Accolade announces Test Drive 6 & Test Drive Off-Road 3
Date: May 13th
Accolade has also announced the next version in its successful Test Drive racing franchise, Test Drive 6. The game will be
available for the PlayStation game console, Sega Dreamcast and personal computer in the fall of this year. Test Drive 6
has a completely revamped physics model that will give each car in its class a specific driving style and handling model. As
players win races, they are able to upgrade their cars, with five upgrades available per car. The game will feature
interactive driving environments that include breakable objects, unexpected obstacles and harrowing shortcuts. Cars will
race through outdoor cafés in Paris, France, crashing into tables, causing them to fly into the air, or swerve to avoid
alligators in the Louisiana swamplands, as well as jump over forklifts in the back alleys of Hong Kong.
The game's artificial intelligence is completely new, allowing each computer driver to react uniquely to different situations.
The cop mode has been enhanced for Test Drive 6. The new all units AI features multiple cop chases that have more than
one cop car chasing the opponent or more than one cop chase taking place at one time. Police helicopter cars will also
track down the player at night and alert patrol cars as to where to pull over the player.
Test Drive 6 will showcase high-resolution graphics with advanced environment mapping that displays reflections,
shadows and shading when cars pass particular objects such as bridges or trees. The game will also feature
environment-specific sounds that pinpoint particular sounds as they occur at designated sections of the track. For example,
music will blast out of a nightclub as cars drive by on downtown metropolitan streets.
The game will include 40 licensed vehicles, with an even blend of American and European cars. Some of the American
licenses include Dodge Viper, Dodge Concept, Dodge Daytona Charger, Dodger Challenger, Plymouth Hemi, Plymouth
Prowler, Ford '99 Mustang, Ford '68 Mustang, Ford 80s Mustang GT, 55 Ford Fairlane, Ford F150 Lightening, Shelby
Cobra, and Saleen Mustang. European cars include TVR Cerbera, TVR Speed Twelve, TVR Tuscan, TVR Griffith, TVR
Chimaera, Aston Martin Prject Vantage, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Caterham Super7 and 21. Test Drive 6 will have
more than 30 new tracks in real world locations such as Paris, New York City, the swamplands of Louisiana, Hong Kong,
Rome, Italy, and London. Below are two screenshots from the PC version of the game.
Accolade has announced the third iteration of its successful off-road racing series. Test Drive Off-Road 3, available for the
PlayStation and personal computer in the fall of this year, lets players modify their vehicles to create the right truck for the
right track. Tires, transmission and suspension are all tunable for the player in order to enhance performance on specific
tracks. The new engine and physics model allows for destructible objects and branching tracks. Players will be able to
drive their vehicle through obstacles and barriers, smash into trees and fences to expose alternative pathways and
shortcuts. The game will feature 15 tracks in real world locations, such as the swamplands of New Orleans, the snow
covered mountains of Tibet, and the countryside of Vermont. More than 30 licensed vehicles will be available to players,
including an exclusive license with the AM General Hummer. Additional licenses include, Dodge Ram V12, Dodge T-Rex,
Ford Explorer, Ford F150, Saleen Explorer, Chenowth Fast Attack Vehicle, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Test
Drive Off-Road 3 will feature two-player split screen racing on the PlayStation game console and supports the Dual Shock
analog controller. The PC version will include multiplayer support via LAN.
