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As each video game generation comes and goes, players find themselves increasingly immersed into the digital environments they spend hours exploring, battling or racing in. As video games continue to mark its territory as a mainstream staple in pop culture, and as major franchises sell millions of copies on an annual basis, success comes with it expectations.

Players want the best-looking game possible, and although visuals are far from representing the most important facet of a quality gaming experience, it's more often than not a key selling point, and easily the most marketable. We saw it for a year with the Frostbite 2 engine running Battlefield 3 and we're seeing it now with things like the ambitious Star Citizen space sim coming down the line and the Unreal Engine 4. We aren't that far away from legitimate photorealism.

Just take a look at the gameplay trailer up top, featuring two players cooperatively playing the Toronto map in Playground Games' Forza Horizon. We're kidding of course, but this neat bit of marketing using live-action cars and environments is a sign of the future. Xbox Canada crafted this viral and it's not just a great video game commercial, but one of the coolest car commercials we've seen in ages. Compare now to the Forza Horizon launch trailer. Head to page 2 for details on the Forza Horizon season pass and all of the upcoming DLC.

Forza Horizon isn't the only racer to keep your eyes on this fall, as just one week after it hits retail, Electronic Arts and Criterion Games release Need For Speed: Most Wanted, another game we loved at E3 this summer. Both franchises saw major releases last year with Forza Motorsport 4 and Need For Speed: The Run, respectively, and both see a change in style for this year's iterations. Check out the NFS live-action trailer:

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Now, compare to the Most Wanted Find it, Drive it trailer.

Both of the live-action vids creatively mesh live-action car scenes with in-game footage, all to some catchy music. The NFS video involves more cars, more stunts and a closed track, whereas Forza's takes place on the actual roads of Toronto, for all bystanders to see. Both are awesome.

As a bonus, there's one more live-action video we want to share, albeit slightly different than the above two. This one comes from YouTube celeb Freddie Wong who has a working relationship with Electronic Arts, having previously put together a live-action Battlefield 3 TV commercial.

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Forza Horizon releases October 23, 2012, exclusively for the Xbox 360. Need for Speed: Most Wanted releases October 30th in North America, November 1st in Europe, on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.

 

Rally Expansion Pack Officially Announced for Forza Horizon

“Forza Horizon Rally Expansion Pack” Coming to Xbox LIVE on December 18

 

Microsoft, Playground Games, and Turn 10 Studios have announced the upcoming release of the “Forza Horizon Rally Expansion Pack.” Delivering immersive and authentic rally racing on the roughest, untamed roads of Colorado, the “Forza Horizon Rally Expansion Pack” will offer Horizon players an outstanding off-road racing experience with deeper ruts, higher jumps, and new surface types to explore. Players will experience authentic rally action behind the wheel of rally-tuned cars, complete with co-driver calls, and much more.

Look for further details on the “Forza Horizon Rally Expansion Pack” in the coming weeks, leading up to the release of the expansion pack on December 18.

“Forza Horizon” Season Pass Details: Full details of the “ForzaHorizon” Season Pass have now been released, including newly announced content that makes the Season Pass an even more tremendous value to Forza Horizon fans. In addition to monthly DLC car packs and exclusive bonus cars, the “Forza Horizon” Season Pass includes automatic access to the “Forza Horizon Rally Expansion” pack at no additional cost.

Here’s the complete rundown of content available to “Forza Horizon” Season Pass owners:

Month One Car Pack

The Month One Car Pack for “Forza Horizon” will be available starting on October 23 and will include six cars for use in “Forza Horizon”:

  • ·         2012 Ferrari 599XX Evoluzione -- It’s notable that Ferrari considers itself a racing team first and automaker second. Leaving no gaps in the realm of elite performance, the XX line was created to bridge between Formula One and production cars. The Evoluzione has only 30 more horsepower than the previous 599XX but is a full second faster on Ferrari’s exclusive Fiorano test track.
  • ·         2012 Lamborghini Aventador J -- Sparing no expense, and designed in a total of six weeks for its one prospective customer, Lamborghini created the open-air Aventador J. In its cockpit you won’t find any climate control–for obvious reasons–or navigation; they would simply add weight. Powered by the standard Aventador’s 700 horsepower 6.5-liter V12, the roofless–and ruthless--J can easily achieve speeds north of 180 mph.
  • ·         2012 Gumpert   Apollo Enraged -- One of the biggest and best-kept secrets of the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the Gumpert Apollo Enraged dropped jaws at its unveiling. The ultra-exclusive three units of production are street legal, but realistically are ready-to-race track cars.
  • ·         2012 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider -- In the tradition of the open-air Giulietta of the 1950’s, but with all the performance and technology of the 8C Competizione Coupe, the 8C Spider is as graceful as you’d expect from an Alfa. It is also ready to pounce given a little motivation. Its body lines are supple; its interior boasts exposed carbon fiber and aluminum.
  • ·         2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 -- Revamping a classic car to match its predecessor is a difficult trick in the car business. The 2012 Mustang Boss 302 does so in every way and then some. Pure fun mixed with nostalgia doesn’t get much better than this.
  • ·         1957 Chevrolet Bel Air -- Before the terms “stanced” or “tuner” were even a thought in the mind of any car enthusiast, there was the ‘57 Chevy. The Bel Air was the most upscale of the bodies sporting the most chrome and a golden grill. Whether you keep it classic, flourish it in flames, or drop in a big block, it will always get looks.

 

The Month One Car Pack is included free for “Forza Horizon” Season Pass owners, or available individually for 400 MS Points.

Six Monthly DLC Car Packs

Beginning in November, “Forza Horizon” fans will enjoy a steady stream of monthly DLC cars and the “Forza Horizon” Season Pass will give you instant access to all these cars as they are released. Each monthly DLC pack will include six incredible cars bound for Horizon Festival greatness — from cutting edge supercars to eminently drivable classics and all points in between. Individual DLC car packs will cost 400 MS Points but Season Pass owners will have access to the first six monthly DLC packs, from November 2012 through April 2013, at no additional cost. As always, fans will be able to use their DLC cars in a variety of monthly DLC-focused community events, contests, and challenges, including photo contests, Rivals events, and more.

Forza Horizon Rally Expansion Pack

The Forza Horizon Rally Expansion Pack will include new events, new cars, and new achievements and will cost 1,600 MS Points as a standalone purchase. The Rally Expansion Pack is included in the cost of the “Forza Horizon” Season Pass.  Look for more info on this exciting expansion pack in the weeks to come.

Five Exclusive Season Pack Bonus Cars

In addition to the Month 1 Car Pack, the six Monthly DLC Packs and the Rally Expansion Pack, “Forza Horizon” Season Pass owners will also receive five exclusive Season Pass bonus cars, with one car delivered monthly for the next five months. Season Pass Bonus Cars will be available for download on the third Tuesday of each month from November 2012 through March 2013. The Season Pass Bonus Car for November is the 2006 Lamborghini Miura Concept. Look for more details on future Season Pass Bonus Cars in the coming weeks.

The “Forza Horizon” Season Pass will cost 4000 MS Points and represents savings of more than 15 percent over buying the individual content packs. Look for the “Forza Horizon” Season Pass, available for purchase on Xbox LIVE, beginning on October 23.

“Play and Win” Incentives: Players who purchase and play “ForzaHorizon” during the first week of release will receive a free gift car — theSaleen S5S Raptor; a unicorn car typically only available from the “ForzaHorizon” community team.

Where Cars Belong: “Forza Horizon” will be available starting on Oct. 23 in a Limited Collector’s Edition ($79.99 U.S. ERP) and a Standard Edition ($59.99 U.S. ERP). The game is rated “T” For Teen by the ESRB.