One of the most intriguing games at VU Games' recent pre-Electronic Entertainment Expo press event, regardless that it was present only in video form, was undoubtedly Freestyle--a massively multiplayer online basketball game for the PC. Currently scheduled for release in early 2007, Freestyle will support one-on-one, three-on-three, and five-on-five matches of five minutes in length, and every single guy and girl on the court will be controlled by another player.

　　The first thing you'll need to do, of course, is create a player for yourself. You'll find a handful of different male and female body types to choose from, and you'll then be able to further customize your player's appearance by tinkering with skin tones, hairstyles, facial features, and clothing. Freestyle will incorporate a role-playing game-style experience system, and as you progress through the character levels--1 to 45--you'll earn points that can be spent on improving both your skill and your wardrobe. Some of the items that you buy in the game will have a positive effect on your attributes, but for the most part, you'll simply be purchasing them so that you look good on the court.

　　Looking good shouldn't prove too much of a challenge given that Freestyle employs a great-looking cel-shaded art style, and although hardcore players will purportedly find that there's plenty of depth to the game, it has definitely been designed with casual players in mind. The game's only controls will be the W, A, S, D, and arrow keys, although quite how they'll be used isn't clear at this time.

　　In keeping with the game's desire to appeal to casual gamers, you'll be able to get into pick-up games quickly and easily using a chat-room system that will automatically match you up with players of similar ability. Freestyle will also feature support for organized clans (or teams, at least), and VU Games is hoping to implement some kind of jersey-design feature that will let organized groups of players create uniforms for themselves.

　　Further information on Freestyle is scarce at present, but look for more on the game once we've got our hands on it at the Electronic Entertainment Expo this week.