DEVELOP 100 MEASURES GAMES INDUSTRY'S CREATIVE STUDIOS AGAINST COLD COMMERCIAL REALITY
Develop Magazine Reveals Update Of Its Exclusive And Widely Acclaimed Development Revenue Chart
Tuesday 18 April 2006/... The second annual Develop 100 is unveiled today, ranking and analysing game development studios from around the world according to their UK retail sales.
It confirms US giant Electronic Arts as the dominant creative and commercial force in the market, but also throws up plenty of homegrown success stories to gladden patriotic hearts.
The Develop 100 is published with this month's copy of Develop magazine today (April 18th) and will also be distributed with sister publication MCV (the only weekly trade newspaper for the interactive entertainment business). It tracks the sales through UK tills of every title released in 2005. The result is a guide that throws light on the real winners and losers in one of the fastest-growing creative industries in the world.
At the top of the pile, just like last year, is EA Canada, the studio behind Electronic Arts' two monster franchises, FIFA and Need for Speed.
The highest placed British team is also one of the 100's highest climbers and most intriguing stories, Traveller¹s Tales. Its revenues have increased fourfold and it leaps from 34 to nine thanks largely to the innovative and highly acclaimed Lego Star Wars.
In total, UK studios generated £234m (24 per cent) of all revenues last
year, this was more than the contribution from Japanese teams (including Nintendo, Sega, Konami, Capcom), which chipped in £189m, but far less than the US, which managed an impressive £534.3m.
Develop editor Michael French offered: "The Develop 100 is now established as an essential read amongst not only the games industry but for anyone wanting to get a feel for this market's emerging trends. It's also something that we know means a hell of a lot to the companies listed.
"This year, whilst the big boys retain the sort of presence you'd expect, it's also significant that a lot of growth is being driven by original IP and heartening that, if you look, you¹ll see plenty of inspiring stories of independent success."
Develop 100 is available from Develop publisher Intent Media. To obtain a copy, please email Hannah Short (Hannah.short@intentmedia.co.uk) or call 01992 535646.
Develop 100 is sponsored exclusively by Deep Silver (0870 027 0985) and utilises data from ChartTrack, which is the strict copyright of ELSPA.
For further information, please contact:
Michael French (Michael.French@intentmedia.co.uk)