Forza Motorsport 4: Week in Review 3/23/12
March 23, 2012by BRIAN EKBERG
Rarely have I been as happy as I am right now as I type these words: The most recent title update for Forza Motorsport 4 is now available! After a long wait, our latest update for your favorite racing game and mine is here and we’re overwhelmingly happy to have it out the door and available for your Xbox 360s. So what does this title update do for you? Simply put, it addresses some ongoing issues with Forza 4 and adds some brand new functionality to the game that I think hardcore Forza 4 fans will really love.
In addition to addressing the lobby hang issue that has affected online play, this title update also includes the Performance Index changes that we discussed at the time of our previous title update. These PI changes are significant and touch a number of cars and, like last time, we’ll be doing wipes of appropriate leaderboards in the coming days in order to level set the playing field for these cars. In addition, with this title update, we have improved car menu navigation performance in the UI and dramatically increased the level cap in Forza Motorsport 4, from 150 to 999. Earlier today, we posted the latest edition of our ongoing "Under the Hood" series, featuring an interview with Forza Motorsport creative director Dan Greenawalt. The story will give you a detailed look at all of the changes in this title update, so be sure and give it a read.
Huge thanks to the team here at Turn 10 who worked hundreds of hours to complete this title update. Thanks also go to the Forza community; you guys have been very patient with us as we’ve been working through this process, and you’ve been instrumental in helping us make this title update the best it possibly can be.
Community photo contest first place winner xTUG4x
So, now that the title update is here, what say we all play some Forza 4 together? It’s time to bring back Forza Motorsport 4 Game With Devs series! Our next event will be on Thursday, March 29 from 3-5 p.m. PST. During that two-hour window, we want everyone to be online in Forza Motorsport 4 and then head over to our official Facebook page. Look for the “Game With Turn 10” tab and then join us in our ongoing chat.
Fred, Jav, John, and I (and whomever else we can wrangle on this side) will be playing Forza 4 and chatting with you. In addition to racing online, we’ll be giving out unicorn cars and other prizes as well. It will be two hours of automotive mayhem and we hope to see you there! If you can’t make it on Thursday, never fear, we’ll be holding more events in the very near future.
Community photo contest second place winner II BMW M Evo II
Turn 10 Track Days Recap
Last Saturday the Forza community team spent the day hanging out with race fans and watching the 12 Hours of Sebring race in our first Turn 10 Track Day event of the year. We had an awesome time hanging out with everyone who managed to drop by, even when the conversation drifted from the action happening in the race and veered into the strange (including some extended appreciations of bacon and bacon-related products. You sort of had to be there…)
With trivia questions to answer and gifts given out throughout the day—not to mention a brand new chat interface that is a big improvement over last year’s version—we look forward to holding more Turn 10 Track Day events throughout the year. Our next event will be at the ALMS race at Long Beach on April 14. If Sebring is any indication, it’s going to be an awesome event, so plan accordingly!
And speaking of Sebring, here’s an incredible shot from the race given to us by photographer James Busato, who works with the sportscar racing E-zine l’endurance and was at the race all weekend:
You’ll be seeing more of James' work here throughout the year, as he has generously agreed to share more race photos with us throughout the year.
Rear View Mirror Debut
If you missed it on Monday, take a moment today to check out our brand new Monday column "Rear View Mirror", written by our very own John Schommer. This column is designed to keep you up to date with the real world racing action from the previous weekend, as well as serve as a look ahead of what to look forward to in the Forza community. Give it a read and let us know what you think and what you might like to see in the column in the future.
Community photo contest third place winner The Twilight Tw
SQUIRE TUNES
As I noted in the previous edition of the Week in Review, I’m on the hunt for Country Squire tunes. In particular, I’m looking for tunes that can improve my time in this month’s Community Monthly Rivals Mode event “The Regatta.” Last week I put out the call that anyone who created a tune for the Country Squire that improved my position on the leaderboard would get a unicorn car. The Forza community came up with an impressive amount of tunes to try and, so far, two setups I’ve tried have improved my time. So congratulations to markyl777 and WhyMustISigh; your thank-you unicorns have already been sent.
Now, for the rest of you, the job becomes more difficult as we continue to try and squeeze blood from the Country Squire stone. Still, if you think you’ve got a tune that will improve my time (which, as of this writing, sits at a 16.7 flat), toss it up on the storefront with the descriptor "SQUIRE MECHBERG" and I’ll give it a try when I can. If your tune bumps me up the leaderboard, I'll send you a unicorn car.
(And for the folks who are running up the prices on these tunes, knowing I’ll buy any and every Country Squire setup you make... well, I don’t know whether to be offended by your audacity or impressed by your entrepreneurship.)
Community photo contest honorable mention S2M Evo
VIP Polls Galore
Forza 4 VIPs, heads up, we’ve got more polls for you. Yesterday, we kicked off our latest poll for April’s VIP Rivals Mode event. This week, you’re choosing the track you’ll be racing on next month and, early indications on our official Facebook page have Laguna Seca as the clear favorite. If you’ve got other ideas, head over to the poll and vote for yourself.
Next week, we’ll be kicking off our next VIP Car Battle, with the winning car going out to all Forza 4 VIPs. Stay tuned for the details next week!
Forza 4 DLC On sale next week
If you’re a coupon clipper or always hold out for the best deals on cool stuff, check out the upcoming discounts on previously released Forza Motorsport 4 Add-on Car Packs. Starting Tuesday, March 27, the following packs will be on sale as part of Xbox LIVE's "It's All About Speed" Deal of the Week:
American Muscle Car Pack – 320 Microsoft Points (43% off)
November Speed Pack – 400 Microsoft Points (29% off)
December IGN Pack – 320 Microsoft Points (43% off)
January Jalopnik Pack – 400 Microsoft Points (29% off)
The sale ends Monday, April 2 so get in on the action beginning Tuesday and fill your garage with more awesome rides. And, speaking of awesome rides, next week we'll introduce you to the cars that will be in next month's add-on pack for Forza Motorsport 4. Until then, have a great weekend everyone!
HUGE Forza Update!
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