Software:Test Drive Unlimited

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Short description: 2006 video game
Test Drive Unlimited
PAL region cover art featuring the Lamborghini Gallardo (left) and the Ford GT (right)
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Atari
Director(s)
  • Stéphane Beley
  • Frédéric Jay
  • Pierre-Arnaud Lambert
Producer(s)
  • Ahmed Boukhelifa
  • Christophe Laboureau
Composer(s)
  • Gan Juan
  • Richard Aitken
SeriesTest Drive
Platform(s)
Release
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Test Drive Unlimited is a 2006 racing video game developed by Eden Games and published by Atari for Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. Atari Melbourne House developed the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions. Being the eighteenth entry in the Test Drive series, Unlimited serves as a reboot of the franchise, discarding the continuity of the previous games. The game features over 125 licensed sports cars and motorcycles and the terrain is modeled after the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu that features over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of roads and highways.[1]

It was followed by a sequel, Test Drive Unlimited 2, in 2011. A third game and soft reboot, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, was released in 2024.

Gameplay

In the online world of Test Drive Unlimited, players are able to drive both on-road and off-road in free-roam mode, challenging other players in real-time anywhere on the drivable map. It is also possible to drive on small islands outside of the main island. The Xbox 360 version has supported steering wheel controllers since launch. Following the third free update, Test Drive Unlimited supports force feedback wheel controllers such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel.

The roads are modeled after satellite images of the island of Oʻahu.[1] There is a spectrum of different terrains including rain forests, mountains, sandy beaches and urbanized areas (featuring the city of Honolulu).

Single-player game

The game begins by purchasing a car and a house. The player is then free to explore the island; as this happens, key locations on the map are revealed.

Multiplayer game

Spyker C8 Spyder in Test Drive Unlimited (PC)

The multiplayer component (branded as M.O.O.R. or Massively Open Online Racing) works as an extra layer on top of the single-player game: all activities available in single-player are also available in multiplayer. On Xbox 360, Eden Games was allowed to add unique features to the Xboxlive in order to bring a new seamless Online experience.

The following challenges are also available in multiplayer only:

  • Race against other players
  • Challenge players to complete tasks
  • Attempt other player challenge

Custom services, added to the XboxLive by Eden Games:

  • Unique Free Roaming system.
  • ETrade system : Players can buy and sell their cars.
  • Drive-In : Player can Edit its own track, do its best time and publish it to a Drive-In spot and challenge other players to beat him in a lapse of time with participation fee. The best player wins the lot.
  • Live Island map : Allow players to set filters, see other players updates and join their game sessions
  • In Game news system, using live notifications
  • Clan system + Intra and Inter Clan matchmaking

Online services for Test Drive Unlimited were shut down on September 29, 2012 [2]

Special NPCs in PlayStation 2 version

There were 1500 total beta testers in Atari's closed beta for Test Drive Unlimited for PlayStation 2. At the end of the testing period, Atari awarded 30 of the most active testers with "immortality" in the PlayStation 2 version of Test Drive Unlimited. These 30 beta testers were allowed to name one of the non-playable characters (NPC) in the game. Some chose to use their first and last name; others chose to use their screen names. These 30 special NPCs can be found spread throughout the virtual island of only the PlayStation 2 version.[3] Atari and Melbourne House ensured the Beta Testers were given prominent positions as NPCs. Among the play testers were also friends and family of staff at Melbourne House, including staff members themselves, who are included within the different motoring clubs featured within the game. Most were granted President or Vice President status in the car clubs and were put in highly desirable performance cars.[4]

Development

Beginning development circa 2003, the game's budget was between $15 million and $25 million.[5]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPS2PSPXbox 360
EdgeN/AN/AN/A8.5/10[6]
EGMN/AN/AN/A8.5/10[7]
EurogamerN/A9/10[9]N/A8.5/10[10]
FamitsuN/AN/AN/A34/40[8]
Game InformerN/AN/AN/A8.35/10[11]
GameRevolutionN/AN/AN/AB+[12]
GameSpot8.5/10[13]7.5/10[14]8.7/10[15]8.5/10[16]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[17]StarStarStarStarStar[18]N/AStarStarStarStar[19]
GameTrailersN/AN/AN/A8.5/10[20]
GameZone8.5/10[21]8.5/10[22]8/10[23]8.8/10[24]
IGN8/10[25]7.3/10[26]7.8/10[27]8/10[28]
OXM (US)N/AN/AN/A8.5/10[29]
PC Gamer (US)80%[30]N/AN/AN/A
PSMN/A8/10[31]8.5/10[31]N/A
The Sydney Morning HeraldN/AN/AN/AStarStarStarStar[32]
The TimesN/AN/AN/AStarStarStarStar[33]
Aggregate score
Metacritic79/100[34]75/100[35]80/100[36]82/100[37]

Test Drive Unlimited received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[37][36][34][35]

411Mania gave the Xbox 360 version a score of 8.6 out of 10 and stated: "Even if you own a next-gen racing game, this is a title that you MUST try out. This is such an open ended game that never actually ends ala [sic] World of Warcraft and feeling like you're a part of the Island with your homes, vehicles and club is too much of a cool thing to pass up."[38] The Sydney Morning Herald gave the same version a score of four stars out of five and called it "a car aficionado's paradise and a novel concept in driving games. Unlimited's online world is certain to be mimicked."[32] The Times also gave it four stars out of five and claimed that it "comes closer than most games to re-creating the freedom of real life."[33] In Japan, where the Xbox 360 version was ported and published by Microsoft on 26 April 2007, Famitsu gave the game a score of 34 out of 40.[8]

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Test Drive Unlimited for "Racing Game of the Year" at the 10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.[39]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Experience Racing Reinvented on Xbox 360". CNET. 14 August 2006. http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/driving/testdriveunlimited/news.html?sid=6155610. 
  2. ↑ "Test Drive Unlimited Servers Going Down Soon". https://www.trueachievements.com/n10485/test-drive-unlimited-servers-going-down-soon?page=4. 
  3. ↑ "Gotakon- Avant Garde Musings from Hawaii: I'm Officially an NPC in Test Drive Unlimited PS2". https://gotakon.blogspot.com/2007/03/im-officially-npc-in-test-drive.html. 
  4. ↑ "Gotakon- Avant Garde Musings from Hawaii: I'm the Official President of the GT Racers Club of Oahu". https://gotakon.blogspot.com/2007/03/im-now-official-president-of-gt-racers.html. 
  5. ↑ Schiesel, Seth (July 6, 2006). "Atari Plays a Waiting Game With Test Drive Unlimited". Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230705080424/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/06/technology/06atar.html. Retrieved October 1, 2024. 
  6. ↑ Edge staff (October 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (X360)". Edge (Future plc) (167): 82. 
  7. ↑ EGM staff (November 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (X360)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (209): 118. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "テストドライブ アンリミテッド (X360)" (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/85/reviews/. Retrieved 11 February 2019. 
  9. ↑ Whitehead, Dan (27 February 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited (PS2)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/test-drive-unlimited-review. 
  10. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (8 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (X360)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_tdu_x360. 
  11. ↑ Zoss, Jeremy (November 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (X360)". Game Informer (GameStop) (163): 136. http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/EAB8533D-6739-476F-A8E9-EC2C489BA4C6.htm. Retrieved 19 August 2015. 
  12. ↑ Ferris, Duke (14 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (X360)". https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/37453-test-drive-unlim-review. 
  13. ↑ Navarro, Alex (28 March 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PC)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/test-drive-unlimited-review/1900-6168233/. 
  14. ↑ Navarro, Alex (28 March 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PS2)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/test-drive-unlimited-review/1900-6168228/. 
  15. ↑ Navarro, Alex (29 March 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PSP)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/test-drive-unlimited-review/1900-6168299/. 
  16. ↑ Navarro, Alex (7 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (X360)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/test-drive-unlimited-review/1900-6157304/. 
  17. ↑ Kuo, Li C. (13 April 2007). "GameSpy: Test Drive Unlimited (PC)". IGN Entertainment. http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/testdrive-unlimited/780627p1.html. 
  18. ↑ Steinberg, Steve (17 April 2007). "GameSpy: Test Drive Unlimited (PS2)". IGN Entertainment. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/test-drive-project/781402p1.html. 
  19. ↑ Villoria, Gerald (11 September 2006). "GameSpy: Test Drive Unlimited (X360)". IGN Entertainment. http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/test-drive-unlimited/732111p1.html. 
  20. ↑ "Test Drive Unlimited Review (X360)". Viacom. 18 September 2006. http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/4thih5/test-drive-unlimited-review. 
  21. ↑ Smith, Brock (2 May 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited - PC - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/test_drive_unlimited_pc_review. 
  22. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (18 April 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited - PS2 - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/test_drive_unlimited_ps2_review. 
  23. ↑ Zacarias, Eduardo (15 April 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited - PSP - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/test_drive_unlimited_psp_review. 
  24. ↑ Romano, Natalie (12 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited - 360 - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/test_drive_unlimited_360_review. 
  25. ↑ Brudvig, Erik (3 April 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/04/03/test-drive-unlimited-review-2. 
  26. ↑ Brudvig, Erik (3 April 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PS2)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/04/04/test-drive-unlimited-review. 
  27. ↑ Brudvig, Erik (4 April 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PSP)". IGN Entertainment. http://psp.ign.com/articles/778/778411p1.html. 
  28. ↑ Brudvig, Erik (7 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (X360)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/07/test-drive-unlimited-review-3. 
  29. ↑ "Test Drive Unlimited". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US): 76. December 2006. 
  30. ↑ "Test Drive Unlimited". PC Gamer (Future US) 14 (7): 56. July 2007. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Review: Test Drive Unlimited". PSM (Future US): 80. June 2007. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Hill, Jason (30 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (Xbox 360)". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). https://www.smh.com.au/technology/test-drive-unlimited-20060930-gdoh57.html. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Wells, Dominic (23 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (Xbox 360)". The Times. https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/technology/article/test-drive-unlimited-r3fj5sqjspc. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Test Drive Unlimited for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/test-drive-unlimited/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Test Drive Unlimited for PlayStation 2 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/test-drive-unlimited/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Test Drive Unlimited for PSP Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/test-drive-unlimited/critic-reviews/?platform=psp. 
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Test Drive Unlimited for Xbox 360 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/test-drive-unlimited/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. 
  38. ↑ Aranda, Ramon (12 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (Xbox 360) Review". 411Mania. http://411mania.com/games/test-drive-unlimited-xbox-360-review/. 
  39. ↑ "2007 Awards Category Details Racing Game of the Year". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2007&idGameAwardType=120. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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