New PSN title from Sidhe Interactive developers of Gripshift

[Shin-Ra]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/ga...ake-own-titles

Wellington games developer Sidhe Interactive has grown to employ nearly 100 staff and will soon announce details of a new title for the Playstation3 that it will be self-publishing.

Spokesman Jos Ruffell says the recession has not affected the company.

"Our studio is growing and we have been hiring. There are great opportunities at the moment for studios that are flexible cross- platform developers like ourselves. In a downturn, people want entertainment."

The company last week secured a $550,000 matching grant from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

That will let Sidhe improve software it has created that enables it to more easily produce games for different gaming consoles without extensive rewriting.

The foundation dispenses more than $50 million each year for innovative technology projects through its TechNZ fund.

Sidhe has tended to produce games under contract from movie studios and publishers, but will be developing more of its own games, Mr Ruffell says. The $1.1m software project will assist this.

It has already self-published one game for the Playstation3, Gripshift. Mr Ruffell says it is working on four other projects, in addition to its new Playstation3 title.

"We are very pleased that the Government has been able to match our own large investment and commitment to R & D. We expect a good result for both the company and the economy."