Endless Ocean 3 wasn’t quite as relaxing as its predecessors.

Dark Energy Digital’s repeatedly delayed Hydrophobia won’t have the ocean entirely to itself. Publisher 505 Games and developer Biart Studio have announced Deep Black, a nautically themed third person action game in which you’ll trade your favourite rifle for a well oiled harpoon gun. You’ll also have access to what the publisher has described as “specialised underwater jet packs”. Just let that ‘sink’ in for a moment. Sorry. I really should leave punning to the experts, which brings me to my next point.

According to the press release, providing “realistic physics in an underwater environment brings new ‘depths’ to in-game challenges”. It takes genuine courage to fire off such a desperately awkward pun and I can’t allow it to go by without acknowledgement. The Black Panel is therefore pleased to present the Thorson Prize to 505 Games. This is only the second time we have issued what will undoubtedly become the industry’s most coveted award.

Deep Black is due for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in Q1 2011. The Black Panel is now taking bets on whether it will beat Hydrophobia to market.