The Dark Eye: Demonicon
Action-RPG's rights transferred from wreckage of TGC to Kalypso Media.
Ridgewood, NJ, September 22, 2010 - Kalypso Media, a global, independent developer, marketer and publisher of interactive entertainment software has today announced the acquisition of key intellectual property and development resources of The Games Company (TGC), who recently went into insolvency. The acquisition grants Kalypso Media rights to the ambitious third-person Action RPG Demonicon.
A team of 17 employees from Silver Style Entertainment, the former TGC internal development group, will be merged with the newly founded Kalypso-owned Noumena Studios GmbH. As part of the purchase, Kalypso also acquired the remaining distribution and publishing rights for the PC titles Simon the Sorcerer 5, Goin' Downtown and Everlight.
"Our acquisition of Demonicon and other valuable brands, along with the founding of our third studio further enhances our already strong product portfolio for 2011 and 2012, solidifying our position as an independent international publisher and developer," said Simon Hellwig, Global Managing Director, Kalypso Media Group.
Stefan Marcinek, joint Global Managing Director, Kalypso Media Group, stated, “We are pleased to welcome the very experienced and talented team members of TGC’s former Silver Style Studios into the newly founded Noumena Studios. We are certain they will find Kalypso Media a competent and growth-oriented partner, offering an excellent working environment and stability for the future.”
Noumena is the latest and third addition to the internal studios in which Kalypso is a majority stakeholder, which include Munich-based Realmforge and Guetersloh-based Gaming Minds. It is anticipated that by the end of 2010, Noumena Studios will employ 35 team members. Kalypso has appointed former TGC project manager André Schmitz, as Noumena’s Studio Director. Schmitz will be assisted by Creative Director Eric Jannot. The team’s focus will be the completion of Demonicon, which is scheduled to be released for PC and console in early 2012. Continuation of the browser-based project UCITI is currently being considered.
"After a turbulent insolvency, we are very pleased to have Kalypso as a key investor and partner," said André Schmitz of Noumena Studios. "We are happy that Kalypso will retain the core team -- as they did with the creation of Gaming Minds Studios after purchasing Ascaron's assets. Kalypso has also shown that long-term positive cooperation and stable growth are high priorities for them.”
For more information on Kalypso Media please go to www.kalypsomedia.com
About The Kalypso Media Group
Founded in 2006 in Germany by industry veterans Simon Hellwig and Stefan Marcinek, Kalypso Media is a global, independent developer, marketer and publisher of interactive entertainment software that employs nearly 100 video game industry experts world-wide.
Along with Headquarters in Worms, Germany, the company has offices in the United Kingdom and the United States. Kalypso Media also enjoys very strong global digital distribution through its Kalypso Media Digital Ltd. subsidiary, and owns three development studios – Realmforge Studios GmbH, Gaming Minds Studios GmbH and Noumena Studios GmbH -- and works with multiple leading independent developers.
Kalypso Media recently released the critically acclaimed best-seller Tropico 3 for Xbox 360 and PC, DarkStar One – Broken Alliance for Xbox 360, Disciples III: Renaissance and Patrician IV: Conquest by Trade for Windows PC. Upcoming titles include Dungeons and The First Templar.
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Ted Brockwood
Head of PR, Kalypso Media USA
ph. 503 475.9590
e: ted.brockwood@kalypsomedia.com