The latest video to emerge for Midnight Club: Los Angeles reveals all four of the Special Abilities available during racing in the game. We discovered the video on IGN earlier today, and it appears it was uploaded 'under-the-radar' as this is the first we have seen of it on any website. Not even Rockstar has the video on the official MC: LA website yet, so without further ado, here is it:

The abilities:
Zone: allows for slowing of time for impossible weaving,
Agro: turns your car into a brutal melee weapon,
Roar: sends a shockwave that shoves cars off the road,
EMP: the newest ability, allows you to emit an electromagnetic pulse that temporarily shuts down the engine of all racers around you

Rockstar released a pack of photos on Friday showing the comparison between Los Angeles in the Real-world and the Midnight Club: LA Game-world. Looking at them, it really is specular how realistic and detailed the developers have been with Midnight Club: LA, we can't honestly say we've played a game that compares to the real-world so well.

Below are the photos thanks to Rockstar, on the left is the Real-world photo with the In-game comparison to the right: Click the image for a slightly larger view (no High-quality photos, sorry).

The Hollywood Sign:

The Viper Room:

Whiskey a Go Go:

Santa Monica Pier:

Chateu Marmont:

The Shangri-La Hotel:

The Hollywood Wax Museum:

The Roxy Theater:

The Hollywood Hills:

Thanks to GamesRadar for the heads up! They also posted a feature article on '10 reasons Midnight Club: Los Angeles will rock your pants', which can be seen in breif below:

1. The billboards of ads, vendors and landmarks help make the city more life-like. Driving around it is like driving around the real LA, you'll pick-up on things that do really exist, and for LA residents, it will feel exactly like home.
2. Los Angeles is huge! In fact, the actual size of the fourth game's play-ground is the same as all three cities in Midnight Club 3 conjoined. Now thats big, and all in full detail.
3. Starting a race is simple, just flash a fellow racer, similar to past games. Races will start straight away, and do not always require you to get to a starting point. However, if one does, you can skip to the starting point immediately.
4. All money, points and cars earned in the Arcade Mode can be used in Single-Player, as well as the other way around. Both playing modes are integrated into each other.
5. There are 40 licensed vehicles in the game in categories of Tuner, Muscle, Luxury and Exotic. Bikes make a return also.
6. DUB is developing and will be contributing a yet-unknown number of tricked out whips, which could point to Downloadable Content in the future.
7. Stop into Gas Stations to repair damaged vehicles and replenish nitrous.
8. Gas Stations are just quick-fixes. The Performance Shop, which is available through just two garages, allows you to manipulate and turn your vehicle to any extend. Stretch, skew, alter and affic to your heart's content. You can customize down the the smallest things, even the color of your stearing wheel.
9. Special Abilities, three from the past games are returning, those are:
     Zone: allows for slowing of time for impossible weaving,
     Agro: turns your car into a brutal melee weapon,
     Roar: sends a shockwave that shoves cars off the road,
   While a new Special Ability, called EMP, allows you to emit an electromagnetic pulse that temporarily shuts down the engine of all racers around you.
10. Online isn't just an extra, it's a feature. You can race others, rate other players rides using the 'Rate My Ride' feature and even buy there design if you like. Many more features of the online section of the game are expected, but Rockstar is tight-lipped at the moment. Needless to say, the Social Club will become very useful.

GamesRadar: Comparison | 10 Reasons

Rockstar have just updated the Official Midnight Club: los Angelse website with a Downtown Section, this is following the launch of the Santa Monica Section earlier this month. There are two sections yet to be launched, they are the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills. We can expect one of these to be opened before the end of September. Until these, here is the Downtown Sections new videos and screens:

Videos:

Downtown Tour:

Chevrolet Camaro Concept DUB Edition:

Mazda RX-8 Shinka:

1979 Pontiac Firebird:

Screenshots:

Chevrolet Camaro Concept DUB Edition:

Mazda RX-8 Shinka:

1979 Pontiac Firebird:

1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS SS:

Dodge Charger SRT-8:

Other:

Also new is the ability to see full 3D renders of many of the vehicles already announced, as well as full zooming for detail on vehicles, on the official website. Try it out!

See Official Midnight Club: LA Website

We have found 10, brand new screenshots of Midnight Club: Los Angeles. Enjoy!

About two weeks ago we told you that Midnight Club: Los Angeles would be making an appearance at the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) '08, which took place over the weekend of August the 29th to 31st. This wasn't any ordinary appearance however, Rockstar was planning to show the multiplayer features of the game, which they did, to the great delight of many gamers who attended. Three of which have uploaded some video footage of them versing other players at the MC:LA booth. It took us awhile to find these videos, they don't show much more than some racing fun, though it is great to see the power of the game during multiplayer match:

Apparently there was a booth for Rockstar, as well as a booth exclusively for Midnight Club: LA. In the MC:LA booth was a large number of game console booths with seats which were all connected together for LAN games. One of the authors of the above videos, FatterBaby from YouTube, said that when he was playing there were 8 other races on over the LAN.

Take-Two has just released the third quarter fiscal 2008 results. As expected, Grand Theft Auto IV sold well, moving over 10 million units. EA's offer was a costly offer for Take-Two as professional fees and legal expenses racked up a bill of $10.7 million. The results also bring news that may make you want to smash your computer. Midnight Club: Los Angeles has been delayed for a third time. The new release dates are October 21st and October 24th in North America and Europe, respectively. Though the thing that surprised me was that Bully for the PC wasn't mentioned in the press release or the conference call which has already been quietly announced by Rockstar.

Press Release: Third Quarter Fiscal 2008 Financial Results

Rockstar has just released a video showing the customization of a 2006 Lancer Evolution IX MR. We have embedded the video below.

Rockstar has just launched the Santa Monica section of the Midnight Club: Los Angeles website. The section includes brand new videos and screenshots. We have gathered them below.

Videos:

Midnight Club: Los Angeles will be making a debut appearance at the 5th annual Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) this weekend. The event takes place at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Washington from today, August 29th, and continues over the weekend wrapping up on the 31st. Gamers who attend will have the first chance to see as well as have a hands-on of Midnight Club: Los Angeles' multiplayer features. Be sure to check it out if you live in the Washington area!

For more information on PAX, visit www.pennyarcadeexpo.com.

Gamekyo has posted a new article which included the first gameplay video for Midnight Club: Los Angeles yet. They recorded the video at Rockstar Games' booth at the Leipzig Games Convention. It shows many things, from racing to the pause menu.

One of the things that amazes me the most is just how beautiful the game looks. It's like Grand Theft Auto IV, if it had taken place in Miami or Florida. Although the video was recorded with a camera, and therefore is not completely clear, you can still see the effort put into the game. Nothing looks blurry or pixilated, and the cars are just spectacular. As for loading, well it appears the game follows GTA IV there also, you do not see any loading at all, and the video goes throughout large parts of the city. Even when you start a race and the screen jumps up to show the whole of Los Angeles, then zooms down to where the race is beginning, no loading takes place nor any lag or pixilation.

Overall, we are very impressed and frankly can not wait too play the game. Think Grand Theft Auto IV, without the guns and the shooting, and you have Midnight Club: Los Angeles. The game is very promising, and is looking to be more detailed and graphically beautiful than even GTA IV was. That is something we did not expect, and I feel this game is going to blow everyone away. Check the video out below and let us know what you think:

Video thanks to: http://www.gamekyo.com/video12769_midnight-club-los-angeles-first-gameplay-video.html