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Asphalt: Urban GT is set to launch right alongside or perhaps even before the Nintendo DS system itself. Although Ubisoft isn’t using any fancy touch-screen steering wheels, the racer does fill a key spot in the DS launch.

The racing gameplay takes place on the upper screen with licensed vehicles and detailed 3D tracks from around the world, with a stylish red map on the lower screen that shows the position of each car in the race. Over twenty licensed vehicles will be available for purchase from companies such as Audi, Hummer, Lamborghini, and Ford. Cash for your new rides and upgrades can be earned by winning races that take place in cities like Chernobyl, Paris, NYC, and Bogota.

Asphalt follows in the footsteps of Burnout by giving you nitro boost for zooming by other cars at close range. Recent screens also suggest that bonuses may also be given for performing drifts and other maneuvers. One image even shows a very large ramp in the center of a city street, so suffice it to say that while the look is realistic, the driving surely won’t be.

The game also features three multiplayer modes, which allow for up to four players each. However, it’s unclear at this time whether matches will be available via single card multiplayer or require each player to have a Game Card.