Gameware Studio Diary

Wed Dec 15, 2004 - So this is Christmas - and what have we done?

I simply cannot believe how fast 2004 has gone by � or how long it is since I last posted here. So in an effort to make up for some lost time, here�s a quick look at where Gameware has been at lately along with some thoughts towards the future.

One of our most satisfying tasks over the Summer was to complete work on a new toolkit for BAMZOOKi. This will be made available, via the BBC�s BAMZOOKi website at the same time as the second series of the TV show goes to air on CBBC in March 2005. Dylan and the boys spent most of the Summer preparing this enhanced ZOOK kit ready and getting some shiny new graphical effects into the system so as to enhance the look of the show. They then spent a good deal of the Autumn at the BBC�s Elstree studios helping out with filming 20 new episodes.

The BAMZOOKi team has also been working on a range of new web-based features that will see the light of day next February on the BBC�s website. These enhancements will make it a lot easier for Zook creators to share their Zooks with other users across the Internet and to track changes that have been made to their own submitted creatures. It�ll also feature a number of new trials that people can measure their Zooks by � all supported by a range of new league table systems hosted by the BBC. So, if you already thought that BAMZOOKi was a cool thing to play with, just wait a little while longer � it�s going to get even better.

Creatures-wise, we�ve been continuing our quest to find partners with the right level of commitment needed to take forward the series. It�s bound to come as something of a disappointment to the many devoted Creatures fans that regularly check here for better news on this front, to hear that, so far, we have not secured such a partner. True, we have re-released all the older titles now in Europe, and these remain available to purchase from our Shop. We are also continuing to host and support the Docking Station Hub, which, I hope, does demonstrate our ongoing commitment to reviving the game and bringing along new offerings based on the Shee-universe. Still, I�m afraid we will have to wait yet a while for this to become a reality. And, to be frank, we have to face the prospect that it might never happen! But, having got that bombshell out of the way, there are still plenty of interesting opportunities and prospects for creating compelling artificial life content which we believe will prove of great interest to Creatures fans and other gamers alike.

We have, for example, recently started full production on a very interesting new game title, which certainly uses our experience in designing and creating lifelike virtual beings, for a well-known publisher. Truth to tell, this project is by far the biggest thing we�ve yet undertaken at Gameware. Because the project is still very much under wraps, I�m prevented from spilling any of the beans right now, but what I can say is that the project has involved bringing together several familiar faces from the old days of Creature Labs, along with a few other developers we�ve worked with before at various companies - dating back for over a decade! I�m very excited about this development indeed and looking forwards to being able to divulging something a little more informative about it � hopefully in the early part of next year.

Sadly, the back end of this year has seen two of the UK�s largest, developers disappear from the independent scene. First, super-developer Argonaut was forced into administration and then Warthog became subsumed within the group that produces the Gizmondo hand-held device, in what appears to have been a rescue deal. Thankfully, Cambridge-based Just Add Monsters, which was a part of the Argonaut Group has been rescued from administration too and re-emerged as Ninja Theory. We wish them well in placing their ambitious next-gen title next year. Also, the last few months saw the final end to the once-mighty Acclaim � one of the world�s best known games publishers.

Against this kind of background, it�s pretty obvious why companies such as ours need to be careful in the projects we undertake and careful in selecting the strategic direction which underpins our decisions. Gameware has to continually balance the desire to innovate with the harsh climate and ever changing, face of the games industry. Our response is to continue to focus on our core competence � devising, designing and creating simulations, especially virtual life sims, for the platforms we know the most about, namely PC, the Internet, mobile devices and television. We already have some genuinely unique and exciting projects to work on next year, along with a very talented set of individuals to make them happen � and we hope that visitors to this site will continue to enjoy coming along for the ride for 2005. Meantime, we all wish you a merry Christmas and a very happy new year!

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