Budget Blockbusters?

GT Racers achieves a day-one ship in excess of 70,000 units across the UK alone

November 29th 2004, Northanmptonshire, UK: Whilst not quite GT4, Oxygen Interactive's latest Liquid launch, GT Racers nevertheless achieved a day-one ship in excess of 70,000 units across the UK alone! With more orders being received, this looks to be a notable success not merely for the Northamptonshire-based publisher but for budget games in general.

The supercar arcade racer, which allows players to charge around five international cities at speeds of up to 200mph, will appeal to a broad mass-market; and with its £9.99 price tag is bound to be a sure-fire stocking filler hit!

"It isn't so much that we're delighted by this," said Oxygen Interactive's CEO Jim Scott, "we expected these levels of sales; but it will surprise a lot of publishers who are struggling through a packed Q4. With this title, in addition to Junior Boardgames and the rest of the Liquid range, Oxygen has a selection of perfect Christmas stocking fillers."

"Everyone wants to stock hit titles," Jim Scott continues, "and why should a retailer not stock budget hits alongside full price hits? The success of GT Racers isn't merely about this one title, however strong it may be. It's a clear demonstration of the way that the market is changing."

GT Racers was released in the UK on October 29th with a recommended selling price of £9.99.

Headquartered in Northamptonshire, UK, Oxygen Interactive was formed by industry veteran Jim Scott in 2002, and has since recruited a pool of industry talent from both publishing and development backgrounds. Starting with Perfect Ace in 2003, and International Golf Pro in spring 2004, Oxygen has established a growing range of mid-price PlayStation2 titles aimed at casual gamers, with Euro Rally Champion due in November 2004.

Now with the launch of its Liquid Brand under the slogan "More Play, Less Pay", it is building a portfolio of impulse-purchase PS2 titles at highly affordable prices, focusing on popular sports and genres.

• Go to the game information page for GT Racers (Sony PlayStation 2).
• More information regarding Oxygen Interactive, including games developed and published.
• View the listing of Sony PlayStation 2 press releases.