Can you believe that Need for Speed franchise has been gracing our PCs and console since 1994? Despite some saying that last year's effort, NFS Pro Street, took a backwards step for the series, EA is still showing no signs of taking its foot off the gas.

EA boss John Riccitiello brings us news that the 12th installment in the series is currently in development and will be called Need for Speed Undercover.

Riccitiello believes that Undercover will be a big improvement on Pro Street and spoke of his disappointment with the studio's last racing title:

"I thought it was an okay game, in terms of gameplay. It's not good. But who wanted ProStreet? It was a sort of made up, put numbers on the side of your car and pretend to drive your Ferrari where? Or your Porsche where?"

So, what will make NFS Undercover any more appealing? Well, first up we can expect the game to return to sandbox style of gameplay that we enjoyed in Most Wanted, an improved mission structure and better storyline. He also used the film, Transporter to stress how he'd like the game to come across to its fan-base:

"For those of you who ever saw movies like The Transporter - it's sort of a cult classic among people with a B-movie mentality, which fits me perfectly. I liked it. I apologize. For those of you with no taste, and you liked it too, we can go have a Schlitz after this."

One thing that Need for Speed Undercover does have on its side is time. Rather than the 12 month cycle that it usually takes to produce a game in the franchise, EA has given its team of developers 24 months to get the game right as well as bolstering the team numbers working on the game.

Source :: Eurogamer