The steady stream of high-quality games as early as the first quarter of 2008 continues, proven by this week's line-up of releases which includes Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors, the next Ace Attorney, and Dynasty Warriors 6. A very promising Devil May Cry-esque MMORPG is also on the way, while Need for Speed is in for another lap. The rest of this week's releases await at the full article!

Thing you have what it takes to own the offroad? If you're looking for a challenge, why not invite some friends and take on MX vs. ATV Untamed's (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP, DS) Opencross mode? In a recent developer's diary, Rainbow Studios' principal game designer Brian Coonce explains what the Opencross mode is and what it's for.

Let Mr. Coonce tell you all about it after the jump!

In a developer's diary entry, Elliot Olson talks about a championship game for MX vs. ATV Untamed (Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS): The X-Cross Tournament. The tournament incorporates a number of different types of races, including two new gameplay modes. Check out the full article for details.

THQ has released a new video for Rainbow Studios' upcoming multiplatform racing title, MX vs. ATV: Untamed (Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS). MX vs. ATV: Untamed is the follow-up to 2005's MX vs. ATV: Unleashed and will be in retail stores this holiday season.

This new entry in the off-road franchise lets players experience throttle-based power slides and near upside down whips in addition to the game's adrenaline-pumping speed. Players can compete in the new X-Cross Tournament which brings together eight different racing series including Opencross, Supercross and SuperMoto into one insane off-road championship.

The video below features the game's Endurocross game mode. In this mode, players will have to race across rough terrain, trying their best to stay upright and endure all throughout the unforgiving track. Check it out.

There's a lot of intense next-gen motocross action that's decidedly cringe-inducing in this MX vs. ATV Untamed gameplay video. The game's coming out for the Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation Portable, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii, and this video standing in for the next-gen consoles. Let's sit back and watch as our modern-day gladiators ride their gasoline-powered chariots into battle with a track that's full of...well, rocks and mud.

So, what's new with THQ's MX vs. ATV Untamed? Well, the fact that it looks like a very exciting ride through a dirt track filled with obstacles that you can hopefully ramp off of and do tricks with the resulting "big air" that you get. Everything moves as smooth as silk, and we had our ocular cavities pleasantly tickled with the game's water physics.

What's great about this video of MX vs. ATV Untamed is that it shows off the game's model animations to be quite convincing, especially when it comes to the aerial tricks. One good example of it (and a rather nasty one at that) is the bit at the end, where the driver model receives a face plant courtesy of a botched Kiss of Death attempt. Ouch.

In any case, enjoy the video!

  

If you're a big fan of the exciting world of motorcross racing, then you're sure to recognize one of the biggest names behind them for nearly the past decade. THQ once again enters the motorcross scene, after their smashing success with MX vs. ATV Unleashed, by promoting its newest iteration of the MX Unleashed racing franchise for the holidays, MX vs. ATV Untamed (Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS).

From what originally was supposed to be a February release for the game, THQ's global brand manager, David Newman, explains how the new release date for MX vs. ATV Untamed was aimed as a strategic move for the promotion of the game into the holiday season.

THQ recently held an international press conference in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel to feature the game and announce its new December 17 release date. During the event, Newman endorsed the brand name the game has has been carrying for the last few years in the world of motorcross racing. He had this to say:

We want to push the brand and the game. This is a one-off event. It's the richest prize in the sport. We've sponsored this event in the past. We'll ramp up marketing for this game this fall and then we're the Official Video Game Sponsor for the World Supercross Circuit, which runs from January 2008 through May 2008. We'll do the same thing again in 2010 for the next iteration of the game, which ships in 2009.

The top 10 ATV and Motocross riders were there during the event to give the game their own personal thumbs up and even take their digital incarnations in the game a test drive. As we slowly move into the Supercross Circuit season, expect to see THQ more often as they deliver to gamers more real-life motorcross racing action.

Ready for another dose of off-road action? Well, THQ has just announced a new multi-platform racing video game from their MX vs ATV franchise, to be called MX vs ATV Untamed.

THQ will be sharing the love with all the consoles as the video game will get versions for the consoles (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and PS2) and the handhelds (PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS). MX vs ATV Untamed will feature several improvements from its previous incarnations, including broader open world environments, an X-cross career mode, and a new mode called EnduroCross. The X-cross career mode will be featuring eight vehicles (with the debut of the new ORV Sport) while EnduroCross will have players going against all sorts of obstacles like rocks, logs, and pits of mud.

THQ seems to be enthused about the multi-platform release. Jack Sorenson, executive vice president of worldwide studios had this to say:

We've taken the core MX vs ATV racing experience and tailored game-play to match the strengths of each individual gaming machine. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, Wii and PlayStation 2 system versions, the PSP system version, and the DS version will all deliver unique experiences that capture the franchise's strengths and maximize the fun gamers have on their system of choice.

THQ will be working with Rainbow Studios for the upcoming title and will make use of the Rhythm Racing physics engine. You'll be glad to know that the game will be available online. Additional game modes included in MX vs ATV Untamed are the following:

• EnduroCross - as the name suggests, will have players racing going through tough terrain. The operative word would be "endure".
• Opencross - this type of race is held on trails and all vehicles can compete
• Supercross - is held in a stadium track

According to THQ, the game will be shipping to the shelves in January next year. Well, that's all we have for now. We'll keep you posted on additional information about MX vs ATV Untamed when they become available. Stay glued.