Palooza it up people! This party’s not over yet!

Track Creation Challenge: “Home Sweeeet Home”
This challenge will test the skills of even the best track creators in the game. Relying on imagination and not a “midnight pizza-vison” to come up with amazing tracks or creations; those skills may not work here. Players will need to simulate the city where they live. Our favorite tracks will make their way into PS3 Top Tracks or Hot Lap for a week of notoriety (San Diego Studio Faves for Vita). Sign up HERE!

The “Moddys”: Our Favorite Tracks
Two weeks in to the popular “Moddys” Celebration 2.0. We searched through 1,000’s upon 1,000’s of Mods, Karts, and Tracks to present you with some of our favorite amazing, scary, and wacky creations.

This week we bring you… our favorite Tracks

The categories include:

• “Rollercoaster of Love. Say What?” (Favorite Rollercoaster tracks)
• “U-G-L-Y, You Ain’t Got No Alibi, You Ugly” (Favorite Not-Pretty tracks)
• “Gosh Darn It” (Favorite Dam Tracks)
• “You Must Be Petrified” (Favorite Epic Animal Track Creations)
• “What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing!” (Favorite War Themed Tracks)
• “Auto-Populated… My Eye!” (Favorite “Overstated” Track)
• “It’s All In The Name” (Favorite Named Tracks)
• “Hands Off Me Booty” (Favorite Pirate Themed Tracks)
• “USA! USA! USA!” (Favorite PSN ID: marusarusa Tracks)
• “That Sir Is Utterly Inflammatory” (Favorite Tracks With Flames)
• “It’s A Wonderful Day In The Neighborhood” (Favorite Suburban Tracks)
• “You’re As Cold As Ice” (Favorite Ice Themed Track)
• “Fortification Schmortification” (Favorite Fortress Track)
• “Yippee Ki-yay” (Favorite Western Tracks)

Please take the time to view these creations HERE

ModNation Racers Double XP Week!

You: Are you down with Double XP?
Mark: Yeah, you know me!

Enjoy Double XP for the Week of May 14th – 20th – brought to you by the good folks of MNR!

“Road Trip” Track of the Week / Community Hot Lap Challenge
Each week we will host the “Track of the Week” Community Hot Lap Challenge to see who can post the best time on selected tracks. The top three times will be mentioned here in this ModNation Monday blog for the world to see.

Last Week’s Hot Lap Results:
Track: “Catfish Rally Vita” by CAPNDigital

1. ZlheckJr 53.081
2. Punishthem420 54.476
3. jadace12 56.708

This week’s track:

ModNation Racers For PS3

ModNation Racers Two-Year Anniversary Collectable Wallpaper
ModNation Anniversary wallpapers in six designer colors. Visit our Facebook page to get yours now!

ModNation Racers: Grand Prix Track Selection
We asked you to build the tracks for the upcoming Grand Prix and wow!… did you deliver! It was difficult to narrow it down to just 10 tracks, but here are our favorites:

• 2012 MNR UFG MRC GP by Onemama
• Desert GP rally by The_Pwner007
• 2012 North Woods GP by Onepoppa
• Green Valley Speedway by ath_racing
• Grand Prix 2012 by prob_alex
• 2nd Annual MNR Grand Prix by John31269
• The 2012 H*3*L*L *A* GP by KING_MEPHISTO
• Icecap Colosseum by Yika
• Eternal Life: Tree Shaker by Freshwick
• Canal Streets GP by mackattack8000

Thanks to everyone who obviously put a lot of time and effort into creating all of the tracks!

Anniv. Celebration Fun Race Nights in May
Join ModNationSD for a night of fun races all throughout the month of May from 4:30 – 5:30 pm Pacific Time! If you would like to race, send a friend request to ModNationSD and I will add you for the night.

Top Tracks: Best of PSN ID: Kickin’ It Old School
For those that were never able to experience the Top Tracks rotation for the first six months of the game’s life, we present them one more time.

Too soon?

My bad.

ModNation Racers Hot Lap Tracks: Best Of UFG and San Diego Studio

This week we celebrate Hot Lap with the “Best of UFG” tracks Monday-Friday. Which tracks you ask? You’ll have to show up in the Modspot to find out. Note: Saturday and Sunday will run the tracks that were replaced by the Grand Prix races.

Happy Anniversary ModNation-ites!,
Mark
PS3: ModNationSD
Vita: ModNationSDVita

With that in mind let’s take a look back at some of our favorites over the past six months in an event we are calling “The Moddys 1.5.” Creative huh?

The Moddys 1.5: Favorite Year-End 2011 Creations
We recognize the ModNation community for all the effort, creativity and skill you have poured into this game over the past six months.

Our Favorite Tracks:
1. “Have Fun Storming The Castle” (Favorite Gladiator Tracks)
2. “Best Raced Under A Blacklight” (Favorite Colorful Tracks)
3. “We’re In Some Deep Powder Here” (Favorite Winter Tracks)
4. “Redonkulous. Absoluley Redonkulous” (Favorite “You Did What?” Tracks)
5. “Smells Like A Gym In Here” (Favorite Sports Themed Tracks)
6. “Woohoo!” (Favorite Track With The Word “Wu” In It)
7. “Sandals, Sweat, and Swords” (Favorite Gladiator Tracks)
8. “Bleep Blop Bloop” (Favorite Outer-Space Tracks)
9. “Fire. Good.“(Favorite Prehistoric Tracks)

Click HERE to view the recipients.

Important Recognitions:
1. Overall Favorite Mods of the Year
2. Overall Favorite Karts of the Year
3. Overall Favorite Tracks of the Year
4. ModNation 2011 “Hall of Fame” Inductees
Click HERE to view the recipients.

This Week’s Top Tracks: Best of Laidbackcat

Laidbackcat is a favorite track creator both among his esteemed peers. He doesn’t build tracks as much as he creates worlds. His creates on his terms and is never in a rush to finish a track. This shows itself in the amazing design, detail and stories his tracks exhibit.

ModNation Racers Grand Prix

Sign up this week for the ModNation Racers Gran Prix Racing Championship. The first set of qualifying races will be held on the weekend of January 7-8th. Racers will have the chance to qualify on a pre-determined United Front Games track to be hosted in Hot Lap all weekend. The top five fastest lap times (of those signed up) will automatically be entered into the finals. The remaining five spots for the finals will be decided the following week.

More details and signs up HERE.

Creations of the Week:

Hot Lap Track of the Week: Pearl Blue Soul by marusarusa
Let me start off the new year a little differently with my track reviews. I am often accused of being too enamored with pretty colors, flowers, rainbows, unicorns, puppies and other soft, squishy things. So for the first Track of the Week of 2012, let me start off a little mean and nasty by listing this track’s negatives:

1.
2.
3.

There were none! (I tried!)

We are kicking of the new year with a few adjustments to the Hot Lap lines ups. Starting NEXT week our spotlight “Track of the Week” will be placed in a Saturday slot (instead of Monday) to bring more well-deserved attention to the “best of the best.”

Monday: Pearl Blue Soul by marusarusa
Tuesday: Nature by apricot-jam-IS
Wednesday: 14 Days In May by jefferzone
Thursday: Sensei Xu’s River Rally by flathletics102
Friday: Azuzzi Peninsula by atheistsw
Saturday: Grand Prix Qualifiers (see above)
Sunday: Grand Prix Qualifiers (see above)

Bring on the pretty colors!
Mark (PSN ID: ModNationSD)

We are really excited to reveal the official logo for your next favorite racing game – ModNation Racers: Road Trip!
ch-check it out…

“Big Ups” To Our Friends In Japan!
This week we pay tribute to our ModNation family in Japan. You may not realize that many of your favorite creators and top racers are quite possibly half way across the globe in Japan and Asia. Don’t let a little time zone difference stop you from enjoying these amazing creating and racing gurus.

This Week’s Top Tracks: Favorites of Japanese Creators

ModNation Player Profile: big-village_920_
big-village_920_ is just one of many great tracks creators from Japan who have made a name for themselves in the ModNation community. Read his profile HERE.

Ready, Set, Go Go Go!
Take a look at these stats from some of the best racers from the Far East!

BOO!
Ha! Gotcha! Last chance to send us some of your favorite Halloween themed tracks, mods, and kart for next week’s ModNation Monday blog Spooktacular-palooza-rama (too much?) HERE

Creations of the Week: Favorites of the Japanese Creators

Check out some more great creations from Japan’s Top MNR creators…

Mods: Doscarion, Erezeve, R-ASKA, hoshii961miki, orenekonano, kuri-pa8shi, E_D_F
Karts: asura-007, etsuo-s, QminimumnQ-, kazuix2000, ra_koi, Gachiko3x3
Tracks: AS-NOIR, arashi200xjp, kuro-anco, yamasita-kouji, ylSK8TLZPqQ

Hot Lap Tracks Of The Week: Atlas City Mini Golf Park by IndustrialSavior
My first thought upon starting this tracks was “hmmm… cheeseburger” but I digress. Immediately my second thought was that of absolute joy as I raced what should be considered the gold-standard of the golfing (miniature or otherwise) track design genre (along with apricot-jam-IS’s tracks). Race under castles, though pipes, between windmill blades and around alligators, etc… all of the mini-golf staple elements are present here. Now if somebody could just design a great Disc Golf (Frisbee Golf in laymen’s terms) course I could die a very happy man! *wink*

Summary:
1. Cheese-burger
2. Joy
3. Excitement
4. Accolades
5. Alligators
6. Great race!

Monday: Atlas City Mini Golf Park by IndustrialSavior
IndustrialSavior has discovered some sort of time-warp continuum in the universe lately that allows him to produce 2-4 great tracks a week! Don’t “Bogart” the time machine, IndustrialSavior!
Tuesday: Viking’s Valhal by Biver_
Biver_ wasn’t sure if his track was Hot lap worthy. What?! We’re not worthy Biver_, we’re not worthy!
Wednesday: TR [Twisted Routes] by resven
This is a really impressive submission considering resven being new to the game and only their second published track. Great job!
Thursday: Porta Valara by Cmckinney94
Another strong creation from a relative new comer to the Hot lap creation world. Keep ‘em coming!
Friday: Highways n’ By-Ways by atheistsw
atheistsw is still loving his Big City theme creation tools, evidenced by this strong racer
Saturday: Indusburg Nuclear Winter by IndustrialSavior
IndustrialSavior has become a track creating madman recently. Check out his portfolio over the past few months. He’s on fire!
Sunday: Jumping the Great Wall by dane9261
I have always enjoyed dane9261’s creation sensibilities. His obvious vision for his tracks pays off big time here

私はチーズバーガーを食べに行きま～～～す！！
Mark
(PSN ID: ModNationSD)

• Fun ModNation-palooza events
• Two million creations milestone
• Fresh new DLC (Big City, Arctic, Medieval, Pirate, etc…)
• The “Moddys” celebration of the ModNation community
  
• More new DLC (Western, Alien, Junkyard, Oil Stain, etc…)
• Reveal of the new ModNation Racers game for the Vita portable system
• Free DLC “Drops” in our ModNation Monday blog and on our Facebook page (more to come!)

…and most recently the “name your next favorite game” event (see last week’s blog)

We have a lot more events in store for you in the months to come leading up to the release of ModNation Racers on the PlayStation Vita. We can’t wait to get our hands on that baby, but trust us – you’ll have plenty to do until then!

Hey, if you have an idea for a fun MNR event let us know HERE. The more ideas the better!

ModNation Team Track Challenge II – Are You In? (again!)
The last team track challenge was a roaring success so we are doing it again! Are you new to track creation and want to learn from AND work with the best? Are you one of “the best” and want to impart your “MNR wisdom” on the newbies? Well this is the event for you. We will randomly be putting together teams of 3-4 track creators to work together on building their united track.

If you want to join in the fun look HERE for more details and to sign up.

RECENT DLC: On The Zombie Bandwagon!
The Haunted Parts Pack is available in the PlayStation Store for $4.99. Let the freaks come out at night!

ModNation Player Profile: IndustrialSavior
IndustrialSavior is one of the ModNation’s most prolific track creators. His tracks always deliver a great race AND a great story! Read his profile HERE

FREE RANDOM DLC GIVEAWAY: “Find Me”
Tomorrow (8/16/11) is an opportunity to acquire some FREE ModNation Racers DLC. I will be cruising around the ModSpot tossin’ around some free MNR DLC (while supplies last). Look for PSN ID: MNR_FIND_ME.

Creations of the Week:

Track of The Week:
Planet Zatox by prob_alex

Hot Lap Tracks:

Monday: Planet Zatox by prob_alex (prob_alex continues to find beautiful, ingenious and astonishing new ways to push the track design envelope! This week is no different. I raced it so much I see it in my dreams at night, and that’s a good thing!)
Tuesday: Halloumi National Park by atheistsw (I don’t know where this “park” is but I want to vacation there for about a week!)
Wednesday: The Maze of Despair by Industrial02 (In recognition of National “Meaning of Is” Day)
Thursday: THE ORBITRON by RADMANROB (I like this track a lot RADMANROB! (AKA: RADBOYROB)
Friday: alien arctic 51 fix by LinKueiNinja (great effort from a rookie track designer)
Saturday: Budget Deficit Crisis by manlius10a (well played sir, well played)
Sunday: Eden Vale Office Park by atheistsw (Wow! atheistsw can even turn a depressing office park into a fun race. How does he do it?)

Party on ModNation, party on!

A Renaissance waterpark? How about a Western waterpark? An Outer Space waterpark?… the themes are pretty endless. Make us some cool (pun intended) waterpark tracks using the new DLC and they just might end up in Hot Lap or Top Tracks! DETAILS HERE.

NEW DLC:

Oil Stain Mod & Kart will be available in the PlayStation Store on August 2nd.
Mod is $.99 and includes: Undershirt, Ragged Overalls, Hillbilly Beard, Straw Hat, Kart is $.99 Includes: Mark I Body and Mattress Seat. Both for $1.75

RECENT DLC:
Junkyard Parts Pack is available in the PlayStation Store now for $4.99.

DLC SHOWCASE:
Don’t hold back on us. We are DESPERATELY “jones-ing” for some new tracks with all this great DLC in it. We know they are out there; we just need your help finding it. I mean, I’m decent at my job but with an average of 800+ new tracks created per day I can’t be expected to be THAT good! Help me! Who knows… you might just help me win the coveted “Employee of the Month” parking spot!
Please let us know if you find any recent track gems like these using any new DLC by visiting our forum HERE.or listing them below in the comments.

FREE DLC GIVEAWAY: “DLC Drops”
Today you have an opportunity to acquire some FREE random ModNation Racers DLC. Check the comments section below and our Facebook page regularly for more FREE “DLC Drops”!
ModNation Player Profile: RADBOYROB
Need a smile? Race a RADBOYROB track! Read why he is a favorite in the ModNation community HERE

Creations of The Week:

Track of The Week:
Invasion: Aftermath by atheistsw
I always have such fun playing atheistsw’s tracks. First things first… they are always top notch races, but what I admire the most is the environments he builds, they actually tell a story… from the ModNation Mayor addressing the hysterical (but strangely in-line) masses, the head of the alien invasion asking to be “taken to your leader”, the alien bugs climbing the skyscraper walls, the towns buildings in shambles (with broken water mains!), and an award has to be given to atheistsw for the “Best Placement of Army Tanks In An Alien Invasion Track”. The tanks are in wait across a broken bridge to the finish line. Genius!

Hot Lap Tracks:
Monday: Invasion: Aftermath by atheistsw
Tuesday: Rottimus Berg Hyhenluft by IndustrialSavior(you had me at Rottimus)
Wednesday: Peruvian Shakedown (2.0) by corliss(simple but not simplistic fun course)
Thursday: Reassembled Ruins v1.0 by lop330(I really like the two themes working together. Well executed. Fun race)
Friday: Ocean View Heights by PH1LThy31(PH1LThy31 has been a mean lean Hot Lap creating machine lately. Textbook Big City course. One of my favs!)
Saturday: Sequoia Summit Raceway by corliss(Didn’t grab me until after a few races. Once I got it I really enjoyed it. I felt like I was back in Yosemite!)
Sunday: Death Valley Oasis by PH1LThy31(see above!)

Creations of The Week:
Kart: Freestyle by Shelbot3001

Mod: Freestyle Biker by Shelbot3001 (Shelbot3001 this is amazing! Real three dimensional jewels for the reflectors and twist-ties for the cabling? This is AMAZING!)


I’m expecting some slippin’ and a slidin’ in a ModNation Water park soon!

- Changes to the XP series of races
- Week three of the “Moddys” Celebration
- Our “Missing In Action” report

… and let’s not forget that gorgeous new DLC!

Brand-New DLC

Backburn Mod & Kart are available to purchase in the PlayStation on June 28th! Mod & Kart are $1.75 or each piece separately for $0.99.

Mod: Fire Jacket, Fire Helmet, Fireman’s Pants and Fire Boots
Kart: Backburn’s Kart and Emergency Lights

Water World Parts Pack is available to purchase in the PlayStation Store on June 28th for $6.99!
Summer is here and now is your chance to build that rad waterpark you’ve always dreamed of. Don’t forget to overcharge for admission to your park!

Creation Parts: Dome Tent, Inflatable Hoop, Inflatable Wave, Inflatable Slide, Pipe Slide, Dip Slide, Plastic Block, Plastic Block Stack, Two Platforms,

Dynamic Props: Inflatable Log Roll, and Trampoline

Track Props: Inflatable Shark and Buoy

New Theme DLC

Big City Career Extension Pack is available for purchase in the PlayStation Store NOW for $9.99! Click HERE for more details and screenshots. You don’t want to miss out on this new DLC. It’s smokin’ hot Big City style!

Recent DLC: Arctic Career Extension Pack

The Arctic Career Extension is also available to purchase in the PlayStation Store NOW for $9.99!
Click HERE for more details and screenshots. Who said “glad winter is over”? Not us. Check it out!

Both extension packs come complete with five new tracks, seven new trophies, new tokens to collect, and over 100 new items to unlock, race, and create with.

The “Moddys” Celebrate The ModNation Track Creating Community

This is week four of our anniversary celebration, which brings us to the proverbial geniuses of ModNation – the Track Creators. Many of this game’s track designs rival the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, Daedalus, Mike Brady and Nimrod (considered the creator of the Tower of Babel). “Dude said Nimrod. Saaaweeeet!”

But seriously, if you have ever tried to make a track, you will appreciate how much work and passion goes into these creations. Only three words are needed to describe this group of creators Brill-i-ant”!
Take a look HERE…

Next week we close the “Moddys” with our hodgepodge of categories such as “Cutest Mod Couple”, “People’s Choice” (creations chosen by the community), and other favorites from the ModNation Monday blogs. Lots to see next week. Be looking for it!

XP Race Series Track Changes!

That’s right racers, the wait is over! Starting this week you’ll be able to race your little hearts out on the Arctic and Big City Theme tracks. Get in line now because these ain’t your grandmother’s XP races. These are them “new fangled” “city feller” XP tracks! Booyah!

More Recent DLC

Pirate Mini-Theme Style Pack and Western Mini-Theme Style Packs are available to purchase in the PlayStation Store NOW for $6.99 each!

Construction Parts Pack, Prehistoric Parts Pack, and Moon Colony Props Packs are available to purchase in the PlayStation Store for $4.99 each!

Late Night Mod & Kart set and the MC Mod: Mod & Kart set are available to purchase in the PlayStation store now! Mod & Kart are $1.75 per set or each piece separately for $0.99. Remember… and all these Mods and Karts come with new parts for you to create with!

Pixel Pixie Mod is $0.99

Creations of The Week

Track of The Week: Snowdrop Slalom by EvilPinata

Hot Lap Tracks

Monday: Snowdrop Slalom by EvilPinata
Tuesday: Ancient Persia by marusarusa
Wednesday: Dashing through the Snow by manlius10a
Thursday: Sacred Snow Temple by manlius10a
Friday: A Frosty Frostbite by StealthReborn–
Saturday: Arctic Odyssey 2.0 by apricot-jam-IS
Sunday: Glacial Drift by Batterfly

Missing In Action!

Ok ModNation, we know you are camped out in your “crib” creating new tracks with all this great new DLC but we need to see some new Mods and Karts! Don’t make me reach through my monitor and take your DualShock away! SHOW ME SOME MOD AND KART CREATIONS! :-)

Peace!