ICT and Creative Media Case Studies

Eutechnyx

Eutechnyx is a developer of video games, specializing in driving and racing titles for the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 consoles. Founded in 1987, the company employs over 150 full time programmers, artists, animators and game designers at its studios in Gateshead, in the North East of England, Hong Kong, Chengdu (China) and Pittsburgh in the US. There are also hundreds of specialist sub-contractors throughout the world utilized for specific tasks in the creation of Eutechnyx' games.

Eutechnyx' attention to detail, particularly in applying its expertise in mathematics and physics in order to recreate the complex dynamics of vehicle movement, has become the basis of its reputation. The company has achieved significant success with several bestselling titles - developed consistently with each new wave of game technology since the late 1980s - and currently works with not only with the world's biggest publishers (such as Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Namco Bandai), but also with the world's biggest media companies in general (Universal Pictures, MTV, etc.). The company's games have featured licences with several major film, television and sports properties.

Sales specifics

Eutechnyx had already produced 250 games titles by 1990 and in the early 1990s developed games primarily for Sega and Nintendo consoles. Number one selling titles included Pete Sampras Tennis and Micro Machines 1 and 2. A major breakthrough came in 1996, when Eutechnyx obtained both registered developer and publisher status for Sony PlayStation. Key successes included Total Drivin', Max Power Racing and Le Mans 24 Hours for the PlayStation 1 - all with publisher, Infogrames/Atari. These were followed by even greater success with 007 Racing, also on the PlayStation for Electronic Arts, and F1 World Grand Prix 2000, with Video System and Eidos Interactive.

As video games began to resonate with the public on a truly global level, Eutechnyx achieved further successes with Big Mutha Truckers for PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PC in 2003. The game was a number one bestseller on the PS2 in the USA (including the biggest seller in the WalMart retail chain) and was nominated for a BAFTA award. Also in 2003, Eutechnyx' Managing Director, Brian Jobling, won Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the North. In 2004, Street Racing Syndicate (SRS), published by Namco, reached number one in the USA on Xbox and number four on PS2.

Recent releases have included The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift and MTV's Pimp My Ride. Both are projected to surpass 1 million in unit sales, an achievement normally reached by only 3% of games. Eutechnyx has just released Ferrari Challenge through System 3 in Europe and Activision Blizzard in North America. The game has already been hailed as the "best racing game yet for PS3" and has been nominated for a Develop magazine Industry Excellence Award.

Future games include Ride to Hell, which features both vehicles and character work, as well as a major new worldwide online release to be announced in 2009.

Contact

Todd Eckert - Director, North America
te@euthechnyx.com

Web
http://www.eutechnyx.co

Sumo

Sumo is a successful and highly reputed design consultancy based in central Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The company was founded in 2000 and specialises in the provision of design and creative solutions which allow organisations in the arts and cultural sectors to attract larger audiences. Sumo operates both regionally and nationally, working with museums, galleries, heritage sites and art centres.

Activities in the region

Since its formation in 2000, Sumo has grown rapidly to employ a team of fourteen designers, programmers and project managers. The company's skilled workforce has delivered many high-profile projects within the North East, helping to cement the region's status as one of the UK's leading cultural locations. The quality of Sumo's output also strengthens the reputation of the North East's design and creative workforce.

Sumo has worked with Tyne and Wear Museums since 2003 in order to develop the name and brand for Newcastle's Great North Museum. This £26million venture is due to open in 2009 and will combine the collections from the Hancock Museum, the Museum of Antiquities at Newcastle University, the Shefton Museum and the Hatton Gallery. Sumo's involvement in, and contribution to, this major addition to the North East's cultural attractions reflects the company's expertise in the North East design sector.

In addition, the company has been involved in brand development for the Waygood Centre for Contemporary Art, following a new development worth £10million, as well as brand development for a new building at the Northern Writers Centre. Sumo's success in the region was recognised when the company was named the North East Design Agency of the Year in both 2007 and 2008.

Future developments

Building on its success within the North East region and the UK, Sumo is increasingly seeking to secure international contracts. In 2008, it is hoped that 30% of the company's turnover will come from international clients, potentially including Russian State Museums and the Egyptian Tourist Board.

Contact

Jim Richardson - Managing Director
Tel: (0191) 261 9894
jim@sumodesign.co.uk

Web
http://www.sumodesign.co.uk