Independent developers create new business alliance

A trio of independent game developers have established the Independent Developers Association (IDEA Games), providing members and partners with a unique support structure to successfully bring new games to market.

Created by industry executives from developers Altar Games, Bohemia Interactive Studio and Black Element Software, the association is wholly owned by the participating studios, providing independent developers with comprehensive support, guidance, marketing and promotional resources.

Bohemia Interactive Studio director, Marek Å panel, commented: "Game development is extremely demanding and risky business and the competition in the worldwide market is immense. The industry is dominated by the strongest publishing houses and the position of an independent game developer is getting more and more intricate."

Introduced for the first time at the Lyon Game Connection 2005, IDEA has already provided pitching, presentation and promotional support for several in-development titles, including UFO: Afterlight, Alpha Prime and Armed Assault. The participating members and associates can benefit from full support for deal negotiations, PR and marketing activities, legal support and company presentations.

In addition, IDEA encourages cost reduction through a number of shared activities and resources, such as sharing the participation fees in industry events like E3 and maintaining efficiency through joint product presentations.

"IDEA Games is open to all independent developers. To guarantee our associates the best service possible, we have engaged game industry veterans with long and successful experience both from development companies and game publishing and distributing process." stated Slavomír Pavlícek, IDEA's chairman.

Black Element Software's Radek Volf added: "IDEA Games provides an infrastructure to independent game developers regardless of the size of their budgets or stage of their projects and allows them to concentrate purely on the creative part of the game development."

Bohemia Interactive Studio, a founding partner of IDEA, was formed in 1998 by the creative team behind Codemasters' Operation Flashpoint, which has sold almost 2 million units worldwide. The company has developed a military simulation used by various factions of the US armed forces, and is currently developing Armed Assault, an infantry combat simulator.

Black Element Software is currently developing a first person sci-fi adventure based on literature penned by Ondrej Neff, the foremost Czech sci-fi author. The company are responsible for the acclaimed action title, Shade: Wrath of Angels.

Completing the founding companies, Altar Games has been established by industry veterans with many years of development and creative design experience. The team has worked on PC titles including Original War and UFO: Aftershock, and is currently developing a new squad-based tactical game, UFO: Afterlight.

Further information on the new alliance, its benefits and details on affiliation or membership can be found by visiting the IDEA Games website.