Next Gen V8?

Here's some news I've been wanting to hear ever since the release of the XBox 360...

Publisher and developer Codemasters would like the public to know that there is a new Motorsport video game currently in the works over at its studios. Expected to arrive in 2008 for PC and "leading consoles", the title will be known as Race Driver One.

But you see, this game is not entirely new. It is actually the third generation of the much-loved racing title from Codemasters. What we are talking about is the TOCA (DTM/V8 Supercars) Touring Car games that ran from 1997 to 2000. After that, it became known as TOCA (DTM/V8 Supercars) Race Driver series from 2002 to 2006.

If you want to have an idea how this game will look like, just take note that Race Driver One will be powered by middleware Neon. It is the same brilliant engine behind the soon to be released Colin McRae: DIRT. Codemasters Studios Executive Producer Gavin Raeburn said,

As each generation of gaming formats shifts up a gear, so does this series and Race Driver One is set to evolve the previously headlined TOCA (DTM/V8) titles as much as DIRT has the Colin McRae series. Combining our racing heritage with the Neon engine, Race Driver One will create a world that goes far beyond the traditional boundaries of Motorsport gaming.

Currently, information about this game is quite limited. We just know that the in-game circuits feature locations through Europe, U.S., Japan, as well as other popular areas. There is also a career mode where players can build their own team to rank number one in the world.

Codemasters added lastly that the Neon engine will be enhanced and expanded to deliver new level of visual detail, physics, and car damage system.

Sweet... 2008 can't come soon enough...