startup-ecosystem-mapping-report

Pandemic Stud
Games, Games, and
MORE GAMES
Below is a summarised network map of the most central
people and organisations within Queensland’s Games
sector. It includes active, closed and acquired Game
Studios. Both those developing their own IP (Startups)
and those making games for clients. Connecting lines
represent professional relationships (past and present)
such as employee, founder or director. The whole
network can be seen in the top right of the following
page.
In analysing the full network of people employed by
gaming companies Krome Studios comes out most
central, with 50% of the entire network connected to
Krome by 3 steps: 1st step is to an employee of Krome,
2nd step to ‘other’ companies the same employee has
worked for and a 3rd to the employees of the ‘other’
companies. In this way half of the entire sector is
connected to Krome. The graph gives a small taste of the
long-term impact of a large pioneer on an ecosystem.
The summarised graph shows the interconnection
between core game studios in the middle dominated by
Krome, Pandemic and Arun, and the relationship of these
studios with movie-related studios on the far left, 3D
animation studios second from left and to the right the
commercialisation of gaming technology within services
such as advertising and gambling platforms that employ
gaming approaches.
Griffith University
Guy Blomberg
Simon Dye
QLD University
of Technology
Ratbag Games
Cutting Edge
Sega
THQ
Randy Vellacott
Photon VFX
Rising Sun Pictures
Alex Drummond
Animal Logic
MOVIE INDUSTRY
3D ANIMATION
KROME STUDIOS - ESTABLISHED
Founded in 1999 by Robert Walsh, Steve Stamatiadis
and John Passfield, Krome has created over 19 titles -
both their own IP and for clients. They are best known
for Ty the Tasmanian Tiger and in 2010 ranked 52 in the
Develop 100 list, placing them alongside studios such
as LucasArts, Blizzard and EA. From 2010 to 2012 they
experienced difficulties - closing their Adelaide studio
and cutting staff in Melbourne and Brisbane. In 2012
they reopened after being dormant since 2010.
PANDEMIC STUDIOS - CLOSED
Founded in 1998 with an equity investment by
Activision this US-Australian game studio had offices in
Los Angeles, California and Brisbane. In 2000 Andrew
Payne and Adam Iarossi left the LA studio to start the
satellite studio in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. In 2007
Electronic Arts acquired Pandemic’s parent company
VG Holdings for $860m USD, and shortly afterwards
closed Pandemic in 2009.
HALFBRICK STUDIOS - ESTABLISHED
Founded in 2001 by Shainiel Deo, Halfbrick is one of
the most recognised independent studios worldwide
with games such as Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride,
Monster Dash and Age of Zombies. Since being
released in 2010, their blockbuster title Fruit Ninja,
has been downloaded by over 500 million users, was
number two on the list of the top all-time paid iPhone
apps, and grosses more than $1m a month.
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