Plus, Hartman's not interested in doing the necessary paperwork. With the recent shake-up of internal development studios at FASA and Bungie, plus the snatching away of two third party developers to third party publishers, the Xbox crowd may be worried that Turn 10 has their eye on the door. Hartman's pretty clear, saying of the Bungie deal that it's a "win-win situation as far as I can tell, but not one I'm very interested in."

A Turn 10 Introduction... [Forza Motorsport]

Further details, including info on some upcoming Nissan sponsored contests, at the official site.

Nissan Brings 2007 Cars to Forza Motorsport 2 [Forza Motorsport 2]

The general answer to that question has always been "yes," we definitely have DLC up our sleeves and will release a series of car packs and new tracks starting in August and running probably through a good chunk of fall. Forza Motorsport 2 is definitely here to stay. We're also going to continually keep an eye on community and its successes and problems, patching and tweaking where we need to and rewarding those who are especially helpful or give back to the community.

Oh, thanks, Che! I love these little conversations we have.

Weekly Pitpass Report [Turn 10 Studios]

While the flap over the Forza Motorsport 2 content may still be too young, it raises some interesting questions. Does the ESRB need to extend its warning to consumers beyond the "game experience may change during online play" splash screen? It would be much easier for a gamer to come across content that causes offense in a game like Forza 2 than to witness the unfinished "adults only" Hot Coffee mod material.

I would tend to agree that games that have the ability to see user created content added to the game and its online experience need to be more clearly labeled by the ESRB, at the very least in attempts to better inform consumers and to protect the industry's developers. What do you think about new ratings for games that are more open to user created content?

Call the ESRB! [Curmudgeon Gamer]
Why wouldn't the ESRB act on Forza? [Cathode Tan]

360 Gamer takes a look at a recent example of this abuse of creativity. While many Forza Motorsport 2 paintjob artists create spectacular works of art with simple shapes and decals, some are taking it into distasteful territory. And they're taking it online, adding patently offensive customized cars to the Forza auction house.

In this particular case, gamer Dreamer61's 1957 Mercedes 300SL—a car adorned with Nazi imagery and racist, hateful speech—unfortunately made it past moderators and onto the auction house. This is a clear violation of the Xbox Live Online User Policy, as 360 Gamer points out.

Here's to hoping that publishers and console manufacturer's will be swift and harsh with their punishment of our hobby's more brainless user created content contributors.

Microsoft yet to get on top of Forza 2 racism [360 Gamer]

Albus Presents: Car Tuning - A Way of Life [Forza Forums]

Pretty sweet job, SnprSlick! Now go my loyal Kotakuites and show your pride on the racetrack with one of these fine automobiles. You'll be the coolest kid on the block, I swear! Make the jump to see a clip of the car in action. Flynn De Marco

The update covers, in detail, exactly what you'll be getting when you pick up the Halo 3 Collector's Edition or the Legendary Edition. The former, while not featuring a cat-size Spartan helmet, does contain some sweet stuff, including the hard bound Bestiary book you see pictured above plus a very nice sounding interactive DVD. Oh, what the hell, you should just read on to get the full details.

You can also get an eye full of a swell Forza Motorsport 2 paint job, very appropriate for the weekly update. Michael McWhertor

Bungie Weekly Update: 06/08/07 [Bungie]

As I depart the Big Apple (where I've been reporting from all weekend) I leave you with this list of games coming out this week. Mario Party looks like it might be some fun with the addition of the Wii remote mechanic and I'd like to see how the 2d to 3d Crush is for the PSP. Other than that, I can satisfy myself with finishing up Silent Hill 2 which for some reason I decided to haul out of the mothballs. Anyone going to round out a holiday weekend by picking one or two of these up? Flynn De Marco

• Mario Party 8 (WII) It's the video game that's a board game with mini-games.
• Halo 2 (PC)
  Now with less ass.
• Forza Motorsport 2 (X360)
  The Xbox 360 gets it's dose of Forza racing.
• Shadowrun (X360, PC)
  Magic and guns, 360s and PCs join together for a new multiplayer experience
• Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (WII)
  Nintendo brings Mortal Kombat to their console marking the beginning of the Wii bloodletting game parade.
• Crush (PSP)
  It's like Super Paper Mario on the PSP just without the paper or the Mario. The super remains to be seen.
• Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm (PS2)
  A little 2D old school PRG action. I really, really hope this has that silver ball that puts spikes in your brain.
• Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia (X360, PC)
  Fight for control of the suburbs against monster hordes. No, not soccer moms, actual monsters.

Microsoft Game Studios' Forza Motorsport 2 hits shelves on Tuesday and to celebrate Microsoft is dropping the price of the Xbox 360 Racing Wheel from $150 to $130.

Microsoft is also kicking off a Forza Motorsport 2 Race Weekend which will run from June 1 through June 3. The online event will include Livery contests, gameplay sessions with developers and a leaderboard tournament. They'll also be giving out some newly cheapened Wireless Racing Wheels.

Hit the jump for the full press release. Brian Crecente

"Forza Motorsport 2" Races Into Living Rooms on Xbox 360 Worldwide
Microsoft celebrates the 91st Indy 500 with release of "Forza Motorsport 2" on May 29; announces price drop for the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, now available for $129.99 ERP.
REDMOND, Wash. — May 25, 2007 — Microsoft Game Studios today announced that "Forza Motorsport® 2" will speed onto U.S. retail shelves Tuesday, May 29, and that the estimated retail price (ERP) of the Xbox 360™ Wireless Racing Wheel has been lowered to $129.99 in the U.S.
Timed to mark the biggest racing event of the year, these announcements are sure to ignite the driving spirit in gamers and car enthusiasts alike as the 91st Annual Indianapolis 500 kicks off today.
Tuned and developed with the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, "Forza Motorsport 2" supports true force feedback, setting a new precedent for realism in the racing simulation genre that will have gamers feeling every bump in the road and every jolt of acceleration as they take the corners on 12 of the most renowned tracks on the globe. With the game running at an astounding 60 frames per second, authentic simulation physics, and rumble functionality with the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, "Forza Motorsport 2" offers incredible realism and depth for a complete racing experience in gaming.
In addition, to mark the release of the new title, gamers in the U.S. will be able to participate in the "Forza Motorsport 2" Race Weekend, running June 1 through June 3. Gamers will be able to participate in a "Play and Win," Livery contests, gameplay sessions with developers, and a leaderboard tournament. Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheels and other prizes will be awarded to winners. Gamers will experience all the racing excitement they can handle with the following new gameplay experiences:
• Collect, upgrade and tune hundreds of cars. From sport compacts to purpose-built race cars, "Forza Motorsport 2" offers more than 300 cars from over 50 of the world's leading manufacturers such as Ferrari, Porsche, Nissan, Volkswagen, General Motors and Lamborghini. Players can take their car to the garage and install alternative engines, suspension kits, bolt-on superchargers, brakes, rims and racing slicks. Players can also dial in advanced suspension settings, tire pressure and gear ratios.
• Experience an uncompromising physics simulation. Top automotive engineers, professional race car drivers and experienced programmers teamed up to create a complete racing simulator experience. Cars incur dramatic damage and wear, which affects vehicle performance. Advanced tire and suspension models that respond to heat and pressure changes as well as weight transfer and aerodynamic load are just a few examples of how the gamer plays both crew chief and driver.
• Master real-world tracks from around the world. From the famously challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife to the green hills of Tuscany, gamers can race on meticulously designed tracks with an incredible sense of speed and realism. "Forza Motorsport 2" features 47 ribbons across 12 environments, including real-world licensed circuits such as Mugello, Suzuka and Sebring International Raceway.
• Create and share a masterpiece with the world. Players can express their inner artist in the paint and upgrade shops with nearly endless personalization options. They can customize the shape of their car by combining different licensed rims, performance parts and aftermarket body kits and create a unique paint scheme using millions of paint and decal options. Then racers can hit the track and take in-game pictures of their creation in the "Forza Motorsport 2" Photo Mode, or sell their work of art to an eager community for in-game credits over Xbox LIVE® using the "Forza Motorsport 2" Auction House.
• Literally feel the road, just like a professional driver. Through the rumble functionality in the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, players will feel uncompromising responsiveness to every acceleration, downshift and turn, making the racing experience as true to life as possible. With the latest improvements to rumble, force feedback and wireless technologies, form and function are placed into high-speed gaming motion, letting racers feel every bump around the turns at famous tracks such as Sebring as well as the differences in handling and stability in each car they drive.
• Compete in a vibrant online community. Gamers can take their personalized car onto Xbox LIVE for some intense online wheel-to-wheel racing. They have the option to compete in private online sessions with friends or in large public tournaments on Xbox LIVE in the seamlessly integrated "Forza Motorsport 2" Career Mode.* They can earn in-game credits and even complete single-player career objectives while racing over Xbox LIVE. Or they can sit back and watch the best racers from around the world compete on "Forza Motorsport 2" TV.
Fans can continue to visit http://www.xbox.com and http://forzamotorsport.net for more information, screen shots and videos.
From the creative minds at Turn 10 Studios, "Forza Motorsport 2" is the game that offers something for every type of racing and car enthusiast, such as optional driving assists for the novice and gameplay options for the serious car aficionado that include the ability to tune, trade, paint and collect players' favorite cars. With Xbox LIVE, players can share and sell their custom creations on the "Forza Motorsport 2" online Auction House and experience an impressively accurate simulation, putting their performance-tuned rides to the test against the best the online world has to offer. "Forza Motorsport 2" will be widely available at retailers nationwide May 29 for an ERP of $59.99.
About Turn 10 Studios
"Forza Motorsport 2" is developed by Turn 10 of Microsoft Game Studios. The experienced development team led by Dan Greenawalt is composed of top developers and real race drivers and car collectors whose pedigrees include work on top racing franchises such as "Forza Motorsport," "Project Gotham Racing®" and "RalliSport Challenge." Microsoft also teamed up with top engineers from the likes of Ferrari SpA and Toyo Tires to create incredibly realistic driving physics in a racing simulation game.
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox® and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows® operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as "Age of Empires®," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon®"; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as "Gears of War" and franchises such as "Halo®," "Fable®," "Project Gotham Racing" and "Forza Motorsport"; and MSN® Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "Hexic®."
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

The demo version of Forza 2 will be single-player only, but will thankfully feature Xbox Wireless Racing Wheel support.

Gentlemen, start your disco naps! Michael McWhertor

The Official FM2 Demo Thread (It's on! Tonight 2AM EST) [Forza Motorsport Forums]

We'd heard talk that Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 2 would support up to eight monitors, but Forza community manager and former game journo Che Chou told me that the Xbox 360 sequel would only work with five monitors and five tandem Xboxes. So, it's not overkill.

This clip shows the much-more reasonable four monitor scenario, with a tiny Lilliput LCD screen taking on rearview mirror duties. Honestly, when I played, I didn't once look at it, but I was going up against ghost data, not any real competition. Watch, in this exclusive clip, Wired's Chris Kohler show why he should stick to Mario Kart. Michael McWhertor

The Forza Motorsport 2 team say that they are still gunning for a May release of their Xbox 360 racer. They won't say the specific date, but say that their schedule has them hitting Xbox certification around the middle of April and "going gold soon afterwards."

More importantly the team released the official, though short, list of FM2 tracks.

* Mugello Autodromo Internazionale
* Suzuka Circuit
* Sebring International Raceway
* Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
* Tsukuba Circuit
* Road Atlanta
* Silverstone Circuit
* N rburgring Nordschleife
* Maple Valley Raceway
* Sunset Peninsula Infield
* New York Circuit
* Test Track

While the list is short, the developers are already saying they will be creating downloadable maps as well that may or may not be free.

Will it be free? We don't know and can't say for sure right now but whatever it ends up becoming, we at Turn 10 aim to do right by the community. Definitely no horse armor here, folks.

Hit the jump to read about three of the developers' favorites among the list and why. Brian Crecente

The Turn 10 Weekly Pitpass Report [Forza 2 Motorsport]

* Chris "Master of Cars" Vanover on Mugello: "After watching the wealth of F1 Mugello footage available and then finally getting some seat time in-game with our cars, I've found myself thinking about taking a trip to Italy for the real thing. Combined with an elevation that varies 135 feet from top to bottom, the track has a great flow to it, and with 15 corners, every completed lap dares you to find even one place to go just a little faster. Like anywhere else, however, consistency is key — miss a brake zone or start checking out the amazing vista from the top of the hill and you'll wind up far off track in one of the numerous, wide gravel traps. Mugello will definitely take time to master."

* Rhett "Career Overlord" Mathis on Suzuka: "Suzuka is my favorite new track. It has a lot of personality, plenty of variety, and is great for racing because it features numerous passing opportunities. I like the way it dares you to go deeply into turn 1 before getting on the brakes to control the car for turn 2. The entire east section is a blast in any car — the esses being fairly easy to drive, but tricky to really perfect. In some way, Suzuka feels to me like it has two personalities due to the high-speed nature of the west section. You can reach some crazy speeds on the back stretch, and there's a real test of the kinds of stones you have coming through the 130R before crushing the brakes to safely navigate the triangle."

* Dan "Forza Visionary" Greenawalt on Sebring: "I'm really excited about Sebring International Raceway. I've been following the world famous 12 Hours of Sebring event for years. Its one of the most physically punishing courses in the world — the attrition list at the end of the annual endurance race is pure madness. Sebring features several grades of sun baked asphalt as well as lots of ill-fitting concrete slabs loosely sealed together. It's built on an old airstrip and nothing really matches up, so cars are always skipping and jumping all over the place. All those different seams and surface types really let us show off our physics engine, which is something I'm really excited about. The final corner, a long sweeper over several concrete slabs, is pure evil. Though Sebring doesn't have a lot of elevation change, its one of the roughest, craziest, nastiest tracks out there. Its truly one of the premier sportscar race courses in the United States."

The most recent community update from Che "Sushi X #7" Chou also outlines the sequel's tracklisting. The real world locations this turn are:

• Mugello Autodromo Internazionale
• Suzuka Circuit
• Sebring International Raceway
• Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
• Tsukuba Circuit
• Road Atlanta
• Silverstone Circuit
• Nürburgring Nordschleife
• Maple Valley Raceway
• Sunset Peninsula Infield
• New York Circuit
• Test Track

New multiplayer options for Forza 2 online are also detailed as well as hints at future downloadable content. That's new tracks and new cars, but "definitely no horse armor here, folks." Oh snap! Michael McWhertor

The Turn 10 Weekly Pitpass Report