Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Discussion Thread

[Mr Fahrenheit]

I don't care about graphics much, but still wonder why did they use this image.

Something about this image is kinda giving me the 'Ace Combat maps looked from the ground' vibe.

I hope we'll be able to see it in motion soon, I think it should look much better.

 

[pokemonfan58]

Cool screenshots but where’s all the gameplay at? The fact that they’ve barely shown any gameplay for this game is starting to become alarming to me.

Look I don’t want to see this game fail as much as other guy, because I love test drive unlimited. I remember spending lots of hours playing TDU2 back when it first launched and the servers were still up and was hyped when I first heard there was a new TDU game coming out but the lack of gameplay shown with Solar Crown and the trailers we got were mostly concepts is becoming concerning.

 

[MagpieRacer]

This could almost be from WRC Generations but with a Beetle. Very familiar look to the gravel and foliage.

 

[nukleabomb]

New pics from the latest post:

Solar Club Letter #3 - The Solar Hotel

# Welcome to the Solar Hotel.

Dear Solar Club members,

A little-known but highly influential organization called Radiant will soon invite the first members to an extraordinary competition: the Solar Crown. The public are unaware of the group's motives, but it's clear what they value: Prestige, a love of Cars, and Competition. No one knows the exact origins of Radiant, but it is made up of elite and influential people whose goal is to create a street racing extravaganza without limits. To allow future participants to compete with the best possible preparation, Radiant has built an impressive and luxurious building: the Solar Hotel.

Located in Victoria Park in the heart of Causeway Bay, the Solar Hotel is a unique architectural jewel. Its unusual and futuristic silhouette immediately leaves a big impression. At 540m (1,772 ft.) high and with 120 floors, it is one of the 10 highest skyscrapers in the world. When you first encounter the Solar Hotel, several questions will probably cross your mind. What is its role? How was it built? Who are the other residents? But one thing's for sure: it always leaves a big impact.

A MODERN AND LUXURIOUS HQ

After taking the elevator, you head to your first suite, graciously provided by Vivian, President of the Solar Crown Organization Committee. Upon entering, you find yourself in a bright and spacious room, decorated in an ultra-modern, minimalist style. Here you'll find your wardrobe where you can change your outfit whenever you want. Members who are concerned with their image can therefore always remain stylish and show off their coolest outfits for everyone to see. For drivers who are more concerned with the competition, all the suites have an augmented reality screen with a wide range of information: weather, upcoming challenges, player profile, and progress details. In the comfort of this premium suite, your temporary home, you can recharge your batteries between races. The Solar Crown Organization also stipulates that its most distinguished members will be offered increasingly prestigious suites as they move up through the ranks and gain more reputation. Rising up the Solar Hotel is another way to further increase your fame and dominate the world of TDU. It perfectly reflects Radiant's selective philosophy: every participant should feel important and be rewarded with privileges. Every new outing around Hong Kong Island will start from your room, your personal HQ.

Note from Jérôme Mariotti, Art Director:

“The Solar Hotel is inspired by 'Arcology' and aerodynamics. It is notable for its slender and organic shape, combined with the latest architectural, aerospace and automobile technologies. Its spire reaches up at over 500 metres (1,640 ft.) from the ground and dominates the Hong Kong skyline.

Its location is somewhat linked to its connection with the tournament's competitors. It overlooks the city and encourages you to push yourself to another level. It is a central hub for players – who gain access to increasingly luxurious rooms as they progress in the competition – and has stunning views over HKI."

A CONNECTED LOBBY

After looking around your new suite, it's time to get in your car so you can explore the city. This will take you through the hotel lobby. Designed as a social hub, this majestic hall is primarily a place to meet and chat with other members who have been invited to take part in the Solar Crown.

The Solar Hotel's lobby is the main hub for all participants of the Solar Crown. This wide-open space showcases the best drivers and displays the activities available. It's a common area where Sharps and Streets are constantly meeting each other as they come down from their suites. It's the perfect place to make friends or stoke rivalries! The Solar Crown Organization will give you more details on the rules and interactions between members in the lobby in a future newsletter.

As with all luxury hotels, the Solar Hotel offers various services for its members. There is a clothing store where you can view a catalogue with a wide variety of items for sale to show off your style. In a world where luxury and reputation rule, everyone wants to make the biggest impression in the Solar Hotel. Your progress and race rewards will give you access to hundreds of fashion items, from the most basic to the most lavish. In the lobby you'll also find a hair stylist and cosmetic surgery service. Radiant has recruited the world's top surgeons to ensure you can make any change you want to your appearance. So, you can live the affluent life of luxury you have always dreamed of. Finally, there is a valet service in front of the hotel to ensure you can explore the city with whichever car you feel like driving at that particular moment.

In the middle of the lobby, four special Solar Crown members will always be showcased for their achievements that day. Whether they have distinguished themselves in races, FRIM or extreme exploring, their favourite car will be on show to all other participants across the world. It's the ultimate recognition of your feats and is reserved for just four players!

The outside of the Solar Hotel is your gateway to the city and is also a central meeting point for players in their cars. The roads around here have been designed for easy access to the hotel even when there's a lot of traffic. Whether it's a car meet, a show of strength, or simply somewhere to meet friends, the Solar Hotel represents much more than your accommodation.

Note from Alain Jarniou, Creative Director:

“The lobby of the Solar Hotel illustrates our desire to get players together and help them interact. TDUSC is not just a racing game, it's a game for fans of beautiful cars, for racing or cruising around with friends, so it was essential for us to provide a place for players to meet up. The most obvious way to do this was with social hubs where players move around with their avatars rather than at 300km/h on HKI behind the wheel of a hypercar. In the first Solar Club Letter, we explained that players meet in dealerships and workshops, but the Solar Hotel is the central meeting hub in TDUSC.

Whether it's for strutting around with the latest exclusive clothes, throwing down an Instant Challenge to other players, seeing your car showcased after your latest triumph, buying new clothes, or changing your avatar's appearance, the lobby has been designed as a 'village square' in TDUSC.

We added this fantastic place and its rooms to enhance the accommodation concept in the TDU series. Fans of the franchise will remember the houses in TDU2 where you could extend your garage, but it was a very personal experience. Even though you could invite your friends, you must first make friends, and this is the objective with the Solar Hotel. We know that houses made an impression on TDU players. While this feature is not in the game when TDUSC launches, it is part of a long list of features we have already researched for future content in the medium and long term."

As you can see, to help the competition run smoothly in its first year, Radiant decided to host all its members in the same place: the Solar Hotel. But there are very few limits to Radiant's ambitions, and many investment projects are already being explored for future years. These projects include real-estate projects that would directly contribute to Radiant's growth and global influence of the Solar Crown and its ever-increasing number of members.

While waiting for your chance to visit the Solar Hotel, you should rest assured that all of Radiant's construction teams are hard at work and putting the finishing touches to their project so they can welcome you in the best way possible. Reservations and the first tours will open soon. Stay tuned!

All 8 4K Screenshots, click here!

 

[Doomotron]

The connected lobby reminds me of the hub in ModNation Racers with live displays of players and their vehicles.

 

[RedRockValley]

People acting shocked about no houses on launch, when this was basically made clear on the game’s initial reveal…

 

[SestoScudo]

Houses played a big role in the TDU series.

Pretty ridiculous to even call this TDU in the first place if you dont have houses or at least undergound garages.

 

[TJ13]

Maybe they will add houses in a free update?

 

[karaokequeen3]

Please, it's not realistic when you haven't got the local police breathing down your neck (in the name of national security) because of unauthorized social gatherings...

 

[SestoScudo]

Please, it's not realistic when you haven't got the local police breathing down your neck (in the name of national security) because of unauthorized social gatherings...

I highly doubt police will be in this unfortunately. Tdu 1 and Tdu 2 police was pretty bad.

But still I want the police in because consequences of illegal street racing should be punished. I dont expect to see nfs like hot pursuits but cops should be there as they make the world come alive plus it helps you think twice about doing something illegal.

Midnight club la did have cops not the best but they were still good from the radio chatter even using police tactics to take you out. Plus you had drive civilise in front of them because if you speed off you have to pull over if not they start a chase because you did not pull over.

 

[tankuroded]

I highly doubt police will be in this unfortunately. Tdu 1 and Tdu 2 police was pretty bad.

But still I want the police in because consequences of illegal street racing should be punished. I dont expect to see nfs like hot pursuits but cops should be there as they make the world come alive plus it helps you think twice about doing something illegal.

Midnight club la did have cops not the best but they were still good from the radio chatter even using police tactics to take you out. Plus you had drive civilise in front of them because if you speed off you have to pull over if not they start a chase because you did not pull over.

I guess you missed the "in the name of national security" part - the user you quoted was making a reference to the post-Security Law situation in HK, an issue I brought up here.

 

[SestoScudo]

I guess you missed the "in the name of national security" part - the user you quoted was making a reference to the post-Security Law situation in HK, an issue I brought up here.

Did not realise it

 

[ImaRobot]

I guess you missed the "in the name of national security" part - the user you quoted was making a reference to the post-Security Law situation in HK, an issue I brought up here.

A non-issue, at that.

 

[McLaren]

Different houses did create a sense of variety, but it seems with everything needing to be purchased at this hotel but the cars themselves, I guess that's due to some limitation. It's not a big deal for me, only part of my expectations would miss them.

 

[Doomotron]

As long as there's detailed apartment customisation I'll be happy.

 

[gtracedriver1]

This game development seems to be in some trouble. No gameplay or even trailer. It might be a low budget game but they need to show something to get people excited that the game is making some progress

 

[Famine]

This is the discussion thread for an article on GTPlanet:

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown May Have Slipped to 2024​

Fans hoping to get hold of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown later this year might have a slightly longer wait on their hands as publisher Nacon looks to have set the title back to early 2024...

 

[GlamFM]

This game just can’t shake the vaporware vibe…

Hope to be proven wrong because I hope this game will fill the void left by the crew going horizon, but this doesn’t feel great.

 

[Famine]

Called it!

The first thing we need to note is that there’s no hint of a release date yet. Concerningly the studio remarks that the newsletter will keep fans “up to date on everything happening with TDUSC this year”, which could hint that the title has slipped to early 2024. We’d not expect it until Q4 2023 even with our optimism hat on.

 

[inCloud]

Considering godawful screenshots and tCM releasing this year it was expected.

 

[nukleabomb]

This game is very likely to be a car crash. I think those expecting a full TDU sequel or a Forza alternative will be sorely disappointed. The crew will potentially cement itself as a strong #2 behind forza for open world racers after Motorfest. Sad to see Legendary and household names falling off so hard, with NFS and TDU.

 

[NLxAROSA]

Interestingly enough there is no mention (by name, or my search skill are bad) of that Terminator Survival game they announced last year. Assuming there would be some reference in that doc if they are working on that (spending money)?

 

[ProjectWHaT]

Given the scale of the game and all the features they wanted, I think they definitely bit off more than they can chew. They're being way too ambitious. In the end, it's probably good that they're delaying the game so the release won't be a complete disaster. Hopefully they scale back some of their plans to meet this new deadline

 

[ZedNinetySix]

GOOD!
I'm very pleased they are spending more time refining instead of rushing an unfinished product onto shelves (cough GT7 cough)

Seems like every AAA publisher has not learned from this the last 10+ years...

 

[GZombie]

Here we go, rant time:

It's ok for developers to take time to make a game. And it DOES NOT mean because they are taking their time, it's not a "car crash" (I wish I could read comments that are not the IQ of 12).

Let's just wait for the game to come out instead of ****ing judging it before it even has a ship date.

Games are bigger, more complex, intricately made pieces of software. You can't make sequels to games on the same budget/time frame you did from the previous one anymore because the time to make assets and complex code increases each time.

For **** sake.

 

[NLxAROSA]

Games are bigger, more complex, intricately made pieces of software. You can't make sequels to games on the same budget/time frame you did from the previous one anymore because the time to make assets and complex code increases each time.

True. Delay actually means extra investment, not less. It's a decision not taken lightly as it's expensive.

 

[nukleabomb]

Here we go, rant time:

It's ok for developers to take time to make a game. And it DOES NOT mean because they are taking their time, it's not a "car crash" (I wish I could read comments that are not the IQ of 12).

Let's just wait for the game to come out instead of ****ing judging it before it even has a ship date.

Games are bigger, more complex, intricately made pieces of software. You can't make sequels to games on the same budget/time frame you did from the previous one anymore because the time to make assets and complex code increases each time.

For **** sake.

This is funny because this game hasn't been just delayed.

It was schedules to come out in 2022. After which the Xbox one and PS4 platforms were dropped, but curiously keeping the Switch version. Then it was announced to be delayed to 2023. Now, supposedly in its polishing phase, with no gameplay shown yet, and a bunch of sub par gen 8 looking screenshots, it has been delayed again to next year.

This is a game revealed back in 2020. Fast forward 3 years and all we have are just screenshots showing graphics barely qualifying for gen8 consoles and features that are already in the crew. It doesn't even have the magic of the old TDU, which was the enormous map. It doesn't have the player houses either, and is marked internally to be a GaaS MMO racing game.

This looks like anything but a smooth development process.

 

[Ande3200]

To many games are releasing so not an issue for me, crew motorfest looks even to be more fun than forza horizon 5 witch i have not played for a year and proably wont ever

 

[juanffy18]

Well it was expected

 

[Northstar]

Here we go, rant time:

It's ok for developers to take time to make a game. And it DOES NOT mean because they are taking their time, it's not a "car crash" (I wish I could read comments that are not the IQ of 12).

Let's just wait for the game to come out instead of ****ing judging it before it even has a ship date.

Games are bigger, more complex, intricately made pieces of software. You can't make sequels to games on the same budget/time frame you did from the previous one anymore because the time to make assets and complex code increases each time.

For **** sake.

If a developer can't be bothered to keep those following the project even slightly in the loop they really don't deserve and benefit of the doubt. Communication is key and even a little bit can buy you a lot of patience with potential customers.