Electronic Arts acquires Hypnotix

Electronic Arts today said it had acquired Hypnotix, the New Jersey-based studio behind the Outlaw series of sports games. The team, with experience in golf, tennis, and volleyball games, will now take the lead on EA's recently announced Arena Football League-based game.

The acquisition came with an invitation to move to Orlando, Florida, the same city that EA's Tiburon Studios resides in. All but five of the 40-member team accepted the relocation.

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"We've been itching to get into team sports," Hypnotix president Mike Taramykin told GameSpot. He said the team had previously dabbled in team sports but had yet to produce a team-sports game.

The Outlaw series, which includes Outlaw Golf, Outlaw Volleyball, and Outlaw Tennis, had been published by Take-Two's budget subsidiary, Global Star.

All former Hynotix staffers will be assigned to the AFL products, although EA has yet to specify platforms for the game that's expected to kick off alongside the real AFL in February. The AFL license was acquired by EA in January.

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