While I think Forza 3 will score higher than 90, your argument is excellent.  Nice post.

Thank You. To be fair to Forza, I'm not saying it gets what it deserves (assuming it scores 87), it may very well prove me wrong too, but I think the nasty reviewers get even nastier the second time around, and that takes its toll on the metacritic score regardless of how many reviews are superb.  Reading some of the bottom end Forza 2 reviews, some cynical reviewers seem to think Forza 2 only graphically upgraded and left everything else as is, so they may think Forza 3 is, "What Forza 2 should have been".  I don't think those crappy critics take into consideration all the nonsense developers have to go through when they start with a blank slate on a new console (especially for a racing sim, they have their hands full just getting the game onto the next gen console) The difference from the previous console to the current gen, is what, for the most part, subdues any reduction in critic review scores. I don't think theres really anything Forza 3 can do to take attention off of this.  Racing sims are very time consuming games, reviewing a racing sim is probably on par with reviewing an MMO because thats how much depth there is to them.  Again, if the reviewer feels like they should have had this experience last time around (regardless of if they actually should or shouldn't have) they may feel the developer "wasted" their time the first time around, and the reviews would be an inflection of this.  I honestly hope I'm proven wrong about Forza 3s meta score, and not just for Turn 10, but for Polyphony Digital as well(it would signify hope of making an improvement in the critics eyes on the same console) I really don't think it is fair of the critics, Forza 3 will deserve better scores(assuming it scores lower than 90) ,as the second iterations of GT on their respective consoles probably did as well, some critics are just incapable of separating their personal gripes that aren't really pertinent, from their critiques.  The high review scores are never the ones you need be concerned about, the lower ones are the ones that take the wind out of the metacritic score (punch it in the gut) Fortunately for forza 2  the lowest scores were 80, but Forza 3 has alot to prove to these reviewers in order to tip them the other way.  Whereas GT is coming in free of previous cynicism, as pertaining to this generation, granted it could be argued that GT Prologue may have created a debacle amongst reviewers, I think GT Prologue was shy of enough content to not make it a big hassle for a reviewer though, and I think the general sensuous was that for all intensive purposes GT Prologue was a really expensive, but equally gratuitous demo.

Forza 3 right now 94% Meta based on 10 reviews.

It will be tuff. I think Forza 3 will stabilize at 92% and at this point i believe GT5 is a 94% game.

GT has a clear advantage.

Its backed by more $ and developments time, its studio is more experienced and bigger. PD has far greater support form car manufacturers and access to cars turn ten could only dream of. PD are car fanatics so me id trust then to create the better car game then the other guys.

GT5 has the making of the best GT ever by far, i expect reviews to show that. 98/100

gt5 will rate higher than forza 3, will also be a far superior game.

in fact, upon launch of gt5 NOBODY will be bothering with forza 3

Right, because we will already be bothering about Forza 4.

/ba dum tshh

Actually no, Polyphony Digital has NEVER announced a release date for Gran Turismo 5 publicly, until now.  GT5 will be out in March, I have no doubts about that, if it was ever going to come out in December I'm betting Polyphony saw the "Sphere" release date, and wanted to ca[pitalize on using that technology to further publicize their game.  Microsoft has already done the work of making people intravenously associate with Racing games with motion technology, so hell, whynot.  Lets face facts, the really hardcore racing fanatics are GOING TO get a  steering wheel but for fans less enveloped by the genre this will be a nice alternative for the less hardcore racing fanatics and also it will probably greatly appeal to the casual gamer as well.  Admittedly the motion controllers are probably the better way to go, as they are probably much cheaper, take up less space, and are something you will undoubtedly be able to use for many future PS3 titles.  For the hardcore racing fan and the people who can afford a steering wheel, it would probably be the preferred choice.  The addition of motion controller to this title, assuming they do, and Kazunori Yamauchi head of Polyphony sounded as if this was the intention from something I read.  This would make GT5 much more publicly recognized than Forza 3, and subsequently push both the motion controller and GT5 to success.                                                         

probably not... But they will be within a few % which is great for forza because its definatly the underdog and has had alot less time for polishing and adding content. Both will definatly be AAA and probably within 3% of each other

Nice fanboy raving there Skeeuk.  So you can judge a game thats over 6 months from release still as a far superior game to one getting AAA reviews right now.

lol. i think forza 3 has a chance of beating gt5 in metacritic. but, gt5 also has a fair chance of beating it fair and square. forza 3 definitely set the bar high (you can't deny it, even ps3 fanboys.) and gt5 has some work to do. but nonetheless, i trust that gt5 will still be a sure fire contender for the "best racing sim ever on consoles" but until we see its release, we never really know for sure.