A little while back, we thought it would be a smashing idea if I started reviewing driving and other car games for Automoblog. It seemed like a natural fit. Automoblog’s founder Chris Burdick and I are both really into video games. And the current crop of games today are technically impressive and a complete hoot to play.

Before we dive into the ups and downs of this game or that, why this wheel and pedal controller is good, and so forth, we all agreed that I should explain myself a little. You know, let everyone know where I’m coming from so the readers can adjust for any biases.

I’ve always enjoyed games. Ever since I was a little kid, playing games was both enjoyable and, for me at least, a safe and controlled environment where a person could be as risky or foolhardy, or as ruthless or conniving, as they wanted to be.
Forza Motorsport 4 screenshot.

Paid To Play

I have worked off and on in “the gaming industry” since the early 90s, helping to design board games, learning experiences, card-driven random experience blah-blah-blahs and, ultimately, computer games. Indeed, I worked on the Xbox-based driving game Forza Motorsport 4. I was hired as a content expert and sometimes a test-driver. I got the gig because, mainly, I knew a lot about cars and racing but also because I knew a bunch about game design and simulation.

Forza Motorsport is a good game, and it is what I would call a “close” simulation. As good ...