Gamers looking to get behind the wheel as Vin Diesel in Midway’s new video game, Wheelman, will have to wait until after the New Year. The official North American and European ship dates have been set for February 16th, which means you’ll get to grab your copy at your local retailer as early as February 20th. While it may disappoint some gamers who were hoping to find Wheelman stuffing their stockings this holiday season, it’ll make for a great New Year’s resolution to only play quality games in the future.

While it’s still too early to have definite opinions of Wheelman, it’s easy to assume it’ll be one of the better-crafted video games on the market, since Tigon Studios — Vin Diesel’s personal video game production company — is involved. Gamers will remember the critically acclaimed Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, which Tigon Studios co-developed with Starbreeze Studios. That game is one of the very few movie-to-video-game crossovers that are actually playable and not just a poorly developed revenue stream cashing on the source material’s popularity.

Butcher Bay seamlessly blended the thrill of an action movie into a video game, and Diesel hopes to do the same with Wheelman. This time, however, the focus will obviously be on driving. “Playing this game will be just like taking control of the greatest car chases from feature films, except this time you’re in the driver’s seat,” Diesel says.

Wheelman will also feature a new innovation in driving games called “Vehicle Melee.” Apparently, the player will be able to perform sideswipes, “slam-n-rams” and other maneuvers in order to elude or destroy other autos during the frenetic car chases. You’ll also be able to fire weapons while driving, if that’s more your thing.

Vin Diesel will lend his gravelly voice and likeness to the game as well. In Wheelman, he plays undercover agent Milo Burik who infiltrates the criminal underbelly of Barcelona, Spain by posing as a driver for hire. The plot is similar to this year’s Need for Speed Undercover, except in Wheelman, you’ll be able to leave your car and run and gun in the streets if you have to.

Wheelman will be available on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and personal computer platforms.

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