Forza Motorsport 3 vs Gran Turismo 5 vs Need For Speed Shift

The gaming market has an interesting irony that only a few have the luxury to note: one of the biggest problems of the big companies means a good year for their fans. The most recent example - and that will be discussed right away - is the racing games genre. Since these titles always seek to unite the best of fun with the simulation of a real car race, and now in the second half of 2009 promises something on fire: "Forza Motorsport 3" from Microsoft Game Studios, will compete to the supremacy of the slopes with "Gran Turismo 5, Sony Computer Entertainment. Exclusive, respectively, for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, both titles still have a third concern: "Need for Speed Shift" from Electronic Arts, is coming with promises to renew the franchise and take it back to the starlight once again.

Forza MotorSport 3
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Turn10 Studios
Platform: XBOX 360

Forza Motorsport is a racing games franchise that had its start in the first Xbox. At the time, Gran Turismo from Sony, was the king of the "automobile simulation," then Microsoft Game Studios decided to compete on equal terms with the king of the moment. Forza 3 was announced with all the pomp and glamor that is entitled to a racing game. Already established as a memorable franchise, there are those who consider their relationship with Gran Turismo 5 'similar to a teacher whose students overcame. The director of FM 3, Dan Greenwalt, said that despite the tremendous respect he has by Kazunori Yamauchi (creator of Gran Turismo), is incredibly confident in his team. Forza Motorsport 3 will feature over 400 cars distributed among 50 manufactures, all licensed, of course. Moreover, the features that made its predecessor a success - highlighted here for the paint customization options - are further improved, according to the promises of Turn10. The vehicles range from utilitarian models, super sports, luxury sedans, racing cars and even SUVs - "Sport Utility Vehicles", as the Grand Cherokee and Mitsubishi Pajero. Moreover, the main focus of the development team is to unite the best representation of physical reality, but while the spirit of arcade "stick your foot and go" side. Citing himself Dan Greenwalt: "With 'Forza 3', we transform gamers into car lovers and car lovers into gamers.

Forza Motorsport 3 can indeed take the reign of Gran Turismo 5. Reasons? Miscellaneous. For starters, the "pre-build" version from Sony - "Gran Turismo 5: Prologue" - received critical acclaim for expert analysis. Moreover, E3 2009 served to further enhance the hope of a change, whereas as Forza 3 has earned itself a presentation at the Microsoft's conference, Gran Turismo 5 just won the exhibition of a trailer - although beautiful, did not serve to quench the thirst of the fans.

Gran Turismo 5
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Platform: PS3

Born in the first PlayStation in 1998, the Gran Turismo series were immortalized by being the most complete racing simulator that video games have already devised. When restricted to consoles from Sony, the franchise created by Kazunori Yamauchi always prized physical, rather than concentrating their efforts on speed. This helped him to give users an experience of handling never described before. Gran Turismo 5 is one of the most thankless task: Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony Digital team know that the version of Prologue was not what they expected, which led to the public the idea of "we know how that goes be. Something that always owed, but that Yamauchi ensures that in the fifth edition, is the representation of damage to vehicles. Before absent in all Working Groups of the franchise, it was common to hit the player with the car, since driving in this game is not the easiest thing in the world. The details related exclusively to the PlayStation 3 were not disclosed, but Yamauchi, during the Sony conference at E3 2009, was keen to stress partnerships with NASCAR and World Rally Championship, guaranteeing not only vehicles and licensed brands, but also events officers. Moreover, Sony has another trick up its sleeve: Gran Turismo PSP will be released for PSP / PSP Go!, featuring more than 800 vehicles and 35 different tracks.

While it is early to give any judgement, I think GT5 is losing. The fact that there was no demonstration in the largest gaming event in the world weighed heavily on the taste of the audience. That's not counting the fact that Gran Turismo 5 was first announced during E3 2006! Three years have passed and still insists that Yamauchi excuse of "it takes to do right, with unmatched quality" - we know how difficult it must be to create a simulator as real as to beat any competition, but three years with the same speech is too much...

Need for Speed: Shift
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Slightly Mad Studios
Platforms: PC/PS3/PSP/X360

Produced by Electronic Arts since 1994, is the oldest game of the three competitors. Born in 3DO, the Need for Speed franchise was for years the standard for the development of racing games. With the arrival of Need for Speed Carbon, in 2006, however, the series began a decline that would come to its lowest point with the recent Undercover , a milestone for any developer who wants to learn to NOT do a title race. Now, EA wants to reposition the saga in his position as before, leading him to the land of hyper-realistic simulation. Out with the streets, out with the illegal races. Need for Speed Shift will put the player on the racetrack. The differential of this title for the other two is that "shift" has a plot, though this topic has not yet received much detail.Basically, the idea of the development team is putting players in the shoes of a pilot who envisions a career. Therefore, it is being tested in several car racings. Of course, we have seen that with Need for Speed Pro Street. Therefore, cars will no longer be of utility models hyper-tweaked to become models of vehicles based on real life, but with specific capabilities for the race. All this, plus the fact that the project director, when not behind a desk at Electronic Arts, can be found behind the wheel of a racing car: Patrick Soderlund is also creative director of Need for Speed Shift and senior vice president of the European branch of Electronic Arts, a race car driver" Endurance, "where the limits of the cars are taken to the extreme with long-term events which require high performance and endurance.

How many cars? How is the plot? Yes, the pictures are beautiful, but in graphics "Forza 3" and "Gran Turismo 5" are masters. There is a certain preference of the public by this title because the other two already mentioned, but the fact is that - outside of the images and videos - there is still no detail at all. It is difficult to foster any hope for a long time in these conditions. For now, "shift" seems an upgraded version of Need for Speed Pro Street.

Marco Cecilio, NoobFeed