Need for Speed is all about the racing, however, and EA will be inviting the top drifters and time attack cars from all over the world to compete in an international race battle, along with a manufacturer time attack exhibition.

The event will be open to the public, and is penciled in for the Brands Hatch Circuit near London, though negotiiations are still underway. Hit the jump for more details, or visit www.needforspeedlive.com, where I am certain they will eventually catch up with the press release.

EA BRINGS NEED FOR SPEED TO LIFE IN NEXT SUMMER'S BIGGEST DRIFT AND TIME ATTACK RACING EVENT
London to Host Need for Speed Live 2009 International Race Event

GUILDFORD, UK – November 5, 2008 – Today at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced Need for Speed™ Live, a unique festival and competition that celebrates car culture. This first-time event will be open to the public and will be hosted next summer at the world famous Brands Hatch Circuit* located near London, England. The weekend-long experience will be a showcase of entertainment, videogames, music, car shows and displays designed to appeal to fans of racing games, proud owners of hot vehicles, fans of exotic cars and motorsports enthusiasts.

Need for Speed Live will invite some of the world’s top drifters and time attack cars from across Europe, North America and Japan to gather in one location to compete in a battle of the continents. Need for Speed Live will also include demonstrations by some of the world’s most famous race and exotic cars in a manufacturer time attack exhibition.

“For over 14 years, Need for Speed has been at the forefront of automotive culture and this Live race event brings the spirit of Need for Speed games to life with all of the energy, adrenaline and sexiness that the franchise represents,” said Rod Chong, Creative Director for Need for Speed Live. “Need for Speed Live will definitely push each driver and their cars to the limit as they contend with dramatic elevation changes and harrowing fourth-gear 100 mph drifts.”
For more information on Need for Speed Live, please visit www.needforspeedlive.com.

* To be confirmed; Negotiations in progress.

High Voltage Announces New WiiWare Racer [Nintendo Wii Fanboy]

Can Disney break into an already saturated genre, taking on BAJA: Edge of Control and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift with an ATV trick title? Lets see.

Loved
Exhilarating Tricks: Tricks in Pure truly stand out. They are what make this game different from the others hitting this year. And it's not just about the occasional can-can or Superman, it's about building up your ability over the course of the race to do increasingly absurd, over-the-top tricks that have you floating free of the ATV for giant chunks of time. Better still, if you mess up, and don't scramble back into your seat in time, you know there's a good chance you'll lose.

Snappy Controls: Forgoing the realism of locked tires, or speed-induced topples, Pure concentrates instead on making sure the controls are exceptionally responsive. It might not be completely realistic, but it's fun.

Custom Rides: I'm not a gear head myself, but even I thought that it was kind of neat to be able to change every single piece of my ATV out with a laundry list of substitutes earned through races. You can even paint everything. And if you don't want to bother you can have a ride randomly created for you.

Tight track design: The tracks in the game, there are only a dozen locations, are all fairly hitch free. Each offer up enough different routes over the course of a race to almost give the illusion of total access.

Strategic Boost System: Boosting in Pure is tied directly to tricks, which are tied directly to boost. To earn boost you need to perform tricks. The more boost you have the more complicated the trick you can perform, which delivers even more boost. This yin and yang of boost and trick adds a bit of strategy to races as you try to determine if you can pull off a trick in the short amount of air time you get on a jump. If you don't take the chance you can boost as much, but if you do and fail it's going to be hard to catch up.

Hated
Limited Tricks: With the game relying so heavily on its beautifully animated trick system, you'd think the developers would have included more. Sure, getting up to the highest level of tricks is hard and performing them requires monster air and very good timing. But even the 70 or so tricks will get old overtime.

Static Tracks: The tracks are well designed, but it would have been nice if they showed a bit more wear and tear as you zip around them over and over and over again. I'm all about track deformation these days and while the game says it has deformation, I've yet to run a race where it was noticeable in a way that affected the outcome.

No Local Multiplayer: Local multiplayer should be a must, in my book, but I understand the reasoning behind not always including it. Well, usually I do. With a racing title, one that has such a short list of tracks and tricks, you really should include the option for split screen racing.

I like Pure, a lot. But I suspect that won't last. I need my off-roading to be a bit more robust, offer split screen races, maybe some more modes, to keep me interested. Despite that, Pure has one of the best trick systems for an off-roader that I've seen in quite awhile.

Pure, developed by Black Rock Studios and published by Disney Interactive onami was released on Sept. 23 for the PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Retails for $59.99. Played all tracks and modes of Playstation 3 version and tested online.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on the game, though I've not been truly satisfied with an offroad title since Motocross Madness for the PC back in 1998. Here's hoping I can trade in my old favorite for a shiny new one.

They have been working on their PC racing game simulation for four years and they take it very seriously. So seriously that, now it is out of beta playtesting just testing and it is ready to play be experienced they want to make sure nobody gets the wrong impression and accidentally has fun.

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that ‘game’ is a four-letter word to us, but we don’t think of ourselves as a game company,” says iRacing marketing guy Scott McKee, “What we offer is really the world’s most sophisticated commercially available racing simulation, conceived and designed with a very discriminating customer in mind — professional racers."

To reflect the distinction, iRacing has coined the entirely non-ludicrous term MMIS — Massively Multiparticipant Internet Sport

So please bear that in mind if you decide to play their game. It's not a game, and you aren't playing it.

Red Sox Owner’s Simulation Startup, iRacing.com, Waves the Green Flag [Xconomy via Slashdot]

PocketGamer got a look at a new accelerometer-based mobile racing game from Firemint.

As you can see from the video, Real Racing runs on the iPhone — and certainly confirms our hopes for that platform's gaming prowess — but Firemint also have it up and running on a Nokia N95 (all the recent N-series phones have motion sensors built in).

Multiplayer races can take place over a wifi link, and your racing stats are automatically uploaded to the Firemint web site. Brilliantly, the game will also upload videos of your best times to YouTube and share your rankings via Facebook and OpenSocial into the bargain.

GCDC 2008: Firemint shows off awesome iPhone racing game [PocketGamer]

Activision and System 3 are teaming up to launch Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli later this summer for the DS, Playstation 2, Playstation 3 and Wii.

The sim racer will include more than 15 international racing circuits, multiple gameplay modes and support up to 16 players in a series of challenges that include circuits and hill climbs.

The developers also say that downloadable content will be "continually released" for the game, including official team and car rosters which can be updated at the state of each season to reflect real-world lineups. They also plan to release downloadable cars, tracks and customization options on a monthly basis.

The game will be shown off to the public at the Montreal Grand Prix from June 6th to 8th in playable kiosks located in the event's Fan Zone.

System 3 and Activision Set to Unleash Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli for PLAYSTATION®3 system, PlayStation®2 system, Wii™, and Nintendo DS™

SANTA MONICA, CA – JUNE 4, 2008 – Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that it has signed a distribution deal with System 3 which will see the world’s largest third-party publisher release the forthcoming Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli throughout North America. Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will hit shelves late summer 2008 for PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, Wii™, and Nintendo DS™.

“Without a doubt, this is the defining Ferrari experience for video games,” said Mark Cale, CEO at System 3. “It has been a collaboration with professionals on every level and we’ve truly captured the power, beauty, and excitement that is the Ferrari Challenge Series. This excitement is taken to a whole new level with the partnership of Activision’s power within the North American marketplace.”

“For the last sixty years Ferrari has been synonymous with precision, performance and elegant design, so expectations for the game will be high from auto enthusiasts and racing game fans alike,” said Dave Oxford, Activision Publishing. “Everyone involved in Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli has been dedicated to ensuring this product over-delivers on the experience of this legendary brand.”

Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli is a visual powerhouse with a racing style that is fast and accessible, yet the feel is more “sim” than arcade. It includes over 15 international racing circuits along with multiple gameplay modes such as Ferrari Challenge Seasons, Time Trial, Quick Race, and Endurance. Racing can be taken online with up to 16 players in a variety of challenges including circuits, hill climbs, and more.

Downloadable content will be continually released for the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli community, and the official team and car rosters can be updated at the start of each season to reflect real-world lineups. Moreover, downloadable cars, tracks and customization options will be made available on a monthly basis to keep ravenous Ferrari fans satisfied.

System 3 and Activision will showcase Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli on PLAYSTATION®3 to the public for the first time at the Montreal Grand Prix from June 6th - 8th, 2008. There will be playable kiosks open to the all attendees in the Fan Zone.

The game also boasts a new online ranking system that tracks your career and awards experience points based on achievements you reach. For those of us who love racing but suck at it, the game will also feature spectator mode, allowing us to watch jealously as more competent players master hairpin curves that we'd normally be eating.

Race Driver: GRID ships May 30th for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in Europe and June 3rd stateside.

Fierce 12-player online races with full car damage - Race Driver: GRID's multiplayer details confirmed.

Wednesday, 14th May - Reflecting the ethos, spirit and attitude of the offline game, Race Driver: GRID will bring a world of motorsport to life online as Codemasters® today announced that the game's multiplayer content will feature 32 exhilarating online race events on 80 circuits at 15 intercontinental locations.

Featuring up to 12-player events with incredible full car damage, Race Driver: GRID's online multiplayer races will see gamers competing in aggressive races on iconic city streets and famous championship circuits across Europe, the U.S. and Japan.

"Race Driver: GRID online is the ultimate expression of what the game is all about - incident-packed, aggressive, wheel-to-wheel racing," said Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer, Race Driver: GRID. "Our wide range of motorsport disciplines, stunning locations and full damage 12-player races make for a uniquely spectacular race experience and our immersive new ranking system rewards player skill and deepens the challenge online."

Players will be able to take their custom livery online and make it feared and respected by competing in a huge range of racing disciplines; from drifting around Yokohama Docks, charging through the mean streets of Detroit, racing touring cars around Spa-Francorchamps to competing in chaotic demolition derbies.

The pure race experience is at the heart of Race Driver GRID's gameplay and, in online multiplayer, everything is geared towards maximising player time spent on track and minimising time spent in lobbies. Players can rapidly find the event they want and a slick voting system, matchmaking mechanism and seamless host migration means gamers find competitive races quickly and sessions stay together longer.

An innovative new online ranking system charts players' progress as they advance from Junior Rookie to Legend, with experience points being awarded based on a wide range of achievements, from events won to beating higher ranked opponents.

As players rise through the rankings, online leaderboards record the fastest laps for each track and gamers can download ghost cars to test out their skill against the best in the world in Test Drive mode or check out the competition in Spectator mode. Players can also fully customise their game including switching damage on or off, enabling catch-up mode, setting driver aids and allowing public and private games.

Race Driver: GRID is coming May 30th (Europe/PAL) for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games For Windows®. A Nintendo DS™ edition will follow. Race Driver: GRID playable demos - featuring two online multiplayer events - are now available from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace, PLAYSTATION®Network and, for the Games For Windows demo, please visit www.racedrivergrid.com

Calling the license "the jewel in Codemasters' racing crown," the developer-publisher said that snagging the license is a victory for its proprietary EGO game engine and a vote of confidence in its leadership in the racing game segment. As Formula 1 develops more international circuits, it's looking to expand its consumer reach, and seems to have chosen video games as an avenue.

Full release follows the jump.

Codemasters Studios to drive new generation of FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games across multiple formats.

Codemasters®, developer and publisher of award-winning racing video games, has secured the exclusive video game rights to FORMULA 1 it was announced today. In a worldwide licensing agreement with Formula One Administration Limited, Codemasters will develop a new generation of the multi-million selling FORMULA 1 game franchise across multiple platforms.
Codemasters Studios, creators of genre-leading racing titles Colin McRae: DiRT™ and Race Driver: GRID™, will lead the design and development of official FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games for home console, handheld and PC gaming formats.
"FORMULA 1 is ambitious in expanding its reach with more circuits planned beyond recent additions in the Middle East and China. It is also ambitious in expanding its reach via technology. The digital communities that computer and video gaming creates will play a key role in further growing the FORMULA 1 audience and connecting them globally," said Rod Cousens, chief executive officer, Codemasters.
"As a world-leading creator of driving games, this alliance with FORMULA 1 is the jewel in Codemasters' racing crown and creates an undisputed segment champion. FORMULA 1 has gone with the best, the segment leader. It has gone to the home of the EGO Engine for quality; it has gone to the company that can host FORMULA 1 Online, to the company that is streaking away from the pack."
"Codemasters' success and recent innovations in the racing game space makes the company more than appropriately tuned for the challenge," said Chris Deering, chairman, Codemasters."The combination of FORMULA 1's new momentum of expansion and Codemasters' contemporary technology and past experience is the breaking of a new dawn for the sport, on the track and on the HD game screen."
The worldwide deal provides Codemasters with rights to feature all Grand Prix circuits, FORMULA 1 teams, cars, and driver likenesses.
The FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP games will be developed using the evolution of the award-winning EGO™ Game Technology Engine, Codemasters' highly versatile cross-platform middleware technology. Its advanced graphics and physics technology brings an unmatched cinematic quality and realism to interactive entertainment.
The EGO Engine is currently being deployed in the creation of Race Driver: GRID™, the latest in Codemasters Studio's international circuit-based racing series. Set to be a landmark release when it launches on May 30th, Race Driver: GRID was recently hailed as"The driving game of the summer" by BBC Top Gear magazine.
Codemasters expects the first game based on the FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP to launch in 2009.

I would have thought that Desert Bus would forever remove both "real-time" and "desert terrain" from the marketing lexicon of any playable video game. As the brand new trailer above shows, THQ/2XL Games' Baja is eminently playable. Suddenly 240-minute endurance races don't seem so bad. I might need a USB glucose drip IV when this comes out in August.

Rough Riding: Hands On with Baja [Kotaku]

Topps' Speed Racer Candy Tracks Game [Topps]

"It's exciting being on the cover of NASCAR 09," says Gordon. "The game is as real as it gets and it's been great being involved with it on this level. I look forward to helping gamers in NASCAR 09."

EA Announces Jeff Gordon as NASCAR 09 Cover Athlete

Four-Time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon Featured on Cover of EA SPORTS NASCAR 09

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Start your engines! Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced Jeff Gordon, legendary NASCAR® driver of car #24, will be featured as the cover athlete for EA SPORTS™ NASCAR 09. NASCAR 09 is scheduled to ship in North America on June 10 and will offer an authentic, exhilarating stock car driving experience for racing fans of all ages.

One of NASCAR's most celebrated and successful drivers for more than a decade, Gordon is ranked 6th all time in Cup Series wins with 81 and is a four time Sprint Cup Series champion. Gordon is a member and partial owner of Hendrick Motorsports.

"It's exciting being on the cover of NASCAR 09," says Gordon. "The game is as real as it gets and it's been great being involved with it on this level. I look forward to helping gamers in NASCAR 09."

Gordon's prestigious reputation aligns with the new NASCAR 09 career mode, "Sprint for the Cup." Gordon will bring the game to you as a guide and a mentor to help you build your reputation to become the next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. With a completely rebuilt handling model, the game will be more accessible to newcomers while continuing to offer options that will challenge even the most experienced virtual driver. NASCAR 09 is an authentic NASCAR experience that will appeal to every type of NASCAR enthusiast.

Developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon, NASCAR 09 will be available for the PLAYSTATION®3 and PLAYSTATION 2 computer entertainment systems and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system.

EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL®, NBA LIVE, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

Vineta K - On the southern shores of Makana Island, the circuit at Vineta K snakes in and out of the ocean and across the beaches. The highlights of this 4.4 km track include spectacular underwater tunnels and cutting-edge architecture along the waterfront.

Chenghou Project -The feature-packed circuit at Chenghou Project weaves its way around the offices and corporate buildings of Makana Island's business district. The 4.8 km track contains a tricky inverse-cambered spiral and culminates in a long jump into the tunnelled entry of the final chicane.

Sebenco Climb - The 4.8 km Sebenco Climb track is cut into the hillsides of Makana's Sebenco mountain range. It features a steep traverse up the snowy mountainside, followed by a breathtaking plunge into an icy tunnel carved through the very heart of the mountain. The final section takes pilots through a challengingly tight chicane before they swing back onto the grid.

Sol 2 - The 4.4 km Sol 2 circuit hangs suspended in the clouds high above Makana Island. Consisting of a series of fast-flowing, occasionally open-sided corners linked by sweeping straights, the combination of harsh sunlight and blind summits ensure that Sol 2 is a test of nerve for every speed class.

Ubermall - In the heart of Makana Island's commercial zone is Ubermall, a 4.6 km circuit built into a vast shopping centre. The latter half of the track contains a brief split which rejoins into a narrow hill, followed by an outdoor park section that leads swiftly to the finish.

Anulpha Pass - The 5 km Anulpha Pass track is located in a custom-built entertainment arena on the east side of Makana Island. Although the track looks deceptively simple from above, the undulations of the track surface and narrow skill-cut are enough to keep any racer on their toes.

Moa Therma - The immense man-made complex of Moa Therma is located just off the northern coast of Sicily, with around a third of the track surface built using mag-strip technology. The centrepiece of this 5.3 km circuit is the gigantic horizontal loop which sits just above sea level.

Metropia - The 4.7 km Metropia circuit weaves its way between the skyscrapers and traffic control towers that dominate the Kyoto skyline. Glass-bottomed track surfaces and a stunning vertical mag-strip drop into the depths of the city are just two of the highlights of this popular track.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue hits stores in North America on April 17 for $40, it will also be sold as a digital download for the same price on the Playstation Store. If you buy the disc version it comes packed with an extra behind-the-scenes high-def video called "Beyond the Apex".

The precursor to GTA5 will include 60 vehicles, 16 car online races at 60 frames per second and 1080p HD support. The game also supports online racing events, an in-cockpit view with real-time gauges and human animation and support of the vibration Dualshock controller.

"Ten years following the introduction of Gran Turismo(TM) on PS one(R), Gran Turismo 5 Prologue delivers the most realistic and technologically advanced racing experience on any platform," said Jeff Reese, director, software marketing, SCEA. "With 1080p graphics, revolutionary online features like Gran Turismo(TM) TV and the new in-cockpit racing view, the world'sbest-selling racing franchise will once again set the standard for racing games."

The game will launch with Gran Turismo TV, a dedicated online channel on the Playstation Network that will include worldwide motorsport programming.

Is it just me or is everyone else getting confused with all of these demos and prologues? I'm not sure if this is the best way to roll out a triple-A title. Hit the jump for the official fact sheet and a batch of new screens.

Gran Turismo™5 Prologue
FACT SHEET

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
Developer: Polyphony Digital, Inc.
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™)
Genre: Racing
Release: Spring 2008
Rating: "RP" for Rating Pending

OVERVIEW
With more than 47 million units shipped worldwide, the award-winning Gran Turismo™ franchise has raced far beyond a driving simulator experience; it is a global lifestyle. Setting the bar to unprecedented heights of realism, quality of design and physics technology with every product release, famed developer Polyphony Digital, Inc. continues to obscure the line between simulation and reality with the newest iteration of its blockbuster franchise, Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue, exclusively for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™).

Available on Blu-ray Disc and as a download via PLAYSTATION®Network, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue showcases the automotive experience that is imminent with Gran Turismo 5. Featuring over 60 meticulously detailed cars — including vehicles by Ferrari, Audi and Nissan — for users to race on five beautifully rendered reversible tracks from around the globe, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue runs in stunning1080p High Definition. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will also introduce to the franchise an in-cockpit view, providing a unique perspective for racers and featuring real-time gauges and human animations that accurately represent the true performance and handling of each vehicle. Additionally, in conjunction with a robust offline experience, for the first time in the history of the franchise Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will support up to 16 players racing head-to-head online, complete with community events and leaderboards, to quell any question of who is the best driver in the "World of GT."

Dedicated to expanding the user's immersion in automotive culture, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will feature access to Gran Turismo™ TV, a dedicated online channel available exclusively from PLAYSTATION Network that delivers some of the greatest motorsport and manufacturer content that television has to offer.

KEY FEATURES
• A first for the franchise, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue supports online racing with up to 16 drivers racing simultaneously on a beautifully rendered race track.
• Race more than 60 high-performance and exhaustively detailed cars, including vehicles from Ferrari, Audi, Nissan and Mitsubishi.
• Race on five stunningly realistic tracks, including the Eiger Nordwand, the London City Track and Suzuka.
• A new physics engine delivers next-generation vehicle handling. True to the heritage of the Gran Turismo franshise, this new physics engine provides unprecedented realism and authentic handling specific to each car.
• A new in-cockpit view provides a unique perspective for racers and features a customized dashboard for each of the cars in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. Real-time gauges and human animations accurately represent the true performance and handling of each vehicle.
• All-new and improved opponent AI for a nail-biting and more strategic race racing experience.
• Access to Gran Turismo TV: a clearinghouse of great motoring TV (video) programming (both HD and SD - all broadcast quality) online through PLAYSTATION Network.
• To extend the realistic driving experience, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is also compatible with the new DUALSHOCK®3 controller, which has vibration functionality.
• Quick Tune facility allows you to adjust power, tires, suspension and more.
• Gran Turismo 5 Prologue runs in stunning High Definition at 1080p (race: 1080p-60fps, replay: 1080p-30fps)

"We are very excited about this natural extension from the Speed Racer film to the videogame. Larry and Andy are videogame fans themselves, so they believe that an interactive game is a key component to the entire Speed Racer experience," said film producer Joel Silver.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment presents Speed Racer - the videogame

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will launch the Speed Racer videogame based on the upcoming film written and directed by the Wachowski brothers. Speed Racer is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures production. The game will be available in 2008 on the Wii and Nintendo DS systems as the Speed Racer film hits cinemas. It will be released on the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system with the DVD launch.

In the Wii and PlayStation2 system games, developed by Sidhe Interactive and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, players will be able to take on the role of the characters from the film, getting behind the wheels of each character's signature vehicles to experience firsthand the film's high adrenaline, combative racing style. The car-fu style of action within the game will closely represent the action style being designed by the Wachowski brothers for the film itself as they lend direction and assets to the development team directly from their Berlin set. John Gaeta, a long time Wachowski collaborator and Co-VFX Supervisor on the Speed Racer film, is working with Sidhe and WBIE to assist in maintaining a close film-to-game aesthetic connection.

"Speed Racer is an exceptionally creative property and teamed with the Wachowski brothers' vision it makes for action-packed racing gameplay," said Samantha Ryan, senior vice president, development and production, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "The game will capture the intensity of the racing in the film to give gamers and movie fans a chance to take the wheel after the experience the film."

"We are very excited about this natural extension from the Speed Racer film to the videogame. Larry and Andy are videogame fans themselves, so they believe that an interactive game is a key component to the entire Speed Racer experience," said film producer Joel Silver.

The game's development for the Wii and PlayStation2 system platforms is led by the New Zealand-based Sidhe, a game development studio recognised for producing high-quality entertainment titles with world-class creative and software development skills. Developing across console, handheld, and PC, Sidhe has created a range of innovative products including a variety of racing titles.

Written and directed by the Wachowski brothers (The Matrix trilogy, V for Vendetta) and produced by Joel Silver, Speed Racer is based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida. A live-action family adventure, Speed Racer follows the young race-car driver Speed in his quest for glory on and off the track in his thundering Mach 5.

The film will feature other characters that fans of the show will remember, including Speed's family and his mysterious arch-rival, Racer X. The new high-octane actioner will combine the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers' films, bringing Speed Racer into the 21st century. The film stars Emile Hirsch ("Alpha Dog") as Speed, Christina Ricci ("Black Snake Moan") as Trixie and Matthew Fox (TV's "Lost") as Racer X as well as Oscar winner Susan Sarandon ("Dead Man Walking") and John Goodman ("Evan Almighty") as Mom and Pops Racer.

Once upon a time there was also a version of the game announced for the first Xbox, which also never materialized.

Don't count the game out completely yet...SimBan might still find a publisher for the title, but for now it's looking pretty grim. At least we'll always have Forza! Michael Fahey

THQ parts ways with GTR on Xbox 360 [CVG]

For those of us who have decided to keep our original noses and hair, and don't have a half a million dollars lying around, we can always pretend that we have a Ferrari. The Italian sports car manufacturer recently went on the record to fully support the release of Ferrari Challenge by System 3 that features the real cars, real tracks, and true Ferrari racing dynamics. The game will be arriving Christmas for PS3, PS2, PSP, the DS, and the Wii (where you can using the Wii steering wheel, if you so choose).

Not as cool as owning the real thing, but at least I won't feel bad when I wrap it around a telephone pole in the game. Kim Phu

Ferrari backs game tie-in [MCV]

I was hoping my car would make the list but apparently the elitist bastards are to high and mighty to include a 96 Nissan Sentra with its front end crushed by a landscape truck. Figures! Michael Fahey

Forza Motorsport 2's Official Car List [Forza Motor Sports]

Electronic Arts renewed the license to create more games within the world of Lord of the Rings, the company announced today.

The deal with New Line Cinema means the company will be releasing new LOTR titles this year, EA said.

"The Lord of the Rings is an incredible canvas to create epic games," said Frank Gibeau, EA's executive vice president and general manager of North American publishing. "We look forward to our next project with New Line Cinema and Tolkien Enterprises scheduled to ship in 2008."

"We have a long history of making great games with EA and are thrilled to extend our longstanding relationship," said David Imhoff, New Line's senior executive vice president of worldwide licensing and merchandising. "We look forward to working closely with EA to create even more compelling Lord of the Rings adventures in the future."

Can't wait for that Lord of the Rings driving game. Brian Crecente

The PlayStation 3 is starting to look better and better in my eyes as of late, and no single bit of good news has helped to lift my hopes more than the news that Sony has confirmed that there is indeed a Wipeout game in the works for the next-gen powerhouse.

In an interview with Develop magazine, Sony Liverpool director Clemens Wangerin finally let the cat out the bag—Wipeout PS3 is definitely in development. He said the game would use the Sixaxis controller and would "maybe" feature online and multiplayer content. A Sony spokesperson confirmed the title, and said, "We have nothing to add, but we will be making an announcement with more details in the near future."

Sony confirms Wipeout for PS3

FlatOut is the flagship franchise of our group. The tremendous public response to the title and the numerous industry awards are testimony to the quality and popularity of this game franchise. We believe that this bodes well for the upcoming release of FlatOut Ultimate Carnage on Xbox 360

EMPIRE INTERACTIVE ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF FLATOUT ULTIMATE CARNAGE FOR XBOX 360

FLATOUT 2 WORLDWIDE SALES PASS ONE MILLION COPIES AND GAME IS NAMED BEST RACING GAME OF 2006

LONDON, ENGLAND, January 31st, 2007 - Empire Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings (NASDAQ: SSTR), today announced the next generation debut of the FlatOut franchise with FlatOut Ultimate Carnage, releasing on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in June 2007.

The sales of the critically acclaimed FlatOut 2 franchise have surpassed one million copies worldwide since its release in June 2006. FlatOut 2 has also won numerous awards including on Xbox 'Best Racing Game of 2006' from G4's X-Play games show (beating off the likes of Need For Speed Carbon and Test Drive Unlimited in the process), 'Best PlayStation 2 Racing Game of 2006' from IGN and on PC "Best Racing game of 2006" from Krawall Gaming Network.

Developed by Bugbear Entertainment, FlatOut Ultimate Carnage is rebuilt from the ground up and specifically developed to take advantage of the additional feature sets and improved processing ability of the Xbox 360 to produce an entirely new, breathtaking FlatOut experience.

Some of the many brand new design and gameplay components featured in FlatOut Ultimate Carnage include 12 cars racing on screen up from eight in FlatOut 2, five all-new single player and two all-new multiplayer game modes over the Xbox Live online game service, over 8,000 dynamic objects per track up from 5,000 in FlatOut 2, widescreen High Definition resolution (720p), dynamic lighting and shadowing all with proper real-time environment mapping on all vehicles, downloadable content via Xbox Live, and 20,000 polygons per car up from 7,500 in the previous generation.

Commenting on the next generation debut of the FlatOut franchise, Ian Higgins, CEO of Empire Interactive remarked, "The announcement of FlatOut Ultimate Carnage on Xbox 360 is the first since the acquisition of Empire Interactive by Silverstar, and will be followed by many other exciting announcements from the company throughout 2007. The FlatOut franchise has been incredibly successful to date with the first two games in the series both selling over one million copies around the world, so we are very excited in being able to reward the loyal FlatOut fan base with a next generation FlatOut game. FlatOut Ultimate Carnage is that game and it is undoubtedly the best FlatOut game to date."

Clive Kabatznik, CEO of Silverstar Holdings, stated "FlatOut is the flagship franchise of our group. The tremendous public response to the title and the numerous industry awards are testimony to the quality and popularity of this game franchise. We believe that this bodes well for the upcoming release of FlatOut Ultimate Carnage on Xbox 360, both in terms of the new capabilities showcased by third generation console technology as well as increased popular appeal for the latest incarnation of this most successful franchise."

Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Empire Interactive:
Empire Interactive is a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software that has been established for 18 years. Headquartered in the UK, Empire Interactive also has offices in the US, Germany, France and Spain. The company develops and publishes a varied range of titles for all current platforms in the US, Europe and Asia. Games such as Starsky & Hutch, Big Mutha Truckers, Ford Racing and FlatOut have all enjoyed success across the world. Its budget label, Xplosiv, is one of the fastest growing in Europe. Further information about Empire Interactive and its products can be found at www.empireinteractive.com

About Bugbear Entertainment:
Bugbear Entertainment Ltd. is an award-winning Finnish game developer focusing on action driving games. The company's worldwide blockbuster hits are the highly innovative 'FlatOut' and 'FlatOut 2' on PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC CD which both have sold over 1 million units worldwide.

Bugbear's international breakthrough was the critically acclaimed PC title 'Rally Trophy' in 2001, which was followed with 'Tough Trucks' on PC in 2003. An N-Gage exclusive story-driven arcade racer 'Glimmerati' was published in July 2005. For more information please visit www.bugbeargames.com

About Silverstar Holdings:
Silverstar Holdings Ltd. is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: SSTR), focusing on acquiring controlling positions in high-growth retail-driven and fee-based electronic game businesses that stand to benefit from the economies of scale generated by the Internet and other technology-related platforms. It currently owns Empire Interactive PLC and Strategy First Inc. as well as a stake in Magnolia Broadband. For more information please visit www.silverstarholdings.com.

Strategy First Inc. is a leading developer and worldwide publisher of entertainment software for the PC. Magnolia Broadband is a fabless semiconductor company and innovator of radio frequency (RF) solutions for the cellular industry.

About Xbox 360
Microsoft revolutionized the gaming industry with the November 2001 launch of Xbox (http://www.xbox.com), its first-generation video game and entertainment system, now sold in 26 countries. Microsoft introduced its next-generation system, Xbox 360, in the 2005 holiday season in Europe, Japan and North America, and launched the system in Australia, Colombia, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan in 2006. Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com) is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox Live online gaming service, and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers.

I both love and hate Diddy Kong Racing DS.

On the one hand, I've played Mario Kart so much that I've pretty much burned myself out on it and have been jonesing for some new tracks, new weapons, new drivers to play with.

On the other hand Diddy Kong Racing is no Mario Kart, and it's not meant to be.

I can deal with that. I understand it's a different game with its own aesthetic, but there are still some issues.

For instance, if you bump into things, you tend to get hung up, or at least can. Worse still, reversing is atrocious. I found that if you hit the reverse button at the same time as the D-pad in any direction the two actions cancel each other out and you just sit there. Which can be quite frustrating.

The graphics bug me too. They're chunky and a bit too childish for my tastes. Nintendo has character creation down to a fine art, so I'm not sure why they decided to dumb this particular game down.

If you can get past all of that the game can be quite fun.

Races are very much not like Mario Kart, there isn't any power sliding, thank god, nor do you have to worry about turbo starts. Well, at least not the turbo starts that involve button timing. Instead you have to fondle your DS' touchscreen to get the motor running at the start line.

The game also offers not just car racing, but the ability to race in hovercraft and planes. Unfortunately, planes really suffer from the getting stuck to the terrain issue, so it's not quite as fun as it could be.

I'll make sure to bring my DS and copy of the game with me to Barcade so I can play it with the readers who show up.

I was supposed to play against other media today, but the race time was during the middle of my flight and I don't think the pilot would have appreciated me using a latop, cellcard, DS dongle and DS during the flight. Brian Crecente

Look what the nice FedEx guy just dropped off in my leathery hands. I plan on playing this up to and through the official Kotaku party later this week, so bring your DS. I hope to post up some impressions between now and then.

Oh, and they included a cool shirt that I'lll be giving out at the party too. Brian Crecente

Ok, I'm officially taking the torch from McWhertor as Kotaku's resident Motorstorm fanboy.

I just got my preview copy of the game for the Playstation 3 debug and it kicks major ass. It's like what Excite Truck could have been, but with better graphics.

The version I have doesn't let me play online, so I have yet to see what the game's performance will be like over the network. But in house, in house it's amazing.

Part of the reason I think I'm so blown away by the game is because I never bought into the early hype and so I didn't ride that emotional roller coaster brought on by watching those early vids that ended up being nothing like the finished product.

While the game's graphics are simply amazing, it doesn't do things like show detailed mud splashing across the hood of your car in the middle of a race, or detailed, tread-specific ruts forming in the road.

What it does do is drop you into a highly-stylized version of off-road racing and slap you in vehicles that explode into a detailed array of fire, smoke and parts. At times, it felt like the car I was driving was made of porcelain, but that's half the fun.

And the ruts do form along the track, there's even mud, but it appears to be a bit more area specific than tire specific. In other words you leave your mark on the world, but you never really see your tires leaving specific impressions in the mud.

The good news is that over time that muddied up road because harder to navigate and actually affects play. The same is true with other parts of the course on various maps that you can change. For instance, in one map I actually knocked down a ramp and it stayed down.

While the graphics are a big chunk of what make this game so much fun to play, that doesn't mean the game doesn't offer up plenty of fun in the way of game mechanics.

The idea is that you work your way through various off-road courses in an assortment of vehicles trying to win the race. The races earn you points which will open some new courses and vehicles, others are opened by doing specific things like getting first place in every race on a particular course.

The game lets you race motorcycles, ATV, trucks, buggies, stock cars and big rigs. Each type of vehicle behaves very differently. For instance, the big rigs are best in the mud, while the motorcycles are great at hopping from plateau to plateau.

Controls are fairly basic, you steer either with motion control or with a thumbstick, you've got gas, brake, a handbrake and turbo, which can overheat and cause your vehicle to explode.

The courses are truly open, which means each race has a lot of different options for how you complete it. You can stay low in the mud, try jumping across huge drops, drift along side a precarious drop. It's this openness that really makes Motorstorm most fun, that and the heft of the vehicles. They all truly have a unique feel to them. The motorcycles can zip around corners, big rigs wallow through the mud and slowly crank through a turn, stock cars tend to bounce themselves to pieces.

The game is a blast. I played through about a quarter of the single player races last night and could have kept playing if I didn't have more to do.

I think Motorstorm could easily be the Playstation 3's first truly break-out hit. Brian Crecente

Update For those of you who somehow misunderstood "preview copy of game from Playstation 3" for kiosk demo, this is in fact a nearly finished copy of the game. Perhaps gold, though Sony's press material included with the game doesn't say.

Gallery: F1 Championship Edition

Sorry, but it just doesn't get much cooler than this. My apologies to all the other videos that have ever been posted on Kotaku and the editors who have posted them. They all pale in comparison.

Titled "The 1K Project II", it comes from a cobbled together set of 1000 replays running on the same track in the PC stunt racer TrackMania. Not only is it beautifully shot and edited, it does not, I repeat NOT, contain any nu metal.

Thanks to Crunchman for the tip! Michael McWhertor

MarioKart goes Zen in one of my favorite Annecy entries evarrrr. Gorgeous animation with a delightful ending. Thanks to reader Rustybret for reminding me about this one; it's been sitting on my HD for a while but Kotaku hasn't seen it yet so it's mine all mine! Moo hoo ha ha!

I would dig an actual game based on this little thing. Get on that, would ya?

It certainly looks like a lot of fun, with toy cars racing about Hot Wheel style loop-de-loops and jumping holes in the track. The price they are throwing around is about 1,000 credits, which seems reasonable for an exciting multiplayer racer. I was an absolutely huge fan of Re-Volt, which Dennis specifically alludes to as their inspiration, and the demo for Mad Tracks on the PC was rather fun. I'll be looking forward to this one.

"Mad Tracks" Dev Interview [K1lla's XBox Domain]

Pac-Man Word Rally is coming because you can never have enough Pac-Man.... apparently. The Namco Bandai kart racing game is coming to the Playstation 2, Playstation Portable, Gamecube and computer.

The game is going to feature Pac-Man, Pac Jr., Pac-Devil and other Namco characters.

Apparently Stefan Eriksson s Farrari Enzo was imported as a show car, meaning it wasn t street legal in California. There s also some thought, reports Spong, that Eriksson was involved in a race when he crashed out going more than 160 MPH.

Hit up Spong for the lovely quotes from investigating Malibu Sheriff s deputy Sgt. Phil Brooks who believes the crash happened when the Ferrari took off literally.

Gizmondo Exec Likely to Face Malibu Fine [Spong]

Have you seen the new Project Gotham Racing 3 ad on TV? Nice ad, but is it me or does that short clip that shows the red Ferrari grabbing some sweet air make you not want to buy the game?

PGR 3 Ad [Game Trailers, thanks Marcelo]

You ve got to love developers with a sense of humor. Thursday Bizarre Creations, creators of Project Gotham Racing 3, posted a story with the admittedly attention grabbing headline: Bizarre Creations in we are liars shocker.

The story stems from rumors, which have been swirling around the Xbox 360 game almost since it s announcement, that the claim that the game s cars are made of 80,000 polygons is a boldface lie. In other words, people couldn t believe that the game would look as pretty as Bizzare Creations has been claiming.

Well Thursday, BC admitted that they ve been stringing us along. The cars won t be made of 80,000 polygons each, they will be using closer to 100,000 (96,000 to be exact.)

Some cars have around 85,000 polygons, but many go as high as 105,000. The McLaren F1 LM (my favourite PGR3 car!) clocked in at over 100,000. Obviously these counts include the car interiors as well as the exteriors, but they don't include the extra geometry to display car damage, which can add between 10,000 and 20,000 more triangles per car.

Of course, polygons aren't the only things which matter in the next generation. We're also using some advanced pixel shaders and other effects to achieve the most realistic look we can muster at this time. I'm putting together a short animation to give you more details about these shaders in the future... so watch this space.
In the meantime, check out these wireframe shots taken straight from the monitor of a Bizarre Creations car artist. As always, click for a full-size screen capture...

Nicely played Bizarre, you have a new fan.

Bizarre Creations in we are liars shocker [Bizarre Creations Online]

There is no older marketing clich than hot cars next to hot chicks. The gals of Thumb Bandits point us to the new line of EA ads for Burnout Revenge. The ads feature near naked ladies performing Burnout Revenge-related activities like checking their lipstick in the mirror and ironing a shirt on a car's hood while bending over in lingerie. My ex-girlfriend used to do that. Ah, memories.

Got some more detail on the upcoming Xbox 360 racer Project Gotham Racing 3 today. The game will feature more than 80 " authentically modeled and licensed supercars from manufacturers such as Ferrari, Dodge and Lamborghini. With fully modeled interiors, functioning dashboards and individually recorded engine roars."

PGR 3 will include intricately modeled tracks in New York, Tokyo and some yet to be named cities. And the cities won't just be empty ghost towns, the tracks will be packed with thousands of fans, all brought to life with motion capture.

One of the most anticipated things about PGR3 is most certainly GothamTV. GTV will let gamers race in front of a live audience via Xbox Live. Here's the official word on the Gotham TV:

GothamTV takes gamers online with Xbox Live . PGR 3 exploits next-generation worldwide connectivity to let drivers show off in front of a global online audience. With GothamTV, gamers can watch any player in the world on live news feeds, get live ticker-tape information when friends break records, and compete with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Drivers can choose to casually involve themselves in the online side of GothamTV or set out to climb the ranks and conquer the entire institution of worldwide PGR 3 racers.

Finally, the game will include a Kudos challenge, where you have to win a race by executing powerslides, stunts, jumps and drafting.

I can't wait to get my hands on this game.

Someone took a screen capture from Project Gotham Racing 3 and then found the real world scene and posted a like-angled photo of it for comparison. It s amazing how well the two compare to each other. It looks so real that I think the car tends to come off as almost plastic.

PGR3 real life comparision #1 [Gaming-Age Forums]