Micro Machines ready to roll again

This month marks three complete years since a Micro Machines game has been released for a North American console, with the last entry in the series being a poorly received budget title from Infogrames. However, the brand's absence from the gaming industry is coming to an end, as Codemasters today confirmed its plans to resurrect the series with the release of Micro Machines v4 for the PlayStation 2, PSP, DS, and PC.

Micro Machines v4 will include hundreds of cars, from beach buggies to lowriders; weapon power-ups, including a car-mounted giant hammer; and nods to the series' past, including tracks set on a kitchen table, a pool table, and around the rim of a bathtub. Codemasters is entrusting the game's development to Supersonic Software, the studio behind Micro Machines 2, Antz: Extreme Racing, and Pong: The Next Level.

Micro Machines v4 is scheduled for release this summer. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's hands-on preview.