Video Gaming News - October 2002
Los Angeles, CA (October 25, 2002) - Atari today announced that APEX
will be coming in March 2003 exclusively for Xbox.
From Atari:
Choose a design, build a prototype and race against the world's most elite
cars to build an international racing dynasty! Atari is creating APEX, the
ultimate racing game for racing enthusiasts, exclusively for the Xbox™ video
game system from Microsoft. Scheduled for release in March 2003, the game is in
development by the racing geniuses at Milestone, creators of the well-respected
Superbike™ series.
“Developing a racing game specifically for the Xbox has allowed us to create
the most graphically stunning and technically sophisticated racing game,” said
Jean-Philippe Agati, senior vice president and head of Infogrames, Inc.’s Los
Angeles studio. “With an astounding number of both prototype and licensed
vehicles, more than 50 tracks, extensive single player story mode and robust
multiplayer options, APEX will deliver the most exciting racing experience
available.”
APEX has been designed to be THE racing game for true racing enthusiasts. The
game transports players into the role of a young race car manufacturing mogul.
After inheriting a small garage, the player launches their own high-end sports
car company by choosing from among 45 authentic prototype designs and building a
cutting edge vehicle to their own specifications. In their quest to be the best,
they must take their creations to the track and race against the world's most
elite auto manufacturers.
As a simulation style racer, APEX will challenge players to execute real
world racing techniques. The title of the game is a racing term that refers to
the perfect line a driver should take to execute a turn. To 'hit the apex' is to
take a turn at the optimal angle. Taking correct racing lines and powering
through turns are techniques that will achieve success in APEX.
Technically, APEX will far surpass the competition in the genre. Leveraging
the power of Xbox, the developer is producing amazingly high polygon counts,
long draw distances and highly detailed environments. Cars will feature up to
11,000 polygons each and real-time reflections while tracks will boast around
500,000 polygons for stunning panoramic detail and beauty. Additionally, the
vehicle engine sounds have been captured from real world high performance cars
to further enhance authenticity.
The game boasts more than 70 vehicles, with both licensed and original
designs. Each vehicle is equipped with numerous performance enhancements and
adjustments that allow the player to tailor the vehicle for each competition’s
track design and conditions. A complex damage model lends reality to each crash.
Races will take place across more than 50 varied environments based on
real-world locations across three continents -- North America, Europe and Asia.
Course designs range from winding mountain roads to narrow city streets to
standard racetracks. Each track features unique characteristics that will keep
players tuning and perfecting their creations for optimum performance before
each encounter.
APEX will be unique in its detailed story mode that will provide gamers with
a role-playing element unseen in other titles in the genre. The story will
progress through cinematics and will vary based on decisions the player makes
regarding the auto factory and the performance on the track. Sophisticated AI
will make snap decisions based on the situation at hand and add tough
competition in every race.
APEX will feature several styles of play that lead to hours of varied
gameplay in both single and two-player multiplayer modes. Modes include Quick
Race, for instant racing action against computer controlled opponents; Time
Attack, a challenge to see how fast a single vehicle can complete a course;
Story Mode, where the player builds their own prototype vehicle and strives to
join the elite of performance automobile manufacturers; and Head-to-Head
two-player multiplayer mode for racing against friends in Xbox split screen.
APEX is scheduled to ship in March 2003.
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