Codemasters Hatches its Next-Gen Plan
An epic action-RPG, the return of a conflict simulation trailblazer, and a new Race Driver game? Could beeee…
Published: April 24, 2007
Here we are, four months into 2007, and we can almost unreservedly declare that gaming has officially graduated into a new generation of consoles. Sadly but surely, the PlayStation 2 is on its final wind of notable releases, as the majority of company line-ups (understandably) find themselves nigh entirely next-gen oriented.
Not that we’re complaining. One look at Codemasters’ 2008 outlook and it’s hard not to get the least bit giddy over what state-of-the-art hardware could mean for the company’s original IP and returning classics. We speak of two games in specific: Operation Flashpoint 2 and Rise of the Argonauts.
Does the former sound familiar? It’s the follow-up to the 2001 PC conflict simulator, consider by many (well, Codemasters) to be the definitive of its genre. OF2 promises to be no less groundbreaking, said to have required the studio’s largest development team and most extensive R&D to date. The driving force behind it is the home-cooked Neon technology, tweaked to function for an FPS and capable of the most realistic modeled conflict scenarios, with a host of military disciplines and a deep multiplayer mode rounding out the gameplay.
Then comes the new IP.
“Rise of the Argonauts is a further key property in our 2008 portfolio,” summates Barry Jafrato, Codemasters Senior VP of Brand. “Codemasters’ investment in developing new I.P.s, which will sit alongside the new extensions of our existing brands, reinforces our ongoing commitment to bring original and thrilling new gaming experiences to market.”
So there’s the business side of it, but for us gamers, Rise of the Argonauts will bring the colossal scale of an action-RPG into ancient Greece, in a “gladiatorial adventure” that has players leading a group of the era’s most fearsome and heroic warriors, including Jason, Hercules and Atalanta. Now if their quest is related to finding the Golden Fleece… it’s likely, but remains to be seen.
Now how about that thirdly mentioned title? Indeed, a new TOCA game is in the works, Race Driver One, and although Codey’s hasn’t “officially” announced it for North American., U.S. PR Manager MacLean Marshall assured us it would be making the hop across the pond with the others. The game is said to house the same Neon engine powering DiRT and will have players touring the world through gorgeous locales in the U.S., Europe, Japan and beyond, in hopes of reaching the tops of the motorsport world.
The trio is dated for a semi-distant-but-oh-so-vague 2008 and will be available on leading consoles and PC. Hey, at least you know they’re comin’.
Not that we’re complaining. One look at Codemasters’ 2008 outlook and it’s hard not to get the least bit giddy over what state-of-the-art hardware could mean for the company’s original IP and returning classics. We speak of two games in specific: Operation Flashpoint 2 and Rise of the Argonauts.
Does the former sound familiar? It’s the follow-up to the 2001 PC conflict simulator, consider by many (well, Codemasters) to be the definitive of its genre. OF2 promises to be no less groundbreaking, said to have required the studio’s largest development team and most extensive R&D to date. The driving force behind it is the home-cooked Neon technology, tweaked to function for an FPS and capable of the most realistic modeled conflict scenarios, with a host of military disciplines and a deep multiplayer mode rounding out the gameplay.
Then comes the new IP.
“Rise of the Argonauts is a further key property in our 2008 portfolio,” summates Barry Jafrato, Codemasters Senior VP of Brand. “Codemasters’ investment in developing new I.P.s, which will sit alongside the new extensions of our existing brands, reinforces our ongoing commitment to bring original and thrilling new gaming experiences to market.”
So there’s the business side of it, but for us gamers, Rise of the Argonauts will bring the colossal scale of an action-RPG into ancient Greece, in a “gladiatorial adventure” that has players leading a group of the era’s most fearsome and heroic warriors, including Jason, Hercules and Atalanta. Now if their quest is related to finding the Golden Fleece… it’s likely, but remains to be seen.
Now how about that thirdly mentioned title? Indeed, a new TOCA game is in the works, Race Driver One, and although Codey’s hasn’t “officially” announced it for North American., U.S. PR Manager MacLean Marshall assured us it would be making the hop across the pond with the others. The game is said to house the same Neon engine powering DiRT and will have players touring the world through gorgeous locales in the U.S., Europe, Japan and beyond, in hopes of reaching the tops of the motorsport world.
The trio is dated for a semi-distant-but-oh-so-vague 2008 and will be available on leading consoles and PC. Hey, at least you know they’re comin’.