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You may have thought that Forza Motorsport 3 was already the pinnacle of racing realism, but it looks like Turn 10 has plans to take the driving experience to all new levels for the upcoming Forza 4, working furiously to improve aspects that the majority of gamers won't even notice while playing. Now that's dedication.

In a recent MSN Autos article covering the present and future of motorsport gaming, Turn 10 shed some light on the steps being taken to ensure that Forza 4 marks a new level of driving realism. To help attain this goal, many car manufacturers provided computer-aided design schematics, while some manufacturers went as far as to provide 3D laser scans of their vehicles, allowing programmers to create more realistic vehicle models. And to make sure that the cars sound as good as they look, Turn 10 claims that they isolate the different aspects of each vehicle's sound while recording.

Tire-related aspects have also been focused on heavily this time around, incorporating "proprietary performance data" from tire gurus Pirelli, resulting in "the most up-to-date simulation of how modern tires grip or slip in a variety of racing conditions", according to the report.

Elsewhere, Turn 10 has gone to new lengths to capture the detail of the tracks which appear in the game, spending a couple of days at each track to map them as accurately as possible using a "commercial grade" GPS system. This system apparently picks up road crowning, tiny changes in camber or angle, and other anomalies with "subcentimeter accuracy". More anomalies mean more skidding off into the sandpit, in my experience.

Of particular interest is the implementation of Kinect into the Forza experience. While the idea of controlling the vehicles themselves on the track with Joy Ride-esque gestures may send a shiver down your spine, it looks like Turn 10 has a few more subtle Kinect tricks lined up. Besides being able to explore your vehicles inside and out with more freedom than before, there will also be a gameplay mechanic which allows some form of head-tracking while driving, shifting perspective as you move. If this is executed properly it could be more than just a Kinect gimmick, so we're holding thumbs.

All in all Forza 4 is shaping up to be a seriously serious racer, but let's hope that Turn 10 also works on making the driving experience fun, because at the end of the day that's what we're here for isn't it?

Forza 4 is scheduled for release sometime this spring.

[via Eurogamer]