Tecmo announces GunGriffon

Tecmo has revealed that it will publish the previously unannounced GunGriffon for the Xbox toward the end of this year. Currently in development at Game Arts and Kama Digital Entertainment, the futuristic action game will see players assuming control of mech-style "High Macs" (High Mobility Armored Combat Systems) and engaging in battle with military helicopters and tanks as well as each other via Xbox Live.

"We're excited to take on the GunGriffon series that is known for its distinctive style and high quality. To make the upcoming version of GunGriffon even better than the previous installments, Tecmo's own development team is hard at work with the talented development teams of Game Arts and Kama Digital Entertainment as we speak," said John Inada, Tecmo's general manager. "With its impressive multiplayer Xbox Live feature, return of the legendary first-person view, and a brand-new third-person view option, any fan of the mech genre is going to love this action-packed game."

In addition to Xbox Live support for a currently undisclosed number of players divided up into teams, GunGriffon will feature a single-player campaign in which players assume the role of a renegade soldier enlisted by an anti-tank troop. The premise of the game is that the Earth's resources are all but depleted, and so people are continuously dividing up into groups to fight for what's left.

GunGriffon is currently scheduled for release toward the end of this year and it is expected to retail for approximately $49.99. It's not clear whether or not the game will be playable at E3, but Tecmo will, at the very least, be showing a cinematic trailer for the game at its booth. We'll bring you more information as soon as it becomes available.