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Split/Second shows off 'power plays' in latest video
It's weird talking about Split/Second at this stage in its race to retail. Black Rock Studios has already proven itself to be an impressively competent studio with the under-appreciated Pure and there's nothing about our numerous experiences with Split/Second that make us think this game will crash and burn. The latest video released for the game shows how the "power plays" will work. If you don't recognize the term, you may know them as the "environment is coming to kill you" moments. Only a little over three weeks to go until May 18, when players can start their engines and drop a building on their opponents. %Gallery-47488%
Video: A Split/Second primer
If you've missed all our hands-on coverage of upcoming racer Split/Second and if, somehow, you've failed to watch a single trailer, then this post is for you. The video above, which profiles Black Rock Studios, essentially serves as an introduction to all things Split/Second. If you can't be bothered to watch -- again -- we'll sum up: You get to blow up parts of the track in order to beat the other racers. At times, you will accomplish this by exploding parts of the track onto other racers. If you're not interested by now, there's really not much we can do for you. Split/Second is out on May 18.
Disney: Split/Second coming to PC retail and digital distribution (plus: new GDC trailers!)
Earlier today, we noticed a report over on That Video Game Blog that stated Black Rock's upcoming racer, Split/Second, would only be available on the PC as "a limited online release." Turns out, that isn't the case, as a Disney spokesperson has confirmed to Joystiq that the game will be available on the PC both via retail and digital distribution on May 18, alongside its console cousins. When questioned about which digital distribution services the game would release on, Disney couldn't say. So, as a peace offering, we were given a pair of new trailers: the first you can see above this chunk of text, while you'll need to click past the break for the other. We know, we push you guys too hard!
Hands-on: Split/Second
"Split/Second is like Burnout, except the world around you is the thing that gets smashed into bits." - Joystiq's E3 preview I had the fortune of spending about an hour with Black Rock's upcoming, destruction-laden Split/Second, and, like Xav before me, I had a total blast (sorry about the pun, folks). The idea of using the environment as a weapon is a novel twist, keeping racers on their toes throughout the entire race. Stay vigilant, or else a helicopter might just drop an explosive on top of you. (That actually happened to me, folks.) While I was equally impressed by the much-touted dynamic environments of the racer, having so much time with the game let me appreciate some of the finer nuances of the gameplay. I only had three vehicles to choose from, but each controlled differently and highlighted the various strategies players could employ during races. I was most skilled with the lightweight car, thanks to its maneuverability and speedy acceleration. The handling was a bit loose, especially when drifting -- but that proves to be an advantage, as I found myself able to build up my power meter with relative ease. %Gallery-87913%
Split/Second releases May 18; renamed 'Split/Second: Velocity' in Europe
Click to gigantisize. While Nintendo threw a release date party in San Francisco today, Disney Interactive rev-ealed the scheduled arrival of Split/Second on May 18 to Joystiq in an email today. "The Split/Second release date is May 18 in the US and the name in the US is still Split/Second ... Split/Second: Velocity is only for Europe and will be released on May 21," the publisher clarified. Now Gamer recently reported the UK release date exclusively alongside the reveal of a new moniker in the EU. Along with a more specific release date (previously known as "May 2010"), Disney sent along some new box art (as seen above). Unfortunately, we were told no new details are yet available on a demo for the upcoming Michael Bay-esque racer. %Gallery-47488%
