The racing game Test Drive Unlimited by Atari and Melbourne House is set to be released this coming March. This racer will have more than 125 licensed cars and motorcycles. The terrain has been modelled after the Hawaiian island of Oahu which has about 1000 miles of roads and highways, more than enough room for you to take a spin in you vehicle of choice.

The Xbox 360 version of this game received high marks upon its release, garnering a popularity rating of 82.3% according to Game Rankings. If this game delivers everything it promises, then it will equal to its next-gen brother. More news as we get it.

  

The upcoming PSP version of Test Drive Unlimited (PC, Xbox360) is arguably one of the most awaited PSP games set for release next month. And to further psych up all the PSP users out there, Melbourne House has posted part II of their dev diary to give us an inside look at what's in store for us when TDU hits the shelves on February 20.

And this time, let's shift all gears to focus on the Hardcore Mode, which, according to Melbourne House's Ahmed Boukhelifa, will be available at the launch of the PC version. It will also be up for grabs later on as an Xbox Live download which will be called "Patch 3." The patch is still in QA testing at Atari, but is expected to be released real soon. So anyway, here's what you'll need to know about the Hardcore Mode:

• it will be available after players reach Champion status and will appear as an additional entry (next to "New Game" and "Continue"). Once selected, it will run down the following specs:
• Physics handling - handling becomes "ultra realistic" and more demanding. Increased breaking distances occur and the driver is left with less anti-drift assistance.
• Telemetry Players will have the option to activate Telemetry with the D-Pad to follow accurately how far you'll need to push the car
• Free Ride Alternative Players in Free-Ride will have the option to display their current driving mode (shown as a small icon next to screen name)
• Multiplayer Challenge Additions - self-explanatory, but basically, battle it out with other players in Hardcore Mode
• Solo Challenge Option - because it IS the Hardcore Mode, this option will NOT be accessible in this mode.

That's basically it guys, that's the rundown on what you'll need to know about Hardcore Mode in TDU. For Xbox360 users, you might wanna watch out for that Patch 3 download on XBLM. Not to worry though, we'll keep you posted once news reaches our ears about that so stay tuned.

Alright, heads up to all you mad-driving maniacs out there, Melbourne House's Kevin Burfett has just posted another dev diary entry over at IGN. And this time, he talks about the upcoming PSP version of Test Drive Unlimited (Xbox360, PC) and the great stuff you can look forward to seeing on  your handhelds.

So as not to bore you by making this post read like a literal Dear Diary entry, here's how we're gonna do this:

• Making the entire island of Oahu fit right into your hands is an incredible technical feat, but they were able to do it so Kevin says, "Every piece of the 1000 miles of road is there in a fully streaming world. You can race around the entire island in a single session without seeing a loading screen."
• All the cars have been remodeled especially for the PSP and what the devs and end users see are exactly the same, no differences in size, shape or color.
• The PSP version will have the Auto-GPS, with Master Points, Race series, and over 240 races all playable online. And yes, TDU on the PSP will have online multiplayer and ad-hoc mode.
  
• You can play in Infrastructure mode, with High Scores being recorded for ALL races when you're online (for both single and multiplayer.
• If you're more of the in-and-out person, Quickrace will be a useful option for you.
  

Kevin also recommends cruising through unexplored roads if you have very limited time on your hands (or better yet, just go car-shopping). Basically, what all this goes to show is that in TDU, it's not just about the racing element, it's also about the various gameplay choices that the game offers -- cruising, customizing your rides, etc. And to give you a more visual glimpse of what TDU offers, here's a quick-see of what you'll soon be seeing on your handhelds. Enjoy!

   

Just in case you haven't noticed, Atari has remained pretty tight-lipped about their upcoming racer Test Drive Unlimited (PC, Xbox360). Good thing we were able to score a batch of spanking new screens for the game's PSP version to temporarily water down our fiery desires to get our hands on the game.

Currently cooking in Melbourne House's kitchen, TDU for PSP (as well as with the other versions) will have around 70 hot rides which you can customize to your heart's content. And what good would pimping your sports cars be if you wouldn't be able to flaunt them right? So here's where miles and miles of open road come in. (Or should I say, here's where they put the "Unlimited" in Test Drive Unlimited?)

So anyway, as we've mentioned in our previous posts, the game will be set in Hawaii, where all their roads are set to be trampled on by your phat rides. And with the PSP's wireless functionality, you'll be able to race with your buds via WiFi connection. But since TDU won't be burning rubber in Uncle Sam's land until February next year, go on an ogle-fest with this batch of screens we have today, why don'tcha?

More rubber-burnin' screens in the full article!