Who knew that when I offhandedly referred to Black Rock's Split/Second as a "Burnout Killer" that you guys would jump all over it like it gave your mom the stink-eye? 

The trailer we posted over the weekend hinted at what was in store, and today Black Rock has clarified a bit of what we had been thinking. Split/Second is framed around a competitive reality television show, where competitors race to be first in a city built-for-television and destruction. Players trigger explosive events that will change the course of the track in real-time, like the collapsing bridge or water main break seen in the trailer.

The game is being developed for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC for a 2010 release. Split/Second may not be looking to take Burnout's racing crown; it appears to be doing something drastically different than Criterion's racer. And maybe the idea of a new type of racing experience is more interesting than a game that's just trying to complete.

DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS ANNOUNCES "GROUNDBREAKING" RACING GAME - SPLIT/SECOND

Award-Winning Black Rock Studio Creating Innovative New Action-Racing Game Where Speed Meets Strategy in a City Rigged For Destruction

LONDON, England — (March 11, 2009) — Racing to the finish line takes on added excitement when competitors trigger destruction on the track to take out their opponents. Disney Interactive Studios today announced Split/Second, an intense action racing game set within the world of a hyper-competitive reality television show. Competitors vie to be the first across the finish line in a made-for-TV city built for destruction, with the ultimate goal of becoming the season champion. Developed by Black Rock Studio, Split/Second is scheduled to be released in early 2010 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PC.

Competitors in Split/Second don’t just collide with other vehicles to knock them from the track - they can also trigger explosive events that drastically alter the dynamics of the race. Players must use strategy and pinpoint timing to derail opponents, tactically alter the track or create entirely new routes.

“Split/Second elevates action racing to a new level by enabling players to strategically take out their opponents by dynamically altering the course in real time,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Split/Second further showcases Black Rock Studio’s ability to innovate and deliver a compelling experience that has wide appeal beyond the traditional racing genre.”

“We’re creating huge memorable moments on par with the biggest blockbuster action films,” said Nick Baynes, game director, Black Rock Studio. “Action racing has captured the imagination of video game fans worldwide and we’re going to redefine that experience with Split/Second.”

Black Rock Studio is the development studio behind the critically acclaimed 2008 action sports game, PURE. PURE won numerous awards, including the Game Critics Award for Best Racing Game of E3 2008, and was named among the top 10 video games of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. Formerly Climax Racing, Black Rock Studio is a development studio of Disney Interactive Studios and is based in Brighton, England.
For more information about Split/Second, go to http://www.splitsecondvideogame.com/.

About Disney Interactive Studios
Disney Interactive Studios, part of Disney Interactive Media Group, is the interactive entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS). Disney Interactive Studios self publishes and distributes a broad portfolio of multi-platform video games, mobile games and interactive entertainment worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with other interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market. Disney Interactive Studios is based in Glendale, California, and has internal development studios around the world. For more information, log on to http://www.disneyinteractivestudios.com.

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