Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli
http://fc.system3.com

Semi-sim racer focussing exclusively on Ferrari road and race models - using the official tracks form the Trofeo Pirelli series.

The car models are good, with a great editor for making your own liveries. The online mode is a little buggy but workable and actually it's possible to have some good close races in terms of laptime, but its hard to battle door to door for too long, I think because of the lack of peripheral vision in the in-car view and the need to be "perfect" all the time.

The handling of the cars is a bit weird. You do have to know the tracks and be very sensible with your entry speeds, gears, acceleration, lines etc but it seems to "lock" to a line when you turn-in and then no attempt to change your line a bit works i.e. you cannot tuck the nose in by lifting off slightly... well you can but its usually not enough and only when the speed drops more than you would expect necessary.

When you get a good lap it is satsfying, because you know how many opprtunities there were to go wrong each lap! If you want a more serious racer then I recommend it highly. You have to WANT to do well... especially in some of the races later on in the game whihc are very long requiring maximum concentration.

Ferrari's available to drive in the original release are:-

Downloadale Content
There was the promise that over time, System 3 would release extra tracks and ALL Ferrari's ever productd (road cars only I believe) right ack to the 166 Inter! Now THAT would be one to collect! This has not happened as of yet, not even 1 download, so not sure if tiever will becuase I on;t think the game sold as well as they thought it would. I hope they do, as I for one will buy it all!

You can find out more below.

• A news article on the forthcoming content updates
  www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=212081

Gran Turismo 5 (Prologue)
www.gran-turismo.com

Gorgeous looking game, with great lighting, car models (with full interiors) and detailed tracks. The driving model itself though needs smoe work. It is by no means bad but just doen not feel fluid enough... too digital. The end result meaning you cannot really drive with flair.

The Artificial Intelligence is far from intelligent (maybe is tands for Always Idiots in this case?) - always been a let down on GT games and I'm really surprised there seems to have been no attempt at rewriting the AI code (unless this is what the extraordinary delay in releasing the full version is about!?!).

The Ferrari's you can drive in the Prologue game are:-

• 512 BB
• 599 GTB Fiorano
• F1 2007
• F40
• F430

Formula One Championship Edition
www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Games/Formula_One_Championship_Edition

Based on the 2006 season (the last for Schumacher!) - see if you can rewrite history and make it 8 championships! ;)

Not a bad game. Commentary by the ITV crew (Martin Brundle and James Allen) and some pretty good (if a bit manic) racing.