Funding Will Enable Leading New Zealand Developer to Focus Resources on Cross-Platform Framework
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - October 21, 2008 - Sidhe Interactive, New Zealand's largest and most successful game production studio, today announced that it has been awarded funding from TechNZ to help the Wellington-based company create an innovative game development framework. The new framework will enable developers to save thousands of hours of programming and reduce platform compliance issues on future projects as the market shifts from platform exclusives to a fully multi-platform development market with extensive compliance requirements.
TechNZ is the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology's business investment program, and it invests more than $50 million each year in New Zealand businesses to grow world-class companies through innovative technology.
Many development tasks are repeated each time a new game is developed, including interfaces, achievements, credits, network support, menus and other checkbox requirements for each platform. Through standardization of a multi-platform development environment, Sidhe can achieve higher quality and confidently meet all the terms of code approval faster and more efficiently than ever before.
"With our rich console game production history we're acutely aware of the requirements of cross-platform development and the need to create reusable technology to lower development costs, reduce risk and improve quality," said Tyrone McAuley, Technical Director and co-founder of Sidhe Interactive. "We're confident we're addressing one of the largest issues for this and future generations of game development and the TechNZ funding will enable us to reach our goals faster."
"Sidhe is a highly-creative company, and a leader in the games space within New Zealand bringing international attention and interest from abroad," said Joseph Stuart, TechNZ business manager. "Sidhe has consistently increased the number of jobs and projects for the country, while driving the creative industry, so we expect to see a real return on the investment we are making."
Sidhe Interactive is a licensed publisher and developer for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system, and licensed developer for Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Nintendo(R) Wii(TM). The company has been developing titles across multiple platforms for several years, recognizing key components that could be addressed by an integrated cross-platform framework. Sidhe's programming team led by McAuley have already put years of programming and design into the project, addressing core issues of platform compliance, usability, network functionality, and more. The full framework will be announced in the coming months.
About Sidhe Interactive Founded in 1997, Sidhe Interactive is an award-winning developer of console, handheld and PC games. The largest game production studio in New Zealand, Sidhe has a proven track record of creating high-quality, mass-market, licensed and original titles for a worldwide audience. The studio has produced more than 20 high-profile titles including GripShift(R) (Xbox 360, PS3, PSP), Jackass the Game (PSP, PS2), and most recently Speed Racer (Wii, PS2), as well as multiple games based on the NRL Rugby League franchise. For more information on Sidhe Interactive, please visit: http://www.sidheinteractive.com
About TechNZ TechNZ targets supports to sectors that can produce world-class companies and improve overall economic performance. TechNZ priorities include information communication technology, biotechnology, food and beverage manufacturing and specialised manufacturing.
Contact: Sean Kauppinen International Digital Entertainment Agency +1-415-299-2156 sean@ide-agency.com Joseph Stuart Business Manager, TechNZ +64 21 977 706 joseph.stuart@frst.govt.nz