Games replete with mechanized, weaponized, cartoonish amalgamations of metal have been a part of David Jaffe's life for nearly two decades; his Twisted Metal franchise stretches all the way back to 1995, circa the PlayStation One, and has been spinning off sequels ever since (read our review for 2012's Twisted Metal on the PlayStation 3).

Sure, Jaffe, also known for directing God of War, may have cut ties with the Twisted Metal franchise after departing its (and his) development studio Eat Sleep Play early last year. But if ever there were any questions about the designer abandoning the motor-mayhem milieu for good, they were answered this week with the announcement of his latest forthcoming project.

Jaffe has joined forces with indie developer Pixelbionic to work as a creative advisor for Autoduel, a vehicular combat game that plans to seek production funding through Kickstarter. According to the studio's official press release -- and hinted at by the dusty jalopy in its corresponding concept art -- Autoduel is an online multiplayer game rooted in a post-apocalyptic future where, as popular culture has long established, car warfare is the new pastime.

As heavy as the steel are the game's RPG elements. Pixelbionic says that customization options will be afforded to players through drive train and suspension upgrades, as well access to "a broad array of powerful weapons and protective armor." Cars themselves will come in over 20 different varieties and are pliable to paint and decal customization. Combat will be team-based, and the developer promises to structure it through an RPG-influenced system of persistent player progression.

Currently in development for the PC, Autoduel has throwback written all over it. Jaffe is no doubt the most clout-carrying name associated with the project, but Pixelbionic also announced that he'll be working alongside genre veterans Scott Kramarich and Zack Norman -- the creative minds behind 90's car-warfare PC hits Interstate '76 and Interstate '82.

Furthermore as a creative advisor, Jaffe isn't tied down. His work on Autoduel remains separated from the new studio he began assembling in San Diego after leaving Eat Sleep Play. It allows him to satisfy an itch -- Jaffe even expressed a desire to return to the vehicle-combat circuit before 2012's Twisted Metal was even on the road -- all the while maintaining an air of secrecy around his upcoming, likely grander opus (which we only know "involves a gun and a person holding a gun").

Speaking of secrecy, though, what surrounds Autoduel should begin to dissolve fairly soon. Pixelbionic promises that its Kickstarter campaign will release "shortly," along with details regarding a monetary goal and additional members of the development team.

Ranters, are you excited about the future prospects of Autoduel?

Follow Brian on Twitter @Brian_Sipple.