Virtual Worlds Forum

Speaking as someone who's just had their first two driving lessons at the grand old age of 30, I haven't dared play any console racing games since, for fear of taking bad habits into my real-world driving (i.e. screaming through the streets at 140mph, pulling handbrake turns, and fumbling for the 'boost' button). But it seems there might be a more sensible crossover between console and real-world driving. Visitors to the recent Tokyo Motor Show were apparently able to virtually test-drive some of the newest cars on show, thanks to a partnership between carmakers Nissan and Subaru, and Sony Computer Entertainment. Sony developed a special edition of its PlayStation 3 Gran Turismo game with the new cars in, with the aim of giving show attendees a taste of their handling and fuel consumption. "We hope that by playing the game, children will realise how exciting cars are and think 'I will definitely drive this car when I reach 18," said Sony's Yoshiaki Oinuma. Hopefully this won't apply to all games though: heaven help us if kids take Burnout as their model for road manners... (via Worlds In Motion)