For me, the handling didn’t really work, it had potential but didn’t grab me in the way I wanted and so I moved onto Forza Motorsport 2 and on from there. So, back to 2011, I had received my code and following the recent success of my F1 2010 coverage, I finally had a decent wheel and rig to take my automotive experience and enjoyment to a whole different level. At this point I was still in the dark as to the potential success of the forthcoming video content. But as ever, would maximise any exclusive in producing a Preview To Content video. Already views were up, and without any clue as to how I was going to cover this, I set out on my journey through Test Drive Unlimited 2.

When creating content like this in a livestream, uncut style manner, there is always that concern, how will I play this? What if I play poorly? How will it affect my reputation? All kinds of potential pressures. Instead I threw all of that into the bin and just enjoyed myself playing the game, and did I enjoy myself. It was obvious to the audience that despite the games many technical forthcomings and rather clunky design, I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of  this game world. Driving it at times as if I was in a real car, other times I just wanted to explore. Test different cars, or give myself a massive nose in the plastic surgery clinic.

Then jetting off to Hawaii, it was wonderful to explore a comparatively new land, especially with my limited experience of the first game. The play areas were huge, the worlds felt alive, meanwhile the voice acting felt so comically bad as to increase the overall charm of this gaming world. I just wanted to explore more and more, and that lead to my extended Sunday drives. Unfortunately the Sunday drives have since been removed due to spurious copyright claims, which at the time meant deleting videos rather than demonetising. So, instead here’s a look at Hawaii.

As a journalist and content creator, this was a transnational time for me. Publishers wanted my content to be less ‘bedroom’ and more produced. That started a change in direction for many years, be it for better or worse. But in recent months with the live streaming on my Twitch channel  I feel like it has all come full circle. I’m back to just enjoying the game and inviting you all along for the ride.

So, follow on Twitch and join me in the coming months when we start this journey all over again. Diving into Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, I don’t know what’s in store but given the huge progress from Kylotonn over the past few years, I’m expecting something very special. A world rich with detail, dynamic handling even better than WRC 9, weather and vast 1:1 terrain. Everything feels like it has built to this point and I can’t wait to share the culmination of that decade long journey through automotive gaming.

The post My Test Drive Unlimited Journey; Going Full Circle appeared first on Team VVV.

But first I wanted to cast my mind back, it’s 1991, I had just seen Terminator 2 at the cinema and had read about a new videogame TV show coming to channel 4. At that time I was playing on my Amstrad CPC 464 and looking forward to getting a Sega Megadrive at Christmas. To say I was buzzing about this new console was an understatement. I would buy my magazines and just pour over every detail, seeing pictures of so many games I would never see in motion. The prospect of a TV show giving us a glimpse of a range of gaming was a mouth-watering prospect. But would it be any good? Did TV companies understand video games and gamers? I remember these questions were already being asked at the time.

The first showing was a big event for gamers, featuring a review of Terminator on the Megadrive, a game that would eventually be delayed for many months but to see it in action was a ball of excitement. Going to school the next day to discuss with friends every detail. The show wasn’t perfect and some challenges were more interesting than others but it was great just to see this all coming together.

Series 2 took everything a stage further, bigger sets, a rival in Bad Influence and the battle for the attention of TV gamers was on. GamesMaster went from strength to strength, Dominick Diamond became ever more popular as the soul of the show and it felt like everyone was having great fun in the process.

I grew up as the show evolved, series 3 was a non entity and rather dull with repetitive challenges, but series 4 was GamesMaster back on track. Funny, edgy, informative, and as the audience got older, so did the approach and humour. Leaving school, going to work and loving every minute of it. We’d tape it on VHS, then watch it again at weekends, laughing at the various innuendo, Dominik always had a way with words.

Not only did GamesMaster grow with the gamers, it grew with the industry, which expanded massively in this period in the transition from 16-bit to 32-bit systems, culminating in PS1, N64 and Saturn. But this was the core time of gaming, maximum excitement, PR and Marketing were all along for the ride, games developers had relative free reign. We were all enjoying the party, and the industry parties were huge. It was great that games were getting out there, that the industry could finally show its value and gamers moved our of that nerdy shadow that had covered mass market opinion for so long. But that’s where everything changes.

GamesMaster’s swift demise was unexpected at the time, and its loss felt like an enormous hole. A time of excitement and wonder was over. The corporate control was creeping in, and over the years that followed that hole was never filled. Gaming was off prime time TV for good, the jokes no longer appropriate, gamers being forced elsewhere for their info and support of their passions. GamesMaster felt like that community talking point which brought gamers together, took the piss out of us, had fun doing it, but ultimately respected gamers more than anyone.

Eventually in the years that followed I had my various forays onto TV but nothing could quite capture that special time and nothing ever will again. But I hope this interview gives an insight into the time that was, while the book enables us to relive and appreciate those special moments, because they’ll never come again.

You can enjoy my full two-hour interview with Dominik below and support the Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darrenwall/gamesmaster-the-oral-history/comments

The post Dominik Diamond – The Oral History Interview appeared first on Team VVV.

So, it was an interesting surprise to see Dorna Sports announce a partnership with Moto Trainer, a motorbike simulator that allows riders to train on their own bikes. This is pretty interesting and a potential break through in the simulator market, trailer below. Moto Trainer’s software can allow riders to train on each and every MotoGP circuit across the globe. Suitable for sports bikes of all shapes and sizes, Moto Trainer can either be linked to the official MotoGP videogame, produced by long-standing MotoGP partner and videogame developer Milestone, or riders can follow an OnBoard lap of the track on which they wish to train. This all sounds very interesting, almost too good to be true. Can the MotoGP game physics adapt perfectly? Where are the physics limitations? So many questions, but the potential is exciting.

Going into further details on the play with MotoGP, the system aims to support real-world movement and synchronise that to the digital rendering of their riding on-screen. On-board laps, meanwhile, provide the perfect blueprint for riders to follow – allowing even the most veteran riders to train in seamless synchronicity with their on-screen counterpart. It will be interesting to see the full implementation, is it just a marketing line? Or physical training tool more than a biking one?

Andrea Lombardi, CEO of MotoTrainer: “The software behind Moto Trainer, developed by our engineers, is capable of playing any onboard video, and allows riders to save their efforts on a telemetry master track. This means that you can load any circuit and motorbike you want, with riders replicating the video to the reference telemetry. The software then analyses the rider’s performance by monitoring the accelerator, front and rear brakes, gearbox and trajectories. It’s a platform that allows bikers to train on every circuit in the world at an affordable price.”

Pau Serrancanta, Managing Director at Dorna Sports: “I’m delighted to be able to announce this agreement, adding yet another way in which fans are able to connect with and enjoy their favourite sport. In addition, the fact that it can also be used alongside the MotoGP videogame proves another bolster to Dorna’s eSports project, which continues to go from strength to strength.”

Lots of positivity around an interesting product, I look forward to learning more in the coming months and get rider feedback. In the meantime, check out the trailer and watch this space for more news on MotoTrainer.

The post Use your actual bike as a controller with MotoTrainer appeared first on Team VVV.

2020 started for me on the back foot, recovering from a period of poor health. I was invited to cover the WRC Esports launch at Monaco. Only to arrive and be informed I would actually be racing and unlike other competitors who had arrived a day earlier, I would have been up for 18 hours before we actually the start the competition. I’ll detail this more in another article, but it was a great start, second place felt good and a perfect launch pad to the year.

This was followed by trips to Paris to see TT Isle of Man 2 and the Logitech Gamechangers Podcast, all coming together for a packed start to the year. Then Covid struck me down, and recovery was slow. Despite this I worked hard to keep Team VVV running and though there is now no ‘team’ to speak of, the content continued through the year.

Through various launches to WRC 9, then focusing the final quarter on creating a Team VVV Twitch channel. This took a lot of focus away from the website and was a considerable challenge both in learning about new tech and various logistics. But progress was made, and I’m pleased with the outcome. Lots of new tech, new work processes and new ideas will come in 2021. 2020 was a challenging year but sometimes it’s working through the tough periods that make us stronger.

The post 2020 End of Year Review appeared first on Team VVV.

When I look at the fan comments over the hybrid era, you would be forgiven for thinking that it has been a largely competitive few years. You might think Ferrari had a better car some years or Redbull traditionally came good at the latter end of a season. But in reality, it is all highly controlled, Max Verstappen has never competed against Lewis Hamilton for a title and won’t with the current rules. In fact, there are only two drivers with a chance of winning an F1 World Championship and they drive for the silver/black arrows.

Every year I watch pre-season testing with a forlorn hope that the next season may be better. I hope that another engine manufacturer may make the breakthrough required. But there is no hope, there is no racing. The branding exercise at Mercedes is to win, indeed the engines were changed to bring Mercedes back into the sport, effectively guaranteeing success. With Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn laying the foundation for the structure of the team combined with their well-developed PU, 2014 was always going to lead to domination.

The hope was that as engines neared their peak, the gap between the teams would close. It hasn’t, it won’t. The gap may even be bigger than ever. Indeed, the pace of the Mercedes at Austria could have lapped everyone in the entire field had it not been for the safety cars. Hungary gave an even better insight into the domination of the Mercedes team. Don’t be fooled by the comparatively poor performance from Bottas, that car is light years ahead, and if Bottas isn’t lapping with Hamilton it is probably because the team don’t want him to. There is a number 1 and number 2 driver and Bottas is firmly number 2. Will Mercedes let them race? Highly unlikely, their branding exercise probably wouldn’t appreciate the unpredictability, though they may allow a couple of battles to blur that factor. Predictability is always handy for the marketing department, and with Lewis equalling Michael Schumacher being almost a given, they’ll certainly be well prepared. That doesn’t mean Bottas should give up, indeed I would love to be surprised, but Hamilton simply doesn’t see him as a threat and unless you can upset the rhythm of Hamilton in qualifying, he’ll have all the confidence he needs.

Despite all of my moans and groans, I love Formula 1. The vibe feels different and to explain that would require a whole separate article. F1 needs change and the 2022 regs can’t come soon enough. But first we focus on this season and I felt it high time to come back to F1 content after a few years out, kicking off with the Team VVV F1 Podcast. We’ve run two so far and will hopefully develop this over time. Kicking off with our first chat about the Styrian GP.

A weekend dominated by Hamilton, Bottas not pleased about brake issues or tyre warm-up in qualifying made it straightforward run for Hamilton in qualifying. Because as good as the lap may have been, without a barometer to compare against we really have no idea. The media are always gushing with praise, but I’ve always looked at the competition, and if that’s a number 2 driver with mechanical issues, then it’s no competition at all. However, the field spread was more evenly matched, though Racing Point gave a glimpse as to their potential it was Lando Norris who provided the last lap action yet again, all rounding off a rather standard race, roll on Hungary and our podcast below.

Hungary was the race many of us feared, the Mercedes showing it’s true performance and Racing Point showing theirs, at least in qualifying. Both of these occurrences do not bode well for the season, with a Mercedes customer team effectively acting a rear guard. Ferrari in disarray and Redbull with work to do. Bottas with a technical issue at the start, initially appearing to cause a jump start, the result being the red lights mysteriously going out on his dash. Meanwhile a great result from Max following his mistake on the way to the grid, besides shoutouts to Kevin Magnusson and Daniel Ricciardo for great drives. Not a great day for McLaren, back to earth with a bump, but roll on Silverstone. The year may be another walk over for Mercedes and Hamilton but at least I can enjoy the midfield battle.

The post Formula 1 2020, 3 races in and Mercedes domination continues appeared first on Team VVV.

The Logitech G podcasts called on this experience in covering a wide range of subjects, in which we’ve discussed mental health, climate change, making money as a content creator, esports, in-game marketing and concluding with disability and gaming. In all cases the goal has been to make progress with each subject, providing a positive way forward.

Subjects have been at times both challenging and sensitive to handle. It was a privilege meeting everyone involved, and I hope that those who have listened to the series feel they’ve gotten something back and enjoyed the process. I’ve listed all of the episodes below and it would be great to get your feedback.

Episode 1: ‘How gaming is impacting mental health’
Apple Music -> https://apple.co/3ekUOSM
Spotify -> https://spoti.fi/2K10eV2

Episode 2: ‘Changing the Climate: How do we play for the planet?’
Apple Music -> https://apple.co/3ajmMuY
Spotify -> https://spoti.fi/3bCgaJm

Episode 3: ’Who wants to be a gaming millionaire?’
Apple Music -> https://apple.co/3bLrrr4
Spotify -> https://spoti.fi/2W8S1UB

Episode 4: ‘Are Esports gamers our future Olympians?’
Apple Music -> https://apple.co/3c7zAGi
Spotify -> https://spoti.fi/2W7COnX

Episode 5: ‘Changing the Space’, are brands taking over your games?’
Apple Music -> https://apple.co/3cqUCA2
Spotify -> https://spoti.fi/3fIbSmv

Episode 6: Changing Perceptions: how do we make gaming more accessible to disabled gamers?’
Apple Music -> https://apple.co/2Zg1vjN
Spotify -> https://spoti.fi/36a4f3O

The post Presenting the Logitech G Podcast Series appeared first on Team VVV.

The new season (which utilises the WRC 8 title) will be marked with an invitational wildcard event which will see the winner gain direct entry to the Esports WRC final.

You can catch the Rallye Monte Carlo action live at 18:00 UK / 19:00 CET on WRC+ and Facebook.com/WRC.

Players have five chances during the Rallye Monte Carlo weekend (which runs from January 23-26) to record their fastest time, with their best result counting towards the Esports WRC overall standings.

Following this weekend, there will be a further 10 rounds, concluding with Rally Finland from August 6-10. The top eight players across the eleven rounds will qualify for the Esports Final showdown.

The post Season 5 of Esports WRC gets underway today at Monte Carlo appeared first on Team VVV.

Set to be added to Gran Turismo Sport for free by the end of November, the Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo Coupe is billed as “a futuristic Jaguar sports car” that embodies “the ultimate expression of Jaguar DNA”.

It’s also, on paper, an incredibly fast machine. Jaguar claims the three electric motors (one on the front axle, and one for each rear wheel) produce a combined 1,005 horsepower and 885 lb ft of torque, which permit a 0-62mph time of under two seconds and a 200mph+ top speed.

While the car is claimed to be a futuristic take on a Jaguar racing vehicle, the car maker has referenced some of its historic models from the past. For example, the exterior is said to be inspired by the Le Mans-winning Jaguar C-Type and D-Type sports cars, and the minimalist cabin is supposedly modelled on the Jaguar Lightweight E-Type’s interior.

Those callbacks even extend to the noises the car makes. Instead of the hums and whirrs of an electric motor, the Jaguar instead has a “unique soundscape” based on recordings of a 3.8-litre six cylinder racing engine from a Jaguar D-Type.

Jaguar’s design director Julian Thomson said: “This project has been completely led by our young designers and represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them to create a vehicle steeped in our incredible heritage but pushing the boundaries of future design. The team have done an incredible job in creating something which is clearly identifiable as a Jaguar, inspired – but not constrained – by our iconic past.”

Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi added: “We are delighted to today announce the Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo project. It was a great experience for us to work with Julian Thomson who is the new design director now at Jaguar. The design and performance of this car is a result of the team’s skill, craftsmanship, and long years of collaborations together. We look forward to having drivers get behind the wheel next month.”

The post Jaguar reveals surprise all-electric racing car for Gran Turismo Sport appeared first on Team VVV.

According to Khyzyl Saleem, a concept artist at the Need for Speed developer Ghost Games, the crazy car he created for the game will be brought to life by the vehicle customer Sekrit Studios.

Being based on the Polestar that stars on the game’s box art and was featured throughout the game’s reveal trailer, the modified 1 will be a striking machine when it’s completed.  Some of the many mods the finished car will feature include colossal wheel arch extensions, an array of massive air intakes and vents that pepper the Polestar’s bodywork and – perhaps the vehicle’s defining feature – the split twin rear spoiler setup.

While the car’s exterior will be extensively modified, it’s unclear if the Polestar 1’s powertrain will be touched by the tuners. Even if the hybrid setup is left completely stock, however, the customised car should, in theory, be plenty fast – according to Polestar, the petrol-electric powertrain in the 1 produces up to 592bhp and 738 lb-ft of torque.

We do at least have a strong suggestion the suspension will be swapped out, however. In its first Instagram post on the Polestar project car, Sekrit Studios tagged Air Lift Performance – a company that, as its name suggests, specialises in adjustable air suspension kits.

It’s unclear when the pumped-up Polestar 1 will be finished, though Sekrit Studios does have around three weeks left if it wants to have the car completed in time for Need for Speed Heat’s launch on 8 November.

While work on its real-world cover car is still ongoing, Need for Speed Heat is already ready to hit store shelves: as we reported last week, the open world arcade racing game has already gone gold, and the disc copies should soon (if they haven’t already) be ready to be boxed up and shipped.

The post Need for Speed Heat’s Polestar 1 cover car is getting a real-world replica appeared first on Team VVV.

Launched at this year’s Gamescom expo in Cologne, Germany, Ford’s new Esports teams will allow racing game players across Europe represent the Blue Oval in high-level virtual racing events and championships.

At the time of writing, the Fordzilla programme doesn’t have any E-drivers to its name, though Ford says it will now begin a recruitment drive to find top talent to flesh out its teams in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.

Ford also claims the top drivers from each of the national teams will get the chance to race for the American carmaker in its flagship European Fordzilla team.

With the venture still in its infancy, Ford has yet to confirm which championships, events and competitions its E-drivers will participate in. The carmaker has, however, revealed its plans to field its Fordzilla athletes in races hosted on Forza Motorsport 7 – suggesting the esports team could be ready to race in the next Forza Racing Championship series.

Roelant de Waard, Ford of Europe’s Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service said: “We at Ford have a racing pedigree that others can only envy. Now is the time to take that know-how and apply it to the world of Esports – capturing the imagination of a new generation of virtual racing drivers, inspiring them to take a ride in one of our Ford Performance vehicles.”

While Ford is the first mass-market car company to launch its own in-house esports initiative, it isn’t the first car maker to dip its toe into the virtual racing waters. Perhaps most notably, McLaren has run contests such as the McLaren Shadow Project to pad out its roster of E-drivers, and Porsche has in the past expressed an interest in running its own works esports outfit.

The Fordzilla launch also isn’t the first time Ford has hosted a major unveiling at Gamescom. Last year, Ford became the first car company to officially launch a new vehicle at a gaming convention, when it unveiled the Ford Ranger Raptor performance pick-up truck at the event.

The post Ford launches its works “Fordzilla” Esports racing teams at Gamescom appeared first on Team VVV.