Hard Drive Space 12 GB of free space Graphics Hardware Nvidia GeForce 6800 or ATI Radeon X1300 or above Nvidia GeForce 8800 or ATI Radeon X1950 Sound Hardware DirectX Compatible Sound Card Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Sound Card Network Internet or LAN connection required for multiplayer

[edit] Game engine

Race Driver: GRID uses Codemasters' own Ego engine, an evolved version of the Neon engine already used in their previous release Colin McRae DIRT. The damage code has been completely rewritten to allow for persistent damage environments. ^[14]

[edit] Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores Aggregator Score Metacritic 87% (PC)[15] 87% (X360)[16] 87% (PS3)[17] 79% (NDS)[18]
Review scores Publication Score Edge 9/10 IGN 8.7/10 Official Xbox Magazine 9.0/10

The game has received mainly positive reviews.

Official Xbox Magazine awarded Race Driver: Grid a 9.0 out of 10, proclaiming, "This game isn’t about simulating racing; it’s about creating fun out of it. And it succeeds beautifully, one thrilling white knuckle at a time," with the only negative point being its relatively meager online offering.^[19]

X-Play has given Grid a 5 out of 5, stating that the "Flashback feature is superb" and claiming the damage "is excellent".^[20]

Game Revolution gave Race Driver: Grid a B, calling the damage "fantastic" and calling the Flashback feature "a lifesaver".^[21]

IGN.com gave Race Driver: Grid an 8.7 out of 10. Playstation Official Magazine UK and VideoGamer.com both gave Grid a 9 out of 10, as did Edge and Eurogamer.

N-Europe gave the DS version an 8/10.^[22]

Pcformat gave Race Driver: Grid 90%.

Gamespot gave Race Driver: Grid 8.0/10.

Game Informer gave Race Driver: Grid a 9.0 out of 10 for the main review and 9.25 as the second opinion.

PC Gamer UK gave Race Driver: Grid a score of 88%, saying that the racer was made of style and substance.

North American publication Nintendo Power and GameSpot gave the Nintendo DS version a score of 8.5 out of 10. Praise was delivered to the game's robust car and course customisation features, superb graphics by DS standards, and praised the multiplayer modes. Some mild criticism was delivered towards the game's single player mode for having flimsy car upgrading and lack of knowing what rewards you get before entering a race, but said that the good aspects far outweigh the bad.

[edit] Awards

• IGN Best of 2008:
  • IGN Editors' Choice Award (2008)
  • Best Xbox 360 Racing/Driving Game
  • Best Nintendo DS Racing/Driving Game^[23]
• Best in 2008 by Sports British Academy Video Games Awards ^[24]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Race Driver: GRID official site
• Race Driver: GRID community site

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