Blitz Games Studios
Blitz Games Studios is a video game developer located in Leamington Spa, United Kingdom. It was founded by the Oliver Twins, Andrew and Philip Oliver, in 1981. They completed their first game in 1984 and started developing titles for video game publisher Codemasters.
The Codemasters publishing relationship led to the origin of the Dizzy series and the Simulator series. Whilst with Codemasters, they were responsible for over 10 UK number one best sellers and over 3 million sales.[2] In 1986, it was reported that an estimated 7% of all UK games sales were attributable to the Oliver Twins.[2]
The Olivers have diversified the company’s main activities and Blitz Games Studios now represents six different divisions.
Divisions
Blitz Games
- Creates the games that the company originally became well known for: family titles, often licensed on popular characters and existing IP.
Blitz Arcade
- This is the division that creates downloadable games. Its first release was an advergame series created for the US Burger King chain. Since then, Blitz Arcade has turned its focus to downloadable titles and has had success with its first game of this type: SpongeBob SquarePants – Underpants Slam. They have also developed shooter PowerUp Forever, puzzler Droplitz and the 3DTV-compatible beat 'em up Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao.[2]
Volatile Games
- Responsible for the company’s mature games. Video games created by this division include Reservoir Dogs, runner up in the 2006 BAFTA awards for best sound track.[3] Despite allowing the player to complete the game without firing a single shot, the game was considered so realistic in its depictions of violence that it was banned in Australia.[4] They released Dead to Rights: Retribution on April 27, 2010.
TruSim
- Blitz Games Studios "serious games" division. It is best known for its work on medical-related training programs including the award-winning Interactive Trauma Trainer.[5]
BlitzTech
- Creates and licenses game development engine and toolchain.
Blitz Academy
- The in-house training system and educational outreach program
Former divisions
- Virtual Experience Company
- Past projects include the Tintern Abbey virtual tour.[3] The company was acquired by Blitz Games at the end of 2006 but was bought back by its owner Mike Gogan at the end of May 2008.[4]
Blitz 1UP
In 2008 Blitz Games Studios launched the Blitz1UP programme to help independent developers bring their games to market. The programme provided free help and advice on all aspects of game production as well as crowd sourced QA. The programme was closed in 2011 and was replaced by IndieCity, an online indie game market place.
Games created or published by Interactive Studios/Blitz Games Studios
Awards
2007
- Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2007 - Favourite Videogame – SpongeBob SquarePants Creature from the Krusty Krab
- Edge award for Training and Development of young people
- ICT Excellence in Skills
- Blitz Games wins Develop Industry Excellence Award for Business Development
- Cannes Titanium Grand Prix Award for the Burger King games
- Golden Clio Award for Burger King games
2006
- Blitz Games CEO Philip Oliver named Best Industry Player by TIGA [6]
- Warwickshire Employer of Choice Awards 2006 for creating an exceptional working environment [7].
References
External links