Activision heads to Baja 1000

Publisher taps Excitebike creators Left Field Productions for "hyper-realistic" off-roading sim for 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, and PC this fall.

Prior to turning the industry on its ear by merging with Vivendi Games in December, Activision warmed up its consolidation engine in September by picking up Project Gotham Racing developer Bizarre Creations. The move signaled Activision's interest in becoming a serious player in the racing genre, an area where up until that point, the publisher had been noticeably lacking.

It may look placid now...

Today, Activision said it would be making further advance on the racing scene, publishing Score International Baja 1000 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, and PC. Excitebike 64/Nitrobike outfit Left Field Productions is developing the title, with plans to wrap production this fall.

Modeled after the annual 1,000 mile off-road racing event that traverses the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, the game challenges players to succeed in a "hyper-realistic" driving environment and accurate dirt and damage modeling. Score International Baja 1000 features more than 90 vehicles in a number of classes, including trophy trucks, motorcycles, and ATVs.

While the publisher didn't reveal specific gameplay details for the title, Activision Publishing general Manager Dave Oxford said, "In creating Score International Baja 1000, our goal was to create something true to the sport that made you feel the speed and heart-pounding conditions. Players will see potential shortcuts on the tracks, but wonder if their vehicle can handle it."

28 Comments

  • frogmanbearpig

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 9:48 pm PT

    no updates in a while.....trouble?

  • yatesy500

    Posted Jul 20, 2008 11:03 pm PT

    doesn't look too good

  • Terdog

    Posted May 30, 2008 7:25 am PT

    Nice, a Baja game for the PC, count me in, I played Excitebike 64, and I was impressed, my Left Field Productions, so count me in.

  • VenkmanPHD

    Posted May 29, 2008 12:44 pm PT

    .... "From the Makers of Excitebike 64" eh? I like the sound of that!!!!

  • Mr_Manikin52

    Posted May 29, 2008 10:46 am PT

    I rather have the Codemasters team that made DIRT developed a Baja game.

  • Feniks9174

    Posted May 29, 2008 7:22 am PT

    The last time I heard the term "Hyper Realism" it was for Driver 2, a game with a physics engine so terrible that it's still the only game to get me frustrated enough to break a controller. I like the concept of a Baja 1000 game, but it's already leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

  • TheSlanger

    Posted May 29, 2008 5:28 am PT

    Sounds like fun, don't know about the realism though. Part of the fun with games like this is imo the arcade style racing.

  • Mega-Tom

    Posted May 29, 2008 5:24 am PT

    90? wow thats not to bad actually. Some of these games are alright, I'll get a demo of it when thats released and make my mind up then.

  • zero9167

    Posted May 29, 2008 3:35 am PT

    i hope it's better than motorstorm

  • jackrocks123

    Posted May 29, 2008 3:16 am PT

    lets see if its better then motorstorm

  • _Elite_Bushido_

    Posted May 29, 2008 1:54 am PT

    hyper realism only makes sense is its very fast and realistic. realism is one of those things you cant make it more then what it is.......

  • imprezawrx500

    Posted May 29, 2008 12:13 am PT

    could be interesting, maybe finally some real competition for codies

  • coperoco

    Posted May 28, 2008 11:38 pm PT

    It better be good coming after DIRT. But i don´t have high hopes for this one... Hyper-realistic from the same developers that made Excite bike? Hmmmm... doesn´t make much sense to me.

  • Negemite

    Posted May 28, 2008 8:50 pm PT

    At least Left Field Productions have something to do. But hyper realism?

  • X-RS

    Posted May 28, 2008 8:02 pm PT

    while i dont know how long its been in production, its sad it has to come out after dirt and motorstorm, the gaming industry really doesnt seem diverse -.-

  • GatCloudX

    Posted May 28, 2008 7:42 pm PT

    uhhhhh excitebike was about pure fun not hyper realism thats just lame theyre going in the wrong direction in my opinion

  • bluezy

    Posted May 28, 2008 7:28 pm PT

    Oooo, hyper realism.

  • skyline7284

    Posted May 28, 2008 7:02 pm PT

    isn;t THQ putting out liekt he same game...? wow this is retarded

  • V-Nine

    Posted May 28, 2008 6:55 pm PT

    ...wonder if anyone will ever revisit Smugglers Run....

  • ctg867

    Posted May 28, 2008 6:31 pm PT

    Sorry, but when Pure, Baja, and Motrostorm 2 are already announced for this year, it's gonna be hard for Score to do any real damage. Especially when they're wasting their time on a Wii and PS2 version. It's obvious that Activision isn't taking this all that seriously, and isn't trying to compete with the full-fledged current gen off-road racers this year, when it's working on last gen versions for the Wii and PS2.

    Sorry Activision, but you have a lot to prove. I wont pass final judgment until they're all out, but I have low expectations when they decide to bring things out like this.

  • 5FingersOfDeath

    Posted May 28, 2008 6:24 pm PT

    So there is 2 Baja racing games now?

  • Zetona

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:57 pm PT

    I hope it has more than just Baja, but I do think an off-road racing sim is long overdue.

  • BrettB7400

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:30 pm PT

    This game looks good but I am probably gonna pick up Motorstorm 2 instead of this.

  • shadystxxx

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:30 pm PT

    Excellent, hopefully it is a SUPER REALISTIC simulation of off road racing.

    Now all we need is somebody to do the same for the race to dakar.

    I love racing games but i really prefer them to be realistic games like need for speed can be fun but once you have perfected the driving its too easy and quite boring where as in games like forza/GT it really can never be perfected the way an arcade racer can be.

    Nearly all the cars handle differently and you need to adjust to different tracks, also in a sim racer 1 lasp of concentration will mean a spin off/crash and then its hard going to get up the pack.

    Cannot wait to see more info on this game.

  • OfficialBed

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:21 pm PT

    wicked...can't wait

  • MegadethAndy

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:19 pm PT

    akiwak, I agree.
    This will probably be a better game than motorstorm imo.
    A keeper, rather than only worth hiring.

  • Curti2

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:18 pm PT

    excitebike ROCKED and a realistic off road baja game is long overdue. Im tired of mx vs atv games.

  • akiwak

    Posted May 28, 2008 4:55 pm PT

    Wow looks good! Can't belive first post but I'll prob get a thumbs down! I loved the excitebike on the NES!

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