Blitz, 505 Games Partner For Michael Phelps-Branded Kinect Swimming Title

Developer Blitz Games has signed on with publisher 505 Games to create Michael Phelps: Push the Limit, a Kinect-powered swimming simulation due for release this June. Promising to "capture the player’s exact movements to put them in control of an up-and-coming swimmer," Push the Limit will teach players different swimming strokes and techniques with tips from multiple world record holder Phelps, according to the publisher's announcement. In developing the game for the Xbox 360's motion controller add-on, Blitz will make use of its own BlitzTech middleware, which added support for the Kinect and PlayStation Move motion controllers last September. “Making Push the Limit has been an incredible experience for the team,” says Blitz project director Struan Robertson. “From the first moment you enter the pool, you’re in Michael’s world and that’s a cool place to be.” Naughty Bear and Backbreaker publisher 505 Games captured the video game rights to Phelps' name and likeness back in 2008, just after the well-known swimmer won his 14th olympic gold medal at that year's summer Olympics. Push the Limit will be the first game to come out of that partnership. “It is an honor for myself and everyone here at 505 to work with Michael Phelps, a truly transcendent athlete who has brought unprecedented glory to competitive swimming," said 505 president Ian Howe. "His guidance and feedback have proven invaluable to the development process, and in-game he will mentor players in their journey from an unknown challenger to a powerful swimmer capable of beating the best in the world.” This will be Blitz's second title for the Kinect, after last year's The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout.