Motorstorm influenced by FlatOut?

There are plenty of similarities between the FlatOut and Motorstorm games, FlatOut producer Danny Rawles has dismissed his game's ties with the PS3 launch title (in a typically diplomatic fashion) saying Motorstorm was "perhaps" influenced by FlatOut.

"In all honesty no, we've not been influenced by Motorstorm," Rawles tolds CVG in an interview to be published soon. "Looking at some of their features, perhaps they've been influenced by FlatOut."

But while Evolution Studios' PS3 racer apparently didn't influence the development of the new FlatOut, Rawles says that he "obviously kept an eye on it", while noting that it's "not a direct competitor" since "they are PS3 exclusive and we are Xbox 360 exclusive."