As part of the road-burning excitement, gamers will also be able to join the Upshift online community for some serious networking. Boasting an array of features more commonly associated with popular social networking sites, players can create their own clubs and personalized web pages, post pictures, upload movies and music, write and share blogs and create forums to talk about their races, cars and the mayhem of their latest StrikeRacing match.
Upshift StrikeRacer’s client download will be available at no cost – and players are not charged a monthly subscription fee like those found in other online games. In addition, many of the vehicles, body kits, accessory kits, weapons, finishes and special items can be bought only with the Reputation Points generated by StrikeRacing.
Upshift StrikeRacer marks the first free-to-play online game for music composer Manthei, known for scoring many high-profile Hollywood projects. In addition to a number of hit movies and television shows, Manthei’s credits include video games Ultimate Spiderman, City of Villains, Dead to Rights and Twisted Metal Black.
“I couldn’t pass up the chance to work with a heavy metal guitar hero like Dan on the soundtrack for a game that is really a lot of fun to play,” said Kevin Manthei. “We created a sound that mixes choral inspired orchestra with heavy rock guitar riffs to invoke both a sense of transcendence and adolescent frenzy, which is exactly what players will find in Upshift StrikeRacer.”
The high-octane, adrenaline pumping Upshift StrikeRacer marks the first time that Spitz has written music for and lent his original style of jazz-infused hard rock riffs to an interactive entertainment project. Spitz, lead guitarist for one of the most popular heavy metal bands of all time, not only plays the blazing riffs on every one of Upshift StrikeRacer’s songs, he also co-wrote a number of the tracks and co-mixed one with Manthei.
“Writing and recording music for a video game has given me the opportunity to reach music fans in a way unlike on a record or at a live show,” said Dan Spitz. “Working on Upshift StrikeRacer with Kevin, one of the best in the business, has been an incredible experience. We were able to make truly original music that compliments the gameplay and makes the entire experience complete for the players.”
The upcoming free-to-play online car racing and combat game will feature seven original tracks by the two musicians.
“Both Dan and Kevin are icons in their respective fields, and to have them collaborating on Upshift StrikeRacer is a musical ‘Dream Team’ for us,” said John Young, vice president and producer, Gala-Net. “Together they nailed the sound we wanted for a game that lets you mount wicked weapons on your car and hurl out explosive fury on friends and strangers alike – all while racing for victory.”
In Upshift StrikeRacer players assume the identities of StrikeRacers, Triumph City’s free people focused on enlightenment through high-octane car combat. Throughout the city streets and the metropolis’s surrounding countryside, StrikeRacers form teams or go head-to-head against other drivers in fast-paced, intense and destructive street races. From sleek and sexy sports cars to hulking SUVs and cute little minis, StrikeRacers have a wide-array of customizable cars available in order to inflict real-time damage on their competition with guided rockets, fast-firing machine guns, high-explosive mines and other menacing weapons.
Either racing alone or with friends, Upshift StrikeRacer offers the choice of multiple game modes for single-player and multi-player game play. StrikeRacers will find Time Attack for the solo racer to test their driving skills against other racer’s times, Racing mode that places up to eight drivers against each other to see who the best racer is and no-holds barred StrikeRacing for players to pit their driving skills – and their arsenal – against each other.
The free Upshift StrikeRacer download will be available in August 2007.