Turbulenz launches developer funding programme
Start-up to pay salaries as devs work on new browser platform
Browser-based gaming start-up Turbluenz is to help fund the creation of games that take advantage of the company's SDK - using part of the $5 million it raised to establish the business.
Money for the Launch Pad funding programme has been set aside to help up to ten projects, with Turbulenz offering to pay wages while developers work on a browser version of their game.
"We recently raised over $5 million, and a part of that funding round has been set aside for the Launch Pad funding programme," James Austin, CEO, told GamesIndustry.biz.
"The amount of funding per title will depend on the idea and the complexity involved. We will base the funding amount on the costs incurred by the developers, so expect the funding to be used to pay the salaries of a bunch of developers for, say, a few months while they work with us on the browser version of their game."
Turbulenz, which came out of stealth mode earlier this month, was established in 2009 by ex-EA and Criterion staff, and is focused on building an engine for use in the browser games market.
Games funded by Turbluenz will benefit from marketing at the launch of the service, currently pencilled in for 2011, with the firm taking applications for funding until January 14 on their official website.
Austin said Turbulenz is looking out for partners that can innovate beyond the established ideas in web gaming and help create a new generation of online content.
"Ultimately, we are looking for talented developers who have creative ideas about where online gaming is going.
"Of course this means really simple things like what is the potential for generating revenues in the game and does the game appeal to a mass market of gamers who want to play online. But we're really looking for developers who want to take things a step further - developers who want to experiment with social components beyond just inviting friends and leader boards.
"We want developers to embrace this and create some really unique content, something really new. So I guess overall, we're looking for developers with vision and a desire to create a new generation of games online."