JAM puts Ninja Theory into practice

Cambridge-based development studio Just Add Monsters, which was bought by former Argonaut CEO Jez San in the wake of Argonaut's collapse, has been relaunched under the name of Ninja Theory.

The studio is continuing work on its next-generation console title, Heavenly Sword, which was unveiled earlier this year and has been attracting significant interest from publishers despite a rumoured high price tag.

The Just Add Monsters co-founders remain in charge of the business; Nina Kristensen is "chief development ninja" at the new business, while Tameem Atoniades is heading up design and Mike Ball is head of technology. Jez San has joined the board of the firm as a non-executive director.

Ninja Theory, which continues to employ the entire original Just Add Monsters team, describes itself has having no debts and fresh capital, and is now almost two years into development on its next-generation product and technology.

"We have gone through hell tackling the creative, technological and business challenges of next-gen game development," commented Kristensen. "But we've come out of the worst intact and it feels great to be a truly independent company once again."

"We made a strategic decision to start very early and craft a gaming experience worthy of the 'next-gen' moniker," according to Atoniades. "We really want to make something pretty damn special rather than same old crap with shiny new graphics."