Oh dear. Are there no depths to which games publishers won't stoop in attempting to come up with original and 'catchy' game titles? Yes, have today confirmed, as you probably guessed from the headline, that Driver 3 has been renamed DRIV3R. The third title in a multi-million selling series, this Reflections creation will be released in spring 2004 on the and Xbox.

However, it's not all irritating or indifferent news from Atari on the game today; as the publisher also confirmed that a host of talented actors have been enlisted to help deliver the 'cinematic' game play Reflections and Atari will hope can help DRIV3R challenge Rockstar's series.

Michael Madsen, Ving Rhames, Mickey Rourke and Michelle Rodriguez will star in the title's lead roles, as part of a premise promising a gripping, narrative story line. DRIV3R casts players once again as undercover cop Tanner who, alongside his partner Tobias, must infiltrate a global car theft ring, an assignment that leads to tire-squealing chases and fierce on-foot firefights while tailing gangsters, chasing witnesses, stealing cars and unloading massive clips of ammo to bring the criminals to justice. Three city environments will also be available for the player to explore: Miami, Nice and Istanbul.

"DRIV3R recreates the excitement of a Hollywood-style blockbuster film and combines it with the adrenaline rush of an video game full of sinister criminals, nail-biting car chases and international crime syndicates," gushed Steve Allison, Veepee of Marketing at Atari LA. "By casting the game with top Hollywood talent, DRIV3R truly solidifies the look and feel of an interactive movie. Atari is well known for pushing the envelope of collaboration between the video game and Hollywood, and DRIV3R will once again raise the bar for what gamers will come to expect from interactive entertainment."

By Luke Guttridge