Video games based on reality television shows are nothing new, but what about a video game based on a fictional reality show? That's the premise behind Split Second, an upcoming title that casts players as contestants on a racing-based television show in which the cars are fast, the tracks are hazardous, and explosions are plentiful. A very early version of the game was on display in the South Hall at E3 where I had the chance take it for a test drive.



Probably the best way I can describe Split Second's personality is to label it as a racing challenge set in a Michael Bay film. Dangers and hazards are everywhere as obstacles on, off, and near the track explode or otherwise burst into flame. The gimmick can overload the senses a bit and distract from what's happening on the racetrack, but there are some memorable destructive moments. My personal favorite involved a shortcut that led my car onto an airport runway just as a jet was about to land in the oncoming direction.

Ultimately, those sorts of distractions detract a bit from my recollection of playing the game. I find myself remembering the explosions more than I do the actual racing action. Well, there is one exception to that: the game's HUD is not spread across the screen, but instead hovers just behind the player's car where it is both out of the way and conveniently close depending on one's point of view. Drifting and performing other specific maneuvers causes a little meter on the hovering HUD to build, and once enough power has been stored, special moves can be unleashed to take out the nearby competition or activate shortcuts. Shift the camera angle to focus on the front of the car instead of the rear and that hovering HUD will slide around the car to take up a position up front. It's a neat little gimmick to see, although I'd need more time with the game to judge just how useful this sort of thing would be over the course of the entire game.



My only real criticism regarding the current build of the game is that the limited HUD does not feature certain useful information. For instance, I spent most of the race in last place, but had no idea just how far behind the competition I lagged. Apparently the developers want to minimize the HUD's size so as to keep players immersed in the action, but since there's an actual game going on here as opposed to a television show, I would like to see some of the usual visual indicators needed to run a competitive race. Immersion is great until it crashes into frustration.



Split Second is due out in the later part of 2010. There's still much work to be done based on my single race around the flammable track, but overall I liked what I saw and plan to keep an eye on this title as it develops.