Atari Revs Its Engines with the New Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Atari, one of the most recognized names in interactive entertainment, has announced the upcoming release of Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends. The latest chapter of the Test Drive saga focuses exclusively on the storied Ferrari brand, bringing over 70 years of the world's most recognizable performance cars to the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.  Development of the title will be handled by world-class developer Slightly Mad Studios, bringing their extensive experience in the driving category.  Production/Publishing partners Rombax Games and Bigben Interactive are proud to work with Avalanche, who has a partnership with Ferrari, thus ensuring that Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends delivers the ultimate track based racing experience.

Since its inception, the Ferrari brand has been synonymous with speed, performance and prestige. Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends brings this legacy to life; delivering detailed racing physics that underpin a huge variety of entertaining drives spread throughout the brand's storied history.

Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends explores the legacy of Ferrari Racing, recreating Ferrari's most beloved and coveted performance racers, from today's latest models to the legendary vehicles that have dominated racing history.

Key Features of Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends include:

• Multiple Race Types - A variety of race types challenges including rally, GT, and Formula 1.
• Extensive Online Competition - Single and Multiplayer integration with a selection of racing styles.  Up to 8 players can join a single race.
• 36 circuits, including variations - GP circuits, test circuits, and bonus circuits; a wide variety of driving environments to reflect the best driving the world has to offer.  Tracks from the past and present.
• Over 50 stunningly detailed cars - The greatest modern and classic Ferrari models are lovingly rendered inside and out – including working switchgear and visible engines. Car dynamics include realistic deflating tires and blow-outs.
• Campaign Mode - Players experience the rich history of the Ferrari brand as they unlock tracks and cars throughout Ferrari's history. Circuits unlocked during the campaign can be raced subsequently using any available cars.
• Detailed Racing Physics - Vehicle handling uses a convincing physics model, tuned for exciting pick-up-and-play racing.  High speed racing with visual damage effects are the major game play keys.

"Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends is a landmark chapter of the iconic Test Drive saga," said Jim Wilson, CEO of Atari, "Ferrari has been an essential partner throughout the history of the Test Drive franchise, and the opportunity to celebrate the unrivaled Ferrari Racing Team and the legendary Ferrari brand promises a one of a kind experience for all driving enthusiasts."

For more information, please visit www.atari.com.

Alain Falc, CEO Bigben Interactive: "We're really excited in distributing this 20th Test Drive title with such a great brand featured in the game as FERRARI. The history of the brand is well represented in this simulation with more than 50 mythic vehicles, 36 tracks and with more than 100 different events to achieve. Slightly Mad Studios has done a really good job on the development and all gamers will be quite surprised with this beautiful title. A praise to Ferrari and the Test Drive license."

For more information, please log onto www.bigben.eu.

Bigben Interactive will distribute Ferrari Racing Legends in France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Portugal & the Scandinavian Countries.

ABOUT ATARI, SA
Atari (www.atari.com) is a multi-platform, global interactive entertainment and licensing company.   The original innovator of video gaming, founded in 1972, Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 games and franchises, including world renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, Test Drive®, Backyard Sports®, Deer Hunter®, Ghostbusters®, and Rollercoaster Tycoon®.  Atari capitalizes on these powerful properties by delivering compelling games online (i.e. browser, Facebook® and digital download), on smartphones and tablets and other connected devices. The Company also develops and distributes interactive entertainment for video game consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony.  As a licensor, Atari extends its brand and franchises into other media, merchandising and publishing categories.  

Atari has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Lyon and London. 

© 2011 Atari Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.  Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.

ABOUT BIGBEN INTERACTIVE
Since 1981, Bigben Interactive has designed and distributed high-quality accessories for every video game console. The company also publishes and distributes video games such as Cyberbike (game + exercise bike for the Wii), My Body Coach (game + dumbbells for the Wii), Mastiff hunting games (Deer Drive and Remington Great American Bird Hunt bundled with a break-action shotgun for the Wii) and the Cocoto Collection developed by the Neko Entertainment studio. The company offers a wide range of Mobile accessories thanks to MODELABS, company recently acquired and French Leader in this industry, as well as a variety of media players, including record players, clock radios, and CD radios. Headquartered in Lesquin, France, Bigben Interactive has sales in more than 25 countries and offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Hong Kong. Bigben Interactive is a Public Company. Eurolist on EURONEXT Paris.

© 2011 Bigben Interactive S.A. - All rights reserved.  Bigben Interactive word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Bigben Interactive S.A.

ABOUT ROMBAX GAMES
Rombax Games is a leading global publisher of award-winning titles, publishing award-winning games for Sony Computer Entertainment America, Nintendo and Personal Computers throughout the U.S., and Europe. Rombax Games offices are located in the US and the UK, bringing a wealth of industry talent together to create and publish innovative and entertaining titles.

ABOUT SLIGHTLY MAD STUDIOS
Slightly Mad Studios is an entertainment software development company headquartered in London, England, comprising of world-class artists and programmers, united with the single vision of creating the most detailed and authentic products, providing the most immersive and enjoyable gameplay experiences possible.  Slightly Mad Studios formed the core development team on the critically acclaimed and multiple award-winning GTR -- FIA GT Racing Game, its successor GTR2, and the classic sports car racing game, GT Legends.  More recently, Slightly Mad Studios delivered critically acclaimed Need for Speed SHIFT and SHIFT 2 Unleashed.

ABOUT AVALANCHE
Avalanche is a game production company in Hamburg, Germany who has engaged in a direct partnership with Ferrari to produce the title Ferrari Racing Legends.

Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

Produced under license of Ferrari Spa. FERRARI, the PRANCING HORSE device, all associated logos and distinctive designs are property of Ferrari Spa. The body designs of the Ferrari cars are protected as Ferrari property under design, trademark and trade dress regulations.

SOURCE Atari