Codemasters today took the wraps off the multiplayer details for its racing game GRID, and so far, they sound pretty beefy.
GRID’s multiplayer options will be identical for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC: 32 online race events, 80 circuits, 15 intercontinental locations and support for up to 12-player races.
In a Forza 2-esque move, GRID players will be able to create a custom paint job and take it online — then watch as it gets torn to shreds considering the full damage modeling in the game. The multiplayer races themselves will span several race types, from drifting around Yokohama Docks and charging through Detroit to racing touring cars around Spa-Francorchamps and competing in demolition derbies.
Yes, demolition derbies. Not sure about you, but we can’t wait for that one.
The nuts-and-bolts multiplayer options will include a voting system, matchmaking mechanism and host migration so gamers can races quickly, vote yay or nay on the race types and stay in sessions longer with their friends. A new ranking system will then chart players’ progress, with XP awarded based on achievements ranging from the number of events won to beating higher-ranked opponents.
As players rise through the rankings, GRID’s online leaderboards will record the fastest laps for each track, and gamers can then download ghost cars to test out their skill in Test Drive mode. There will also be a voyeuristic option, er, “Spectator mode.”
Codemasters also indicated it will let players switch damage on or off, enable catch-up mode, set driver aids and determine whether they want public or private games.
