Brunswick Pro Bowling set to strike PSP

Octane Gription Reactive Coverstock may sound like something out of Star Trek, but it's actually one of bowling equipment manufacturer extraordinaire Brunswick's high performance balls, designed specifically for medium to oily lane conditions.

Because if you thought all bowling balls are the same, the following story can go one of two ways: you'll either learn something by the end of it; or you've already stopped reading.

Those still here will therefore no doubt be interested to know a bowling simulation has just been announced for PSP, and it promises to deliver a detailed and realistic bowling-centre experience.

Part of the authenticity comes from the fact it includes official Brunswick bowling gear and ten real centres, of course. The other part is courtesy of a promised realistic physics engine that's able to simulate realtime changing lane conditions, as well as accounting for both momentum and spin.

In Career mode, the plan is to bowl your way from amateur to professional by competing in a year's worth of tournaments while facing off rivals. Whether this will actually take a year or not has yet to be disclosed, but those not able to commit on that level can always opt for the Quick Play option or the four-person ad hoc multiplayer mode.

To keep your mind off the fact you're as likely to score a perfect 300 in real life as you are in the game, you can always engage in customizing your character (the PSP version apparently features additional options for this) by selecting from the equipment and apparel available to you, some of which you get to unlock the better you throw big heavy balls down a wooden alley.

That sounds sarcastic but it's not meant to – we've actually played past bowling games that have proved curiously hypnotic. We hope this one proves to possess a similar quality, and as soon as we have more info (such as a likely release date), we'll be sure to tell you. Click 'Track It!' to be bowled over by more news when we get it.