Racer set to rival Gran Turismo 5: GRID

From PSM3 UK:
Codemasters are readying GRID (known as Race Driver: GRID in Europe) for summer '08 release - but the next iteration of the TOCA series has already steered into controversy. Hardcore fans are upset at the series' new street racing elements, but - don't worry - the realistic handling that TOCA is synonymous with remains.

Crowds
The trackside gatherings we've seen so far in GT5 have been anemic compared to GRID's packed environments. We've yet to see if they'll be animated, but the sheer number of folk makes for an atmospheric setting.

[MK_Red]

Gotta admit that the game looks phenomenal. Looks like GT5 has finally found a racing simulator worthy of competition.

[Gamingisfornerds]

The Toca series is among my favorite out there, the diversity in these games is unmatched.

GT5 however has a slightly different approach. It's mainly focus is saloon vehicles and sports cars whereas the Toca series contains just about every vehicle class you can think of. That's what I love about the Toca series. Varied environments and vehicle classes and the ability to play it as a sim or arcade game. The options in there are endless and the graphics have always been great in the series as well.

Bring it on Codemasters!

[MK_Red]

Agreed, TOCA games were incredible.
But in the end, I prefer Burnout to both GT and TOCA. I'm an arcade racer junkie afterall :)

[Gamingisfornerds]

Though I did enjoy them plenty. But I'd take the Toca series over the Burnout series without hessitation.

Fortunately, we'll all get our racing needs fulfilled this year! :)

[MK_Red]

In 2008 we'll indeed get our racing needs fulfilled wether they are arcadish or realisitc.
Personally, I prefer Burnout to every other racer :)
I love the series as well as Criterion's work in general. From Air Blade to Black to Burnout :)

[ngg12345]

Codemasters basically edits their pics to make them look better. I'm tired of seeing this garbage, from such a low level publisher. Maybe you should make better game graphics, before I trust one of these pictures again.

[MK_Red]

Have you played any of previous Race Driver games before? All versions of the game have been nominated for best racing game over the years and have one many awards. Plus, Codemasters is the publisher behind the excellent DiRT.
I'm a PS3 and GT5 fan but competition is always a good thing, not something to be angry about.

[sonarus]

Forget being a GT fan that extra layer of polish GT5 will show will set it apart from all the other racing titles.

[Bonsai1214]

the graphics seem very similar to burnouts. but then again, i am very tired and its 3 in the morning here....

anyways, DiRT was a great game, and they definitely have the pedigree to make a good racing game. challenge GT5? we'll see. but i'm sure it'll be notable in its own way.

anyways, am i the only one who wants a next gen auto modelesta? the first one sucked, but the concept was good. hopefully someone will take it up and not screw it up badly this time.

[Lord Anubis]

where are the console version. They only have the PC version which looks good but I'm not a TOCA Guy.

THey only have pictures of the PC version.

[MK_Red]

Actually, this preview is from PS3 magazine PSM3 so it must be the console / PS3 version.

[felman87]

is it a racing sim or an arcade racer?

[MK_Red]

Previous game in series were considered PC's GT equal so they must have been serious simulators.
This one has city and looks to be a bit different but article suggests that it will keep it's realistic controls and simulation elements.

[CrazzyMan]

i mean, to rival GT5, game must atleast run in 1080p.

You can get amazing results in 600p..
Anyway, it looks closer to PGR, then to GT, atleast according these low res screens.

[power of Green]

This title has the the sharper looking picture of GT5-P but has the superior detail of PGR4(GT5 has clean bland looking environments) and better lighting than both games. HDR in the game seems far more advanced than both GT5-P and even PGR4.

Dissagree's?.

PGR4

[power of Green]

These guy's know how to make racers. One of my most wanted games of 2008 but I keep forgeting its name.

I read some great stuff about this game , its probably the best looking racer ever seen on a console.

I read about this game, looking good is only half the story.

[power of Green]

http://www.gamesradar.com/u...

EDIt this game is also for Windows/PC.

Below: As long as the game handles close to Forza 2 or TOCA... GT5/P can keep the "car graphics" thats your opinion about GT-P having the best real time gameplay car graphics.

[CrazzyMan]

multiplatform PGR4 clone.
no where close to GT5 in car details, just like PGR4 or Forza2.
environment, might be better then in GT5P, but it`s normal, for a game, that doesn`t run in 1080p.
And yet, GT5 definetely will be far beyond any racing game on consoles.

[InMyOpinion]

The only thing Gran Turismo has is lots of cars and great graphics. It has no deep customizing options, no advanced AI, no collision damage etc.

It's like a pretty, but empty, shell.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

Customization is deep enough, if you want to go into specifics then find a game which offer the level you are looking for. But, then again not many racing games go too deep into it.

[Dareaver1]

but i just hope this one doesn't have that central pivot that DiRT had, that threw me off a little bit. In my opinion Forza 2 is still the racing simulator to beat. It has the best implemation of real world physics, car lust, AI, and realism.

Take a look at some of these pics, some look more real then others, but look at that one drifting pic, if you love the drifting scene than Forza 2 is your game, you can drift with an ubelievable amount of realism. Unlike some games that have the novelty of doing it, Forza doesn't half ass it. And if you have the game and need tips, just go to the Forza 2 website and they have a whole drifting: How To?

[heyheyhey]

at first i was like- equal to gt5? no chance my son but actually it looks pretty good il keep an eye on it although something tells me this game will be more arcadey than gt5

[gogators]

but lets see how the physics and controls compare to GT-5. Codemasters make decent games, but not top tier.

[MK_Red]

Good point but Codemasters is the publisher here. The developement of GRID is in hands of Racer games and all of their previous games were considered among the best of simulators.

[Daz]

Well people have there own idea in what simulatoer fills like and some will say gt5 better, you should know the rest. And to me gt dont fill like as good as some simulaters out there MY OPINION.

A good simulater is live for speed for me. its got the lot, tyer physics, damage, great suspension phyics, i could go on but i wont. http://www.lfs.net/

[mistertwoturbo]

I love GT5. And I'm STILL buying this game as well. I always enjoyed the codemaster's racing games since Colin McRae's WRC Rally 2004, 2005, and DiRT.

[BlackCountryBob]

I really loved this series when it was the official Toca touring cars game, it was frankly excellent but I have never been able to get into the game since it became Race Driver and on because it was IMO a jack of all trades but a master of none.

They weren't bad games, just nothing about it was polished enough to be considered extraordinary which it needs to be to compete with Forza and GT.

This new one does look pretty though, I'll reserve judgement until I play a demo. But please god tell me that there is no story coz that guy Ryan in Race Driver was a right pleb and ruined the game for me.

[snoopgg]

Game looks good and Im glad to see that they are turning out a different racing game besides dirt 2. Don't get me wrong I own dirt and love it, but am excited to see another racing game on the market.

[titntin]

The race driver series of games has always been top tier excellent titles and I'm sure their next effort will have excellent handling characteristics typical of their releases.

If the game were to run looking like the screenshots, we would indeed have an amazing looking game, but I am skeptical. Not only are such shots often touched up, but despite the news being published by a PS3 publication, developer supplied screenshots are almost always from the 'best looking' version, which in this case will be a tripple video carded PC, and not indicitive of the console perfromance.
Hope I'm wrong as I love the series and would love to think we're gonna get a 1080P version of those screen shots at a constant 60fps, but I doubt it!

As for comparing it with GT5 - you can't really do that until you have them side by side on the same platform....

[rushbd]

TOca games have always been huge. but never really reached GT's height IMO. I found toca's driving very easy and not very sim. that's the only thing I hate about toca. But toca package has always been HUGE. I'm a little skeptic about the graphics though. I think those screens look too beautiful. Ah well I though about GT5 same when it was shown LOL

[whoelse]

No way would this get even close to GT5 in sales.

[Dpa]

If its like DiRT then it will be good fun, have loads of amazing tracks but arcadey handling, framerate issues and screen tear.

[killer_trap]

remember it's the website providing the story that claims it rivals GT. now i'm not saying there aren't any games that rival GT, but if you claim you're doing it the you're putting a very big obstacle on your way that you may not be able to steer through.

but the screen shots do look tasty. is it a multi platform game or an exclusive one?

[MK_Red]

It's multi though this preview is from PSM3.

[HarryEtTubMan]

Sounds cool. Fortuantely I now have a Playstation 3 and can get the REAL racing simulator. The only racing franchise in the top 10 most valuable gaming franchises of all time.... with only 4 freaking game released!!! With the likes of Mario, Final Fantasy, Pokemon and Grad Theft Auto. Gran Turismo is king. (Collision damage and custimizing options are also coming to Gran Turismo 5 and he said they would probally add it in a patch on GT5:P. Gran Turismo 5 won't be outdone.

[Cynical-Gamerzus]

IF this game can do hi res above 720p
Then im sold!!!!It looks great so -far
I just cant enjoy the lifelessness of GT 5 prologue.
It feels so lifeless.Com on Polyphony??
As a simulation it could at least of simulated the world not just the cars..DooH!

[2 cents]

Previous Toca games were good, but none came close to Gt series. The only thing that Toce games had over Gt was AI opponents. But with the online playability now the AI is not that important. Nevertheless i will pick it up. I only hope is more simulator than arcade like Burnout. I can`t stand games like Burnout and NFS, even thou i played all of them.