Brütal Legend is a new video game from the mind of Tim Schafer and Double Fine Productions which features a number of metal superstars including Rob Halford from JUDAS PRIEST, Ronnie James Dio from HEAVEN & HELL/BLACK SABBATH and MOTÖRHEAD's Lemmy Kilmister.

Nick Cowen from Telegraph.co.uk spoke to Schafer recently, who first had the idea for this game back when he was a teenage metalhead. It's the most personal game he's ever made.

“My brother caught me listening to SUPERTRAMP in the sixth grade and said “what are you doing?! C'mere!!” and he pulled me down to his room and he played me 'Iron Man' by BLACK SABBATH,” says Schafer, “It's good to have an older brother who does things like that! Ever since then I've just loved that kind of music. I would make up little rock videos and little movies in my head when that sort of music was playing. Whenever you see a band on stage – especially a metal band – you always get the impression that maybe they believe they are fighting this war against evil, but to the sound of rock music. We wanted to make a game where you actually got to do that.”

Schafer's vision is tied to the essence of heavy metal. Far from serving as a stylistic backdrop, the spirit of heavy metal informs everything from the characters, to plot, to world the adventures take place in.

“When we first started pitching the game,” says Schafer, “people suggested we base it around hip hop or country and western music. It could have been done, but it just wouldn't be the same. It had to be heavy metal, we needed the lore! The great thing about heavy metal is that it's both serious and awesome, but pretty ridiculous and over the top at the same time. We can poke fun at it, but at the same time pay a very loving tribute to it.”

Read the entire interview here.

Brütal Legend will be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the Playstation computer entertainment system on October 13th in North America and on October 16th in Europe. From the mind of Tim Schafer and Double Fine Productions, Brütal Legend is a third person action game rich in combat, imagery and storytelling, delivering lighter-flicking fun sure to melt your face off.

Brütal Legend tells the tale of Eddie Riggs, played by Jack Black. The ultimate roadie, Eddie is the first person anyone calls when they need guitars tuned or stages rigged, and has a love for hot rods and a photographic memory for every Heavy Metal album cover, and the lyrics those albums contained. One night, a stage accident knocks Eddie unconscious, and he awakens in a world that looks very strange yet oddly familiar, a world where every Heavy Metal album cover and lyric Eddie knows has come to life, and where the evil emperor Doviculus and his demon army, The Tainted Coil, have enslaved the last remaining humans. When an oppressed people request Eddie’s knowledge of modern warfare, he pulls from his own experience in the only occupation he’s ever had, a roadie for a Heavy Metal band, and under his command, this barbaric force of hot-rods, Marshall stacks, leather, and chrome will bring this ancient world into the age of Metal.

A new trailer for Brütal Legend features MÖTLEY CRÜE's 'Dr. Feelgood' as the backing track - click below to view.

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