Play as Rikamaru in True Crime PC

PC gamers waiting for Activision's True Crime: The Streets of LA to appear on their format can at least console themselves at the prospect of a new multiplayer mode with daft Activision-based character skins. According to the game's producer Brian Clarke, True Crime PC will benefit from nine new skins borrowed from other Activision titles, which can be used in single or multiplayer modes once unlocked.

Like so much in the game, the new skins will be uncoverable by locating hidden icons scattered around - you guessed it - the streets of Los Angeles, and although you won't be able to swap personas there and then, it should be possible to take control of Rikamaru from Tenchu, Officer Dick from Tony Hawk and a variety of others from games like Pitfall: The Lost Expedition, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines and Call of Duty if you're that way inclined. Will this add anything much to the game? That's up to you to decide, I already bought the PS2 version...

Amusingly, GameSpot asked Clarke if this wasn't all a bit cheap given that it's Activision hyping Activision. Well, they were more polite about it but they still made their point. "It's not really about hyping Activision as much as it is about picking some different skins to change up the gaming experience," Clarke argued. "We have many years worth of recognizable and varied characters that have appeared on gaming platforms since the Atari 2600. We thought it might be fun to bring some of them back in True Crime. Sure, some are from current titles, but we've also added a couple of completely new characters as well."

True Crime: The Streets of LA - not actually that bad a game as it goes - will be released on PC sometime around May.