It's been more than a little while since we've heard anything about Backbreaker, the football game from developer NaturalMotion. NaturalMotion may not be a name that is terribly familiar to you, but chances are you're already somewhat familiar with the company's software, specifically the dynamic physics engine named Euphoria. If that doesn't ring any bells, it may help for me to remind you that Euphoria is the application that made the realistic ragdoll physics seen in GTA IV, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Pro Evolution Soccer 2010. Anyway, the last we heard about Backbreaker was that a scaled-down version of the game had been ported to the iPhone, but there hasn't been much word about the full console version. However a report from GI.biz has announced that Backbreaker has finally gotten itself a publisher, 505 Games. 505 Games may be known to you as the publisher of games such as IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey, Armored Core 4, and the Cooking Mama series.

Torsten Reil, CEO of NaturalMotion, was excited to finally nail down a publisher for his company's first ever in-house game, saying:

"Through the use of euphoria, we are able to create an experience that is truly interactive and different every time. We're thrilled to be partnering with 505 Games and can't wait for gamers to experience this new type of sports title."

Anyone who has played Backbreaker on the iPhone can tell you that NaturalMotion may have a winner on its hands with the full console version. Although the phone app is little more than just a run/dodge minigame, it has provided countless hours of entertainment to a lot of people. Hopefully the finished title will be a complete football game, with seasons, stat tracking, and all the trimmings. Hell, anything that can give EA's Madden a run for its money is a step in the right direction. Granted, NaturalMotion won't have the NFL license, but still, another football game on the market is a good thing. Backbreaker is slated for a spring 2010 release.

[SOURCE]