Test Drive Unlimited is looking to be a solid contender for the top driving game on the XBox 360. As our previous coverage of the game details and possible achievements shows, it intends to keep you in the driver's seat for quite a while.

Shacknews was able to get an interview with Test Drive Unlimited's producer, Ahmed Boukhelifa, and it shed some light on their plans for multiplayer racing and challenging, as well as the police system they'll implement in-game.

Besides making their Oahu setting as realistic as possible, TDU's development team also made sure that multiplayer was more or less a simple affair. Challenging people to a race would be as easy as finding a fellow racer on the map and then asking him to compete with you. You can also set preferences as to what types of players or cars you would like to see on the map, making it easier to turn down challenges you don't want, and find the ones you'd love playing.

Challenges are the driving force behind game progression, and they do not disappoint in their potential scope.

In-game standings will be ranked on both single and multiplayer versions. As Boukhelifa mentions, "Every challenge will have a specific ranking: per week, month, overall, etc. as well as general rankings. Every solo and multiplayer challenge is ranked, and overall aggregated rankings are also available. There will also be themed competitions, of which the info will be sent via the ingame mailbox."

A challenge editor will also be a part of the game, allowing you to completely take over the reigns of making your challenge, which include setting the path and physical conditions for your race, as well as how much you intend to bet in each challenge. That will definitely come into play when people start playing the game, as we're certain that more conservative players will want to take the heavy gambles off their list of visible challenges.

Lastly they've tweaked the whole idea of mapping and GTA-styled policing to be friendlier to players. In this game, they've improved the map interface from previous demos, making it easier to know where you want to go, and how to get there. That's going to be especially useful in disorienting spin situations that can slow you down. Their law enforcement is also a lot more lax. As the producer mentions in the interview,

"Police vehicles will give chase if the player is speeding, and will give fines if caught. The fine is deducted immediately from the player’s money. Police are either parked alongside the road or are patrolling their streets. The player can outrun the police. They will give up the chase and return to their previous location. The player has a radar detector that warns of nearby police. Police vehicles also appear on the map."

That's definitely going to be a lot easier than being chased by the FBI if you run over people.

Test Drive Unlimited is scheduled for a September 5 release, and is made bv Atari and Eden Studios. In the meantime, it would be a good idea to brush up on your racing tactics.