EM Media funds Climax Online MMOG prototype development
EM Media has announced that it is funding the development of a range of new intellectual property with Nottingham-based Climax Online. The development will consist of several games based on the developer's Leviathan massively-multiplayer online game engine.
"Developing a slate of MMOG prototypes allows Climax Online to maximise the potential of its groundbreaking Leviathan Engine," according to Climax Online president Dave Nicholson.
"This partnership with EM Media is allowing us to confidently demonstrate our game ideas and visions to such a level and in a format that has already attracted significant international interest."
Indeed, EM Media reports that the pair have received interest from "a number of international publishers".
The collaboration with Climax is part of EM Media's ongoing package of support for the games industry in England's East Midlands, which offers developers, freelancers and game companies a combination of business development support, training and skills development funding, and other investment opportunities.
Toby Barnes, executive producer for Digital Media at EM Media said the deal was a reflection of changing attitudes.
"By working directly with the industry at all levels EM Media hopes to create an environment of innovation, creatvity 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," he said.
EM Media has previously supported developers including Derbyshire-based Free Radical Design (TimeSplitters), Strawdog Studio and a number of mobile games projects.
Offering his view on the deal, TIGA's Fred Hasson said that UK companies were facing "stiff competition from lower cost economies" as well as the threat of regional grants and state aids (particularly in Canada and Australia). He welcomed EM Media's "foresight" as "governments around the world are becoming aware of the importance of the game sector".