Bachus back in the game as new Nival CEO

Russian developer Nival Interactive has announced that it is to establish a global headquarters in Los Angeles, with former Microsoft and Infinium Labs executive Kevin Bachus heading up the firm's management team as CEO.

The company, which is best-known for PC titles including Heroes of Might and Magic V, Blitzkrieg and Silent Storm, is now planning to broaden its focus - with sectors such as mobile game development and outsourced asset production services being targetted by the firm.

In particular, Nival believes that it can provide assets and other development resources at significantly lower costs than other firms, due to its base in Eastern Europe. It plans to base key development staff such as lead designers and art directors in Los Angeles, with 300 further development staff located in five other studios worldwide.

Nival's wireless division is being fingered as a key growth area for the company, and is headed up by Doug Dyer - a former general manager at THQ Wireless, who has also worked for Warner Bros' mobile entertainment unit.

"During its ten year history Nival Interactive has already established itself as a highly praised developer of successful PC games," commented the newly-appointed Bachus. "By marrying Western creative, production and management capabilities with Eastern execution skills and expertise, we will bring products to our partners that are high in quality and global commercial appeal, but low in risk."

Although probably still best-known as one of the co-instigators of the Xbox project at Microsoft, Bachus' most recent industry role was as president and COO, and latterly CEO, of controversial start-up firm Infinium Labs - whose product, the Phantom console and broadband videogame delivery service, has yet to be launched in any market.