This week's giveaway is Test Drive Unlimited for Xbox 360, one of my favorite games from the early days of this console generation. And, truth be told, I've been thinking of getting back into it. Yeah, I'm keeping my copy; this is an extra one I picked up.
It was also the game that inspired me to launch the first ever Busy Gamer Review in 2006.
TDU is an unconventional racing title that lets you cruise the entire island of Oahu. You not only get to drive all over a Hawaiian island (for an achievement if you can find every single stretch of road), you'll want to win races and beat challenges to earn cash and buy scenic property there! (Also hipster clothes and, oh yeah, cars.) Some of the races are quick, just a few minutes, and others are EPIC - an hour or more around the island. Multiplayer is unique: You'll be placed in an instance of the island with other real people who are playing at the same time and they'll cruise around with you. Challenge 'em to races, or just run 'em off the road. It's all good.
There are even some cool Easter eggs like an airport fence you can jump if you're patient or lucky and a portal to a secret bonus island. (I've bookmarked both for easy access - maybe I'll see you there?)
To enter:
Simply post a comment on this page. Say whatever is on your mind as long as it's not an ad or profane. Be sure to read the Sweepstakes Rules to ensure you are eligible to win and don't get disqualified by double-posting or forgetting to provide an e-mail address.
You may also want to white list this domain; we've had several would-be winners lose out because they never responded to their prize notification! If you use TypeKey/TypePad, be sure your e-mail address will be shared. No e-mail address, no prize. (Don't worry, no one else will see it - and we'll only use it to contact you if you win.)
Note that unless you're an authenticated poster who has been active on the site and marked as trusted, your comment will NOT appear immediately. It will go into a queue for me to approve, which I'll do several times a day (except the first weekend, where comments may not be approved until sometime late on Sunday). Do NOT double-post. We'll extend the entry period for this until 5:01 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, November 5 to ensure you have plenty of time to enter and verify your entry was posted.
We also sometimes give away unannounced Instant Win prizes. Here are a few tips since this can happen at any time. (We just gave away several and have more in the hopper! Check our Busy Gamer Podcast on Sunday for some hints about what's coming!) 1) Follow Gamewatcher on Twitter. Before we post the next Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win, we'll give you a fair warning tweet. 2) Subscribe to our RSS feed and set it to check for updates frequently.
We continue to stock up on cool goodies for Free Stuff Friday - and we will keep doing so as long as there's enough response, even if we continue to lose money on this site. So tell your friends about this! Hey, if we get bigger, so will the prizes that YOU could win!
While you're at it, post comments wherever you see something interesting. Also, if you get a game code you don't need or have some other cool game-related prize you want to donate, we'd be very grateful (we pay for most of this stuff ourselves!).
Check back each Friday to see what's next.
Comments (38)
Sounds cool!
Posted by Alex | October 30, 2009 12:22 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 00:22
Hey!
I've been wanting to try out this game. It sounds interesting. Time to check out the rest of your site.
Posted by Richard | October 30, 2009 12:46 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 00:46
I always wanted to go to Hawaii.
Posted by FatmanOSU | October 30, 2009 5:18 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 05:18
Always up for winning.
Posted by Dan M | October 30, 2009 6:14 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 06:14
I'll give this a shot.
Posted by Jon | October 30, 2009 6:30 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 06:30
i wanna win this
Posted by tommy | October 30, 2009 8:49 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 08:49
Ooh! I liked the demo on the Xbox Marketplace.
Thanks for the opportunity :)
Posted by Silvercube | October 30, 2009 8:49 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 08:49
I need something to play so I can hold off buying games until Black Friday!
Posted by Nebenator
|
October 30, 2009 8:52 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 08:52
When I'm done with Forza III in a few years, this might come in handy!
Posted by Andrew R | October 30, 2009 9:09 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 09:09
always in for 360 games i dont own, goodluck all
Posted by Dann | October 30, 2009 9:35 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 09:35
Never got around to trying this one out. I'm always up for a good racer, and you seem to be giving this one the big thumbs up. This one has motorcycles too IIRC.
Posted by Alex P. | October 30, 2009 9:57 AM
Posted on October 30, 2009 09:57
Ha, Magnum: P.I. is on the TV as I write this. Maybe if I win I can drive his Ferrari around the island.
Posted by BitLooter
|
October 30, 2009 12:10 PM
Posted on October 30, 2009 12:10
I came to this site through Cheapy D's website. I wasn't sure if listing the actual website would have been considered spamming, which is not what I intended. Anyway, I'm glad I did. It seems like Burnout Paradise ripped this game off big time. I'd be very greatful if I got to see it for myself.
Thanks
Posted by Matt J | October 30, 2009 12:29 PM
Posted on October 30, 2009 12:29
Put me down for a good racer.
Posted by Warbux | October 30, 2009 1:05 PM
Posted on October 30, 2009 13:05
Sick i could use some new games before the holidays.
Posted by Larry Perlman | October 30, 2009 1:22 PM
Posted on October 30, 2009 13:22
Zoom zoom zoom!
Posted by JT | October 30, 2009 2:46 PM
Posted on October 30, 2009 14:46
looks like a cool game, hope i win
Posted by dwb6
|
October 30, 2009 6:39 PM
Posted on October 30, 2009 18:39
Bip Bap BAM
Posted by Zerowind117 | October 30, 2009 7:26 PM
Posted on October 30, 2009 19:26
Here's hoping I win. Looks like a good game. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii. :P
Posted by Dayna | October 31, 2009 10:16 AM
Posted on October 31, 2009 10:16
cool prize
Posted by Kyle | October 31, 2009 12:28 PM
Posted on October 31, 2009 12:28
Man, Test drive was funny to me... I played it with my cousin and all i did was crash into him. This game brings back memeries =)
Posted by Greenfire999 | October 31, 2009 2:43 PM
Posted on October 31, 2009 14:43
I loved Burnout Paradise. If this game has similar gameplay (and it appears to), then I would love to be able to play it for free.
Posted by Bigandtasty | November 2, 2009 12:28 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 00:28
In as usual
Posted by deadbodyman11 | November 2, 2009 12:39 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 00:39
I've lived on Oahu and it would be cool to see how the game compares to the real thing.
Posted by menewbe | November 2, 2009 2:40 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 02:40
Sign me up, The game sounds cool!
Posted by Bruce | November 2, 2009 4:04 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 04:04
Thanks for the memories. I believe this demo is still on Xbox Live; I'm off to download it right now.
Posted by waryndo | November 2, 2009 7:53 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 07:53
Wow, awesome! I still remember how good Test Drive for the PS2 was.
Posted by AzN Renegad3 | November 2, 2009 11:46 AM
Posted on November 2, 2009 11:46
Count me in!
Posted by Darklighter | November 3, 2009 3:41 PM
Posted on November 3, 2009 15:41
bumblebee tuna
Posted by James Lopez | November 4, 2009 11:01 AM
Posted on November 4, 2009 11:01
Thanks for the chance at winning!
Posted by Evan | November 4, 2009 12:31 PM
Posted on November 4, 2009 12:31
Count me in.
Posted by Justin | November 4, 2009 12:47 PM
Posted on November 4, 2009 12:47
I'm down for some Test Drive.
Posted by Peter | November 4, 2009 1:24 PM
Posted on November 4, 2009 13:24
This game is a hidden gem...I loved just cruising around the island. Sadly the controls were not that great...if it had forza or burnout controls it would have been perfect....still didnt stop me from putting an insane amount of hours in to it...never did get that achievement for finding all roads tho :/
Posted by Andrey Ogrenich | November 5, 2009 12:54 AM
Posted on November 5, 2009 00:54
I'll be blunt, I want to win this. I used to own Test Drive games on the Playstation 1 system and it was one of my favorite racing series. Good times.
Posted by Erik | November 5, 2009 1:30 AM
Posted on November 5, 2009 01:30
Thanks for the giveaway.
My 360 actually died last week. Getting it repaired and hope to have it back soon to clear out my backlog. Wouldn't mind another to add to that list ;)
Posted by (TSC)Bender | November 5, 2009 8:12 AM
Posted on November 5, 2009 08:12
Sounds cool. Count me in.
Posted by Tancred | November 5, 2009 5:16 PM
Posted on November 5, 2009 17:16
The winner is: 29. James Lopez. 'grats!
Next giveaway launches in a few hours (hm, what will it be?! Really, I don't know yet...)
Posted by Gamewatcher
|
November 5, 2009 7:59 PM
Posted on November 5, 2009 19:59
I don't know about all of you but im just a sucker for games where you can just drive around and have fun instead of race race race.
Posted by dsi r4 | December 11, 2009 8:07 PM
Posted on December 11, 2009 20:07