EM Media fund the development of new Climax project

February 2005

As part of its ongoing support for the games industry EM Media is delighted to announce the funding of a substantial development in conjunction with Climax's Online studio based in Nottingham. The development will consist of a slate of games based on Climax's Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) engine Leviathan.

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."

EM Media attract investment funds on behalf of the region's film and media sector from a variety of sources, including the UK Film Council, East Midlands Development Agency, ITV Central, Nottingham City Council, Derby City Partnership, Skillset and others.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

EM Media has both a strategic role, in promoting the sector and in supporting access, and a delivery role, focusing on sustainable business growth. Our mission is to place media at the heart of the cultural economy of the East Midlands through innovation, inspiration and investment. EM Media will lead and promote a culturally diverse, nationally significant and sustainable media sector.

EM Media's activities can be split into three distinct areas:

• EM Media Investments - Investment packages for people, organisations, projects and businesses within the film and media sector of England's East Midlands covering four broad areas:

- Audience and Market Development:

- Business Development:

- Product Development and Production:

- Skills Development:

• EM Media Services - Providing the guidance, support, direction and access to training and skills development for media businesses and individuals, whilst championing the region as a filming location. An all-embracing role fulfilled through three channels:

- Business Development

- Location Services

- Skills Development

• EM Media Culture - Increasing the quality and quantity of opportunities to see, make and understand media.

EM Media is part-funded by UK Film Council along with European Regional Development Funds. EM Media has previously worked with FilmFour, BBC Films, Carlton Television and Channel 4 among others.

EM Media has invested in and backed numerous projects, including Chris Cooke's debut feature One For The Road (One For The Road Productions) the feature film Anita & Me written by Meera Syal (Take 3 Partnership, UK Film Council and BBC Films), In Denial of Murder (Hat Trick Productions) and Shane Meadows' latest award-winning feature Dead Man's Shoes (Warp Films).

For further information on EM Media see www.em-media.org.uk.

For interviews and images please contact sally.hodgson@em-media.org.uk.