GRID 2 Presents: A Few From BMW To Whet Your Appetite…

Posted on April 23, 2013 by geelw

Only about a month plus to go before Codemasters’ superb sequel rolls out, so here are a few BMW’s to “Mmmmmmmmmmm…” over. I do recall the one I drove in the demo a few weeks back handling like a dream, but it was definitely on a tough track to make it around without some deft braking and proper acceleration when required. The game isn’t a sim at all, but you can’t just jam on the gas and expect to make it through a race with a decent position. Then again, you’d probably NOT want to be sitting in a real BMW or any other car with me, as I don’t drive in the real world (but skills picked up from gaming have helped me move a few vehicles over the years)…

GRID 2 Customization: My Fairlady (And Yours, Too!)

Posted on April 19, 2013 by geelw

The brilliant car customization in Codemasters’ upcoming racer GRID 2 is one more really awesome feature that will get and keep this racer on many play lists for a while. I didn’t get to tinker with it during my two hands-on sessions, but that’s probably a darn good thing. I tend to take ages to trick out a ride and usually end up with something that’s understated yet a monster on the road. Of course, with the amount of online competition this will no doubt have way too many great racers breaking records every few minutes or less, but I’m going to hit solo mode and break in every car I can on as many tracks in the game as possible. May 28, 2013 will be one of those “flu” days for some folks, I’m betting…

GRID 2 Multiplayer Redefined Trailer: Yes, Indeed It Is…

Posted on April 15, 2013 by geelw

It was actually really funny to be the first and only person at the early appointment to see the innovative multiplayer mode in GRID 2 and get some great hands-on time, as I could tell the assembled team was itching to let people coming in play the game and see what was what. Still, I had to go through the entire team’s rehearsed presentation before my hands-on time, which was cool to hear, but I’m that sort of guy who “gets” stuff without the boxcar pitch games get. Of course, I’m not complaining one bit, folks – once you play this one, it’s going to keep you busy for some time, especially if you go full-on into the RaceNet functionality. May 28 is rushing up really quickly and for once, I’m not so ticked off at time zipping by…

GRID 2 Multiplayer Hands-On: It’s Like Lightning (But With Better Handling)…

Posted on April 12, 2013 by geelw

The single player in GRID 2 was quite thrilling in that demo from a few months back, but Codemasters knows that many will be snapping up this one first and foremost for the multiplayer modes and fortunately, the game shines even more here. A few members from the dev team rolled into NYC with a new demo that just so happened to be on the same day and in the same hotel as Namco Bandai’s Global Gamer’s Day, so it made for an exciting start to a long day packed full of great upcoming titles. The Xbox 360 version was set up (and looking fantastic, by the way), but being the only writer to pop up at this first session meant playing against the people working on the game and only having the slimmest of chances of beating any of them during the bunch of races about to take place… Continue reading →

GRID 2 Update: Now, This Is A World Series I’d Defintely Watch (And Play!)…

Posted on March 28, 2013 by geelw

…Fortunately, I’m more of a hands-on guy. Even better, Codemasters is BACK in town in a week or so with more of the game to show off and yes, indeed – I’ll be there. A wee bit early in the morning for my tastes, but eh, what can you do? I have an appointment with this at 10am, another appointment a block or so away to see Starbreeze Studios’ new game, then it’s back to the same spot I started from for a few hours of Namco Bandai Games’ lineup. I could use a clone right about now, but I guess that’s not going to happen before these press events coming up. Anyway, GRID 2 is looking great and is skidding into stores here on May 28 2013 (or May 31, depending on where you live)…

GRID 2 Video Update Finally Uncovers Drift Mode

Posted on March 21, 2013 by geelw

You Codemasters racing fans have probably been wondering what was up with the not so revealing of every game mode in GRID 2, but there’s a plan at play here to keep you all dialed in and driving those browsers back to the company’s game and YouTube pages. In case THAT trick doesn’t work at all, it’s kind of up to people like me to get you skidding there through posting stuff like this. No, the video above, not my well-played and humorous text that doesn’t describe what’s in the video above at all. Hey, consistency is my thing here at DAF and if you’re in an always confused state while poking around here, that means my work is done. Of course, I’d be neglecting my duties by not informing you that GRID 2 hits retail in North America on May 28, 2013 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 (and 5/31 in the UK/Europe).

GRID 2 WSR (Part 1): Driving Near-Miss Daze-y…

Posted on March 15, 2013 by geelw

Ha and har. OK, bad pun (that I changed because I was a wee bit pooped out when I write this post originally) aside, Codemasters is on point with GRID 2 so far and despite the screeches and crunching from fans demanding a dashboard view or else, it looks as if the game should do fine without it. Granted, there are some powerful PC’s that can run other games out there with full dashboard cams going a a billion frames per second or whatever, but I guess we’ll see what the Codies can do on next-gen console hardware to satisfy those folks who want that in-car viewpoint. I think it can be done and having the option is always cool even if it’s never used by the bulk of casual to regular race fans that dislike it. As always… we shall see…

GRID 2 Asks and Answers A Few Burning Questions Race Fans Have…

Posted on March 14, 2013 by geelw

Codemasters’ upcoming GRID 2 proposes a few interesting questions about the “what if’s” of a potential worldwide racing league based on assorted disciplines and yep, the game itself tries its best to answer some of those questions through its fictional racing series that takes players around the globe as they attempt to be the best and get that league a wider audience. Granted, in the real world, this would take some doing and a LOT of logistics that would cost a few tons of money, but that’s the great thing about video games, right? You can go anywhere and do anything from the comfort of your couch and not spend that much in the process.

GRID 2 ships out in May, but feel free to to that pre-order thing if that’s what you usually go in for…

GRID 2 Uncovered: More Wheels Hitting The Road For Your Viewing Pleasure…

Posted on February 19, 2013 by geelw

Not much to say here other than that this latest Ego engine update is really getting a workout in Codemasters’ upcoming racer. Yes indeed, that’s a KTM Xbow zipping around on that Red Bull track. I got to drive it in the demo and it’s a lovely little rocket to ride around in. May 28 is how long away again? Hmmm…. off to dream of fast cars and perfect turns now. I have a press event to attend tomorrow…

GRID 2 PC Hands-On: Codemasters Is Hitting The Road With a Superior Sequel

Posted on February 16, 2013 by geelw

The team at Codemasters has been hard at work making GRID 2 into their best racing game to date and it shows. I’ve been a longtime fan of their racers from the goofy fun of their many Micro Machines games on the Sega Genesis and Mega Drive to the TOCA and Colin McRae Rally and DiRT games, and also love their F1 stuff, so getting to play a bit of this new game was more than a pleasure. It was the PC version up and running on some high-end Intel laptops, but console fans needn’t worry about their versions suffering, as the newly beefed up Ego engine is extremely flexible across multiple platforms. Unlike certain other popular (and great) racers, this isn’t about amassing a gigantic car collection, open-world exploration at one’s own pace or racing for big bucks. The focus and theme of “Be Fast, Be First and Be Famous” along with the interesting use of the ESPN license and assorted in-game “social” features combined with the intense speed and handling should make this a game that’s going to get quite a bit of play when it finally rolls into stores.

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