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RETAILBIZ: SBK X WWW.MCVUK.COM
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SUPERBIKE STARS: SBK X boasts a range of new features including a legendary roster of riders old and new, a customisable career mode and improved bike physics
The new career mode allows gamers to customize their own rider, consider job offers from other superbike teams and walk around the paddock pre-race. Developer Milestone has focused on players feeling as if they’re a real rider in SBK X, after conducting extensive feedback from gamers. From the legendary roster, players are able to select Carl Fogarty – or King Carl – on his powerful Ducati 996, or jump into other saddles such as last year’s Yamaha R1 of Ben Spies. This means gamers can pit new racers against retired legends in one superbike race. “SBK X is the best bike racing game ever,” says Black Bean’s communication co-ordinator Davide Latina. “Marketing collected all the feedback from previous editions and this package is absolutely the best. We know this from the comments we’ve been
receiving from gamers and the press. The arcade mode and career mode also makes SBK X two games in one. With solid multiplayer features and a legendary roster there’s everything for gamers, racing fans, SBK and bike enthusiasts – with both casual and arcade gamers accounted for.” UK ATTACK
Two versions of SBK X are available to players – a standard and special edition of the game. The latter comes in a metal case and includes early access to the legendary roster of superbike riders. Owners of the standard edition will have the opportunity to download these extra racers and bikes a few weeks after the game’s release for 800 MS points on Xbox Live, or around £7.50. Latina adds: “The UK is still the biggest market in Europe and our core
RELEASED: MAY FORMATS: 360, PS3, PC PUBLISHER: BLACK BEAN DEVELOPER: MILESTONE PRICE: £39.99
SUPERBIKE BUZZ Tradewest claims SBK X has already got four times the coverage Capcom did with MotoGP 09/10. Here’s the full marketing details:
DISTRIBUTOR: TRADEWEST CONTACT: 0207 456 0450
market, so it’s a benchmark for us that we fully understand the trends for our racing games. “The target is to double the sales of last year’s game SBK 09 due to the improvements we introduced this year and due to the fact that our competitor is selling low numbers of its game.” With a new career mode, numerous tweaks, its own special edition and champion racer Carl Fogarty behind it, the game is aiming to hit retail positively. SBK X will be released for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC in late May.
PRINT: A series of adverts will appear in male lifestyle and specialist publications including games and biking magazines. ONLINE: Competitions will run across various websites, giving readers the chance to win three signed Carl Fogerty replica helmets. A Eurogamer takeover is planned and further promotions on PS3’s FirstPlay are in the works. DEMO: A demo of the game will come packaged with OXM and PSM, targeting racing game fans. SHOWCASE: SBK X was demonstrated to bloggers and journalists at an event in London.