FEATURE: How new IP Zubo has changed the way EA UK makes games

We’ve just posted up the full text of our recent Zubo cover story to Developmag.com, charting the background to EA’s renamed UK Bright Light studio and its first new IP – EA UK’s first new IP game in some time in fact – rhythm action kids game Zubo.

Developed for the EA Casual label, Zubo was given a much longer preproduction phase than many other games, not just EA games, as the team worked for months on artwork concepts and ideas. The game broke other EA rules, too – it’s a platform exclusive, coming out solely on the DS.

Rob O’Farell, executive producer, explains in the feature:: “We started becoming referred to as this secret-type project that people heard about, but didn’t really know anything concrete on. We didn’t have a SKU plan at that point – something unusual for EA because that means no ship date.

“It caused arguments – because it was an unusual thing, that not every one knew about, and it had no revenue against it but was spending money on pre-production. We just wanted to get a feel for the characters. And because we kept quiet, there was ultimately no interference.”

The team, which previously worked on the likes of Harry Potter and Burnout handheld titles, drew on its experiences working with J.K. Rowling and colleague studio Criterion Games when it came to keeping its vision pure – and fighting against interfering EA execs.

To read the full story, click here.