Test Drive (Official Thread)

[Peter Oberth]

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/driving/tdeveofdestruction/screenindex.html

TEST DRIVE FUN FACT: "The most noteworthy aspect of Eve of Destruction is its myriad racing modes. There are 25 different types of racing, encompassing the most outrageous and crazy race types you can think of. The most tame of these is the figure-eight race, which, as the name suggests, involves racing cars around a track that is the shape of the number eight and features a jump in the middle. As you can imagine, this setup leads to plenty of collisions. The goal is still to drive a certain number of laps as quickly as possible, but along the way, you're sure to ram into other cars. Execute a particularly nasty crash in midair and the game will go into a Matrix-like slow-motion rotation around the impact as it happens. "

[Peter Oberth]

August 24, 2004 08:30 AM US Eastern Timezone

Atari Ships Test Drive: Eve of Destruction; Based on Actual Extreme Racing Events and Featuring Music From The Island Def Jam Music Group And Universal Music Group

BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 2004--Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATAR) announced today that Test Drive(R): Eve of Destruction has shipped to retailers throughout North America and is available for the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft and PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system.

"Test Drive(R) is a world recognized brand in the racing genre featuring some of today's hottest music and Atari is proud to release the exciting next chapter, Test Drive: Eve of Destruction," said Nancy MacIntyre, Vice President of Marketing for Atari's Beverly Studios. "This over-the-top racing game allows players to break the rules and race how they want to race - wide open, peddle to the floor, putting all challengers on their bumpers."

"We are thrilled to work with Atari on Test Drive: Eve of Destruction," said Carmen Liu, Senior Director, Strategic Marketing & Development, The Island Def Jam Music Group. "Video games are a great place to introduce a wider audience to developing artists like Autopilot Off, Thrice, and Thursday and at the same time gives platinum acts like Sum 41 and Hoobastank a valuable outlet for their music outside of radio."

Since its unveiling, gaming media have been raving about Test Drive: Eve of Destruction:

-- "Test Drive: Eve of Destruction delivers more fender annihilation than you can imagine." 4.5 out of 5 review score - GamePro Magazine, October issue

-- "This game has arcade-style madness written all over it." IGN.com

-- "We haven't seen a demolition-derby game this feature packed and fun since the original Destruction Derby by Psygnosis." - Official Playstation Magazine, September issue

Video games are a great place for labels to launch up-and-coming bands and to rediscover new music by favorite artists. Featured on the Test Drive(R): Eve of Destruction soundtrack will be:

Artists and Songs:
-- Hoobastank- Out of Control
-- Sum 41- Still Waiting
-- Rob Zombie- Never Gonna Stop
-- Thrice- The Artist and the Ambulance
-- Thursday- Between Rapture and Rupture
-- Auto Pilot Off- What I Want

Test Drive(R): Eve of Destruction is the first Test Drive(R) game to feature: vehicle damage, dirt tracks, crazy events and unorthodox vehicles like school buses, ambulances and hearses. Since its debut in 1987, the Test Drive series has sold through more than $160 million worth of product on console and PC.

Test Drive(R): Eve of Destruction blends the best elements of racing and demolition and is packed with 25 different events, including Demo Derby, where the last car standing wins; Gauntlet, where the player climbs behind the wheel of a hearse and tries to finish a set number of laps while the rest of the field attempts to stop him; Trailer Race, a new brand of racing event, where the player competes while towing various types of trailers and must finish the race with something resembling a trailer still attached. The Xbox version of Test Drive: Eve of Destruction will support the ability to create custom soundtracks using players own music libraries.

Additionally, Test Drive(R): Eve of Destruction offers players a selection of more than 30 nontraditional, custom vehicles, an in-game track announcer and a split-screen multiplayer mode for up to four players.