An Australian-developed dirt track racing game is tipped to be one of the major early releases for the PlayStation 2.
SPIN - Sprint Car Racing, which is being developed by Adelaide-based Ratbag Games, was announced as one of the key first year titles for the new console at the American launch of the PlayStation 2 in Los Angeles this morning (Sydney time).
The game is being developed as part of the $5 million two game deal with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and will attempt to cash in on the huge popularity of car racing titles and massive following that sprint car racing has in the United States and Australia.>> Go to ZDNet Australia's FULL COVERAGE of E3
Ratbag has already had international success with the PC game Dirt Track Racing, which was released in the United States last year by Wizardworks.
An Australia version will be released on the local market later in the year.
The company's debut PC title, Powerslide, was critically acclaimed throughout the world for its breakthrough graphics and physics engine.
A variation of the Difference Engine - named after the computer developed by Charles Babbage - will be used in the PlayStation 2 game.
Ratbag executives said SPIN (which has yet to be confirmed as the final title) would include several effects never before seen in car racing titles.
Tracks will alter according to the amount of racing they have had and will developed grooves and potholes that will change the handling characteristics of the cars. Because the racing takes place on dirt tracks, the driver's vision will be affected by the dust and mud.
Drivers will have tear off visors, just as real life drivers do, but they will have to decide at the beginning of each race how many to have.
Having too many will cause blurred vision at the start of a race, but not having enough will mean that by the end of the race their vision will be obscured by dirt and mud.
Up to 40 cars will be available for racing on about 15 tracks and the cars will be able to be set up for the different track conditions.
A career mode will allow drivers to build up prize money and attract sponsors top help fund car improvements or the purchase of new racers.
The game is due for release next year.
Ratbag CEO Greg Seigele said the company was the first PlayStation 2 developer in Australia and planned to focus on developing games for the console.
"It gives us access to a market that is potentially three to four times bigger than the PC market," he said.
Seigele said Ratbag also was looking for future opportunities and would not rule out the possibility of developing titles that would make use of the new high-speed wireless mobile phone networks.
"These are all the sorts of things we are looking at," he said.
