Anyone take the plunge on Test Drive:Unlimited?

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:02 pm

Honestly, not being a racing guy may hurt you in some ways and help in others. A lot of the missions seem to rely on driving "safely". If you don't always push your machine to the brink, you'll probably be less frustrated than most of us. On the flip side, some of those missions are timed, so it can be a problem. There are a couple of Driving Aid settings, though. With them on full, you can drive it pretty hard and still compete without fear of spinning out or smoking the tires off of every corner exit.

I didnt' play the demo, so I can't comment on that. As for staying power, it's too early to say. I'd like to say yes, but half the crap in the game doesn't work yet. It's too hard to find friends, 16 players max in a Club is a pain in the ass, and it's tough to find a race AT ALL most of the time. You go to a specific challenge and have to hope that there are other racers running that challenge to race. Maybe I'm missing something, but the Instant Challenges (flashing your lights at another car in free ride mode) is about the only multiplayer racing I've gotten. I've tried on numerous occasions to hit Multiplayer challenges and haven't found any.

It's a good thing that there is SO much to do in single player, though. I've traveled well over 1,000 miles in-game and haven't hit but 30% of it or something.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:07 pm

I think single player works much better than multi at this point too.

I also think the main game is much better and deeper than what I saw in the demo. I thought the demo was so-so, but love the game.

Terry, I've had some success getting multiplayer races going by creating the session myself, and limiting it to a certain class. I think lots of people are looking for those class limited games, but no one is creating them. When I created them, my rooms filled up quickly. (Granted, this was only 3 or 4 races over the weekend, but they all filled up. E & F class, IIRC)

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:18 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Spooky wrote:Can you only test drive the 'concept' cars or do they actually become available to use/buy later on?
When you are looking at the concept cars, it will tell you what you need to do to unlock it at the bottom of the screen...such as "complete all transport missions" or whatever.

Thanks Deeb's!

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:48 am

Took the plunge and grabbed this game yesterday. Thoroughly engrossing. Played for over an hour and i felt like it was 15 minutes. I got my car and my house, did a couple of time trials and a race, then decided to go to some random part of the island where i had to get a hitchhiker to his location in 7 minutes and failed all 5 times before forcing myself to turn it off and go to bed.

So far so good. Would love any suggestions you guys have in terms of fun adventures or places to go. Obviously building up the bank is most important as i shot my wad on my Audi and the house.

Would never have thought to grab it without all of your impressions so thanks boys!

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:59 am

Try a couple of the courier missions to bump up your dosh - i had to take a Ferrari on an 8 mile trip to the garage, the fee starts at $80,000 and reduces for each minor bump.

i managed one bump (while i was messing with the radio, so that was true to life), and trousered $73,000...couple that with winning a few of the beginner races, and I'm up to $150,000 and looking to get some new wheels.

Remember to use your GPS to find challenges and stuff - the manual must be one of the few recent ones that is actually relatively useful.

Now does anyone know how to win tokens so I can change me clothes...i should imagine that mine are starting to whiff a bit after 2 days driving round a hardtop in the sun

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:05 am

davet010 wrote:
Now does anyone know how to win tokens so I can change me clothes...i should imagine that mine are starting to whiff a bit after 2 days driving round a hardtop in the sun

Start giving the models rides.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:20 am

davet010 wrote:Try a couple of the courier missions to bump up your dosh - i had to take a Ferrari on an 8 mile trip to the garage, the fee starts at $80,000 and reduces for each minor bump.

i managed one bump (while i was messing with the radio, so that was true to life), and trousered $73,000...couple that with winning a few of the beginner races, and I'm up to $150,000 and looking to get some new wheels.

Remember to use your GPS to find challenges and stuff - the manual must be one of the few recent ones that is actually relatively useful.

Now does anyone know how to win tokens so I can change me clothes...i should imagine that mine are starting to whiff a bit after 2 days driving round a hardtop in the sun

Those missions are worth driving slowly for. Even that one bump just cost you $47,000. If you complete it without hitting anything, you get a 50% pay boost...so the 80K missions are a $120,000 cash in when you arrive. Drive slowly, be cautious, and turn it in unscratched!

For tokens, do the Missions like hitchhiker, top model, etc. Those award tokens instead of cash.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:32 am

Bah - that was one expensive station change

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:38 am

TCrouch wrote:Those missions are worth driving slowly for. Even that one bump just cost you $47,000. If you complete it without hitting anything, you get a 50% pay boost...so the 80K missions are a $120,000 cash in when you arrive. Drive slowly, be cautious, and turn it in unscratched!

I was so pissed this weekend when I had a mile to go on a 20+ mile, $99,000 transport mission and barely ran off road with about a mile to go after two cars crashed in an intersection right in front of me. F*CK!

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:47 am

I actually dozed off in the middle of a long transport mission...guess I got road weary...

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:20 pm

webdanzer wrote:Start giving the models rides.

Now that's the best advice I've seen so far.

-G7

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:44 pm

I didn't realize that there were limits to the club membership. My step-brother and his son both also just picked up the game and were asking about joining.

Not a big dela though I suppose, someone should just set up another one, starting with DSP in the title, and we'll have a "sister" club. With the ability to challenge other clubs we can still all hook up in a DSP race.

I am a mere 5 gamer ponts away from championship status, which will allow me to unlock the Oahu Racecourse. Quickest way to do it will probably be to buy a few cars to become a collecotr of them (I already have 3 Ferrari's, Ford's, Chevy's, and bikes).

The other day my bro and I just locked on to eacr other and started racing around the island, not going anywhere in particular. By the time I had to log there were 6 of us all racing together, just shootin the breeze and driving like maniacs. Good fun.

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:15 am

Quick newbie question about car buying. I have my original F class car and have finally earned enough cash for my next vehicle. Is there a strategy in the sense that i should try and purchase cars in order of class (E, then D, then C, etc) or does it matter? I test drove one of the Benz' last night and it would suck up most of what i have earned, but damn it was a sweet ride. B class though.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Wilk5280 · Post by **Wilk5280** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:46 am

If you guys need a slot in the club for somebody else, I'll quit and open one up.

I love the game and all, I just don't have the time to play as much as another potential club member.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:53 pm

I have unlocked all the dealers and have a bike but Im having trouble finding the tune up shops...

Where is the tune up shop for Lamborghini?...McLaren? American Muscle?

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:59 pm

XXXIV wrote:I have unlocked all the dealers and have a bike but Im having trouble finding the tune up shops...

Where is the tune up shop for Lamborghini?...McLaren? American Muscle?

If you get out the manual and a magnifying glass, you can see all the tune-up shops marked on the map. Luckily, the tune-up shop icon is the easiest to see in nano-form, so armed with that you can kind of figure out where they are. I could show you online if we run into each other.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:20 pm

RallyMonkey wrote:Quick newbie question about car buying. I have my original F class car and have finally earned enough cash for my next vehicle. Is there a strategy in the sense that i should try and purchase cars in order of class (E, then D, then C, etc) or does it matter? I test drove one of the Benz' last night and it would suck up most of what i have earned, but damn it was a sweet ride. B class though.

Rally,

What I've been doing so far is buying cars as and when I needed them - I've tested some tremendous motors as I passed the dealerships, my favourite so far being the Lambo Murcielago, but looking at the races open on the map I have no use for those cars, whereas buying an Audi S3 or something thrilling like that gets me entry to 10 or 12 Class E races straight away.

However, as time goes on I'm noticing a few races in Class B or G or missions involving models who won't accept a lift unless you're in a Mercedes, and not that Mercedes you've got but the much more expensive one you didn't buy ten minutes ago. Because of that, I'm beginning to doubt if I'm following the right plan, or indeed if there is any right plan where buying cars is involved - can anyone with a bit more play time add anything to that?

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:39 pm

Simo...

There really isn't a tried and true way to go around town buying cars. The way I did it was I'd just buy the car I need and then use it for the few races that I can, and then sell it. Sure, it's not cost effective, but once you start getting into the expert and champion races, you bring in some major dough so it's not that important. Also, keep in mind that a lot of the race/hitchhiker/top model events require a specific car...a lot of times you can just go to one of the 5 or so rental car places and borrow them for 10 or 20 min. only costing you a few thousand instead of dropping the money on buying it. I believe almost all of the events with specific car requirements are available to rent somewhere on the island.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:56 pm

I think I'm up to 6 houses and about 30 or so cars now. I've only sold 2 cars and a bike so far. Once you hit champion level money is not an issue, when you can rack up $75,000 in about 15 seconds (how else could I afford the $3,000,000 Aston Martin?) I just like having all the different cars to cruise around in depending on my mood. All the different classes are fun for their own reasons.

Some cars I've purchased were for specific reasons and missions, but most are just because I liked them. I am starting run into missions that require specific vehicles so that has been affecting my recent purchases.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:51 am

GRRRRRR!

Just got hosed in the 'tour of the island' race. Stayed in the hunt or ahead the whole race...

'til the end, and got the damn car squirrelly. I tell you, they set you up on that race. So much is straight. smooth, and fast, and then right there in the end, they throw in about a 150 degree right turn. In those B and A class cars, you're going so fast that the GPS doesn't keep up with you. That friggin' turn cost me a 118 mile race...

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 3:05 am

Yeah...you definitely have to keep an eye on the GPS when you're driving those fast straights in the A class cars. I left the two long races till the very last minute and I had my Saleen...so I won by quite a bit (like 10 min.) over the rest of the field.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 5:09 am

RallyMonkey wrote:Quick newbie question about car buying. I have my original F class car and have finally earned enough cash for my next vehicle. Is there a strategy in the sense that i should try and purchase cars in order of class (E, then D, then C, etc) or does it matter? I test drove one of the Benz' last night and it would suck up most of what i have earned, but damn it was a sweet ride. B class though.

Any thoughts appreciated.

The blokes in my club all picked up the Nissan skyline (which is class E from memory) as their first 'new' car. Not that expensive, and gives access to a lot of nice E races. I think you have to access the XBL marketplace for it, it's one of the two free downloadables.

Fshguy · Post by **Fshguy** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:09 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Yeah...you definitely have to keep an eye on the GPS when you're driving those fast straights in the A class cars. I left the two long races till the very last minute and I had my Saleen...so I won by quite a bit (like 10 min.) over the rest of the field.

I'm partial to the Lamborghini, especially in the A class races with lots of turns. The long races with lots of straights I prefer the Enzo. Use the MV Augusta for the Millionare club...

Now if you really want a challenge, go do Tantalus, it will drive you insane, luckily I'm already half there...

Zeppo, when are we going to do some club races or inter-club races???!

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:25 am

I think I know what's behind the problems between my connection and Theo's connection in this game. I'd like to test it by playing some other game with Theo on Live but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with a club invite he sent to me for his old club. When I read it I accepted the invite and was told that the club was disbanded. I deleted the message and got it again the next day. I tried joining the club again and received the same message. I deleted the message again and finally joined the club that Gurantsu formed. I didn't really think much about it at the time but after all the problems we've had racing together at the club it came to mind.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:04 pm

Fshguy wrote: Zeppo, when are we going to do some club races or inter-club races???!

I'm always up for club racing. I often head to the club often and sit around, but no one ever pops in. If you check your friends list, it will say 'is at his Club.'

I would also like to try some inter-club racing soon. Rogue War (one of FIFA Inspected's buddies) is in a club, and he said they would like to try it as well. They seem to get together on Tuesdays, so maybe next Tuesday we can try it, if we can't get it together tomorrow or something.

One problem is that I still don't have any A-class cars, and only one B-class. I would think any random inter-club match would end up being nothing but A-class cars, much like most random multiplayer racing, so I'd prefer to race with 'friendlies,' among whom we can agree to mess around with a variety of classes.

I have a question, or more an observation, about this game; what is the purpose of having more than one upgrade kit per car? I've only run into two cases were the top upgrade pushed the car into a higher class: the Alfa that was my first car is now an E, and the Saleen upgrades for the Mustangs push that car up a few classes. Other than that, it seems pretty pointless to me to get anything but the top upgrade. Am I missing something?

Scoop, I highly doubt any kind of invite screw up is the reason you two can't be in the same room together. I wonder if Theo has an open NAT when he does the test in the system blade. I would be curious if you guys could get a game of NBA 2K in or something and see if you have issues there.