"Open World, Lifestyle Action Experience Allows Players to Fight, Gamble, Drive and Party in the World's Most Decadent City," is how Midway chooses to introduce the world to a new game it is working on called This is Vegas. In this new game, you can live out your fantasies, if your fantasies include losing all your money and punching a man in the face. I know that's always been my dream.

The game sounds like an attempt to set a Grand Theft Auto-style game in Sin City. Remember the rumors that Rockstar was going to do that for what became San Andreas? Well, Midway clearly thinks those rumors had potential, if This is Vegas' synopsis is interpreted the way I'm reading it:

When a powerful businessman begins turning Vegas into a family-friendly tourist trap, you must start your own powerful empire and resurrect the famous adult playground. Party hard at the hottest clubs to make VIP connections. Grow your bankroll by hitting high stakes tables. Race the fastest cars on the underground circuit to raise your reputation. Fight off enemies with fists and firearms to prove your strength. Where you go and what you do is your call whether counting cards, seducing dangerous women, cruising the strip or starting bar brawls, you must put the sin back in sin city.

The ethics of your goal aside, this game actually sounds like it could be a lot of fun. Then again, most Midway titles sound like that but turn out to be total pap in practice.  A sandbox title set in Las Vegas could certainly be excellent, and the first screens will be available soon, so we can see how close to fulfilling these apparent fantasies Midway is coming. Every now and then, the house that Mortal Kombat built latches onto a winner, so you can be sure a tentative eye is going to be on this as development progresses. The full press release comes after the jump.

Put the Sin Back in Sin City with Midway's This is Vegas™

Open World, Lifestyle Action Experience Allows Players to Fight, Gamble, Drive and Party in the World's Most Decadent City

CHICAGO - February 6, 2008 – Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer, today announced This is Vegas™, an open world, lifestyle action experience, where players will live out their Vegas fantasies by fighting, gambling, driving and partying their way through the most decadent, fast-paced and wildest city in the world. Developed by Midway's acclaimed Seattle-based internal studio, Surreal, This is Vegas is expected to ship for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows-based PC in Winter 2008.

The first screenshots, video and game information for This is Vegas are being unveiled throughout the week at IGN (http://www.ign.com), the Web's top site for videogame information.

"We are thrilled to be unveiling the first-ever videogame experience which allows players to live out their wildest Vegas fantasies," said Alan Patmore, studio head, Surreal. "Whether it's partying in the hottest night clubs, racing in underground circuits, testing your luck at the tables or getting into a barroom brawl, This is Vegas has it all."

For the latest game information, trailers and more, please go to http://vegas.midway.com.

About This is Vegas

When a powerful businessman begins turning Vegas into a family-friendly tourist trap, you must start your own powerful empire and resurrect the famous adult playground. Party hard at the hottest clubs to make VIP connections. Grow your bankroll by hitting high stakes tables. Race the fastest cars on the underground circuit to raise your reputation. Fight off enemies with fists and firearms to prove your strength. Where you go and what you do is your call whether counting cards, seducing dangerous women, cruising the strip or starting bar brawls, you must put the sin back in sin city.

About Midway

Midway Games Inc. (NYSE:MWY), headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices throughout the world, is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for major videogame systems and personal computers. More information about Midway and its products can be found at www.midway.com.