Codemasters' racing games thus far have been some of the genre's most beloved. From the PlayStation 2's TOCA Race Driver to GRID and the revival of the officially sanctioned F1 games, they've been a real treat to play. The success of the DiRT series has contributed a great deal to the success of the famed studio, and we can only hope this continues in the next entry in the series, DiRT Showdown. While previous entries in the series have been largely focused on the finer points of rally racing, Showdown looks to broaden the scope of the franchise to include a decidedly American motorsport: the Demolition Derby.

The Demolition Derby is a motorsport in which the objective is to destroy your opponents' vehicles, with the grand prize going to the last driver on the field whose car is still running. Fans of the DiRT series from the days when it bore the "Colin McRae" banner might be more than a bit bothered by the seeming change in focus. However there's no denying the entertainment value of watching a bunch of people using their cars as weapons in a muddied field while consuming mass quantities of funnel cake (with powdered sugar, of course).

The gymkhana-style events that were introduced in the last properly numbered entry in the series will also be making a return in the form of Hoonigan Events. Personally, this was easily one of my favorite extracurricular components from DiRT 3. It was nice to be able to pretend to be as good a driver as Jim Connor in the reasonably sized Battersea compound, goofing around in what was an otherwise 'serious' racer. Now, it looks as though the seriousness of the previous entry will be shed in favor of a more streamlined experience, with the focus shifting instead to what Codemasters has stated will be a "world of arcade racing with pick-up-and-play controls" where players will be "speeding, tricking, and smashing their way to 'Showdown' finals.'"

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While this may sound like it will end up being a somewhat softer experience than the last three DiRT titles, we can be sure that the graphics won't suffer from the new focus. The Ego engine used to power other titles in Codemasters' lineup will also be on display here. It's a good thing, too, as their titles have been some of the prettiest racing games of the generation. They've also had some of the best damage modeling, which will definitely be on display in the Demolition Derby-style events.

A few of the locations have been confirmed, including London, Tokyo, and Miami. Unfortunately, because this isn't a traditional DiRT title, we aren't in a position to speculate as to what type of tracks we'll see. We do know that there will be more traditionally styled races, though whether they're point-to-point or take place on famous circuits remains to be seen. What we do know is that Codemasters is aiming to give the atmosphere at the events an almost festive, "energized" feel.

The social elements from previous entries in the series will also be on display here. Players will be able to upload their favorite moments to YouTube straight from the game, and they'll also be able to engage in asynchronous challenges (made popular by Need for Speed: Shift's Autolog), competing for the top place in "Showdown Challenges".

The announcement trailer gave us a hint at which vehicles we'll be able to play in the final product. Ken Block's gymkhana-tuned Ford Fiesta was seen, as well as what can only be described as a suped-up hearse. The target screenshots also reveal a few other key vehicles, but we'll have to wait for more information to see exactly which cars have made the cut.

From what we know so far, then, it sounds like this might be able to grow into a series that will be able to coexist alongside the numbered DiRT series, much like how Ubisoft's Rabbids now have their own minigame compilations. That could also theoretically allow the core series to progress towards becoming catered towards longtime fans, offering something more closely tied to the rally racing roots that have traditionally anchored the series.

Whatever the case, we're certainly interested in seeing more of what's in store for Codemasters' next title, and we'll keep a close eye on what direction this will take the series, whether it's a complete redirection or a temporary detour.

By Patriel Manning
CCC Contributing Writer