Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Cars and video games have gone hand in hand for quite some time now. The first Need For Speed just turned twenty one for instance, and that was hardly the first racing game ever made (that honor goes to Speed Race which came out in 1974!)
Since then, video games, more specifically racing games have come a long way.
Between Playstation and PS4, from Xbox to Xbox One, graphic cards improved substantially.
With each new edition of Gran Turismo, Colin McRae Rally, or Need For Speed, the cars evolved; our Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak, looked more and more realistic.
As impressive as this was, the cars also began to handle like their real-life counter parts. By the time Gran Turismo 4 hit the shelves, anyone could step into the virtual racing shoes of a driver and enjoy the semi-realistic thrill of hammering around world famous tracks.
Because of this, many developers began referring to their products as ‘simulators’, rather than simply calling them ‘racing games’.
Today we have superb looking and ultra-realistic games like Assetto Corsa, Project CARS, and Gran Turismo 6. Each one designed to perfection.
But it’s the latter which has really shined in recent years with its Vision Gran Turismo concept cars. Each car is conceived by actual automobile designers from companies such as Nissan, Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford, no holds barred.
To say the least, the results are stunning and if you haven’t already, I highly recommend you check out what the project has produced so far, here.
Yet why are so many high level manufactures interested in video games?
Well, firstly, current technology allows automobile companies to test prototypes without a single tangible copy being made. This, you can imagine, saves a lot of money. And given that this technology is the very same which developers use to make their video games, you can see the obvious connection.
But it’s also about visibility. The ‘gamer’ community has grown exponentially in recent years, it’s a community in vogue. Little wonder then why companies are seeing this as an opportunity to ‘cash in’ as it were, to strike while the iron is hot.
Many racing series’ are also doing the same in an effort to attract new fans. It’s hard to imagine a world where a new Formula One, NASCAR, or MotoGP video game isn’t released on a yearly basis. And it should come as no surprise that the ‘new boy’ on the block, Formula E, is mimicking them.
Formula E hasn’t got an exclusive game just yet, but all the teams from last year’s championship will feature in Forza 6.
Yes, this is an attempt by those who run Formula E to advertise their product, but it’s also something Formula E desperately needs.
Formula One, NASCAR, IndyCar, and other series like them are an assault on the senses. They’re fast, loud, and can’t be ignored. It’s part of what makes watching them fun.
Formula E, though fast, isn’t that fast when being compared to those above. And it’s definitely not loud.
This doesn’t mean the series is uninteresting or boring. However, it’s a complaint that many have against the sport. And this is where Forza 6 steps in.
If you get the opportunity to do so, have a go racing a Formula E car when playing Forza 6. You’ll find that it’s incredibly fast, and sticks to the track like glue. It’s a proper race car, and one that’s brilliantly made.
You might also find a new found respect for this racing series, and in turn, this racing series may have just found a new fan in you.