Quebec-based casual game developer Frima Studio's upcoming strategy game Zombie Tycoon will be built on Vicious Cycle Software's Vicious Engine, making it the first PSP Minis title to use the tech. Full-scale UMD-based PSP games like Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, Alien Syndrome, and Vicious Cycle's own Dead Head Fred have used the Vicious Engine, but external engine licensing is less common for smaller-budget download-only platforms. Vicious Cycle first launched its engine in January 2005, and followed up with the second major version during Game Developers Conference this past March. Last month, Vicious announced a deal with Sony that will see the Vicious Engine made available to Minis developers, although the specific terms of that agreement were not publicly disclosed. "For our first Minis title, we wanted to make something that would stand out from the crowd both technically and artistically," said Frima executive producer Martin Brouard in a statement. "The Vicious Engine has helped us take full advantage of the PSP's power while still keeping Zombie Tycoon within the size limit for a minis title."