'Elite' creator crafts theme park sequel

Famed for his groundbreaking 1980s epic Elite, David Braben and his development firm Frontier have revealed they are working on a follow-up to the best-selling Thrillville.

The new game, entitled Thrillville: Off the Rails, is a theme park resource management title that will boast a larger number of roller coasters and attractions as well as offering new levels of interaction with the public.

According to Frontier, the game will include: "20 death-defying rides so outrageous, they inspire the same word from every park visitor who sees them: 'WHOA!'. Players build these incredible 'WHOA Coasters' to leap from one track to another, launch through the air like cannonballs, blast through burning rings of fire and more.

"A new lighthearted story ties together more than 100 missions, complete with 34 playable multiplayer theme-park games and improved social interaction with park guests."

Thrillville: Off the Rails will be published by LucasArts and released this October on 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS and PC.