Test Drive Unlimited wiki

From Software Informer

Programs:Test Drive Unlimited
Developer(s)	Eden Games Melbourne House (PS2 & PSP)
Publisher(s)	Atari
Distributor(s)	Akella (Russia) Microsoft (Japan) Moving Editora (Brazil) CD Projekt (Poland) Seven M (Hungary)
Engine	Havok, Twilight 2
Version	1.66A
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360
Release date(s)	Xbox 360 NA September 5, 2006 EU September 8, 2006 Microsoft Windows NA March 29, 2007 EU February 28, 2007 AUS April 14, 2007 PlayStation 2 NA March 20, 2007 EU February 28, 2007 AUS April 4, 2007 PlayStation Portable NA March 21, 2007 EU March 30, 2007 AUS April 27, 2007
Genre(s)	Racing, MMOR
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: E10+ OFLC: G PEGI: 3+
Media	DVD, UMD
System requirements	Operating System : Windows 2000/XP/Vista CPU : Intel P4 @ 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon 2800+. GPU (Video Cards) : ATI Radeon 9800 256MB VRAM or Nvidia 6600 GT with 256 MB of VRAM. Video Cards with vertex/pixel shaders 2.x and above are recommended. SPU (Sound Cards) : DirectX 9.0 compatible Sound Card. System Memory : 512 MB, 1 GB recommended Hard Disk free space: 8 GB DVD drive: 8x minimum DirectX 9.0C (included)
Input methods	Gamepad, Steering wheel

Test Drive Unlimited is an arcade-style racing game, the 9th game of the series that features over 125 licensed sports cars and motorcycles and a terrain modeled after the Hawaiian island of Oahu that features some 1000 miles of roads and highways.^[1] Test Drive Unlimited is the latest installment of Test Drive, one of the longest running racing game franchises.

[edit] Gameplay

In Test Drive Unlimited, the player is able to drive both on-road and off-road, challenging any real life racers they encounter. The roads are modeled after satellite images of the island of Oahu.^[1] The terrain differs from rain forest and mountains to sandy beaches and Hawaii's capital city, Honolulu. It is worth noting however, that other built-up areas on the island are not represented. The Xbox 360 version has supported steering wheel controllers since launch. Following the third free update, Test Drive Unlimited supports force feedback wheel controllers such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel. Although advertising material for the game suggests it to be an exact depiction of the Hawaiian island, numerous government buildings (such as those on Pearl Harbor, Camp H. M. Smith, Hickam Air Force Base), commercial buildings (Ala Moana Center, the convention center, the entire commercial strip in Pearl City and the Pearlridge Center), and notable landmarks (statue of King Kamehameha I, USS Missouri, etc.) are not present in the game. Many roads and highways are also missing or placed far from their real-life counterparts. Also, in the game, all of the traffic lights are placed on the wrong side of the intersection. The ships docked in Pearl harbor are also in very low detail and do not represent any active or retired USN vessel at all.

[edit] Single-player game

The game begins by purchasing a car and a house. The player is then free to explore the island; as this happens key locations on the map are revealed. These include:

• Car/Bike dealerships
• Car rental agencies
• Tuning Shops
• Real Estate Agents
• Paint Shops

Challenges can also be found, which include:

• Race vs CPU cars
• Time challenges
• Speed challenges
• Top Model
• Courier (Package Transport)
• Vehicle Transportation
• Hitchhikers

Success in challenges is rewarded with in-game money, or in the Hitchhiker and Top Model challenges, coupons. Using these coupons, the player can buy clothing for their character at the many branded clothes shops on the island. Money earned may be spent on buying new vehicles, renting cars, upgrading cars and buying houses. Players can acquire sports cars from various manufacturers. The car models include: Ac (289),
Alfa Romeo (GT 3.2 V6 24v, 8c Competizione),
Aston Martin (V8 Vantage, DB9 Coupe, DB9 Volanto, DB7 Zagato, Vanquish S, DB4 GT Zagato),
Audi (A3 3.2 Quattro DSG, TT Quattro Sport, A6 4.2 Quattro, S4 Cabriolet),
Cadillac (XLR-V),
Caterham (CSR 260),
Chevrolet (SSR, Corvette C6 Coupe, Corvette Z06 Coupe, Camaro Z-28, Corvette Stingray 69),
Chrysler (300C SRT-8, Firepower Concept, ME FOUR-TWELVE),
Dodge (Viper SRT-10),
Farbio (Supercharged GTS Prototype),
Ferrari (F430, F430 Spider, 575M Maranello, Enzo, 288 GTO),
Ford (Mustang GT Coupe, Mustang GT Convertible, Mustang GT-R Concept, GT, Shelby Cobra Concept, Shelby GR-1 Concept),
Jaguar (XK Coupe, XK Convertible, XKR Coupe, XJ220, Type E Coupe),
Koenigsegg (CC8S),
Lamborghini (Gallardo Spyder, Gallardo SE, Murcielago Coupe, Miura P400 SV),
Lexus (IS350, GS450h, LS600hl),
Lotus (Elise R, Sport Exige 240R, Esprit V8),
Maserati (Spyder 90th Anniversary, Spyder Cambiocorsa, GranSport, MC12),
Mercedes-Benz (SLK 55 AMG, CLK 55 AMG, CLS 55 AMG, SL 65 AMG, CLK DTM, SLR McLaren, 300 SL Gullwing),
Nissan (350Z Coupe, 350Z Nismo S-Tune, Skyline GT-R),
Noble (M12 GTO-3R, M14),
Pagani (Zonda C12 S),
Pontiac (GTO, Firebird),
Saleen (S7 Twin Turbo),
Saturn (Sky),
Shelby (GT500, Cobra Daytona Coupe),
Spyker (C8 Laviolette),
TVR (Tuscan S, Sagaris),
Volkswagon (Golf R32, W12 Roadster),
Weismann (Roadster MF3).

[edit] Missing content on PS2 and PSP

The PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions of Test Drive Unlimited are missing the following features:

• Manual transmission (although transmission is visible in options, it is permanently set to auto)
• Avatar customization
• Certain vehicles such as Ferraris, Maseratis, all motorcycles, and some models of different makes
• Certain mission types
• Cockpit View (PSP)
• Background characters in buildings
• Rear-view and side mirrors are not functional (blurred out)
• Some shops, like custom car paint
• USB steering wheel support

The overall visual and audio quality is also lower due to hardware limitations. It is unknown why the content is missing. However, the PS2 and PSP versions also contain features that the Xbox 360 and PC versions do not have such as Master Points (points awarded for drifts, slipstreaming and airtime) and Auto GPS (which automatically directs you to a new challenge). Additionally, several cars that are only available in download packs for Xbox 360 and PC are available from the start in the PS2 and PSP versions. There are also more radio stations in the PS2 and PSP versions as they feature many exclusive instrumental tracks in addition to the licensed music.

[edit] Multiplayer game

Screenshot of Test Drive Unlimited (PC)

The multiplayer component (branded as M.O.O.R. or Massively Open Online Racing) works as an extra layer on top of the single-player game - that is all activities available in single-player are also available in multiplayer. The following challenges are also available in multiplayer only:

• Race vs other players
• Challenge players to complete tasks
• Attempt other player challenges

Racing against other players works by using the player match/ranked match system employed by Xbox Live, while the Microsoft Windows version uses the GameSpy network. It is also possible to create an immediate, ad-hoc race against another player by flashing headlights at their vehicle. Players may create and join "clubs" which help organize player events. Vehicles may be traded between players through a central "clearing house"-style interface that lists the vehicles for sale along with class, mileage, specification, and price information. It is also possible to play online with the addition of a network adapter to a PS2 and via Infrastructure Mode on the PSP.

[edit] Downloadable content

[edit] Xbox 360

On the Xbox 360, new cars can be downloaded via Xbox Live, similar to Project Gotham Racing 3 and 4's Booster Packs and Forza Motorsport 2's "Car Packs". Some individual cars are available to download for free, while others must be purchased with Microsoft Points as part of a pack. All downloaded cars still need to be purchased with in-game money at their respective dealerships before they can be used in the game. There currently 8 Car Packs and 8 Free cars. There is also a downloadable mode called "hardcore mode" which makes the game experience more realistic. It was designed for players with a Xbox 360 Racing Wheel controller. It is available for 160 Microsoft Points.

[edit] Microsoft Windows

There has been one patch for the PC version of Test Drive Unlimited. As part of this patch the Nissan Skyline GTR R34 and Audi RS4 quattro Saloon (B7) cars were released for free. Windows Vista users who have the 32-bit platform installed will have fewer issues with freezing during saving points. The 64-bit platform invariably creates conflicts despite the 4gb video memory that most users have (as recommended by the Atari manufacturer of TDU) as the game tends to draw from the users ram as opposed to dedicated video card memory. Moreover, there is a 'Megapack' DLC which PC users can purchase, featuring 45 cars and 1 bike. These include the limited edition 'exclusive' cars available for the Xbox-360 version as well as the contents of the first 5 DLC packs previously released over Xbox Live. It is, however, incompatible with localized versions and as for today there are no plans for releasing them in other languages.

[edit] Special NPCs in PS2 and PSP version

There were 1500 total beta testers in Atari's closed beta for Test Drive Unlimited PS2. At the end of the testing period, Atari awarded 30 of the most active testers with "immortality" in the PS2 version of Test Drive Unlimited. These 30 beta testers were allowed to name one of the Non Playable Characters (NPC) in the game. Some chose to use their first and last name; others chose to use their screen names. These 30 special NPCs can be found spread throughout the virtual island of only the PS2 version.^[2] Atari and Melbourne House ensured the Beta Testers were given prominent positions as NPCs. Most were granted President or Vice President status in the car clubs around the island, and were put in highly desirable performance cars.^[3]

[edit] Reception

Test Drive Unlimited has garnered generally favourable reviews, with Game Rankings reporting an average rating of 82%^[4] as of April, 2007 for the Xbox 360 version, 82% for the PC version, 77% for the PS2 and 75% for the PSP.^[5] Metacritic, a review averaging site, also reported "generally favourable reviews" on the Xbox 360, with an average score of 82, and an average user score of 8.2 out of 10.^[6] The PC version averaged 79 and a user score of 8.4 out of 10.^[7]

[edit] References