Midnight Club 3: First Impressions

Rockstar kindly invited us down to its London pad for a very early glimpse at its 'other' big title set to emerge this year - Midnight Club 3 DUB Edition.

This all-new instalment to the well-known, free-roaming Midnight Club racing series introduces a key new partner to the project. "DUB" magazine is the rag of choice for serious power-modding enthusiasts - we're not talking a few quid on a Max Power job here - we're talking major pimping that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. The kind of thing you and I can't afford - but that kind of thing big-name rappers all rush to splash cash on - hence the magazine's prevalent hip-hop theme.

DUB magazine is the "creative consultant" to the game on all hardcore customisation matters. As the magazine itself puts it, "for us it was a no-brainer. Rockstar's games are probably the most played in any of our rides, and now we finally could give input into making the kind of street racing games we have always wanted to play." Why, naturally.

Rockstar's Dan Houser explains, "we wanted to reflect all aspects of modern American car culture, in terms of vehicle modification and what is happening on the streets. We were eager to simply learn from the DUB guys... the game is deeper and more realistic."

The game is in development at Rockstar's Carlsbad, California office - that'll be Rockstar San Diego, then - a collection of people not unfamiliar with the genre. As well as working on Midnight Club 1 and 2, the team developed the critically acclaimed PC title Midtown Madness and its sequel back when it was known as Angel studios.

Rockstar San Diego claims that Midnight Club raised the bar for modern day racing games. "Now we are taking every opportunity to expand upon the signature features of the Midnight Club series," explains producer Jay Panek, "as well as creating all-new features, to produce the most exhilarating street-racing game ever."

So is it any good? Well it's still early days, but already it's an improvement over the first two games, and the typically-Rockstar production values are in. We particularly liked the cool DVD-style menu transitions; insanely fast speed-zooming through a city high in the air. We hope these stay in the final game.

Car: $100,000. Pimpin: More Than You Got

The open-city racing theme is delivered with more impact in this third edition. An entire range of different vehicles is on offer, including SUVs, bikes, exotic and luxury cars - a combined total of around fifty licensed vehicles, in fact. Importantly, damage modelling will be included on all the licensed vehicles, not just texture damage, and best of all the detailed tuning mechanics include top-line after parts that are also officially licensed from manufacturers - and that includes some of the most hardcore, detailed 3D rims yet seen in a racing game. Performance-wise, every last detail is customisable, as you'd expect.

But the three new cities will also get pulses racing in this sequel. Detroit, the motor city, along with Atlanta - the 'dirty south' where customisation is massive and where the "DUB revolution" began, and San Diego - characterised as the home of illegal street racing. Rockstar is keen to position the three as "massive, living and breathing" cities, though we haven't seen any in their entirety at this stage. The night time environments do look great so far, with intense 'streaking' street light effects, rain coated glistening tarmac, sparks flying from the paintwork and an impressive sense of speed. It's a noticeable improvement over Midnight Club 2, and we're looking forward to seeing how the visual style develops before the game ships - in fact we've already pencilled in a second look at the game before then - at which point it'll be ready for hands, not just eyes.

Get your rims out, lads

All manner of short-cut style possibilities seem to have been integrated into the layout and format of the open cities, and no two races should ever be the same - something the team is counting on adding some serious replay value. Combined with the online play and the opportunity for mod-heads to battle in such an obsessive, global networking type fashion, the scene is most definitely set.

With the free-roaming racing genre expecting a serious 'boost' when EA's Need for Speed Underground 2 arrives, and the tuning-obsessed frothing at the mouth at the prospect of Acclaim's detailed offering with Juiced, Rockstar is hoping to offer the best of both worlds with a racer that combines serious freedom and hardcore customisation - all online. It's going to face relentless competition in the general racing genre later this year, but with the USP combo and DUB tie-up, has every chance of being a hit.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com