Realtime Worlds Ltd is a video game developer based in Dundee, Scotland. It was founded in early 2002 by David Jones (formerly of DMA Design) who developed the popular franchises Grand Theft Auto (GTA) and Lemmings.[1] Much of the initial workforce was previously employed at Rage Software, as Rage Games (Scotland). During this period the core team who would go on to form Realtime Worlds developed first-person shooter Mobile Forces for Microsoft Windows. Upon the demise of Rage Software, Dave Jones bought out Rage Games (Scotland) to form Realtime Worlds.[2]
| File:Rtw.png | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer and video games |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Dundee, Scotland, UK |
Key people | David Jones (CEO/Director) Tony Harman (President) Ian Hetherington (Chairman) |
| Products | Mobile Forces (as Rage Games (Scotland)) (2002) Crackdown (2007) APB (TBA 2009) |
Number of employees | 200+ |
| Website | http://realtimeworlds.com/ |
Realtime Worlds is currently the largest independent game developer in Scotland with over 200 employees as well as a small Boulder, Colorado office.[citation needed]
Their first release under the name Realtime Worlds was the Template:Vgy critically acclaimed action-driving game, Crackdown, an Xbox 360 exclusive title.[1] They are presently developing a massively multiplayer online game for Microsoft Windows, titled APB (All Points Bulletin), which is expected to release in Template:Vgy and could generate revenues upwards of "hundreds of millions of pounds".[3]
In 2007, at Develop Magazine's Industry Excellence Awards the company was nominated in a record-breaking seven categories, and took home the awards for Innovation and New UK/European Studio. Company chairman Ian Hetherington was also crowned Development Legend.[4] At the 2007 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Video Game Awards ceremony, Crackdown was nominated in five categories and won two, for Action and Adventure and Use of Audio.[5]. In 2008, Crackdown was honoured as Best Debut by the GDC's Game Developers Choice awards.[6]
On February 14 2008, it was announced that Realtime Worlds had secured USD$50 million in funding from a consortium led by venture capitalists Maverick Capital and New Enterprise Associates and joined by the WPP Group, a London-based advertising firm. The funds are expected to be used towards "continued expansion".[1]
References
- ^ a b c "WPP Amongst $50 Million Investors In Game Maker Realtime Worlds". Washington Post. 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ^ "Scottish Enterprise".
- ^ French, Michael (2008-04-15). "Dave Jones says APB could generate revenues in the hundred millions". Develop UK. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "GAMES INDUSTRY CREATIVES HONOURED AT 5TH ANNUAL DEVELOP INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE AWARDS". GamesIndustry.biz. 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ^ "Video Games Award Winners 2007". BAFTA. 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ^ "Portal BioShocks GDC Awards". GameSpot. 2008-02-20. Retrieved 2008-04-15.