NASCAR The Game: Inside The Line announced by Activision, dated for fall 2012

Written by Matt Swider on May 22, 2012

NASCAR 2012 News: With a fall 2012 release date, NASCAR The Game Inside The Line looks to restore broken down 2011 version on Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.

NASCAR The Game: Inside The Line is looking to outpace the poor performance of its predecessor, NASCAR 2011, which, as our review pointed out, sputtered in AI, online and single-player depth. Right back on the starting line is Activision and developer Eutechnyx, giving it another go on the same consoles: Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii. All versions of the game have a fall 2012 release date.

Cause for celebration is the fact that Eutechnyx Executive Producer Dave Thompson said that УWe've added a new in-depth career mode and robust online features that include realistic race weekends, and now aspiring drivers can rise up through the ranks, attract sponsors, and upgrade their car's components in the quest to be the Sprint Cup Series Champion.Ф Great.

Now, cause for concern - he also said, УWe set out to reinvent NASCAR gaming last year with NASCAR The Game 2011 Ц and we're very proud of it.Ф Uhhh. Okay. He went on to say that Уthe collaboration between Activision and Eutechnyx produced last year's hugely successful NASCAR game experience.Ф That's not quite how we remember it.

Let's match that quote up with the final line in our review: УIt's a shame too because there's a huge market of devoted fans out there waiting for a great NASCAR game. Sadly, it looks like that wait is going to be just a bit longer.Ф

Hopefully most of this is just press release pandering and we're keeping our fingers crossed that the first quote (about the new in-depth career mode and robust online features - the exact features we didn't like) turns out to be the real deal. We'll find out how Activision and Eutechnyx do when the NASCAR The Game: Inside The Line release date begins their second lap with the NASCAR license this fall.