“Game developers are complacent with first-person shooter games, relying on better graphics and broadband gameplay to spice up ageing dinosaurs,” says 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 cliched first-person shooter, move it on, deliver a fresh gameplay experience and show gamers what they've been missing for years.”

The studio is currently winning acclaim for its progression of the racing game market with TOCA Race Driver, which brings a gripping narrative and plot to a realistic, licence-based racing title.

Shoot to Kill: Colombian Crackdown has a deep and gripping plot of deception, betrayal and revenge, coupled with intense and refined gameplay. It is being designed for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and PC, with the revolutionary and unique new features to be revealed.

With a modern-day setting, it plunges players deep into Colombia’s drug underworld as Drug Enforcement Administration Officers. The experience charges players with uncovering individuals and gangs involved in the trade and trafficking of cocaine with strict instructions to shoot to kill.

For the project, Raeburn has assembled an additional team in his studio, located at Codemasters’ Warwickshire HQ, with a mix of experienced developers and fresh talent.

“The first-person shooter market really needs its arse kicking,” emphasises Raeburn. “We’re looking to bring a new aspect to the genre through the use of revolutionary AI and physics systems, essentially doing for action shooter market what the new TOCA Race Driver and Colin McRae Rally 3 games are very successfully doing for motor sport gaming.”