Fund4Games to finance production of Kuju title

Oxfordshire-based developer Kuju Entertainment has announced that it has entered into a partnership with Fund4Games to secure third party financing for its forthcoming Rail Simulator PC game.

Kuju previously developed Microsoft Train Simulator, which sold over a million copies worldwide. Rail Simulator will give players the opportunity to take charge of steam, diesel and electric trains on real routes in the UK and Germany.

"The decision to use third party finance as a part of the production of Rail Simulator allows a structure of IP ownership and commercial interaction with the Rail Simulator community which would be difficult to achieve through more a traditional two party structure," said Kuju MD Jonathan Newth.

"The publisher model is still very important but it's no longer the only option, particularly for titles like Rail Simulator."

Fund4Games chief executive Tim Gatland added: "We believe that the F4G financing model provides major benefits to both developers and publishers, creating a new model for the production and launch of videogames."

"We recognise Kuju's proven capability in developing train simulation games and we believe that together with EAP they will create a world-class product."

Fund4Games most recently hit the headlines when it acquired the assets of ill-fated videogame publisher Acclaim Entertainment, taking over the funding and management of work on titles Interview With A Made Man and ATV3.

Rail Simulator is slated for a 2006 release and will be distributed and marketed by Electronic Arts.