Blowing up the Northern Ireland games scene

by Dylan on September 5, 2011

Probably not the most delicate of blog titles but it’s definitely time that people paid attention to the games industry in Northern Ireland. I’ve been generally aware of games activity in the region but it wasn’t until Hector (think Monkey Island meets Northern Ireland) crashed onto my iPhone this weekend that I’ve suddenly woken up.

Hector: Badge of Carnage (Ep 1) is a point-and-click adventure game in the LucasArts vein with about as much political correctness as Malcolm Tucker reciting nursery rhymes. It’s good stuff. Straandlooper (the developer, based in County Down) and TellTale Games have just released Episode 2 (Senseless Acts of Justice) with the final episode due in Autumn. Before I go any further, a confession. I distinctly remember the folks in InvestNI telling me about these guys some time ago. It may have been months. Okay, fine, it might have been a whole year ago (although in my limited defence, they didn’t use ‘monkey’ or ‘island’ to describe the game). Don’t make my mistake, download it now.

I’ve met a few of the game startups in NI and even tried to set up a joint-venture there once (didn’t happen due to issues at our end). Lots of enthusiasm and some good university courses. Which is pretty much all you need to start anything. As well as Straandlooper, keep an eye on these games startups:

  • DarkWater Studios: the team behind downloadable Dogfighter (Quake with bi-planes)
  • Ecliptic Labs: two iOS titles in development
  • Design Zoo: social and augmented reality titles in development
  • Billy Goat Entertainment: Belfast studio who developed Knighty Knight for iOS
  • Beep Blip: developed Hungry Monsters, released earlier this year
  • Black Market Games: apparently an uber-secret stealth startup that nobody will tell me about
  • WeeMan Studios: developing Galactic Racer for iOS
  • Project Zebra: geo-social startup backed by Venista Ventures (German VC)
Most of the activity seems to go through the Digital Circle group if you want to poke around for more info. And if anyone actually finds out what the Black Market guys are doing, let me know.
(big thanks to Matt Johnston for helping me join the dots)

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  • dylan

    Anyone who feels they should be here, please leave info in the comments.

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  • http://onlineracingchampionship.com Ashley McConnell

    Hi Dylan,

    Just to add to the list, I am developing a Racing Simulator ( http://onlineracingchampionship.com ), hopefully to go into alpha test in the next couple of months. I am based in Carrickfergus

    All the best,
    Ash

  • http://www.thehectorfiles.com Hector

    Oi, Dylan. D.I. Hector here.

    I don’t usually say nice things about people, so I won’t here. Glad you enjoyed the game (since you seem to be the sort of man who finds dirt, grime and sleaze ‘enjoyable’).

    In case your review isn’t enough to cement Hector’s deserved placement on iPhones of the world, here’s a free promo code to any unsuspecting mug who happens to stumble onto this page while looking for internet filth: 3F493XNA6E4A

    Cheerio, coachpokers,

    D.I. Hector
    Clappers Wreake Police Service

  • dylan

    @Hector You’re a gentleman. No wait, I mistook you for somebody else. Thanks for the promo code, will share with a vengeance.

  • http://www.thehectorfiles.com Hector

    That’s @diHector to you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=502786573 Dylan Collins

    Ha.

  • http://twitter.com/cimota Matt Johnston

    Two more games companies came out of the woodwork since this was posted. And I didn’t know about the Racing Sim in Carrick!

    I’d like to think that having the best Risk Fund in Europe (and perhaps the world) helps!

  • Taggartcliff

    family guy rip off  dont give up ur day job lol

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