Joy Ride

Format: Xbox 360
Release Date: TBA
Price: Free
Developer: Big Ant Studios
Publisher: Microsoft

Style: Arcade
Discipline: Circuit

Joy Ride is Microsoft's first try at releasing a free racing game which generates revenue by selling additional content to players later. The cartoon graphics are reminiscent of Battlefield Heroes, a title which saw success using the same concept even before a full release.

Apart from Forza Motorsport 3, Microsoft also used its E3 press event to reveal one other racing game – Joy Ride. This cartoon-style racer will be free to play and includes Xbox 360 avatar support. Details on gameplay are scant at the moment, but the developer intends to generate revenue by selling additional tracks and cars to players. The game will be available on Xbox Live Arcade this winter, and to sweeten the deal track purchases can also be shared among friends. The first screenshots are below:

E3 trailer: