Carmageddon countdown kicks off series revival rumours

A suspicious countdown timer on carmageddon.com suggests we might see some surprises at E3 after all.

The countdown is due to finish on about June 1, depending on your timezone - just a few days before E3's June 7 start date, and a favourite time for pre-event reveals and announcements.

Original Carmageddon developer Stainless Games is still very much active, producing downloadable titles based on existing IP, such as Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers, Risk: Factions and Warlords.

Siliconera notes that two of the three Carmageddon games were co-published by one SCi Studios, later part of Eidos, itself now swallowed by Square Enix.

Additionally, the second Carmageddon's publisher, Sales Curve Interactive, is also now part of Squeenix. Dunh dunh dunh.

Square Enix has demonstrated a lively interest in exploring Western IP and revisiting neglected franchises, alá Dungeon Siege III, and is rumoured to have a reveal up its sleeve.

Carmageddon, a racing game inspired by cult flick Death Race 2000, raised eyebrows in 1997 by featuring the repeated and gory deaths of pedestrians - changed to zombies in some outraged territories.

Stainless produced a 1998 sequel, Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now. A third entry, Carmageddon TDR 2000, was developed by Torus Games in 2000. All three saw broad multi-platform release.