Krome Studios still trading, at least 40 staff retained

Australian developer Krome studios is still trading, albeit with severely reduced numbers and under the new name of Fortitude Technologies, its CEO Robert Walsh has told Australian press.

Speaking to IGN Australia Walsh said that he hadn't rectified reports of the studio's closure in the press because he saw little point in putting the story straight, feeling that his words would be misrepresented.

"Well, to be really honest... I mean, we've been through three rounds of lay-offs, it's just like... When the rumours came to air, we had journalists ring up, and it was kind of like... not very personal," Walsh told IGN.

"I had to let a lot of my friends go (from Krome), who I've known for 10 years, and I wasn't really getting much compassion from the journalism industry. So it's like no matter what I say, people will say something else, so what's the point?"

The company is still working on four projects, according to Walsh, including one for the Australian Ministry of Defence. A 'core' team has also been retained to work on contract projects, and Walsh hopes to be hiring more soon, depending on workflow.

"Realistically, we have at least 40 doing work on projects," replied Walsh when asked how many staff remain at the developer.

"We're potentially going to get about another 40-45; I'll find out in the next day or two, if this project goes ahead. And then we have another project that comes up in a couple of weeks, which could (require) another 40 people. So it's going to be anywhere between 30 and 100."

Walsh blamed the near-collapse of the studio on poor industry and economic conditions, stating that the management had always tried to keep people working for as long as possible, a policy which had seen overheads skyrocket.

He also acknowledged that the company's business model "doesn't work", indicating that future projects would be on a much smaller basis.

"We were investing in a space that was contracting, and we got into social and casual (games) a little bit too late. We're still focusing in that area now, because a lot of the projects we're working on right now are smaller, and definitely in the social, casual and DLC (downloadable content) space, not necessarily in boxed product."