Blazing Lizards hatch Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball

Last week, a trio of former Volition, Inc. studio veterans announced they had founded Blazing Lizards, a new studio with a focus on downloadable games. Teasing their first project, the team sent along an intentionally blurred screenshot depicting what appeared to be a clump of palm trees on a beach. Today, those trees have come into focus, and it appears Blazing Lizards will be running with its theme of sophomorically tinged humor.

From the team who worked on hits such as Saints Row, Red Faction, and Descent: Freespace comes Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball. Playing out one of the Internet's timeless rivalries, Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball lets players choose their sides--as pirates, ninjas, or one of three other as-yet-unannounced classes--and fling about rubber balls while executing combat moves and other special abilities.

Following playground rules, Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball focuses on the combatant aspects of dodgeball, and players won't be restricted to a single side of the court in the game's six different arenas. In addition to single-player exhibition, story, and challenge modes, the game will feature several multiplayer cooperative and competitive modes for four players locally and eight players online.

Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball is slated to appear as a digital download on "yet to be announced home console systems" in early 2008. The game is being designed for all ages, so expect the shivving to be kept to a minimum. According to today's announcement, Dodgeball is just the first of many upcoming games in the Pirates vs. Ninjas series.