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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%
Disney Interactive to be more 'judicious' with HD games as losses abate
Though Disney's gaming division saw improved operating results during the company's first fiscal quarter of 2010 (which ended January 2) -- a loss of $10 million compared to a $45 million loss in Q1 the previous fiscal year -- CEO Robert Iger has maintained a prudent stance on upcoming projects. "Disney-branded games seem to perform better on the Wii and DS platforms," he noted during a recent investor call (via Computerworld). It seems Disney will continue to target non-Nintendo platforms, but with fewer shots and steadier aim. "While we'll continue to make high-end games, we'll be very judicious in how many we make and which ones we choose," Iger said. Iger is also likely to keep an eye on the performance of upcoming "high-end" titles like Tron Evolution and Black Rock Studios' Pure follow-up, Split/Second. And if neither of those work, you send in the spandex. "We have some interesting opportunities with Marvel," he said. "That's a brand we think would do extremely well on higher-end consoles." Source: ComputerWorld [via GamesIndustry.biz] Source: The Walt Disney Company Q1 results
Black Rock working on additional game besides Split/Second
In a recent interview with VG247, Black Rock studio head Tony Beckwith confirmed that Split/Second isn't the only title the company is currently developing. "We're a two-product studio," Beckwith explained -- but when pressed to identify Black Rock's other game, he only responded by saying it's "not being discussed at all." Whatever the title ends up being, we just hope it retains Split/Second's remote-controlled explosions. Because, really, is there any genre that's not immensely improved with remote-controlled explosions?
Split/Second destroys the track in May 2010
Split/Second now has a much narrower release window, having been winnowed from a vague '2010' to a much more manageable 'May 2010,' according to CVG (and confirmed by Joystiq with Disney Interactive). For those who haven't been keeping up with it, Split/Second is a racing game that lets players use the environment against their opponents. For example, you can cause a whole building to topple directly onto the road, thus changing the course of the race -- and possibly crushing a few opponents in the process. In short, it's great fun, to which our E3 hands-on can attest. Fans of racing and big explosions may want to mark their Michael Bay Swimsuit calendars pronto.
Latest Split/Second trailer blows up buildings, gigantic boats
Split/Second isn't like most racing games -- this much you already know. Like most racers, it has the super-fast cars, tight turns and limited slip differentials, but you can't take down whole buildings mid-race in most games in the genre. In fact, you can't blow up huge boats, either. Basically, it's like Burnout, except the world around you is the thing that gets smashed into bits. All of that (and more) happens in the very brief glimpse of gameplay above. Enjoy!
Disney Interactive posts 20 percent losses in third quarter, citing bad economy
Businesses don't adhere to the same rules we silly humans do; the cycle of the Earth around the sun, for instance. Disney Interactive Media Group is no exception, posting its quarter three financial results -- the quarter that ends in June, folks -- just this week. According to Gamasutra, revenue dropped by $29 million year over year, which company CEO Robert A. Iger said during a conference call was due to "adverse economic conditions." Though Iger didn't specifically spell it out, we would imagine that investing in the development of multiple major titles in Split/Second and, um ... whatever it is that Warren Spector's working on at Junction Point isn't helping with the money intake either. The CEO is positive about the future, but remains worried about the current economy, saying, "We do see signs of economic stabilization, but the pace and strength of recovery remain uncertain and we are managing accordingly." We're guessing it's a bad time to ask for those free passes to Epcot?
Head-to-head racing with Blur, Need for Speed: Shift, Split/Second, and Forza 3
Are racing games the new first-person shooter? Revving up for release and shown off at E3 with tires smoking were Disney's Split/Second, Blur from Activision, Microsoft's Forza Motorsport 3, and EA's Need for Speed: Shift. They range from hyper-realistic to arcadey, so chances are you'll find something that's right up your alley among these four. But which one will you choose? We spoke to all four developers and asked them the same questions to see how they'd stack up, and you can check out the results after the break.
Split/Second developer Black Rock disses Jerry Bruckheimer
When we spoke with Split/Second developer Black Rock Studio (a fully-owned subsidiary of Disney Interactive) at E3, we asked if they felt like they'd stolen Jerry Bruckheimer's thunder, because the game looks like something we'd expect out of Jerry Bruckheimer game. Which is ironic, since Jerry Bruckheimer recently confirmed (after only a year and a half wait) that he's forming Jerry Bruckheimer Games at MTV, not Disney.Paul Glancey at Black Rock told us, "Well, we used to say our inspirations were Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer movies ... now we just say Michael Bay movies. Good luck to him, whatever he does. Hopefully he'll be using us as inspiration." Ba-ZING! Take that, Bruckheimer! We're sure you'll feel that sting as you swim around Scrooge McDuck-style in your giant pool full of gold coins.
Roundup: GTTV's E3 trailers
Did your late night Canasta tournament keep you away from your television last night, preventing you from catching all of GameTrailers' exclusive ... trailers for a number of highly anticipated titles that will be appearing at E3? Fear not -- we've got them posted conveniently after the break. What games are present and accounted for, you ask? Well, let's see (deep breath): Mass Effect 2, Brutal Legend, Lost Planet 2, Split/Second, Brink, DJ Hero, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Just Cause 2, Dragon Age: Origins, Supreme Commander 2, Dante's Inferno, Madden 10, NHL 10, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, Need for Speed Shift, Alpha Protocol and Heroes of Telara. Check 'em out!
Beware of falling buildings in Split/Second's first gameplay
Of the many trailers shown on tonight's GameTrailers TV, Split/Second stands out as the only one where gameplay involves avoiding a plane landing in front of you at high speed. And that makes it all the more exciting! From Blackrock Studios, the company whose prez said this game would refresh the 'dying' racing genre, we were already wondering if the next racer after Pure could be even better. Though the premise given through voice over in the trailer (after the break) comes off a bit hammy, we'll forgive it for the range of spectacle drizzled throughout the gameplay. Unfortunately it looks like we won't be playing Split/Second until 2010 according to the trailer, but hopefully we'll get to check it out next week at E3!%Gallery-47488%
Black Rock dev says racing genre is 'dying out,' Split/Second to give a 'kick start'
Though we're inclined to point out the massively successful Burnout Paradise to Black Rock Studios head Tony Beckwith and Split/Second director Nick Baynes, the two believe "the racing genre is, in many respects, dying out." But alas, friends! There is hope yet! Speaking with Develop recently, the two claim their studio's upcoming game Split/Second will help to turn that all around. "We're all fans of street racing here, but as a genre it is relatively stale -- the evolution is only coming from how you customize cars, which can only serve to remove you from the action – I think Split/Second will do the opposite," Baynes says, referencing the game's (familiar) HUD-less design. Based on these comments, we're not so sure that the folks at Black Rock have been paying too much attention to the racing genre, though we will certainly admit to Split/Second looking fantastic. We'll just have to wait and see what the game does to substantiate the two's claims when the game arrives in "early 2010."
DIS officially announces Split/Second for PC, PS3, Xbox 360
click to make bigger, more explode-y If you only take your octane in high, then this bit of news is likely to put your pedal right down to the metal, as Disney Interactive Studios has officially unveiled Split/Second. Set for release early next year on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, Split/Second is described as an "action-racing game where speed meets strategy in a city rigged for destruction."The press release also mentions a new site for the game, although that doesn't seem to have gone live yet. And, as suspected, Black Rock has created a world where "competitors vie to be the first across the finish line in a made-for-TV city built for destruction," so expect plenty of Running Man jokes on our end as we write about the game in the future.%Gallery-47488%
Split/Second debut trailer is highly destructive
As promised, last night's episode of GameTrailers TV brought our first non-fuzzy look at Pure developer Black Rock Studio's upcoming racing title, Split/Second. Keighley's ominous warning seems accurate -- it appears to be trying to give Burnout a run for its money. However, rather than participating in high-speed (probably illegal) street racing for your own amusement, it looks like Split/Second will be placing your automotive exploits in front of an enraptured televised audience.Split/Second will also add a neat gameplay element hinted at in the trailer -- it looks like players will be able to "trigger" destructive events on the track in order to impede their opponents (or themselves, if they're not on top of their respective games). Watch the trailer if you want an example. The developers promise further info about the game next Wednesday -- til' then, you can check out the trailer here!
Pure dev's new racer 'Split Second' to debut March 6
The teaser for Friday night's (well, Saturday morning's) episode of GameTrailers TV is appropriately laden with gooey, fresh-baked exclusives, though among DLC details for Call of Duty: World at War and info about Resident Evil 5, one segment promises to be especially eye-catching -- the "worldwide reveal" of Pure developer Black Rock Studio's next racing title, Split Second. Or, wait -- did it actually reveal the game in said teaser? It's like, out there now, right? We're pretty sure that counts as a revelation.From the four seconds of Split Second cinematics shown in the teaser (which appears to have come from Black Rock's teaser video, seen above), as well as Geoff Keighley's ominous voiceover which warns, "watch out, Burnout," we're guessing it'll be in the same ludological vein as Criterion's cash cow. We've contacted a Disney Interactive rep for more info, but we're sure to find out more when GTTV airs Friday night (Saturday morning) at 1 a.m. EST.
