New York, NY – April 2, 2002 - Codemasters is set to shake up the first-person shooter action genre with its upcoming Shoot to Kill: Colombian Crackdown. The game is being designed for the PC and next-generation console systems with development being spearheaded by Gavin Raeburn, Head of Juice Studio at Codemasters. Additional revolutionary features will be announced in a future release.

Shoot to Kill: Colombian Crackdown has a deep and gripping plot of deception, betrayal and revenge, coupled with intense and refined gameplay. With a modern-day setting, the game plunges players deep into Colombia’s drug underworld as Drug Enforcement Administration Officers. The experience charges players with uncovering and bringing to justice, individuals and gangs involved in the trade and trafficking of cocaine.

“The first-person shooter market really needs an arse kicking, as game developers seem complacent with first-person shooter games, relying on better graphics and broadband gameplay to spice up aging dinosaurs” said Raeburn. “Message boards are full of criticism for over-hyped FPSs that simply don’t take the genre any further. We intend to totally reinvent the clichéd first-person shooter and move it forward to deliver a fresh gameplay experience that shows gamers what they've been missing for years.”

The development studio is currently winning acclaim for its evolution of the racing game market with Pro Race Driver, a “carPG” which brings a gripping narrative and plot to a realistic, license-based racing title. For this new project, Raeburn has assembled an additional team in his studio, located at Codemasters’ Warwickshire HQ, with a mix of experienced developers and fresh talent.

“We’re looking to bring a new aspect to the genre through the use of revolutionary AI and physics systems,” continued Raeburn. “Essentially, we aim to do for the action/shooter market what the new Pro Race Driver and Colin McRae Rally 3 games are very successfully doing for the racing genre.”

ABOUT CODEMASTERS

Established in 1986, UK-based Codemasters is one of Europe's best-selling and profitable game-makers, developing and publishing titles for the console platforms and PC. Codemasters’ products first appeared on US retail shelves in 1999 and since then they have continued to provide energetic, compelling and innovative entertainment to gaming fans of all genres. The company’s 2001 offerings included Blade of Darkness and Operation Flashpoint, both of which met with critical acclaim and enormous consumer praise. Richard Darling, the company’s Design Director and co-founder, is renowned as one of the most prolific game designers and has been involved in the creation of 60 of the company’s staggering #1 titles in the UK. In keeping with the company's mission to remain on the crest of the gaming wave, Codemasters is developing games for online and next generation platforms. Additional information about the company and its products can be found at www.codemasters.com