Test Drive Unlimited 2- MMo Racing?!

I have been a fan of racing games for years. Ever since Pole Position on the arcade I have been hooked. Everything from Mario Kart to Gran Tourismo. Which the most recent installment of the latter has got me hooked, and is about to talk me into parting my long term relationship with my xbox. We'll see how that goes.

I think it really started with a game on a dos machine- Street Rod 2

 I first played this game at my cousin's when I was bout 10, you look through the papers, buy used cars and change out parts, v-6 to v-8, 2 barrel carbs to 4 barrel, to get that Thunderbird so you can take down 'The King' and you get his car and his girlfriend. That was pretty sweet. So here we are over 15 years later.

I always thought a MMO racing game would be good for the average gamer. I always ran across them late. Like Motor City Online

of

Motor City Online Wiki

or Test Drive Unlimited 1- which was visually appealing, lots of nice cars to drive, fairly realistic physics, but by the time I started up with it the online community had died down and you couldn't find another player.

I have filled my time with Forza games, need for speed shift and most recently hot pursuit. Which is something what I was wanting.  Faster cars, faster police, almost like burnout with real cars and you could play the cops.

Then I receive an email from EBGames. Could this email be what I have been looking for?
The email detailed the release of Test Drive Unlimited 2 at a price of $49.00 with no monthly subscription it got my mind going.

Then I watched this trailer

 
and it got my mind going even more.
Atari, like in the first game, had developed a massive island, with astounding mountains, forests, and beautiful beaches, expansive cities and off road tracks. You will have road races and rally style races. the interesting the about TDU2 that it's not only about racing. In a saturated Genre such as the racing market it's hard to be creative. Everyone has the same cars, everyone has good graphics, every one has the physics. So your options seem to be on how 'arcade' or 'simulation' you make the game.

TDU2- blows this idea out of the water. Why make a game about street racing, when you can make a game about the street racing lifestyle of a millionaire...in HAWAII.

You can buy cars, and customize your cars, buy a house, customize your house. There is even a virtual casino. The social aspect of the game looks to be one of the key features. Will it be a Boom, or a Bust It's hard to say right now. Is it going to be everything I wanted, probably not but i think it will be a good game

TDU2 is set to release  Feb 8th in North America Feb 11th in Europe. Currently Test Drive Unlimited has a gamers guarantee at EBGames. Meaning you can pre-order and purchase and if 7 days you don't like it, you will get a full refund also you will get access to the casino and a new car if you pre-order. If you've been looking for a racing game and then some, this maybe a game for you, and with a pre-order and gaming guarantee you can't go wrong.

Just don't be disappointed when you find out...there are no :Lamborghini's in the game at this time but stick around and check the other mouth watering motors below

Pictures courtesy of http://www.computerandvideogames.com