As part of the tie-up between Microsoft's Turn 10 Studios and the BBC's smash-hit motoring show, Top Gear, Forza Motorsports 4 will include a number of single-player and multiplayer modes ripped right from the TV show. Yes, it will include "Car Soccer."
The Turn 10 / Top Gear tie-up includes, in addition to the aforementioned multiplayer "Car Soccer" mode, it also includes Jeremy Clarkson providing audio commentary in the new car dealership-like "Autovista" feature, and single player career modes — like "Car Bowling" and a series of "Top Gear"-related Rivals challenges, "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" being chief among them.
"Car Bowling" is exactly what it sounds like — you knock down bowling pins with your car as you drive around the Top Gear test track.
The "Car Soccer" mode is modeled after two segments from the Top Gear TV show (Season eight, episode five and season six, episode one — for all you Top Gear fanatics out there) where the hosts played in a giant game of soccer between Volkswagen Foxes and Toyota Aygos. The best part? The mode isn't limited to just the Fox or 'yota, you can use any car you want and in any combination of cars that you want.
Top Gear isn't new to tie-ups with video games, starting with a very basic but still drivable version of their test track appearing around 2003 for the PC racing simulator, Grand Prix Legends. There's also a version of the test track for other PC simulators, including rFactor and World Racing 2.
But it wasn't until Grand Turismo 5's release last year that the track appeared in a mainstream console racer. I never got a chance to fully unlock all of the gameplay modes on the track because although I spent four infuriating hours trying to beat the caravan race level — I could never do it.
While the tie-up was cool because of the novelty, I eventually gave up in frustration of ever having a chance to play what I want and how I want on the Top Gear test track. Turn 10 Studios says they've learned from Sony on that one. Here's to hoping that's true.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Jalopnik had an editorial tie-up with Turn 10 Studios on Forza Motorsport 3, this game's predecessor, on two DLC packs for the game. We are working on a similar tie-up on Forza Motorsport 4. Although no money has exchanged hands in this relationship, because it might be something you feel could affect our judgment and clarity in covering this game, we felt the transparency was important.