Visual Science working on GoldenEye; EA Northwest to update Strike franchise

Details have emerged today regarding the teams working on two of EA's biggest forthcoming games - with Scottish developer Visual Science working on GoldenEye, while the EA Northwest studio is updating the classic Strike franchise.

Visual Science, which has previously worked on other EA titles such as Formula 1: Career Challenge, is based in Dundee, and is believed to be working closely with EA's recently established Los Angeles studio on the new GoldenEye title.

We revealed the existence of GoldenEye last week, but were unable at the time to confirm who the developer of the new game was, beyond assurances that it was not Free Radical Design, a studio which has connections with the original GoldenEye N64 project.

We have also learned today that the EA Northwest development studio, based in Warrington, is working on an update to the venerable Strike franchise - which comprised classic action titles ranging from Desert Strike through to Nuclear Strike.

The franchise was last visited on the PlayStation, and EA Northwest's update - said to be a free roaming 3D action title where the player can enter and pilot multiple different types of vehicle - is set to bring it to the current-generation consoles, with a tentative release date of early to mid 2005.

EA Northwest was bolstered last year by the addition of the 30-strong development team from Studio 33, an independent developer based in Liverpool which was acquired by EA and moved to the Warrington premises. Studio 33 had worked on titles including Formula One and Destruction Derby Arena for SCEE.

Rumours have also circulated on the Internet today regarding a possible update to Syndicate, which EA has owned since it purchased the legendary Bullfrog development studio several years ago. However, we have been unable to confirm these rumours - with one EA insider telling us that the reports had "got their wires crossed" regarding Syndicate. However, with EA apparently keen to update some of its older franchises such as Strike, Syndicate is an obvious candidate for an update, and it remains entirely possible that the company is working on one in secret.