Capcom has annonced that they have secured worldwide, exclusive rights for the next 4 years to make games and peripherials based on MotoGP, the famous worldwide motorcycle racing championship that has spawned successful games over the past years from publisher THQ. Capcom has stated that they initially intend to publish titles based on the 2008 MotoGP series for the 360, PS2, PS3, Wii, PC, and even versions for mobile handsets.

What has Capcom got up their sleeves? The only worldwide released racing genre title I’ve ever heard from them was Auto Modellista, a game that had beautiful cell shaded art and was hyped heavily, only to fall victim to somewhat lackluster gameplay.

Is there a chance they are going to try to give the MotoGP series a cell shaded treatment and revisit the concept of Auto Modellista with bikes? Or are they going to go for a full on simulation type racer to compete with previous MotoGP and Tourist Trophy games? Such a realistic approach seems like it would be an odd direction for Capcom considering the types of games they’re known for. It’s anyone’s guess at this point, but whatever it is, there is the potential for a great racing game in the works.