Say What? Joy Ride No Longer Free-To-Play & Now A Natal Launch Title?

155
Dan Webb

According to CVG's super secret source, Big Park's "Joy Ride" - which was unveiled as Microsoft's free-to-play avatar game at E3 2009 - is now said to be a Natal launch title and is scheduled for its unveiling at Microsoft's Natal specific event at his year's E3.

"The hope for us is that it will be a boxed release - we're still in the dark on that one - but it's definitely for Natal and will definitely be here for launch," the source told the site.

"We've been told it will no longer be free to play, but that it's been completely reworked into a bigger, richer game than before," they continued. "They're putting the final touches to it now. The biggest thing for us is that it just works with Natal's racing controls. We're reliably informed it's very intuitive."

Well. I. Never. I must say though that I've never really understood the fascination with Joy Ride anyway, I assume it was because it was said to be "free-to-play." I guess that fascination will die off now.

If the report from the source turns out to be accurate though, colour us intrigued.

We'll no doubt hear more on Sunday June 13th when Microsoft's Natal gets its own special E3 event. You know, the same date that certain retailers will start accepting pre-orders for the device.

Comments
155
  • wat ? joyride not free
  • Lame. Not interested in the slightest now.
  • Take away free stuff, thats Microsoft. They better make it better.
  • I was gonna get it since it was free but now I won't shame too.
  • I'm looking forward to see how this turns out.
  • Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame.
  • First talk about an upcoming free arcade then wait a year and then say it's no longer free? Lame.
  • we buy everything we should get somthing free microsoft you f*&k us over again thank you!
  • I'm tempted to not buy this purely out of some half assed protest at changing their mind half way through and charging for it. These are the times Microsoft should learn to stop announcing things before they are ready to commit to them, similar to ODST and their marketing/pricing errors, everyone will now view this game as the game that "should of been free".
  • I think this is disgusting, i mean they say it is free and are working on it. Next they descide to delay it. Now it is going to cost and will purley be Natal. Wow. This is terrible. Definetly not buying.
  • Good plan Microsoft, keep us waiting for ages for a free arcade game, then, a year later, decide it won't be free, or an arcade game. I applaud your lack of lateral thinking.
  • Yeah, I was interested because it was free...In fact I was quite excited to have a little kart-y game to play around with. I would've happily paid for the extra tracks or whatever, a la Game Room. Now I'm not even gonna bother with the game. Way to go.
  • Thx MS!
  • So if there making it a natal launch title that means from it being free it will be costing up from about £50 (depending on how much Natal costs, also £50 is just a guess) to play it. Can't say I'm to interested in it now espeically when they said it would be released at the end of last year.
  • @ Webb Big Park make Joy Ride, not Big Fun. Anyways this sucks! They said it would be free, why can't they stick to their word?
  • I think they could have at least told us they were doing this from the start rather than keep telling us it was still on it's way. It's almost like a middle finger to be told somethings true then we find out it is the complete opposite.
  • @#15 - Ha ha, indeed! Talk about a Freudian slip =P *fixed*
  • thats dumb...
  • Bloody Natal. I was looking forward to Joyride, I was even planning on dropping a few points on it a la micro purchases but now Natal has stuck it's claws in and it's no longer a free game I don't see me or any of my mates playing it now.
  • well that sucks, free was the selling point
  • lol what is this word "free" you speak of?
  • 1 VS 100 will be next, wait and watch! =P
  • Well they went with the route of Modnation Racers. Too bad it's not gonna be nearly as good as that game.
  • If it's more expensive than $10 then I'm getting a PS3 just to spite Microsoft. Relax, I'm not going to play it or anything I just feel that I'd be more persuaded to hand my money over to Sony than Microsoft...
  • That sucks, I was waiting for it. Won't buy Natal for sure.
  • More Microsoft bullshit
  • The smart move would be for them to make it a free pack-in with Natal.
  • @27 The smart move would have been to do as they said they would do when they unveiled it in E3 2009
  • We knew for a long time that rules don't apply to Microsoft. Now we know that truth does neither.
  • Was gunna give this a go since it was free, now they can get fucked.
  • People should have learned by now nothing is free, so getting hopes up over something "free" was kinda your faults :P Specially since it was being from Microsoft and all..
  • Nice move microsoft...i already see developers releasing additional parts for level editor and car editor (if there will be one) for 800 points per pack in future after saying that it will be completely free.
  • Not even remotely interested in Natal (if I'd wanted that sorta crap I'd have gotten a Wii not a 360) ...no longer interested in joyride
  • BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! That's bullshit. I'm not interested in Natal in the slightest, and I'm not going to buy Natal to play this. Bad move Microsoft.
  • of ffs, f**k you ms, you make us wait for ages then say that we've got to pay now? twats
  • f**k natal.. nobody wants it.. its gonna be as bad as the EYETOY..
  • 36- You beat me too it lol...
  • Well, I agree with Webb, who gave a shit anyways? Go play PS3 if "M$" sucks so bad.
  • I probable would have payed a normal arcade game fee for it, but Natal? Ugh... So much for driving around in a fancy car with my avatar's head sticking out the roof...
  • I never really cared much for Joyride either - but it was supposed to be free so of course i'd have got it. Awesome way for M$ to reward there millions of customers. I couldn't give a shit about the Natal - I hope it fails badly, I know it won't but I can hope.
  • Well That Blows!
  • Only wanted this because it said free... Guilty... I admit it...
  • ಠ_ಠ
  • wth omfg this is like i kick in the ball man why say its fucking free when it not someone @ E3 fucked up big time and i would like to see them say sorry and give us some shitty free arcade as thay did say free
  • Was wondering where Joy Ride had got to. That explains it. Shame, looks like I probably won't be getting this now...
  • Looked lame anyway
  • wtf M$ i was actually looking forward to this. it looks really fun depends on how much it is and if they sell it seperate from natal i might consider still getting it
  • Ah probleay going to get a ps3 to get modnation and little big planet so i dont care!
  • ohhh thats well gay that its not free any more but it could be oright now that its a natal game
  • figures they would do this to us
  • yup no longer interested. not free and this little ditty "...The biggest thing for us is that it just works with Natal's racing controls. We're reliably informed it's very intuitive." you mean you, the developer, dont know how it plays first hand?? sounds bad to me
  • Seriously, They mention a free Kart game at E3 2009 meant to release Winter, but failed to do so, Now that they failed to do that they probably thought to add a few extra stuff and then charge us for it because of Natal, WTF Microsoft always trying to squeeze the last ounce of cash left inside us, for something meant to free. Round of an aplause Microsoft.
  • should be free with Natal like Wii Sports. But someone now explain..... what are we paying for on xbl? Facebook, twitter, Last FM, there all free services! Discounts u say? So we're paying to pay less??! How does that work! My biggest complaint, what happened to offers for ppl who have had xbl for several years? Ive had it for nearly 8. I think i should be getting something for my yearly payments. Why not have an archive of all previous Deal of the Weeks, that is only open to ppl who have had xbl for 3yr+. And even more discount for ppl over 7 years, or addtional services, like having Last fm over your games. Pull ur finger out M$
  • fuck u MS, give us natal for free and i pay for joy ride.
  • My life is so empty now without this as a free game... what will I do now?
  • @22 wouldnt be surprised
  • Why say it's gonna be FREE then take it away from us.
  • BS, only reason everyone wanted it because it was free... Now nobody wants it..
  • lol @ them wanting to make it a retail title.
  • why bother announcing it at E3 2009, when 1 year later (Microsoft's press briefing was June 1st). then say/suggest (as this is from a retail source) that not only will it not be the same as the footage shown at E3, but will not be free, will be a launch title for natal (that probably most hardcore gamers are not interested in). wow, so the value that everyone had for it is now gone, what else is there? thanks a lot microsoft. i'm not going to pay for it
  • ive tested out natal. its pretty cool and the tracking of movement is excellent but if its too expensive (>$100) then its not worth it. and this is the first im hearing about this game so it doesnt really bother me much
  • Microsoft really are knobheads, aren't they? I was never looking forward to this, but I was planning on playing it a bit with my friends when it released. I don't want NATAL because I think motion-games are stupid, so no Joy Ride at all now :/
  • no longer interested
  • I am really not that interested in Natal, until they work it into full games in a good way e.g. not driving games I don't plan on getting it.
  • Bollocks. Who cares about this now?
  • Well like many people here it just means dust to me now.
  • If Natal ruins controller gaming on the xbox or games will have achievements that need Natal aswell, I'm through with xbox!
  • even if it came bundled with natal,i don't want to hold my arms up pretending i am holding a steering wheel while i play
  • I guess il still be trying this out then either way.... What!!! Im a family man i have an excuse to buy natal lol.
  • Nothing is free in Waterworld!
  • Maybe it comes for free in the Natal box? (So you have to pay for Natal and get Joy Ride with it).
  • people wonder why pirate's are rife
  • I'm sure they had this in the works along, which is way it was released when it should of been.
  • i agree with (this keyboard doesnt have a hash key)73 :P
  • A year late and we have to pay for it? what the hell!
  • I lose more faith in Microsoft by the day.
  • not free, not interested.
  • Not free means not interested.
  • Yea What Was The Big Deal With JoyRide? Other Than It Was Free.
  • Great, that's Microsoft. I was actually looking forward to this game, not anymore. "Bigger, richer game", isn't that the same type of excuse that was given when Microsoft claimed ODST wouldn't be full price but then changed it to full price with that lame excuse? I wouldn't care much if Microsoft hadn't said Joy Ride would be free, but the fact is, they did. Looks like Microsoft going back on their word is slowing becoming a regular thing.
  • have I to pay to play this crap? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!! no.
  • Only thing I liked about it was the background was straight Wile E. Coyote
  • never heard of joyride
  • If it's like Mario Kart Wii & it's also packaged with Natal. I'm in.
  • wow i didn't see that coming -.-
  • they could'nt help them selfs.
  • @22 HECK NO! 1vs100 better not get priced! thats not worth it it still sucks how joy ride's not free anymore
  • I haven't read all of the comments, but what is the deal with everyone's sense of entitlement to free stuff? It's a business, people...Microsoft doesn't "owe" anyone free products just because you decide to buy some stuff from them. Be happy they run their discounted promotions from time to time and stop complaining!
  • @88 its just that at E3 MS said that this would be free...now,we have to pay £100(rumoured)to play it,if its gonna be bundled with Natal...that's quite a steep change sure they don't 'owe' us the free game,but as their customers,they 'owe' us to stick to their word,wouldn't you say?
  • Never even heard of that game it must not have achievements. . .
  • 89, I know they revealed that Joy Ride would initially be free, and I can certainly understand your position from that standpoint. What I can't understand is why people get up in arms over this news, accusing Microsoft of all sorts of bad things in the process. These same people are now willing to completely write this game off just because it isn't free now; this despite the fact it apparently is being added to in such a way to merit not just a paid arcade release, but a boxed retail release. In all honesty, if what was intended to be free has been enchanced by the developers then I have no problem rewarding them by buying the product if I wanted the game...them putting a price on it won't influence whether I want it or not. But, I know I'm in the minority. Continue the corporate bashing.
  • hey guys our calenders say april first... *checks* ahhh f*** this is bullshit ... well at least i can join the others bout taking my free game away..
  • Thank god im getting a PS3 for my Bday. Everything is practicaly free.
  • With this being a Natal launch title my only hope is that it will not have the HORRIBLE controls that Burnout had whenever they tested it. I would rather have an actual steering wheel and pedals than to hold air and stomp my foot down.
  • hmmmmm a driving game for project natal? sounds like I won't be intrested at all.
  • Damnit! Double whammy.. this is bad news... but once I have Natal and Joy Ride I won't care. :D It's going to be fun as hell.
  • @93 u'll be sadly mistaken on ur b-day it seems anyways f*** Microsoft i swear they always s*@" on us, i was waiting patiently for a free, fun avatar based game. Def. nt buyin, Natal will fail (okay i dnt meant tht, im jus a little upset)
  • Eh, oh well. As far as I'm concerned, Natal will be great. It won't ruin 360 gaming and possibly only enhance it. Face it people, Motion controlled gaming is huge, all the systems have their own now and its here to stay thanks completely to Nintendo. Deal with it. you don't have you use it, its merely an option...
  • lol @ 93, just you wait. forgot all about joy ride, i'll wait and see before i decide to buy or not. (sucks its not free now though)
  • Still buying it
  • This is why I didn't want Natal, microsoft trying to turn the xbox into wii..
  • Shame is not free anymore but i doubt is going to be more than $40 how much can they add?
  • I was expecting this a long time ago, and now its not even going to be free!!?? pathetic, forget it. -WcG iFredy29
  • Typical...
  • @44 Chill out xD
  • to put it bluntly microsoft fuck you! i want my free game that i dont have to play on some wii wannabe attachment.
  • God damnit MS =/ I wanted some free kartracing to play against my friends for fun
  • ahh, we shouldnt really be suprised about microsoft charging for this... they do with EVERYTHING now. this is so lame. for once something looks really good, a FREE game to play with friends for a laugh, mspoints for extra maps is fair, and the game would have been HUGELY successful.. but really... natal? and then making the game cost? why charge for the game if natal is gonna be so much to fork out for.. we pay £150/ $300 for an xbox, another £40/$80 for xbox live, all the charging stuff for controllers, wireless extras, and thats before you even get a game. microsoft should reward all of their customers with at least realeasing this game FREE and as it was meant to be realeased.
  • i agree with 36 and 37
  • Only read the article. None of the comments. Anyways, 'never understood the fascination' really?! It was announced as a free racing game in the vein of Mod Nation w/Avatars. Free achievements. Maybe free awards. Most importantly it was a free game announced at one point. This is crap!
  • Hell yeah! This will be fun!
  • you spelt 'this', you said,'his. Just saying, and i agree with every thing else people are saying.
  • I fucking love microsoft and the ideas and games they've brought to us over the years, but pleaaaassse STOP FUCKING YOUR CUSTOMERS OVER. Shit like this would never make turn to a ps3, pathetic excuse for a console.
  • Yay for Microsoft, first they give us hope that they give us something for free. And now the just messed it all up! Thumbs up!
  • How the fuck do you drive a car using Natal?
  • dont you just love microsoft
  • Was looking forward to this, I'm so gutted now.
  • Microsoft do it again..... dicks.
  • the resons it was gonna be so good was becuse it was free inclued your avatars and was acrade wich ment achievements but they ruined it all.
  • There'll most likely bundle it with natal so technically it still is free
  • natal will be gay
  • There are games that need to be free, because they are more a novelty than even a 3 year olds game... This... This, is a novelty game... -1 for Microsoft
  • Typical nothing is ever free with MS these days... i was really looking forward to this game, as you said because it was free so i was really hoping for a huge multi-player fanbase at release now that you have to pay i doubt it will have anymore than 5000 players on it.
  • what r some of you on about we have had 1 free arcade game each year so far. aegas wing, yaris, dash of destruction and carcassonne was free for a week as well at one stage. Im from UK but then i guess all the games have sucked that have been free so far, at least they where all easy 200 gamerscores
  • @#124 aegas wing and yaris were never released in the uk ಠ_ಠ
  • @124 unfortunately you forgot Undertow
  • boooooo! and any word on the 2nd doritos free game? dash for destruction was all right
  • wow thats total bullshit, cheers microsoft (bends over and takes another1 up the arse from microsoft)
  • Good work microsoft show te people how nasty you are
  • @#38 you took the words right out of my mouth haha. Who cares about some kiddy avatar racer going from free to something for Natal? I never even heard about this game till now, been to busy looking at "grown-up" games I guess. Free, not free, either way I could care less. It's amazing that after all Microsoft has done to screw over 360 owners, that there are still people out there that believe what the say...curious. Just my opinion.
  • My interest towards this game was little to none anyway, so I don't really feel betrayed or anything. I'm not getting Natal anyway because it's just overpriced bullshit.
  • I agree with the most others here. This sucks, i was really waiting for this game when i first heard about it 1 year ago. But now, the fun has dyed out.. Will see what i will do when it's finally out..
  • Looks like just another game I'm going to pirate ^__^ Thanks M$ for making the choice easy for me!
  • I think what a lot of the anger about this comes from is really two things: one is that they said it would be free, and got people interested by saying that. I mean if your favorite restaurant told you that for being a customer with them they would give you a free hamburger next Wednesday, then next Wednesday came around and they said they still hadn't got the hamburger meat, then a week later they told you that they added cheese to the burger and now they are charging for it but you have to buy a steak before you can get it, you'd be upset. (I know, it's a really weird analogy, but bear with me). The other reason is simply people are starting to honestly question the value of an XBL gold membership, this was something that added value to it, and then it was taken back. Easy as a consumer to feel slighted by that.
  • You only get a something free from MS when it's no good. Shame really.
  • This is so lame, was looking forward to playing this game too, I hope MS change their mind, they will not get good feedback for this for saying it free in first place, then saying you need to buy it and need Natal.. what a load of bs..
  • it would be natal, it would be redeem code type of thing. so it would be free just not to people with natal.
  • (correction) without natal
  • #115, apparently you didn't see the reveal of Natal at E3???
  • Natal shmatal, they better make it so you have the option of using a controller. Not one person I know who's worth a damn at MarioKart uses tilt. I'm sure it'll be a pack-in with it though so technically it'll still be "free" if you buy natal.
  • leave it to microsoft to fuck us in the ass with no lube again and yea project natal? why not call it "operation Wii" natal will b lame as fuck if i wanna touch stuff or kick a ball i'll punch my friend or go outside and play soccer seriously this 3D and whole motion capture controled gameing is dumb
  • wow - look at ALL the whiners in here - and i thought there were gamers in here - all i've read so far - with the exception of a few people (very few) - are all whiners - must be bitch and moan about everything month - i swear if it's not FREE - y'all whine about it - kinda reminds me of little kids - scream and pout 'til they get their way - not very sportsmanlike now is it
  • Micro$oft! Money grabbers! It's pathetic really, who the hell would actually pay for this crap anyways?
  • Free: Slightly interested. Paid: You wish, Micro$oft. Well I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Micro$oft do have a habit of not delivering, as well as stealing my money (800MSP for All Fronts, cannot download; getting suspended for 2 weeks for having the word "breasts" in my bio...)
  • Sorry not 800MSP, whatever the price was BEFORE it was marked down, so like 2700 or something.
  • when this was revealed it seemed fun and even if it wasnt free i would've got it, but natal? wrong move. also...why pre-order natal? there will be minimal game support by its release and you wouldnt get your moneys worth, but by the time some games run fully natal its price will have dropped :P
  • Honestly I care about as much as if I'd been told Dash of Destruction was not going to be free. I never expected anything special from Joy Ride, the only difference now is that I'm a bit more certain that I'm not getting it.
  • disappointed.... No! this was totally clear that microsoft don't want to give us something for free.....
  • More shit like this from M$ and Sony here I come! I mean seriusly... Microsoft really laid the egg now! They just keep disapointing all the time! If there was no Halo I wouldn't play Xbox at all! Soon there will be no more Halo! What then? Then it's PS3 or 4 or wtf they might dare give me! This is typical M$ and they keep doing it! I hope Natal screws up so much that M$ bites the dust all this "pay for everything" shit is starting to piss me of!!! @44 *ball(s)*
  • Now it just comes down to achievements and price, and guys if you hate ms go play ps3 oh and the only free thing is the service, NO free games all games cost at least $1.99 and Ms gave us dash of destruction, aegis wing, hexic hd, totem ball. Any one who thinks Ms is money grubbing hell atleast we get stuff for free sony guys dont get anything but the service so grow the f*** up you little *********. Good day
  • News must be slow today. :p We've been hearing about project natal aka glorified eye toy for the last two years. I'm sure at some point it could be cool but don't expect Microsoft to realize it's potential unless they can find a way to charge us for it.
  • wow what is wrong with all of you project natal is going to be great so what if we dont get much for free the xbox live is alot better that than playstation network so be grateful for what youve got not what you havent.
  • This game isn't free?...Wait wtf is JoyRide? Could care less never knew it existed,natal will blow, however so long games continue to use controllers ill continue to support M$ outside of fighting games...the d-pad sux(+1 sony).
  • what a shocker, Microsoft opts to cash in on something that would have otherwise been free. (L4D's DLC, The second part of the Mythic map pack, etc....)
  • i couldnt really care less about Kinect or Joyride!! i really dont see how a kids game is soo appealling to everybody... although i do feel that microsoft shouldnt tell us something when they clearly were gonna do something else. lets hope Natal aka Kinect stay the hell away from Gears, CoD and Halo!!! i dont really fancy lookin like im having a fit while i stir at the TV screen lol :P
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