Psyonix Are Unreal

The developer will use Unreal Engine 3 for their PSN game with the awesome title Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars.

Psyonix Studios today announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with Epic Games. Under terms of this agreement, the developer will have access to Unreal Engine 3. Psyonix will use the middleware for their upcoming arena-based online auto sports game for PSN, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars.
"We've been working with other studios using Unreal technology for years now," said Dave Hagewood, director of development, Psyonix Studios. "I'm very proud to be licensing the engine for our first title developed entirely in-house and am blown away by the fact that Epic goes out of its way to make its industry-leading technology affordable for developers of games like this."
"Finding ways to bring our engine technology to creative, independent studios is important to us, and Psyonix is a team that really fits the mold," said Mark Rein, vice president, Epic Games. "Battle-Cars does a great job demonstrating the versatility of Unreal Engine 3. I think PlayStation Network users are going to find it to be fun and unique."
Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars is expected to release Fall 2008.

Heroes over Europe

The sequel to the mighty World War II flight combat game Heroes of the Pacific, Heroes over Europe takes place in the same historical period: WWII. With almost 40 customizable realistic warplanes models (Spitfires, Messerschmitts, Mustangs, bombers, torpedoes carriers, etc), the gamer will be transferred from the Pacific skies to the cloudy and foggy skies of Europe.

As an Allied trooper you will take part in virtual fights inspired from real events such as the attacks on London and the destruction of Berlin. Objectives like bombing buildings, launch torpedoes, escort convoys, are classical missions which will bring diversity in the gameplay, but everything is developed around the dogfight experience. Unlike other similar titles, Heroes over Europe will bring something new. I'm talking about the ACE Kill, that bullet-time mode that shows the weak spots of a hunted plane including the cockpit and the pilot in it. You just have to follow one of the enemy's planes and when you are enough close to him, the ACE Kill can be activated. This comes with a price, as the whole mode is controlled by a meter. You have only a couple of seconds to choose the weakest spot and shoot the target. Now the good news is that everything is done spectacular in slow-motion with the help of an dynamic camera view. And here we come to the perspective view. You can use the classical view from behind the plane, or the new free-look, which can be manipulated in any angle around the plane. In this mode you can actually see the realistic localized damage system. Every bullet will rip-off material from the aircraft's body, and every explosion will look different depending on which part of the airplane you have chosen to shoot.

In general this game is about showing-off. Everything looks amazing, from planes and cockpits, to landscapes and landmarks (3D representations of London or Berlin with the most important buildings). You don't fly above a set of pictures, but above real buildings and highly rendered landscapes. Clouds are volumetric which offers in different situation tactical approaches. You can actually hide in such a cloud, and even the A.I will use the same tactic if it is possible.

16 missions in singleplayer campaign will make you continue to destroy the enemy online. Up to 16 players online in a single dogfight mission it's enough to satisfy your thirst for blood. All the warplanes models will not be available in multiplayer from the beginning. You have to achieve different ranks to unlock further models. Every multiplayer map will allow only a couple of warplanes depending on the location and the combat mode. In this way the battles should become much more balanced and based more on the player's dexterity. If you think that this is not enough, additional downloadable content will be available from the launch.