Hot cars and popular videogames go hand-in-hand but promoters don't often get the opportunity to launch both at the same time.
Game distributor Ozisoft and Ford grabbed one of those rare opportunities in Melbourne today to launch both at once.
Ozisoft launched the PlayStation rally game Colin McRae Rally 2, while Ford lifted the wraps on the Australian version of the Ford Focus.
The Focus is one of the stars of the game, but the two have more in common than that. They both have a similar sales pedigree.
The original Colin McRae Rally sold 1.5 million copies Europe and Japan and is yet to be released in the United States. It is one of the top 10 selling PlayStation games of all time in Australia, and has been voted the best rally game ever.
Meanwhile the Ford Focus has won numerous awards both in Europe and the United States, including both the 1999 European and the 2000 North American Car of the Year titles. It also just happens to be the car that British Rally Champion Colin McRae drives in real life.
Codemasters, who developed the game, have taken the bold step of creating a completely new game engine for the sequel. The result is much improved graphics, better car handling and enhanced gameplay. Opposition drivers have been given greater artificial intelligence and there are eight new rally venues.
While the Ford Focus is not the only car in the game, Ford is hoping it will be the focus of the game.
Codemasters worked closely with Ford to ensure the virtual game car handled and performed as well as the real thing and Howard Marsden who heads Motorsport for Ford Racing Australia is rapt in the result. A former rally driver himself, he says it provides the equivalent of real life rallying experience.
While the game went on sale today the Focus is not scheduled to go on sale in Australia until next year.
Ozisoft