Chillingo sign episodic 3D shooter MUSE for mobiles

MUSE is the flagship title from up-and-coming North Carolina studio, Lab Rats.

The game is told in comic book-style and promises psychological twists to keep players engaged. Settings include a grungy urban street and desolate oil rig.

The first episode is scheduled for release just in time for summer on mobile platforms.

“MUSE brings console quality gameplay and graphics to mobile platforms,” says Chris Byatte, co-general manager of Chillingo.

“We are very excited to partner with new studios, such as Lab Rats Studio, who can bring fresh and unique titles to mobile platforms.”

Rion Holland, CEO and co-founder of Lab Rats adds: “We are excited about signing our first publishing deal. The association with Chillingo will help MUSE stand out in the mobile space. Their success in publishing hit games is a tremendous boost for our company.”

MUSE will be arriving soon on the Apple App Store, followed afterwards by the Android Market.

Chillingo, owned by EA, has published some 3D action titles, such as Bugs Wars and Etolis Arena. More announcements like this would suggest they are looking to capture the growing market of players looking for core experiences on mobile.

Firemint, which was purchased by EA last week, has seen tremendous success with the demanding Real Racing series, and Gameloft’s NOVA series has satisfied fans of FPS games.