At least we're getting more demos for the PSP these days. New on the block is Codemasters' TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge available from www.yourPSP.com - oh yes, this is on the SCEE (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) side of the Atlantic, plus Australia and New Zealand...

True to its title, the demo features three cars and three challenges to test your nub finesse. (Or D-pad finesse, if the game controls with the D-pad, too. Hey, whatever floats your PSP.)

• Steering Control: take the wheel of an Ultima GTR through a timed slalom course
• Duel: hop into the Opel Vectra GTS V8 in a leader-chaser challenge, which means you gotta overtake him to win
• No Damage: race your Mercedes Benz W196, in a pack of other W196s and - here's the catch - incur no damage to your car (or at least minimal). You're kidding, right?

The game itself, on UMD, gets off the start line February 16.

Download: [TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge demo]

Good news, Aussie racing fans. Atari has finally announced the release date for the PSP version of their PS2 racer V8 Supercars 3: Shootout Challenge (which was released as ToCA Race Driver 2006 in the US and Europe). According to IGN, this racing title will be released on February 16.

V8 Supercars 3: Shootout features the world's most powerful cars in tightly fought pack racing action. The challenges are fast and furious, delivering intense but short bursts of play to make this title perfect for PSP gaming on the go. It also features wireless multiplayer racing for up to 12 players simultaneously while Game Share enables up to four players to enjoy wireless multiplayer racing from just one UMD.

Some of the cars featured include the Holden Commodore VX and VY V8 Super, Ford Falcon AU and BA, Nissan 350Z Nismo, Subaru Impreza 22 Track, Audi A4 DTM, AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse DTM, WilliamsF1 Team FW 27, Gemballa GTR 750 EVO, Koening GT-D and 360 GT, and N10 Track, TVR T400 R and the coolest motors from the British GT championship.

This maybe the closest we can get to TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge. While it is already scheduled to hit UK retail stores on February 16, developer Codemasters isn't mentioning any plans to bring it here in North America. Oh well, lucky them. We're just hoping that the sales for this game become impressive so that Codemasters will reconsider.

Anyway, here's the new trailer for TOCA. It shows off the various cars available in the game as well as how they look on race tracks. Judging from the clip, we guess this is just the regular time trial race. We're kind of hoping to see how the Bring It Home challenge would play out. Trying to finish a race in a battered up car is just plain exciting.

We have here some screenshots of Codemasters' TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge. Aside from screens, we have been informed that the game will be roaring off exclusively for the PSP on February 16 in the United Kingdom. As for U.S. gamers who are interested in getting this game, well we guess you'd have to import it to join in all the fun.

Anyhow, the game will be blessed with new play modes such as Free Race, Time Trial, and a 12 player multiplayer actions through WLAN. The fun doesn't stop there as it also features 36 world-famous tracks, each with multiple variations of routes and over 40 of the world's most exciting real competition cars, both modern and historic and each with their own handling characteristics.

Aside from those, there are also varied skill tests that will challenge the player's racing prowess. There is the "Bring it Home" challenge where players take control of a damaged car in a race that only has a few laps until the finish. The "No Damage" challenge, on the other hand, will put you in the racetracks with mad drivers, the objective is to finish the race with as little damage as possible. Steering control, Drive the Line, and Duel are the other challenges that players could dabble on.

 

In reply to commenter, whoelse (Unregistered), #28 in The PSP Show contains an interview with a Codemasters dev. In fact, it contains nothing BUT an interview with a Codemasters dev. No news, no reviews, no fuss.

Ewan Spence jumps straight to talking to Steve Lycett, veteran PSP title producer, who is currently busying himself with TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge. (Actually, he's with Sumo Digital, but Codemasters is publishing TOCA, so he's not exactly a Codemasters dev, but he is devving something for them. Semantics. Maybe we should have changed the title of this article to "all Steve Lycett and TOCA Race Driver, all the time," then, but we didn't want to spoil the suspense.)

As game producer, Steve should be able to give some lowdown on "behind-the-game," especially working with the PSP. Continue on via the Via link to where you can hear about Steve, TOCA, PSP devving, and Ewan's desire to race to Fleetwood Mac MP3s. (Hey, only if I get to race to Billy Ray Cyrus MP3s. Let's see who gets to the finish line first.)

Winter may not be as cold this year if you've got a PSP. Codemasters announced it will release the latest TOCA title exclusively on PSP and it looks like it's going to be hot enough to melt Jack Frost to a puddle.

According to Codemasters, TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge is being designed from the ground up for the PSP system and promises to deliver burst play and the same motorsport excitement that made the TOCA series famous. The upcoming title will feature a new, progressive central game mode called the World Challenge.

In World Challenge, players compete through a series of international championship tiers. Each circuit is packed with skill tests, specialised events and championships designed to enhance and expand gamers' race driving skills and experience. A series of tests and events will build racing muscles in damage control, using the racing line, manoeuvring, timely pit stops and braking accuracy.

The main event is the tier’s specialist Championship season with multiple car races on different circuits. Winning this race is the only way to move up in the next tier of the World Challenge.

TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge also features spectacular collisions with flying sparks, tire smoke billows, flapping doors, shattering windscreens, and wings ripping off. The car and bodywork realistically deforms with every impact!

Wait, theres' more. TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge will come loaded with new play modes including Free Race and Time Trial. Plus a wireless WLAN multiplayer action play for up to 12 players simultaneously. And with the Game Share feature, up to four players can burn rubber via WLAN racing from just one UMD.