Blitz Games Studios Closes

[QualityChimp]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24066065

The Oliver Twins' company has closed down.

" But Philip Oliver said the disruptive influence of the mobile games market -where titles are much cheaper or even free - has had a serious negative impact on their revenue.

"The budgets for games has fallen dramatically," he said.

He also said companies such as Microsoft and Sony had taken too long to bring out their next generation games consoles, a major cash boost for developers as gamers are eager to stock up their new hardware.

Another major contributor to the company's downfall had been a reluctance for some of its publishing clients - who also face tight financial pressures - to commit money to long-term projects, Mr Oliver said. "

[Yakumo]

It's not as if they every made anything great so it's not really a big loss for the gamer IMO. Still very sad that so many people will lose their jobs. I hope many of them can find themselves another one soon. Being out of work is not fun at all.

[Wil]

Well, I'm one of those out of work due to this and before I went to Blitz I, too, thought 'old Dizzy games and not much else' but they've been involved in a lot more than you think. As is the case with many studios, just because they don't have a box on the shelf with their logo on doesn't mean they're not working. Contract work is going on all the time, whether it's taking on a whole project for someone or just part of it. 23 years isn't to be sniffed at. Blitz was also involved in a lot of educational work, helping newcomers get a footing in the games world and that's got to be a bugger to lose.There are/were a lot of talented and fantastic people there, both new and old industry hands and I wish 'em all nothing but the best.

Now, let's crack open that CV. Not sure I can take any more Homes Under The Hammer.

[QualityChimp]

Sorry to hear that, Wil.

I've seen your artwork and I've no doubt you'll be snapped up elsewhere pretty quick.

Do you think that the Government should be doing more to help the games industry, considering the money it makes the country and the educational work that you've mentioned, or do you think it's fair enough that they should be in the same boat as most other industries and fend for themselves?

[vanpeebles]

Do you think that the Government should be doing more to help the games industry,

They should but then they won't. We are still living and trading on the boom of the british 1980's home micros scene. Once that group of people retire, pass away etc Which is starting to happen now then we will be no where on the world computing scene.

All the best for Wil too!

[VR46]

Sorry to hear that Wil.

I did post the story yesterday lunchtime

http://www.bordersdown.net/threads/118906-Blitz-Games-Studios-closes

[QualityChimp]

I did do a search, DavidH, but nothing came up, but Tapatalk isn't 100% reliable at that. I was a bit surprised nobody else mentioned it!

It was talked about as the lead feautre on Central News and then lead to other discussion about unemployment in the region.

I definitely think that the Government is missing a trick when it comes to game development, especially when you consider how much money it makes, and the West is producing far more than it used to.

I fear they don't understand what all this Mario nonsense is all about so don't take an interest.

[Brad]

Last night I was kinda thinking the same as you QC re: this line:

especially when you consider how much money it makes

but this morning I'm thinking, if it makes so much money then why has this firm (and many others in the industry) gone out of business?

[QualityChimp]

The quote in the first post explains why Philip Oliver thinks Blitz went under:

• disruptive influence of the mobile games market -where titles are much cheaper or even free
  
• The budgets for games has fallen dramatically
  
• Microsoft and Sony had taken too long to bring out their next generation games consoles
  
• a reluctance for some of its publishing clients - who also face tight financial pressures - to commit money to long-term projects
  

So basically, it's the fault of everybody playing Candy Crush.

[S3M]

but this morning I'm thinking, if it makes so much money then why has this firm (and many others in the industry) gone out of business?

Sad truth FSW is that it's mainly the publishers who make the money many development studios are often working at a hand to mouth level. With many studios one game away from bust these days.

That said the gaming market has moved away from licensed titles with sales crashing in recent years and moving more back into original and own IP. Blitz seemed slow to adapt to this and Eurocom had a similar problem, more worringly there aren't many UK major game developers left.

That said I find it odd that the Oliver Twins plan to keep 50 staff under a new company, that sounds a bit dodgy to me. Hopefully all those effected will be able to find new employment soon, the current job market is still hard to find industry work in at the moment.

[FelixofMars]

It's completely legal, but yeah it is dodgy in my book to. That said it is better 50 people still have work right?

That said I find it odd that the Oliver Twins plan to keep 50 staff under a new company, that sounds a bit dodgy to me. Hopefully all those effected will be able to find new employment soon, the current job market is still hard to find industry work in at the moment.

[FelixofMars]

I buy some of what they say there, but I do think it was partly their track record. If you look at the style of the games they did and the size the publishers will look at you a certain way. It's not their fault as once they went down that route how can you break the cycle. A bit how actors get picked for certain roles. If your market suddenly dries up then who can you sell to?

The next gen consoles DID take too long to come out that is true. they are certainly the point everyone tries to get something new on the table and people are generally willing to take more risks.

The only thing that sounds slightly dubious is the comment that budgets have fallen, if you look at any recent blockbuster that is simply not true. I do think though that no one wants mid-range company's now they are a dying breed and only AAA COD,Halo blockbusters are wanted or Indies with <30 people or F2P mobile games (urgh). It actually saddens me there is no room for small-mid range studios to create decent new games on this scale.

The trouble I find with that is they won't be given or do not take the time to really polish titles up and they often feel a bit crufty. But external pressures and lack of people who have power and the vision maybe the issue.

The quote in the first post explains why Philip Oliver thinks Blitz went under:

• disruptive influence of the mobile games market -where titles are much cheaper or even free
  
• The budgets for games has fallen dramatically
  
• Microsoft and Sony had taken too long to bring out their next generation games consoles
  
• a reluctance for some of its publishing clients - who also face tight financial pressures - to commit money to long-term projects
  

So basically, it's the fault of everybody playing Candy Crush.