IL-2 Sturmovik, the 2001 PC original, was for the hardcore. Not the Mario-loving hardcore. Not the GTA-loving hardcore. Not the people who memorise JRPG scripts. No, the hardcore of World War II combat flight-sim lovers. The people who want the planes in their Russian-developed games to handle as accurately as the cars in Gran Turismo.

I hadn’t played the PC original. And I’m not a WWII flight-sim guy. But I was worried for those hardcore IL-Sturmovik fans when I was invited to try a multiplayer session of of the 1C-developed, 505 Games-published upcoming console edition of the series. The 505 rep doing the demo started out by saying the game I was about to play would be like Call of Duty in the air.

What Is It?
IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is a World War II flight combat game developed by the Russian studio behind the franchise, 1C. It’s published by 505 Games, the new-ish publisher doing upcoming games based on Grease and Michael Phelps. Yes, they’re diverse. Birds of Prey is coming to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, PSP and Nintendo DS.

What We Saw
I played parts of a couple of multiplayer skirmishes on a networked Xbox 360. The game includes more than 45 planes from the 1941-1945 war in Europe, but I foolishly chose one of the weakest, the original IL-2 Sturmovik — a Russian plane — that had poor guns and armour. I should have chosen a newer IL-2 if I didn’t want my wings to get perforated by enemy fire.

How Far Along Is It?
The game is set for a September release and a demo is scheduled for the Xbox 360 and PS3 in the first week of August, so I gather that what I played is close to completion.

What Needs Improvement?
My Patience (Or The Game’s Controls): Good news, hardcore IL-2 fans — I think. I have not played the original PC IL-2 Sturmovik, but I now have no reason to think that the simulation values of the original were abandoned in this game. Even the Arcade mode in the new game is less forgiving than Ubisoft’s HAWX, which felt like it was an auto-pilot compared tho this. A targeting reticule in arcade mode helps show how far ahead of an enemy plane your bullets need to lead. But even with that it’s hard to hit the enemies. This is no easy game to control — a sign that either it’s got either really good, complex sim controls or it’s got poor, stiff controls. The 505 people showing me the game would surely say it’s the former, but I can’t judge it during a half-hour appointment. Check the demo next month and feel for yourself. I flew into the ground twice. Into another plane once. But I did shoot another player’s plane up a bit before he lost me in the clouds.

The Graphics In Motion: The gallery below presents one of the loveliest batch of screenshots I’ve been sent by a publisher in a while. But the simple explosions and the detailed but lifeless terrain don’t make the game come much more alive when it’s put in motion. The planes are the stars. And the vistas are lovely. Anything that would animate doesn’t look as great.

What Should Stay The Same?
The History: Authenticity is a goal rarely pursued in home console games. But IL-Sturmovik is going for it, representing real planes in minute detail and replicating historical battles across its six campaigns of, combined, 50 missions. The Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Bulge, and campaigns over Berlin, Sicily and Stalingrad are here. The missions are based on diary entries written by real fighter pilots who fought in those battles.

The Range Of Realism: Play in Arcade mode and it will take a lot of gunfire will make your plane lose control. Play in Realistic or the even the more realistic Simulation mode (gotta love how difficulty settings are named) and you will have to worry about stalling, won’t have an aim-assist and will find your plane flying in realistically hampered ways determined by how bullets have poked holes in your wings, rudder or fuselage. At any level, expect your plane to move in realistic and less-player-assisted ways than you would find in more mainstream flight games. Controls in any of the game’s modes put pitch and roll on the left stick; throttle and yaw on the right. 505 reps say some flight sticks will be supported.

The Graphics In Frozen Moments: The planes and the skies look lovely.

Final Thoughts
The “Call of Duty in the air” reference made at the beginning of my demo was something I didn’t get to follow-up on. The game is by no means as fast-action as Activision’s first-person shooter series. But the feel of having an enemy ace on your tail, and the sight of bullet trails whizzing past, then — oh, no — through your wings, is plenty exciting.

I didn’t get to try a base-capture option that 505 wanted to promote as a key multiplayer component. In that mode, I was told, players will land at a base, and only when their wheels are still will they begin to capture it and shave points off their team’s total, Battlefield style.

What I did see and play looked good for World War II flight combat enthusiasts. If you’re looking for something with a more realistic feel, follow this one. And try the demo in August.

505 Games is overseeing development on the new project, which looks to be an all-singing, all-dancing party game that takes advantage of both the Wii’s motion sensing controls and a microphone. Players will finally be able to live the dream of singing alongside Danny, Sandy, The Pink Ladies and the T-Birds. You know, the dreams we all shared 30 years ago and then quickly grew out of?

“The ‘Grease’ movie is a timeless pop culture icon, and 505 Games is eager to bring the first interactive experience based on the film to fans around the world,” said Adam Kline, president of 505 Games (U.S.). “We’re looking forward to working with Paramount Digital Entertainment to put players in the middle of all the fun with this all-new video game.”

I just hope the game is successful enough to garner a sequel covering Grease 2. I can’t wait to get together with the kids to sing timeless classics like “Reproduction” and “Let’s Do It For Our Country.”

Actually, this version of Grease is based on the original high school musical, so chances of dancing to “Cool Rider” on your Wii any time soon are slim. The announcement came with no release date attached, so we’re safe… for now.

Rolling Stone is famous for its covers, and perhaps Rolling Stone Drum King will be as well. Developed by Arc System Works and released last month in Europe as We Rock: Drum King, the Wii game features a selection of 29 songs that players can drum out to using their Wii remote and nunchuck as virtual drum sticks. Now the North American release, due out later this spring, gets a healthy dose of credibility with the Rolling Stone rename.

“For more than 40 years, Rolling Stone has been a staple in the voice of American music culture and entertainment and we are pleased to collaborate with 505 Games as we venture into video games for the first time,” said Will Schenck, Publisher of Rolling Stone magazine. “With more people playing console video games than ever before, this was a natural next step for the Rolling Stone brand.”

We’ll see how that step pans out for them. While the musical selection is rather nice, people these days aren’t too fond of music games that can’t spring for master tracks. Check out the full track listing below.

The Songs:

All Star – Inspired by Smash Mouth
Banquet – Inspired by Bloc Party
Be My Baby – Inspired by The Ronettes
Blister in the Sun – Inspired by Violent Femmes
Born to Be Wild – Inspired by Steppenwolf
By the Way – Inspired by Offcuts
Can’t Get Enough – Inspired by Bad Company
Can’t Stand Losing You – Inspired by The Police
Cissy Strut (instrumental) – Inspired by The Meters
Click Click Boom – Inspired by Saliva
Direction – Inspired by Starting Line
Feel Good Inc. – Inspired by Gorillaz
Fight the Good Fight – Inspired by Triumph
I Fought the Law – Inspired by The Clash
In Too Deep – Inspired by Sum 41
Let There Be Drums – Inspired by The Ventures
Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous – Inspired by Good Charlotte
Mickey – Inspired by Toni Basil
No One Knows – Inspired by Queens of the Stone Age
On Top of the World – Inspired by Boys Like Girls
Pull Me Under – Inspired by Dream Theatre
Saturday Superhouse – Inspired by Biffy Clyro
She Sells Sanctuary – Inspired by The Cult
Song 2 – Inspired by Blur
Soundgarden – Inspired by Spoonman
Stay With Me – Inspired by Faces
The Take Over, The Breaks Over – Inspired by Fall Out Boy
The Final Countdown – Inspired by Europe
We Will Rock You – Inspired by Queen

After teasing us mercilessly in 2007 with the ability to slash Zs with our Wii remotes, 505 is finally ready to release The Destiny of Zorro this spring.

First announced in February of 2007, a splash of screenshots and a promised 2007 release was all we saw of The Destiny of Zorro. Now, more than two years later, 505 Games announces a spring release for the original masked vigilante’s Wii debut. The game follows Zorro on many adventures through early 1800s Spanish California, as opposed to early 2000’s Spanish California, where he wouldn’t stand a chance.

“505 Games is truly honored by the opportunity to bring an iconic hero like Zorro, that speaks to so many generations, to the Nintendo Wii in North America,” said Adam Kline, president of 505 Games U.S. “For the first time ever, fans of Zorro will get to experience what it feels like to be the masked swordsman. They’ll be able whip and thrust their Wii remote, battling a variety of foes in non-stop action.”

Whoa, whoa…what’s this first time nonsense? I don’t know about you folks, but I am no stranger to tying a black t-shirt around my head and swinging about a tree branch. Sometimes I even cut eye holes.

Another small triumph for the Entertainment Software Association today, as the North American branch of 505 Games joins the game industry trade organisation.

505 Games is the third new member of the ESA to join this year, together with Natsume and Southpeak bringing the organization’s roster up to 23 companies. The smaller North American offshoot of a larger European publisher, so far 505 Games’ U.S. contingent has managed to release Hotel for Dogs and…well that’s pretty much it.

“505 Games joins a diverse group of entertainment software companies all working toward the same goals,” said Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the ESA, which represents U.S. computer and video game publishers. “We are glad we can add 505 Games’ creativity and ideas to the ESA’s efforts to promote the computer and video game industry.”

Ideas like hey, let’s release a game based off that Hotel for Dogs movie! I just hope their sheer creativity doesn’t prove too overwhelming.

505 Games has released the full track list for We Rock: Drum King, with Queen, The Clash, and Fall Out Boy all providing music to drum your Wii remotes along to.

The focus on drums makes the song list for We Rock: Drum King quite a bit different from what you’d see from Rock Band or Guitar Hero World Tour. “We Will Rock You”, “The Final Countdown”, “Click Click Boom” – these are the sort of tunes you drum out with your fingers on your car’s dashboard while driving down the street, and with Drum King using two Wii remotes as drums sticks, it should pretty much be that simple as well.

Check out the full track list below, while pondering whether or not you’d actually buy a game that was all drums, all the time. Drum King is due out in April for Europe, with a May release planned in the states.

The Full Song List:

We Will Rock You – Queen
The Final Countdown – Europe
Be My Baby – The Ronettes
Song 2 – Blur
Banquet – Bloc Party
Cissy Strut (instrumental) – The Meters
In Too Deep – Sum 41
Spoonman – Soundgarden
Click Click Boom – Saliva
Can’t Get Enough – Bad Company
Feel Good Inc. – Gorillaz
Can’t Stand Losing You – The Police
Saturday Superhouse – Biffy Clyro
She Sells Sanctuary – The Cult
The Take Over, The Break’s Over – Fall Out Boy
Organ Donor (instrumental) – DJ Shadow
Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf
Mickey – Toni Basil
Stay With Me – Faces
No One Knows – Queens Of The Stone Age
Blister In The Sun – Violent Femmes
By The Way – Offcuts
Direction – Starting Line
All Star – Smash Mouth
Fight The Good Fight – Triumph
I Fought The Law – The Clash
On Top Of The World – Boys Like Girls
Lifestyles Of The Rich And The Famous – Good Charlotte
Pull Me Under – Dream Theatre
Let There Be Drums – The Ventures

505 Games is creating a game based on Olympic swimmer extraodinaire Michael Phelps, but can swimming carry a video game? Probably not. That’s where the pure action comes in.

Swimming is a the sort of sport that is extremely exciting…for swimmers. 505 Games realises this, and while there will be a healthy dose of watersports in Phelps’ game, it won’t be confining the action to the swimming pool.

“Swimming will be a part of it, but it won’t be set in an Olympic pool going back and forth,” said Adam Kline, president of 505 Games, the company releasing the series. “This is a pure action game”

A pure action game? With Michael Phelps? What the hell could they be planning? “Michael Phelps: SwimSpy”? A remake of Ecco the Dolphin? I mean, pardon my lack of enthusiasm, but as G4’s Adam Sessler points out in the Daily News article, “Swimming — in even a Mario game — is a miserable experience”.

Despite scepticism on the part of just about everyone in the gaming industry, 505 games remains unperturbed about the title.

“We will spend a very pretty penny in marketing this project because it’s important to us,” Kline said. “We believe it’s the next Tiger Woods project. … It could be here for the next 10 years.”

Oh joy! “Michael Phelps: SwimSpy 5: Swim Harder”!

Arc System Works has entered the rhythm-action genre with We Rock: Drum King, coming to Europe in April from 505 Games for the Nintendo Wii.

You know the drill here. Become a drummer, join a band, and then become the best in the world! Instead of relying on giant plastic drums, We Rock: Drum King instead has your Wii remote and nunchuck acting as virtual drumsticks, changing between drum types depending on which buttons you press. The game will ship with 30 “awesome tunes”, with Bloc Party’s “Banquet” and Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild” listed in the official release.

While another game in the slowly bloating rhythm-action genre comes as no surprise, I didn’t expect to see the name Arc System Works in this press release. You Europeans will have to let us Americans know how that all pans out once the game comes out next year. In the meantime, screenshots!

505 GAMES FEELS THE RHYTHM WITH WE ROCK: DRUM KING FOR NINTENDO WII™

Milton Keynes – 505 Games is today pleased to reveal We Rock: Drum King, a brand new rhythm-action game for Nintendo Wii™, which sees you becoming the drummer in a band that’s on the road to global stardom. It’s due to rock out across Europe in April 2009.

Unlike many rhythm games, to become a music legend in We Rock: Drum King you only require two Wii Remotes, rather than having to clutter your living room with potentially expensive instruments. The remotes become your virtual drumsticks as you beat your way through 30 awesome tunes, including Bloc Party’s Banquet and Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf.

You start on the road to fame by creating your drummer and then joining a band, before performing in a range of increasingly spectacular venues – until you’re crowned the greatest rock band in the world.

Developed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii by ARC System Works, We Rock: Drum King takes full advantage of the innovative motion-sensing capabilities of the console. The game is played by moving the remotes as if you’re ‘air drumming’. Different drums – including snare, toms, hi-hat and bass – are simulated by waving the Wii Remotes while pressing a different button.

Wannabe drummers know exactly when and what drum to hit thanks to coloured indicators that scroll down the screen in time to the tune. The difficulty can be scaled too, so that beginners can pick-up-and-rock-out, whereas experienced beat masters can crank up the challenge to 11.

We Rock: Drum King will be released exclusively for Nintendo Wii in Europe in April 2009.

FEATURES:

* Wide range of drumming styles/music
* Ready to rock straight from the box – no need for costly peripherals
* Create your own avatar before hitting the road
* Single and multiplayer modes
* 30 awesome tracks from well known artists
* Difficulty scaled so beginners have fun but experts face a real rock challenge

As Phelps himself let slip on 60 Minutes earlier this month, there is indeed a Michael Phelps video game in the works. In fact, 505 Games is working on multiple Phelps titles, with the first expected to be released in the spring of 2010. The titles may even include some of the Olympic legend’s teammates, whoever they were.

“I am really excited to partner with 505 Games and work with them to develop a game that is reflective of my personality, lifestyle and competitive nature,” said Phelps. “I believe this will be a tremendous opportunity to help continue my quest to raise the profile for the sport of swimming.”

I look forward to seeing how 505 Games can possibly take the sport of swimming and make it more interesting than timed button presses. Best of luck!

MICHAEL PHELPS AND 505 GAMES TO COLLABORATE ON NEW VIDEOGAME PROJECTS

Multiple Titles to be Developed by 505 Games’ New U.S. Operations for Distribution Worldwide

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2008) —- Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, and global videogame publisher, 505 Games, announced today a new partnership to develop next generation console and iPhone videogames. The first title is scheduled to release in spring 2010 and will be developed by 505 Games’ newly formed U.S. operations in Los Angeles. 505 Games also has European offices in the UK, and distribution partners around the world.

“505 Games is proud to partner with Michael Phelps to create innovative new game play experiences that celebrate active lifestyles, the spirit of competition and the inspirational dream of becoming a champion,” said Adam Kline, president of 505 Games U.S. “Through swimming, Michael has become an international superstar and role model for people of all ages. With 505 Games’ global reach, we look forward to leveraging the powerful digital entertainment medium to bring Michael’s passion for sports and competition to new audiences around the world.”

505 Games and Phelps are currently in the development stages for the first-of-its-kind videogame that may also include some of his teammates. In addition, 505 Games will donate a portion of the videogame proceeds to the Michael Phelps Foundation.

“I am really excited to partner with 505 Games and work with them to develop a game that is reflective of my personality, lifestyle and competitive nature,” said Phelps. “I believe this will be a tremendous opportunity to help continue my quest to raise the profile for the sport of swimming.”

Phelps, who is represented by Octagon, was recently profiled by CBS News’ “60 Minutes”, named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year” and released his third book entitled NO LIMITS: The Will to Succeed.