Atari has announced plans for a new first-person shooting game, Dead Man's Hand, tentatively scheduled for release in Fall 2003 on Microsoft's Xbox. In Dead Man's Hand, players will step into the boots of El Tejon, a master gunslinger riding with one of the roughest gangs in the West, known as The Nine. When the ruthless leader of The Nine betrays El Tejon, El Tejon turns to a life of vengeance, vowing to put every member of his former gang six feet under.

Besides straight shooting, Dead Man's Hand incorporates gameplay elements taken from the Old West. Gamers will try their hands at blasting desperados from the back of a trusty steed and shooting it out on a moving train, ducking just before going through tunnels. In addition, as the game progresses, players will acquire "Legend," a unique scoring system that awards points as the player blazes a path into Western folklore. When accumulated, Legend will allow gamers to pull off amazing trick shots and death-defying feats. Players will also be able to pick their own paths through the game, revealing new mission choices as the game progresses.