Video game companies know that associating with a car is a great way to call attention to their titles, while car companies realize that connecting their machines to popular games is easy advertising. This year's E3 served up cars for sale, cars as contest prizes, and cars as in-game advertising.
LOS ANGELES--Video game companies know that associating themselves with a car is a great way to call attention to their titles, while car companies realize that connecting their machines to popular games is easy advertising. This year's E3 served up cars for sale, cars as contest prizes, and cars as in-game advertising.
Ferrari loaned out its 2011 458 Italia to help promote Microsoft's 2011 Forza 4 racing simulator.
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Ford Mustang GT 500
Ford set up a faux hunter's lodge, the Fiesta Social Club, to show off its 2012 models, including the 2012 Ford Mustang GT 500.
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Ford Fiesta G4 Edition
A star at Ford's Fiesta Social Club was this 2011 Fiesta with a custom paint job honoring the game-focused G4 television network.
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Ford Fiesta
Ford featured its 2011 Fiesta as a tech-friendly young driver's option with push button start, a 4-inch multipurpose video display, voice-activated calling, Bluetooth, and other features.
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Ubisoft's tricked-out Dodge Challenger
To call attention to its Need For Speed: The Run title, Ubisoft showed off a Dodge Challenger muscle machine complete with an HD screen gaming system wired into its trunk.
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Ford Fiesta Platinum in Sims 3
EA and Ford partnered up to let Sims 3 players use a special code and download this 2011 Ford Fiesta Platinum into their gameplay.
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Toyota Prius for EA's Monopoly
As it did with the Ford Fiesta Platinum and Sims 3, EA partnered with Toyota to let Monopoly players download this Prius as an on-screen game piece.
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Future Media offers 2011 Smart car
While it may not be able to compete with a Ferrari Italia or a Ford Cobra Mustang, this Smart car was up for grabs at a prize giveaway through Future Media.
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"Driving" an AR Parrot Drone
While no car was involved, E3 visitors could do some in-game "driving" of a flying AR Drone Parrot inside a netted cage on the E3 floor.
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Forza Motorsport 4 on a racing motion sim
The car might be imaginary, but the driving experience was real as a gamer enjoyed Microsoft's upcoming Forza Motorsport 4 on an HD, 3D, wraparound racing system that includes a motion simulator that realistically imitates acceleration and impacts.
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Honda Civic before makeover
THQ selected this 1998 Honda Civic EX, owned by Henrique Trinidad of Henderson, Nev., to receive a custom Saints Row: The Third paint job, rim job, custom interior, and Xbox 360 console and screen. The work was set to be completed during the run of E3 2011.
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Honda Civic after makeover
Henrique Trinidad's 1998 Honda CIvic EX was transformed into a tricked-out game mobile during E3 2011 to salute THQ's Saints Row: The Third. The custom paint job, rim job, and custom interior upgrades all took place during E3 2011.
