ALPHA | NEWS // STUDIOS Farewell to B
Stalwart UK studio closes after 23 years industry rallies to support staff, as new outfits form amidst storm of affection by Will Freeman
LAST MONTH SAW the sudden closure of longstanding UK developer Blitz Games Studios, which ceased trading as a result of financial pressures. While 175 staff lost their jobs on the day of the closure – September 12th – 50 were immediately offered work at a new studio formed by Blitz execs. The new outfit will work on two of the developer’s existing projects deemed to be self-sustaining financially. Simultaneously, a concerted effort by the wider UK games industry began to secure redundant staff new employment. With Twitter becoming a focal point for the sharing of available positions, within hours of the closure, a wave of studios throughout the UK called on former Blitz staff to get in touch about new job opportunities, including Rebellion, Sega Hardlight, Four Door Lemon, First Touch Games, Frontier, Playground Games and Mind Candy. And new studios started by Blitz staff have already emerged, including Game Lab Social, established by former Blitz project directors Oliver Clarke and Steve
The Oliver twins, Philip and Andrew, co-founders of Blitz, who many recognise as vital to some 30 years of the UK game’s industry’s history
Stopps. Pitched as a space for fostering creativity, the new company hopes to host workshops, on-site training and access to marketing, pitching and monetisation expertise for local developers. Meanwhile, developer Pitbull has opened a new Midlands operation and is hoping to employ former Blitz staff in many of the available positions.
WEAHERING THE STORM “We have managed to weather numerous storms over the last two decades that have sadly seen the demise of many of our friends and colleagues across the industry, but the run of problems we’ve had to face over the last year is unlike any we’ve seen before,” said Blitz Games Studios co-founder and CEO Philip Oliver. “Frustrations with clients,
the global economic crisis, and more than our fair share of simple bad luck have all conspired against us and we are no longer able to continue trading.” Blitz’s history is a long and vibrant one,
starting 23 years ago with twins Philip and Andrew Oliver establishing themselves as furiously productive and successful games makers, having established the iconic Dizzy the Egg IP. Their story is integral to the founding of the UK’s Leamington Spa dev hub, which remains a vital part of the UK games making community to this day. “We have done all that we can to make Blitz a success, and we have come frustratingly close in recent months,” continued Philip. “Major clients have felt unable to commit to investment in significant projects, others have changed strategy whilst appearing committed, and others have been slow to commit at all – all of these things have continued to hurt our finances. We have also sustained the business for some time with our personal savings but even those reserves have now been exhausted.” The studio’s own IndieCity portal is also ‘up for grabs’ as
a result of the closure, with a number of parties apparently interested in the purchase.
AN INDUSTRY REACTS As a result of the closure, numerous industry figures new and veterans have expressed their sadness at the closure, demonstrating the huge affection in the UK games industry for the Olivers and their company. “I was
shocked and hugely
04 | OCTOBER 2013
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68