VW raises the bar for free games with high-end iOS racer Sports Car Challenge
Includes Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche
When it comes to making a racing game, it would likely cost a lot of cash to get access to brands such as Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche and Audi.
Not so for Volkswagen, however, which owns all of said marques and is highlighting their power and prestige in its new iOS racer Sports Car Challenge.
As with other VW apps, this one is free to download, acting as a huge viral campaign for the company, although, interestingly, the publisher is listed as Volkswagen (China) Investment Co. rather than the German HQ.
This suggests the game is particularly targeting the new rich lists of Asia. Indeed, you can go direct to the relevant websites or find a dealer for each car from within the app.
Start your enginesIn terms of the gameplay, there are three modes - Time Trial, Slalom and Braking - using tilt or touch controls, while the default is auto-acceleration and tap on the screen to brake. Achievements and leaderboards are supported via Game Center.
More importantly for petrolheads, you can customise each vehicles' paint job and rims, taking photos or video of the shiny shapes in a 360 degree garage.
One car from each marque is available - Audi TTS Coupe, Bentley Continental Supersports ISR, Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera, Porsche Cayman R and Volkswagen Scirocco R.
And, as you'd expect, the graphics are extremely high-end: something that's helped as there's only one car on the track at any time. Development comes from longtime VW partner Fishlabs.
Sports Car Challenge is out now for iPhone and iPad and it's completely free.