Eutechnyx happy to work with Activision on NASCAR title
Despite legal issues with previous development partners, Jobling content with decade old relationship
UK developer Eutechnyx has said it is happy to work with Activision as a publishing partner for its upcoming NASCAR game, despite the bad press and ongoing legal disputes that surround the company and its outspoken chief exec Bobby Kotick.
While Activision has had very public disputes with creatives such as Double Fine's Tim Schafer, and is in the midst of a legal battle with ex-Infinity Ward bosses, Eutechnyx' director of business development Darren Jobling said that having dealt with the company for over 10 years it has had no reason to be concerned over its approach to working with development talent.
"We have worked with Activision for over a decade and only have good things to say about them," offered Jobling.
"Eutechnyx can only judge from its own personal experiences and we've never had any reason to complain in our dealings with them."
Announcing NASCAR The Game 2011 officially today, Jobling revealed that the sporting body had approached developer Eutechnyx directly, asking them to breathe life into a driving franchise that was dropped by the previous licence holder, Electronic Arts.
"When NASCAR asked Eutechnyx our advice on how to re-boot their franchise in the gaming world, we were very upfront and honest and we recommended that great fun should be at the centre of the design for NASCAR The Game 2011," offered Jobling.
"We feel that many racing games have become a little too hardcore, often sterile experience which we didn't feel fitted into with the hugely exciting spectacle of NASCAR."
He added: "We were extremely fortunate that NASCAR understood our vision for the future of the franchise and they took the unprecedented step of granting the exclusive license to Eutechnyx - a game developer."
The developer has a distinguished history in the racing genre, having worked on a number of successful titles from its base in the north of England, including SuperCar Challenge and upcoming massively multiplayer online title Auto Club Revolution.
"Eutechnyx is unusual for a European developer in that we have historically had a great deal of success in the USA, with a number of million seller games," noted Jobling. "The UK is also highly regarded the world over for racing game expertise, so the Americans have responded well to us taking care of their most-prized motorsport asset."
NASCAR The Game 2011 is due for release early next year, on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.