Warner Bros. Interactive Ent.will launch the SPEED RACER videogame based on the upcoming film written and directed by the Wachowski brothers. The game will be available in 2008 on the Wii and Nintendo DS systems as the SPEED RACER film hits theaters. It will be released on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system with the DVD launch.
In the Wii and PlayStation 2 system games, developed by Sidhe Interactive and published by Warner Bros. Interactive, players will be able to take on the role of the characters from the film, getting behind the wheels of each character's signature vehicles to experience firsthand the film's high-adrenaline, combative racing style. The car-fu style of action within the game will closely represent the action style being designed by the Wachowski brothers for the film itself as they lend direction and assets to the development team directly from their Berlin set. John Gaeta, a long-time Wachowski collaborator and co-vfx supervisor on the SPEED RACER film, is working with Sidhe and WBIE to assist in maintaining a close film-to-game aesthetic connection.
"SPEED RACER is an exceptionally creative property and teamed with the Wachowski brothers' vision it makes for action-packed racing gameplay," said Samantha Ryan, svp, development and production, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "The game will capture the intensity of the racing in the film to give gamers and movie fans a chance to take the wheel after they experience the film."
"We are very excited about this natural extension from the SPEED RACER film to the videogame. Larry and Andy are videogame fans themselves, so they believe that an interactive game is a key component to the entire Speed Racer experience," said film producer Joel Silver.
The game's development for the Wii and PlayStation 2 system platforms is led by the New Zealand-based Sidhe, a game development studio recognized for producing high-quality entertainment titles with world-class creative and software development skills. Developing across console, handheld, and PC, Sidhe has created a range of innovative products including a variety of racing titles.
Written and directed by the Wachowski brothers (THE MATRIX trilogy) SPEED RACER is based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida. A live-action family adventure, SPEED RACER follows the young race car driver Speed in his quest for glory on and off the track in his thundering Mach 5. The film will feature other characters that fans of the show will remember, including Speed's family and his mysterious arch-rival, Racer X. The film stars Emile Hirsch (ALPHA DOG) as Speed, Christina Ricci (BLACK SNAKE MOAN) as Trixie and Matthew Fox (LOST) as Racer X, as well as Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (DEAD MAN WALKING) and John Goodman (EVAN ALMIGHTY) as Mom and Pops Racer. Speed Racer is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures production.
Sidhe Interactive (www.sidheinteractive.com) is a game development studio based in Wellington, New Zealand, recognized for producing high-quality entertainment titles with world-class creative and software development skills. Developing across console, handheld, and PC, Sidhe has created a range of innovative products, including the award-winning original title GRIPSHIFT, the successful RUGBY LEAGUE series, genre defining MELBOURNE CUP CHALLENGE and the highly anticipated JACKASS THE GAME.
Warner Bros. Interactive Ent., a division of Warner Bros. Home Ent. Group, is a premier publisher, licensor and developer of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming. Leveraging the distribution, marketing and sales infrastructure within Warner Home Video, WBIE is a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third-party game titles.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
