Microsoft: FM3 is the only racing sim shipping this generation
Thursday, 08 Oct 2009 15:37
Forza Motorsport 3
The head of Microsoft's worldwide studios seemingly takes a jab at Polyphony Digital's development schedule.
Between the release of Gran Turismo 4 and Gran Turismo 5, all three Forza Motorsports will have seen a release on Microsoft's Xbox platforms.
Although we've enjoyed GT: HD, GT5: Prologue and GT PSP, PlayStation 3 gamers have yet to see a fully numbered iteration of their much loved racing simulator.
Phil Spencer, corporate VP and head of Microsoft's worldwide studios, is apparently keen to take a jab at Sony and Polyphony Digital while promoting Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 3.
When responding to a question about developing and shipping high quality exclusive games in either their first or second party studios, Spencer responds to
Gamsutra:
"Absolutely. And to ship them! That's an important part of our strategy. Look at Forza shipping next month: the definitive racing sim this generation. You could say it's the only racing sim that's shipping this generation."
Polyphony Digital's Kazunori Yamauchi
recently commented that the pressure from Sony to release Gran Turismo 5 was difficult to bear. Gran Turismo 5 is now set for a
March 2010 release in Japan.
Spencer continues to discuss the importance of high-quality IPs coming from Microsoft Publishing:
"We understand that the experiences we bring to market are most likely the only platform-exclusive experiences that we bring, and that's why it's important that our quality remains so high. If you look at the last three or four years, our review score average rivals anybody out there, first-party or third-party.
"We continue to bring a great mix of new IP as well as existing franchises and broaden out as a platform into things like movies and social networks and other kinds of entertainment to continue to evolve with our customers as they start to entertain themselves in different ways as well," he added.
Enjoy the launch trailer of Forza Motorsport 3 below, or read our very own
Matt Gardner's preview of the game's demo.