The first batch of screen-shots are enticing, and look just like the TV show...

South Park is a show that needs no introduction at all. Pretty much everyone with a TV is aware of it and has probably watched it too. Even if you don’t have a TV you have probably still heard of it - its controversial and often borderline material has resulted in frequent media coverage, courtesy of news broadcasts and disgruntled chat shows.

But for all of its fame and popularity, it has never had a decent game attached to it. Sure, there have been some attempts, but none of them came anywhere close to capturing the boldness and sense of fun that is all over the TV show.

Of course, South Park doesn’t really need a game (what TV series actually does?) but it is so well suited to being made into one, it would be too great an opportunity to miss. Right through the history of the show, South Park has constantly referenced games and gaming culture, from World of Warcraft to Guitar Hero, Pokemon and GTA, and they didn’t just hint at them in passing, they lampooned our obsession with these games in ways that were almost too accurate.

The visual style of the series is yet another reason for the latest games creation. The simplistic and much loved style of the show makes the transition to a game much easier, as everything from scenery to character models and animations can be presented identically, and as you can see from the new screens, they seem to be pulling it off pretty darn well.

The game itself is based on traditional RPG’s. You being your quest as a new kid in town, instantly befriended by the gang we are so familiar with. You choose your character class (Fighter, Mage, Thief, Cleric and ...Jew) and act with your friends to save the sleepy town of South Park from an assortment of enemies from the TV series.

The game-play style seems to be that of the more traditional JRPG’s, with turn-based combat taking place from a side-on perspective, with your small party facing off against a small number of foes.

The game is being made by a collaboration between South Park digital studios (ran by Trey Parker and Matt Stone) and THQ and Obsidian Entertainment. With such big names behind it - and Trey and Matt themselves writing the script - the game is looking very promising indeed. Scheduled for release this year on the 360, PC and PS3, this is definitely a game to keep your eyes on as more information comes around.

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