Let it not be said that the SBK-07: Superbike World Championship videogame isn't accurate and detailed. It has recently been announced that World Superbike Champion James Toseland has decided to use the game to practice the different tracks of the SBK championship.

James Toseland is currently first in the World Superbike Championship with a total of 237 points. Of course, he didn't get there without practicing countless hours and trying various methods to further improve his craft. He spoke on the game and his decision to use it as a training tool.

I play the SBK-07 game with some of the other riders during race weekends. It’s surprisingly realistic and you can really get a feel for the layout and speed of the circuits. It’s not only a good way to prepare for the races, but it’s a great way to relax at the end of a tough day. I’d recommend the game to any budding racers out there!

Of course, both companies are thrilled by this, but none as much as the Managing Director of Black Bean Games Chris Mehers:

This news made us all proud of the work spent in the latest 2 years. Both Black Bean and Milestone are very pleased with this exciting news that confirms, again, our commitment to deliver not only the best arcade experience but also an attention to detail simulation

If you're looking to purchase this game, it's currently available for the PSP and PS2 for £29.99 (about US$ 58). Is this the start of a new trend in SBK, where competitors will be playing videogames to improve their game? At least we now have another excuse next time mom says we've been playing too much video games.

GameSpot UK recently had an interview with Milestone Studios, the developer of SBK-07: Superbike World Championship. The video below, uploaded to YouTube by vgplayerz, caters both to the long-time fans of the franchise and to those who are only beginning to get into this motorcycle racing video game.

Aside from the status of the game and its new features, the interview also covers how and when the franchise started. According to the developers, Milestone's racing pedigree actually began in 1995 when they created a racing title called Screamer. The studio then shifted to the SuperBike franchise after EA picked it up in 1999.

SBK-07: Superbike World Championship features more than 20 bikes and around 13 licensed circuits. Aside from Milestone, developer Black Bean Games is also working on this game. It should be available in retail stores on June 8.

The Bikefest UK show will be held this year at Donington Park on May 26. In relation to this, developer Black Bean Games and publisher Koch Media released a statement earlier today saying that video game title SBK-07: Superbike World Championship will be making an appearance during the said show.

Attendees will have the chance to ride new bikes on the track and on the road. Aside from this, fans who will be bringing their own bikes will also get their rides dyno'd for free. A retail zone, furthermore, will be put up where fans can purchase all the latest kits and tuning parts.

At the event's Pit Garage Stand, Koch Media will be making SBK-07 available to be played by everyone. If you can't make it to the stand because you're so busy watching riders defy gravity in the "Globe of Death," don't worry because two representatives will be going around the area to demo the game.

The SBK 2007 Pit Stop Cafe is home to the game's PlayStation 2 version where attendees can eat, drink, and try to beat the track records of their favorite riders. Koch Media Head of Marketing Jon Bailey said, "The 'have a go' theme of Bikefest UK represents the perfect location to give people a chance feel the sensations of riding a real Superbike in our video game."

SBK-07: Superbike World Championship features a total of 22 bikes and 13 licensed circuits. It will be released on June 8 for 29.99 GBP (US$ 59.25).

Thanks to German gaming news site GameFront, we got hold of a new list of release dates for PAL titles. The list has quite a few PSP titles in it, along with one each for the Nintendo DS and Microsoft's Xbox 360. No PS3 titles, though.

A couple of notable titles are The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome and Earth Defence Force 2017. Puzzle fans also get their own dose of gaming goodness courtesy of the PSP titles Cube and PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient. Check the list below for the titles and dates.

May 25

• Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales (DS)

June 1

• The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome (PSP, PS2)

June 8

• Earth Defence Force 2017 (Xbox 360)
• PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient (PSP)
• SBK-07 Superbike World Championship (PSP)

June 29

• Cube (PSP)

Developer Black Bean Games and publisher Koch Media UK made a joint announcement earlier today regarding the release date for SBK 2007: Superbike World Championship in Europe. The PlayStation Portable (PSP) and the PlayStation 2 (PS2) versions is now officially branded with the May 18, 2007 release date. The PC and 360 copies, on the other hand, are slated to arrive to video games shelves on Q4 2007.

Aside from the title's exciting features, it is good to know that SBK 2007 was developed with the help of SBK World Championship Team. This means that all the rides and tracks from 2007 will be included and reproduced as faithfully as possible. Speaking of which, there will be a total of 22 bikes and 13 licensed circuits.

In terms of gameplay, Superbike World Championship will have an arcade mode, allowing fans to enjoy breath-taking races as well as post-race highlights. The game has a good telemetry system and physics model but we're kind of excited the most with the Bike Settings. This feature lets players choose between speed or control - depending on external factors such as weather conditions.

SBK 2007: Superbike World Championship will be available, again, on May 18 for 29.99 GBP (US$ 60). On a related matter, there's still no official confirmation on the much-rumored PlayStation 3 (PS3) and Wii versions.

 

As SBK 07 Superbike World Championship's Europe release looms closer, developer Black Bean Games has just announced that the official site is up.

SBK 07 boasts to being the official video game of the WSBK Championship, the superbike tournament. The site will sport news and info on SBK 07 Superbike World Championship, plus photo and video galleries. Perfect for the WBSK buffs. It has additional features like riders (like Troy Bayliss, Max Biaggi and James Toseland), fans, and of course, the bikes and umbrella girls.

There will also be news on bikes and the teams featured in SBK 07 Superbike World Championship, info in the in-game tracks, an online guide, and a FAQ section. Need anything else? You can check out the site by clicking the via link below.

For those who are waiting for SBK 07: Superbike World Championship, here's a little treat. A sneak peek into the superbike game via screenshots.

Black Bean Games's SBK 07: Superbike World Championship (definitely a mouthful) is set to pop a wheelie on the PSP, Xbox360, and PC. There hasn't been any announcements as to the exact release date. The Europe release had been moved from the scheduled "sometime in April" to May of this year. The newly released screenshots are in both the third person point of view and first person point of view. That'll definitely get players in on the fast action.

Anyway, we'll keep our eyes peeled for the any announcements. In the meantime, check out the SBK 07: Superbike World Championship screens. They might just tide you over until release.

Check out the rest of the screenshots right after the jump!

 

Milestone Studios has quite a bit of history when it comes to bike racing games. The Milan, Italy-based developer produced titles for Electronic Arts a few years ago, and now it's working on SBK'07: Superbike World Championship, a new game based on its newly acquired Superbike license.

In a recent interview with Gamespot, product manager Simone Bechini revealed that those looking for both realism and action will find them in SBK'07. "The game physics is very realistic, and you've also got the opportunity to tune your bike," said Bechini. "For action, there's plenty of it... We worked hard on the artificial intelligence of riders to provide races as interesting, challenging, and fun as real ones."

That's not to say that SBK'07 is only for hardcore petrol heads. "There are as much as 16 riding aids to allow you to pick up the pad and simply go for it, being competitive in just a few seconds," Bechini added.

Players can also choose from a variety of gameplay modes to suit their tastes. These modes range from a quick race to a race weekend that features all the sessions of an SBK event, including two different races. There's also a time attack mode, championship mode, and multiplayer mode. SBK'07 also features a number of different challenges that focus on skills like riding technique, race scenarios, and stunts.

Speaking of multiplayer, Bechini said that the PSP version of SBK'07 includes the "usual PlayStation 2 split-screen two-player mode." SBK'07 also supports up to four players across a wireless local connection with two game modes on the PSP.

SBK'07: Superbike World Championship for the Sony PSP handheld system is slated for a May release in Europe. An Xbox 360 version is also planned for release later this year along with a PC version. According to Bechini, Milestone also plans to come out with a PS3 version of SBK'07 in 2008.

While the PSP and PS2 versions of SBK: Superbike World Championship are still on schedule for their end of April release, Eurogamer reports that the PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game will only be available come October.

Black Bean Games spokesperson Livio Cantagallo told Eurogamer, however, that the demo will be ready "near the end of the summer." At least fans will get something to pass the time with while they're waiting for the official releases.

There has also been no confirmation yet regarding the rumored PS3 version. According to Cantagallo, "We are going to think about a PS3 version, because we are just moving onto the next-generation consoles, starting with the Xbox 360 as it's similar to the PC."

We had been wondering why Black Bean Games' bike racer SBK-07: Superbike World Championship is coming to Xbox 360s and PCs, as well as the PSP and PS2, but not the PS3 or Wii. Strategy Informer had been curious as well, and one of their members had asked Black Bean the one question: Why?

Black Bean gave an answer, and it shows that they're looking towards a PS3 and Wii bike racer, too. "To approach the next-generation consoles we chose the X360, as its features are similar to the PC."

This explains why, when we first heard of SBK, it was for the PSP (and PS2), but then it quickly gained the 360 and PC as additional platforms. Now that the multiplatform fact is established, though, Black Bean is "going to be evaluating the possibility of developing a PlayStation 3 and Wii version of the game within the next few weeks."

The three different next-gen consoles do have three different approaches for the same game - but now Black Bean will be looking into it (going multiplatform on next-gen as well), so they might be coming out with a new press release in the near future.