Empire's PS2 Projects

Empire Interactive has traditionally developed games for the PC platform, but the publisher has slowly shifted its focus and now plans to support several next-generation console platforms, including the Sony PlayStation 2. In fact, the company has three PlayStation 2 games in development. One of the company's projects, currently in development only for the PS2, is a unique real-time strategy game titled Ghost Master. As the title suggests, the game puts players in the role of a "ghost master" and requires them to organize their fellow ghosts and "cleanse" certain locations of human activity. During this process of scaring away all humans from a specific location, players must accumulate enough plasma to summon different classes of ghosts and spirits. Essentially, players summon powerful ghosts in order to scare the humans away and achieve victory. Ghost Master is currently on schedule for a Christmas 2001 release.

The company is also porting its PC games World Sports Cars and Starsky and Hutch to the PlayStation 2. World Sports Cars is a realistic driving game that features true-to-life physics and the ability to customize such elements as spring rates, damping, ride height, and more. The game includes 12 vehicles in all and allows players to race in courses from around the world. Graphically, World Sports Cars has effects such as the accumulation of dirt and grime on the cars during a race that, according to Empire, affects the handling of the cars. The game also features dynamic weather effects. World Sports Cars will be released sometime in 2001.

Very little is known about Empire's third PlayStation 2 game, Starsky and Hutch. Naturally, it is based on the television series and will prominently feature a 1974 Ford Gran Torino. The game will be released in 2001. All three PlayStation 2 games, in addition to Empire's other console and PC games, will be at the ECTS show in some form. GameSpot will have complete coverage from the show floor.