With interest from a number of international publishers, Climax and EM Media are jointly funding the development of a range of new IP. All the resulting games will utilise the tools and technology developed as part of the studio's proprietary Leviathan Engine.
The development is part of EM Media's ongoing package of support for the game sector in England's East Midlands. This package offers developers, freelancers and game companies a combination of business development support, training and skills development funding, and investment opportunities.
Toby Barnes, Executive Producer for Digital Media at EM Media comments,
"The UK public sector needs to work closer with the games industry providing support and investment in order to develop and grow the sector. By working directly with the industry at all levels EM Media hopes to create an environment of innovation, creativity and viability for the game industry here in the East Midlands. We recognise this can only happen with a change to the current models of business, we hope our involvement will mark the first step towards this maturity of the sector."
Over the last three years EM Media have supported a number of software developers in the region including; Free Radical Design in Derbyshire with the development work of Timesplitters and Strawdog Studios with new concepts in console development. EM Media's support had also covered a number of mobile games, as well as investment in a range of individuals, projects and game ideas.
Dave Nicholson, President of Climax online comments, "Developing a slate of MMOG prototypes allows Climax Online to maximise the potential of its groundbreaking Leviathan Engine. This partnership with EM Media is allowing us to confidently demonstrate our games ideas and visions to such a level and in a format that has already attracted significant international interest."
Fred Hasson, TIGA comments, "Governments around the world are becoming aware of the importance of the games sector not only because it is rapidly becoming the entertainment medium of the new millennium with consumers, but as a potential source of employment and prosperity for modern economies in the entertainment and other fields such as training and education."
UK companies are facing stiff competition from lower cost economies, but are also threatened by regional grants and state aids in countries such as Canada and Australia. TIGA therefore welcomes and applauds EM Medias foresight in assisting one of the UK's top developers to compete and especially to create new IP to the benefit of the sector and the UK economy."