PSPs going M.A.C.H. speed

Wannabe pilots will soon be able to get their kicks on the PlayStation Portable because Sierra Entertainment has announced it is publishing M.A.C.H. in North America, Europe, and Australia. The game, which will be released in the US on February 20, is currently being developed by UK studio Kuju Entertainment.

Sierra describes M.A.C.H. (Modified Air Combat Heroes) as a flight combat and racing game set in the future. After a government plan to patrol the skies with unmanned aircraft goes awry, the planes end up being sold on the black market, where flyboys scoop them up for underground competitions.

Gamers will be able to outfit their jets with performance-enhancing parts and weapons, both of which will be needed to outrace and eliminate their opponents. The game boasts four game modes, including multiplayer for up to eight combatants over the handheld's ad hoc wireless mode. Multiple gamers can also do battle with just one copy of the game; M.A.C.H. supports game sharing.

The game may seem familiar to some. In addition to sharing the name of a Commodore 64 game, keen-eyed gamers may have seen M.A.C.H. listed on online retailers Web sites.

M.A.C.H. is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older and will retail for $39.99. For more information, head over to the game's Web site.