Test Drive Unlimited broken? (updated)

That's a question many visitors to the Test Drive Unlimited official forum over the last couple of days.

Why?

Atari released an auto update to the game that has caused as many problems as it has solved and shows no interest in explaining these updates to the game's community.

In fact it's pretty hard to actually work out what has changed. The patch seems to have enabled Force Feedback for the Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, but not in any way one would like. Implementation of feedback is so poor using the wheel is less fun than it was before its introduction.

The handling of many of the cars has changed too. In some cases for the better, adding more weight, but in many other cases dumbing down the handling to the point where even without driving aids switched on they seem as though they are.

Other problems include broken cars from download packs which now seem to behave as though they have the engine and drive-train from one of the game's motorcycles.

When questioned by many of the game's angry players a forum Administrator replied, "the moderators don't have any information at all at this point about the update, in fact they didn't even know it was coming out yesterday. I'm afraid I don't have any official information either yet."

Many players are awaiting the release of the Hardcore Mode for the game, which promises more realistic physics, especially in conjunction with the force feedback wheel. Now these players are worried that Atari has dumbed down the game's handling and will in fact charge 160 Microsoft Points for the privilege of just having the old handling back disguised as the Hardcore Mode, instead of the real promised physics update.

It's the sad tale of a good game being blighted by dreadful support. Yesterday Boomtown contacted both Atari and Eden Studios regarding the Xbox Live update, asking what it was supposed to fix and to respond to the problems players are facing. However at this time no reply was received.

Update: It seems the Xbox 360 version isn't the only with problems this week. Atari has halted the digital download of the PC version following problems with online functionality.

In response to the problems experienced by gamers trying to download the PC game, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Atari Nique Fajors, issued the following statement.

"In response to our failed launch of the digital download of Test Drive Unlimited for the Windows platform, I would like to apologize for the service failure," he said. "It is unacceptable. We are working on the solution and Test Drive Unlimited will be available shortly via digital download. In the meantime, customers affected by this postponement will receive the boxed product of Test Drive Unlimited in the mail within one week, a 75% off certificate valid towards your next purchase on Atari.com and a $3.95 refund for product insurance, if purchased. We will do better."

Good to see a response on these PC issues. That's excellent customer service there in resolving the issue and offering compensation.

There's still no official word on the problems with the Xbox 360 version.