GAMES JAMES
RONNIE’S RIGHT ON CUE
EVER walked in the woods at this time of year and smelled strong garlic? Ramsons, or wild garlic, sprout fragrant white flowers this month. Look out for thick green leaves carpeting the ground. Sniper Elite fans are in luck because developer Rebellion has announced four new projects.
The studio will first roll out a re-release of PS3/Xbox 360 title Sniper Elite V2 Remastered.
They will follow this up with Sniper Elite 3 Ultimate Edition on Nintendo Switch. Both get enhanced graphics along with new features. Rebellion also teased a new standalone Sniper Elite game for virtual reality devices. Finally, it was confirmed the next major title – following in the footsteps of Sniper Elite 4 – is also being worked on. But it could be late 2020 at the earliest before we see it. You’ll get to play as stars such as Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby when the first licensed snooker game in years hits the shops this spring.
Bosses at Ripstone Games claim Snooker 19 is “the most authentic depiction of the sport ever created”.
The PS4 and Xbox One title uses Unreal Engine 4 graphics to give the balls a realistic sheen, while 3D face-scanning tech brings the players to life.
Developed by Leamington Spa-based Lab42, it will feature 128 top players at venues including The Crucible.
“It’s been way too long since the last flagship snooker title,” said Justin Forrest of Lab42. “We’re hugely excited to finally give players a snooker simulation worthy of this increasingly popular sport.”
Phil Gaskell of Ripstone added: “The sport has grown exponentially in the years since the last official snooker title.
“Our game is built from the ground up for new and old fans alike, and we feel it’s the right time to create a game that reflects where snooker and the gaming industry is today.”
Players can choose from a suite of offline and online modes, including global online tournaments that link in real-time with the World Snooker calendar, quick-play online match-making, and customised matches of full snooker, six-red snooker and the fast-paced Shoot-Out format. Gamers can expect a full televisionstyle presentation in the game alongside evocative visual details of the players, arenas and equipment. Player likenesses have been meticulously created, too, using 3D facial-scanning technology, while the subtle wood grain of the cues and tables is rendered superbly.