You must be joking. Just last Thursday, we posted the second time Xbox 360 exclusive Project Gotham Racing 3 was used in a PS3 promotion. What's more, we hoped that someone was dumb enough to do it again. Someone was! Dutch magazine Mediamarkt is using the Microsoft published PGR3 in a PS3 article. (Below is the sourced PGR3.) This incessant Project Gotham Racing—PS3 crossover is starting to creep me out. What is it about this game and this console?! Brian Ashcraft

PGR3 In PS3 [Xbox Team Portugal, Thanks Snake!]

Remember when Xbox 360 game PGR3 was used to promote PS3 title Gran Turismo? Boy, that was embarrassing! Hate to have something like that happen again. And somebody to get in trouble, too? Horrible. Thank car manufacturer Kia, because it has happened again. The automobile company's Spanish website is running a promotion the compares driving a Kia to driving a Ferrari Enzo on the PS3. (Ha!) Thing is, the license plate clearly says PGR on it — That's an exclusive Xbox 360 game, published by Microsoft even. When will they ever learn? Not before somebody can pull a hat trick, I hope! Brian Ashcraft

Ooops! [Kia via Acey Bongo's Thanks, Mark!]

Kotaku reader Marcelo turned us on to this Reuters piece, detailing the upcoming Brazilian launch of Microsoft's Xbox 360. What I thought was going to be a run of the mill launch in a territory that no one cares about... oops, I mean is largely ignored... turned out to be an eye-opening bit of news.

Microsoft will be the first manufacturer to sell direct to the market in Brazil, where importers reign supreme. But this privelege will come at a price: 2999 reias, which currently exchanges at $1400 US. That's a lot of reias! Tough to swallow, as importers will bring a 360 to you for close to half that price.

The premium console package will be bundled with a few games, Project Gotham Racing 3, Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo: Elements of Power, which makes the steel-booted kick in the wallet a little easier (games retail for close to $75).

The real lesson to be learned here, is that we must be thankful for the low, low prices the God of Consoles has provided for us this generation. No more whining, Americans! Michael McWhertor

Microsoft bets on fast Xbox growth in Brazil

Earlier, we reported that French car maker Peugeot let it slip that there was going to be a Project Gotham Racing 4. The surprising bit wasn't that there's gonna be a PGR 4 (duh), but that Peugeot had presumably announced this via a design competition on its website. The winner's design would appear in the yet-unreveiled Project Gotham Racing game.

The auto company's site has been now wiped clean of any mention to PGR 4, instead saying that the contest winner's design will appear in an Xbox 360 game. End point. A tipster also sends word that sponsors for the contest have been sent the following email:

Dear Partner,

Could you please modify the information on your web site. The idea is to delete all information relative to the Project Gotham Racing 4 video game.

Many thanks

Funny, I would've thought the idea was to never mention the game in the first place. And covering it up? Well. Brian Ashcraft

Just an "Xbox 360 Game" [Peugeot] Thanks, Ociotakus!

What. A. Surprise. Bizarre Creations is making Project Gotham Racing 4 according to of all people, car manufacturer Peugeot's website. It is currently running a concept car design competion, stating:

The winning concept car will be included by Microsoft in the Project Gotham Racing 4 game, exclusively on Xbox 360 that will be released towards the end of 2007 or first half of 2008.

The previous title was a hit on the Xbox 360, and this latest incarnation will most likely be as well. Expect obvious follow-ups like PGR 5 and PGR 6. Guess the real news bit here is that viral marketing now includes using an European car company to "leak" game info. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Peugot] via Games Industry

Since launch, Microsoft has only offered a 39,800 yen (US $342) Premium pack to Japanese consumers. Looks like The Land of the Rising Sun is getting another choice. Microsoft Japan shoved a press release in the ol' Kotaku mailbox, saying the company will be offering a Core Xbox 360 bundle, starting on November 2nd. For 29,800 yen (US $256), consumers will get the console, a wired controller, Project Gotham Racing 3 and NINETY-NINE NIGHTS. Also on November 2nd, the company will be offering a special "Platium Collection" for 2,800 yen (US $24) a piece, which is more than half of what new games go for. The five titles in the collection include: Need for Speed, Rumble Roses XX, Every Party, PGR 3 and NINETY-NINE NIGHTS. Shortly after these reduced priced games and new system pack hit stores, 100,000 PLAYSTATION 3 consoles will go on sale. With PS3 numbers scare, Microsoft's betting (and hoping) it can ski in Sony's wake, picking up new customers along the way. Brian Ashcraft

Tipster David "El Guapo" Silva let us know that the Mexican Xbox 360 site updated with details on the bundle this week.

The cost is $5499 Mexican Pesos, or around $505 USD. Add to that the hefty 10% sales tax and it rounds out to around $555 USD. The page doesn't say if it includes the three months of gold live or the points, though. It probably doesn't, we always get shafted.

You're getting shafted? What about us? Such is the plight of the American consumer. Gracias, David! Michael McWhertor

Bundle PGR3 Est s Preparado?

Take for instance this comment from Bethesda about the possibility of Oblivion coming to the Playstation Portable:

At present we have no announced plans to bring Oblivion to any platforms other than PC or Xbox 360. We'll certainly let folks know if that changes.

Despite the fact that most sites who have this quote up are reporting it as a denial of the game coming to the PS3 or PSP, it isn't one.

All they are saying is that they haven't announced it. We already knew that, the question they don't answer is if the game is under development.

Here's another form of spin control:

Rumors (ones substantiated with pictures) hit of a PGR3 Xbox 360 pack coming in the near future for the same price as the current Xbox 360 Premium pack. Instead of denying this rumor, likely because it is true, the various Microsoft mouthpieces deny a price drop coming to the Xbox 360.

"Microsoft has no plans to change the price of the Xbox 360 Core or Xbox 360 SKUs this fall.

While that may be true, I'd be equally pissed if I dropped $400 for a Premium pack and a few months later a PGR3 pack hit for the same price. Brian Crecente

Gamespot followed up with a Microsoft rep who regurgitated the usual "No comment" but also provided its own reason for why a bundle like this makes so much sense.

My SKU-sense is tingling with a "very believable" vibration, so I say expect an announcement from Microsoft soon. Friendly Neighborhood Weekend Editor Michael McWhertor

Xbox discontinued, 360 Pro Bundle coming? [GAF]
$399 Xbox 360 bundle with PGR3, points, Live account cooking? [Gamespot]

The Xbox crew videoed Jack Black's recent Game with Fame session. The look on Black's face is priceless when he hits his first game and the first thing he hears is "What's up Jack rock ooooon!" Yeah, that's your fan base buddy.

The video ends with Black saying "It's no secret I'm a gamer. My skills are sharp. My skills are extremely sharp." Yeah, but we don't see you wrapping your girly hands around the controller for a little Halo 2, do we? Brian Crecente

Jack Black is a Gamer: "My Skills are Sharp..." [Gamerscoreblog]

Bizarre Creations is saying that they will be resetting the Project Gotham Racing 3 Online Career leaderboard.

The developer is resetting the Online Career leaderboards to compensate for recent changes to the way the game's online matchmaking works. The reset hits at 8 a.m. GMT today.

This means that everybody will start again with a clean slate... but fret not! The TrueSkill system will once again accurately measure your skill within five or six races... so you'll be back to where you were within a few minutes.

The plus side of this reset is that everybody will be able to find a lot more opponents to race against in Online Career. It'll also provide a better gaming experience, matching you against people of the same skill much more efficiently than before.

So, it's good news. However, before we reset the stats, we thought we'd have a look at who was the best, the worst, and the indifferent. The conclusion? Keep reading BizarreOnline in the next day or two to find out...

Reset Coming [Bizarre Creations]

Bizarre Creations, the developer responsible for Project Gotham Racing, is driving crappy cars across Europe. Ironic yes, but it's all to raise money for charity. Dubbed the "Scumball Rally 3000," the 4-day Vanishing Point-style drive will take fearless Bizarre staffers across Europe. Cool wheels, and the bullet holes are a nice touch. Check out more pics after the jump.

More Info Here [Bizarre] via UK Resistance
Donate Here [Just Giving]

No not that Speed Pack for Project Gotham Racing 3, which offers up a dozen hot, fast cars, by the Cadillac V-Series Collection.

I was speaking with some marketing folks (not Microsoft, think more advertising folks) about the pack yesterday. They see it, as do I, as the perfect example of advertising in gaming. They're willing to give something to gamers for no cost, or so I'm told, in exchange for the very obvious product placement. So gamers get to tool around in some new cars, and Cadillac gets to have potential car buyers do virtual test drives adnauseum.

Now, I haven't actually seen the Caddy Pack yet, oooh I like that name, so if it turns out that the thing looks like crap or forces you to watch commercials everytime you get in, I will no longer be a fan. But from what I've been told this is just a straight forward car pack.

This is what in-game advertising should be: Free and optional.

What do you think? Do you consider this upcoming Xbox 360 download a good example of in-game advertising or do you think such a thing simply doesn't exist?

It looks like a British company called Joytech has released a fancy steering wheel for the Xbox 360. Judging by these pics, the wheel will have a digital display; led lights that will track speed, perhaps; a gear shift; and pedals. Hit Best Buy for a full run down.

Xbox 360 Steering Wheel [Joytron, thanks James]

The Speed Pack for Project Gotham Racing 3 hits Xbox Live on April 17. The good news is that gamers will be getting some free goodies. The goodies include a free car and some fixes and enhancements.

Unfortunately, if you want to get to the really juicy stuff you're going to have to pay 400 Micropoints for them. The pay pack comes with a dozen new cars including the Ferrari 612 Scagleitti and the Aston Martin V8 Vanquish.

Of course if you're planning on entering the tournament, you'll probably want to buy the pack and start practicing straight away.

Speed Pack [PGR3]

Last week at a London event, Bizarre Creations stated that the next Project Gotham Racing will be faster and harder than the current Xbox 360 title. Bizarre's Ben Ward said, "We've already done some experiments, and things are looking good." Bizarre did not outright admit PRG 4 was already in development, but told Xbox 360 - The Official Magazine that they'd "be daft not to do another one."

"I think we'll be able to push the graphics a lot harder," says Bizarre's Gareth Williams. "When we were working on Gotham 3, we kept finding ways to do things better once they'd already been done, but the producer was telling us that we couldn't re-write the whole code two weeks before launch!"

As developers and programmers get more experience with the 360, the games are obviously bound to look better and better.

Full Story Here [OXM]

Just what is the PGR 100? It sounds like it's going to be the first real international Project Gotham Racing 3 in Xbox Live.

If you hop over to the link below you can check out some of the scant details yourself, but in essence there will be four "events" over the next few months that will enter people into this event.

The details are only posted on the UK site so far, but I'm hoping those other events will be in other countries.

For you UK-ers here are the details on how to enter.

Fire up Xbox Live Silver or Gold on your Xbox 360 and download the specially designed PGR 100 Gamer Picture from Xbox Live Marketplace between 12:01pm GMT on Wednesday February 6, 2006 and 11.59am GMT on March 10, 2006. That's it!

All those who download the Gamer Picture between the dates specified will be entered automatically into a draw to win unique limited edition Xbox 360s and the first precious places in the PGR 100*.
In order for Winners to be notified, they must have opted in to receive marketing communications from Xbox**.

The PGR 100 [Xbox Live UK]

Okay Kotakuites, pop quiz time. Which images are photos and which ones are photorealism?

Check Yer Answers Here [GameBrink] Thanks Jeromy!

The Project Gotham Racing demo is live on Marketplace Live. The demo weighs in at a whopping 1.23 GB, so you may want to schedule some downtime for the download.

Don't adjust yer monitor. Kotaku reader Jason dropped word that he's got a freshly squeezed 360 lemon. With the brand spankin' new console, Project Gotham Racing 3 single player crashed three times in a row. That's with all the default settings. Cat's not been able to finish one track without the game crashing. Literally. Man, either this is one buggy disc or we're lookin' at a giant recall here.

More Pics Here [Flickr] Thanks Jason!