Remember that Road Rash pre-vis video from 2006, which surfaced in 2009 with the news that the project was canned? After EA Warrington was shut down, artist Richard Cook joined Bizarre Creations which was recently closed as well.
On his portfolio page, Cook has some concept art for Road Rash to drool over. It spurs the imagination of the greatness that could have been the return of the once glorious arcade racer. Racing through tunnels, multiple paths, hints of environmental and vehicular hazards: it’s enough to break our hearts once again.
In early 2008, EA’s John Riccitiello said in an interview that Road Rash was a franchise they hadn’t forgotten about. Then in early 2010, more Road Rash concept art from 2007 by an artist named Ross Dearsley surfaced, which can now no longer be found on his website. Sadly, he is still a freelance artist according to his site, and hasn’t turned into Lead Artist Guy working on Road Rash at EA.
It’s not that the market for arcade bike-racers with weapons is oversaturated, and EA has been keeping a close eye on the potential for their existing IPs. That is, as long as they sold well (Dead Space). I remember Road Rash being hugely popular back in the day, but who knows how publishers look at sales numbers from the ’90s.
So if you’re listening EA: a new Road Rash would be great! Even an XBLA/PSN/Steam version would be fine. We are totally ok with paying $15 for a new and HD version of Road Rash, and with paying for DLC tracks. It’s Road Rash. A lot of us — the world’s population minus 3 million — like it better than super serious Afghan-slaughtering simulators. Thanks.
@supererogatory [Twitter via Joystiq][Image by Richard Cook]
