Every so often, the team at San Diego Studio allow me up from the basement, favorite red stapler in hand, to take a peek at the upcoming week’s new features. I’ve learned to “extend” my gameplay sessions with “coincidental” occurrences of…

Free highly-caffeinated energy drinks and donuts in the break room. A sudden rash of car alarms blaring from the parking lot like a jet plane just grazed the roof top. A bogus announcement over the company P.A. system that Kevin Butler has arrived on campus.

These events usually buy me an additional hour or so with the game. This is a purely selfish endeavor as it really only takes a few minutes with the game to see and understand the brilliant, creative, and subtle, yet powerful features of ModNation Racers: Road Trip. I have yet to (voluntarily) set the game down and not walk away saying, “now that was just flat out fun!” Indeed when it comes right down to it that’s what ModNation Racers: Road Trip for Vita is… a flat out fun kart racing game!

Let me share with you a little of what I experienced…

1. Controlled Drifting
An essential element of any great kart racing game is the drift mechanic. In ModNation Racers: Road Trip drifting is no longer solely about building up your boost meter to gain acceleration or as a cache for shielding from weapons or hazards. Though these abilities are still a large asset of drifting in the game, we have made many improvements allowing players more complete control of their racing lines. In a correctly-executed drift your forward momentum is increased while your outward momentum (inertia) can be managed (or decreased). You will find your kart easier to hold a desired line by being able to carve and progressively link drifts together without over- or under-steering into walls, guardrails or flying off the track. This refinement allows veteran racers to rely more on their racing skills as well as allows newbies a greater sense of control.

2. More Forgiving Collisions
Now racers will notice fewer if any “dead stops” brought on from an opponent’s attacks. Racers will also find it easier to get back into the pack if they happen to land a jump a little off kilter or accidentally slam into a wall with the new auto-correct feature built into the racing controls. It can be frustrating in any racing game to have the slightest error result in what seems like an eternity of reverse Y-turn after Y-turn to get you back in the race. ModNation Racers: Road Trip = problem solved.

3. Refined Braking
Braking? What’s braking? I don’t need no stinking braking!
Sure you can still go all out and avoid your helpful little friend (the brake button) but if you truly desire to master the art of racing in ModNation Racers: Road Trip you will appreciate the ability to finesse your level of control with the a reworked braking system. Players can now use the brakes to adjust steering controls while drifting and this does not stop or cancel the drift.

4. The Best For Last!
These “tweaks, changes, and improvements” not only improve the experience for all Vita-centric tracks but also insure that all PS3 user-generated tracks played on Vita would enjoy the same enhancements. This means a brand new exciting racing experience on all your favorite PS3 tracks. That ModNation is quite frankly awesome! We hope you’ll agree!

ModNation Racers Road Trip: Recent Features Preview

Track Studio I – ModNation Racers: Road Trip Track Studio – Your Wish is Our Command!
Track Studio II – ModNation Racers: Road Trip Track Studio – Part Two

Mod Studio – ModNation Racers: Road Trip – Mod Studio Preview
Kart Studio – ModNation Racers: Road Trip – Kart Studio Preview

PS3 ModNation Racers News

Creation Challenge: Holiday Themed Mods, Karts, And Tracks!
We are looking for some great Holiday themed Mods, Karts and Tracks to promote in our upcoming Mod-Holiday blog.

If you would like to submit your TRACK or recommend a Holiday themed track you liked click HERE. If you would like to submit your MOD and/or KART or recommend a holiday themed Mod / Kart you liked click HERE.

This Week’s Top Tracks: Best of IndustrialSavior

Check out his player profile HERE
Creations of the Week: Best of PSN ID: rainbowhillbilly

Hot Lap Tracks of the Week: University Challenge by atheistsw
atheistsw has outdone himself yet again! He has built us a complete college town including what I perceive to be a world renowned library, a top research facility and charming off campus housing. I know I added at least 15 I.Q. points after only racing one lap (that takes me up to 37!). Yes, he’s that good!

Monday: University Challenge by atheistsw
Tuesday: Oasis River Run by OnePoppa
Wednesday: Guards Guardin’ Gardens by Yika
Thursday: CITY the shuttle bridge by inosan0518
Friday: Christmas Shopping V 1.1 by JNM-CIM
Saturday: Verazzo Pass by atheistsw
Sunday: Mega Skyscraper Hop by statickey_660