Driving Studio to deliver next-gen vision of SEGA Rally
UK-based SEGA Driving Studio's first project will be a next-generation version of one the publisher's most popular arcade brands - and will be shown at E3.
SEGA Driving Studio's first game will be a next-generation take on SEGA Rally, the arcade series that began life in the hands of SEGA's Japanese AM2 operation.
Due out on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC next year, SEGA Rally - known as SEGA Rally Revo in the USA - will feature next-gen visuals, online gaming options, and fully deformable environments and track surfaces.
The latter feature is likely to draw comparison to Sony's PS3 title MotorStorm, also in development in the UK at Evolution Studios, which has been lauded for its use of a variable road surface.
Driving Studio director Guy Wilday believes SEGA Rally's features signal a shift away from "ultra realistic simulation based titles that portray the sport in minute detail but offer little in terms of fun".
"With the emphasis being on entertainment, SEGA Rally will focus on delivering an adrenaline fuelled competitive racing experience but without over-complicating the rally experience," he said as SEGA announced the game.
SEGA Rally is the fourth major pre-E3 announcement from SEGA, which is announcing a game-a-day in the run-up to the show. Already we've heard about Virtua Tennis 3, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz and, yesterday, World Snooker Championship and Challenge, and with over a week to go the view is strengthening that SEGA's will be among the most competitive line-ups at the Californian trade event.