More TrackMania 2 Coverage by USA Gaming Media

TrackMania 2 Canyon's breathtaking visuals

Pure goodness... this is what I was hoping for with TrackMania 2 Canyon being revealed at E3 this year... positive press from the USA Gaming Media.  I hope this will bring a much larger fanbase to the United States since most USA PC Gamers haven't ever heard of the game.

It's about time since the series is near release of its 4th incarnation.  :)

Two really cool things I'd like to share this time are coverage from two major sources:
GameSpot and MaximumPC.com/PC Gamer.

I feel if PC Gamer will do some serious coverage, including in their magazine before September, TrackMania will explode in the US arena.

In the article on MaximumPC.com, PC Gamer discusses six PC games they believe to be dominating the show.  Not only is TrackMania 2 Canyon on the list (albeit incorrectly named in the article) ... but a screenshot of it appears first in the article, right under the headline!

This bodes well in my eyes... it's getting more/better press than I hoped so far.  Let's hope it keeps after E3 ends today.

Help spread the word!  It never hurts to add more TrackManiacs to the mix.

Go NADEO!  GG!

PS: See the Track Editor in action on PCGamer.com.  One cool thing about this interview is that it's one of the USA racers/track authors Ubisoft invited to be with them at E3.  He makes sure to mention that the entire game is "skinnable", as has been done in TrackMania United Forever.
PPS: Don't forget to check out all the videos on the official TrackMania site if you haven't seen them yet.

TrackMania 2 Canyon - E3 Interview Video

See the video on Gamereactor

This video shows some cool footage in the background (including an Epic jump -- not a good view, but it is what it is.)

One of the important things in this video is that they quote the potential price range for the game: "between $15 and $30..."

Since it's just one environment, I'm hoping more for the $15-$20 price range.  Here's to hopin'!

Can't wait to see more footage and learn more about both TM2 and ManiaPlanet.
Stay tuned...

TrackMania 2 Canyion - E3 Gameplay Footage

Watch the video in HD 

Here is the gameplay footage they showed at the Ubisoft E3 Press Conference.
It will make you wet your pants with joy; as it shows off the cool lighting effects, terrain, engine sounds, etc. of the game.

Unfortunately, Ubi didn't give NADEO the same amount of stage time as most of the other games got, so I hope it was enough to wow the PC Gaming Media press enough to start covering this legendary game in their magazines, sites, etc.

I so can't wait to play this game!!!

ManiaPlanet Reveal at E3 - Live Online Monday!



Watch the E3 reveal

Looks like it's time to schedule a meeting at work Monday...


It's finally time for Ubisoft to bring marketing of the TrackMania universe to the United States of America!
Monday at 3:30pm Mountain Time Ubisoft will be revealing ManiaPlanet, which will be launch with the release of TrackMania 2 Canyon.

I can't wait to see it.  I also can't wait to see how the gaming media in the USA responds... hopefully we'll start seeing a lot of TrackMania coverage so all USA gamers can be exposed to the goodness.

GG!

Thief: Deadly Shadows - Steam Midweek Madness $5.00

Steam is selling Thief: Deadly Shadows for 75% off this week.
It is only $5.00.

It is one of my favorite first-person games ever... I highly recommend it if you haven't played it.
Get it quick; the offer ends on Thursday at 4:00pm Pacific.

Release Date for TrackMania 2 Announced

We finally learn when TrackMania 2 will be released. According to the official website, we can look forward to having an enjoyable September this year. I think I will celebrate this news by firing up Trackmania United now!

Source: http://ubi.com/US/Games/Info.aspx?pId=9791

More TrackMania 2 Canyon Screenshots

TrackMania 2 Canyon Screenshots at ManiaPlanet forums

Tunnel with a chicane ... yummy!

A screenshot of the edtior is available at the link above too.  Enjoy!



New TrackMania 2 Screenshots in EDGE Magazine Article

EDGE Magazine article about ManiaPlanet

More awesomeness in the screenshots shown in the EDGE article above.  I was a little disappointed in the section at the top of page 2 where Florent (head of NADEO) jokes about the US community and why there aren't a lot of players here.

I've never seen a lack of USA players online ... and the worldwide community has supported USA players well enough.  I think the real reason there is a lack of American players is because of the lack of advertising.

I was hoping for a huge article about it in the June PC Gamer, but was sadly disappointed when I borrowed Dragonflye's fresh new copy yesterday and didn't even see a mention or a screenshot of TrackMania 2 Canyon in it.

I certainly hope Ubisoft will be making a debut at E3 and that the gaming media in the USA will start covering TrackMania on a big scale.  I think the potential for a huge fanbase in the states is more than possible.

Here's to hopin'...

GG

TrackMania United Forever: Star Edition for $10 on Steam Today Only!

Ubisoft week on Steam

Today only, Steam is offering TrackMania United Forever: Star Edition for $10.00 (75% off) ... TODAY ONLY!
If you don't already own it, or have friends that still need to get it, send them to Steam now.

Pass it on...

TrackMania 2 Canyon/ManiaPlanet - Closed Beta slated for July 2011

TrackMania² Canyon

See the official Ubisoft press release.

Ubisoft announced on 26 April 2011 that TrackMania² Canyon and ManiaPlanet will be available as a closed beta beginning in July!

I can't quote, but I've been talking with NADEO some, trying to determine if TrackMania² will be integrated with the dreaded Ubisoft "Online Services Platform" (OSP).  It doesn't sound like it will; but don't quote me.

Now, it's starting to sound like ManiaPlanet is going to be an always connected thing... as it's basically the social nucleus of the Mania games (TrackMania, and soon to be ShootMania and QuestMania); but I don't know if that means we won't be able to play TrackMania on a computer without an internet connection.  Hopefully that's not the case.  NADEO is a freakin' awesome company, and I'm quite confident if they have their way, they'll allow offline play like the past TrackMania games have done.

I'm not sure how they'll choose the lucky people to participate in the closed beta; but I sure hope we have a chance to be a part of the closed beta!

Sidenote: I will confirm with NADEO whether this is called "TrackMania 2" or "TrackMania Squared"  I keep seeing it listed both ways; but it would be nice to know for sure...  :)