Fear Complex

It’s been a long time since I properly enjoyed a driving game.  Those calling themselves simulations bugged me the most.

You see, I was a huge fan of the original Need For Speed, Gran Turismo, and especially Gran Turismo 3.  But some time after GT3, I started attending track days at Taupo Motorsport Park.  It turns out that actually driving a car on a track is more realistic.

After that I couldn’t take serious racing games… er… seriously.

Then one day, I sat down to have a look at the demo of Forza Motorsport 3.  Brilliant graphics.  Amazing, even.  A decent cockpit view, let down only by the lazy animation of the driver’s hands, but at least useable (most of the time).

Fanging the limited selection of cars around the Camino Viejo circuit I was struck by a bit of a realisation.  It felt real.  The way the cars respond to the controls is as close to emulating actual circuit driving as I’ve ever experienced.  Close enough that it didn’t bore me to tears like every other racing game since about 2005 (even GT Legends, which really deserved more effort on my part).

So naturally I wanted the full version.  Would I get a copy from Buttonmasher to review?  As Brian pointed out, I already had two games to review, so it wasn’t likely.  As luck would have it, Microsoft were splashing out on a proper launch event, and not a wanky mainstream press affair like Nintendo did for Wii Music, but a proper geekfest involving massive screens, simulators, and fizzy drink.

The FM3 launch was held at Hoyts Sylvia Park, a week before the game’s release, at the inconvenient time of 11am.  Having to take the day off work and drive to Auckland was obviously well worth it, so no more need be said.

It was Nik who gave me a jam on the FM3 demo originally, so I tipped him off about the launch in the hopes that he’d be able to wangle an invite from the power that be at Gameplanet (for whom he writes).  The wangling was successful.

Microsoft had hired out three movie theatres for the launch, which was a massive overkill in terms of seating, but certainly not in terms of screen space; only one person (okay, two, but not much splitscreen went on) can play at a time.  Two of these were very small theatres with 32 plush leather seats, one of which also had four simulator setups complete with wheel and pedals available.  The remaining theatre was Hoyts’ Extreme Screen.  At over 30 metres across, it’s the world’s biggest permanent 35mm projection screen.

Tolan, Microsoft’s ever-gregarious PR guy, ushered us up to the top of the theatre, past the cheap seats to some rather pimp reclining leather couches in private alcoves, fired up a 360 connected to the Extreme Screen projector and launched Forza 3.

Well, gosh.  I’ll admit to being more than a little blown away.  I knew Forza 3 had badass graphics.  I knew the Extreme Screen was big.  I damn well knew that plush leather couches are nice to sit on.  But I was nonetheless rather close to completely fucking overwhelmed.

After Tolan had said his words and done a demonstration lap, he passed the controller around.  I was about third in line.  As soon as the wireless controller was firmly in hand, I trotted down to almost the very front of the cinema, to the point where the screen stretched out on either side to almost the limits of my peripheral vision.  For the race I selected Greg Murphy’s #51 Sprint Gas Racing Commodore.  Then I had to restart and turn most of the assists off and select manual shifting.

And holy crap.  Standing up, with practically my entire vision filled with this huge high definition image, and the massive cinema surround sound setup, it was a hell of a ride.  I was privately concerned that I might become unbalanced and arse over, a fear that luckily was not justified.  There was a bloke from TV3 filming me playing, getting all manner of perspective shots.  I forgot to watch the news and Nightline, so I have no idea if I ended up on TV or not.  I like to think I did.

As the various writers trickled out of the cinemas, we were each handed a goody bag.  These are pretty standard at these events, and usually contain a bit of advertising material and some branded merchandise.  On this day though, all my wildest dreams were to come true.  Or at least, one thing I hoped would happen but seemed unlikely would in fact come to pass.

In addition to the little goody bag, we were each given a retail copy of the game.  A week before release.  I did a little dance, and may even have giggled, such was my excitement.

So easily does a cynic become a fanboy.