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Narrative video games agency Telltale has acquired interactive video tech firm Flavourworks in a bid to broaden Telltale’s storytelling recreation efforts.
The acquisition goals to boost Telltale‘s capacity to deliver cinematic tales to new platforms and audiences. Considered one of Flavourworks‘ backers was Hiro Capital in the UK.
Flavourworks, identified for its mobile-first method, specialised in know-how for cinematic interactive tales. Its flagship product, TouchVideo, allow you to have interaction with cell gadgets in distinctive methods, like sliding a finger throughout the display screen to stroke a personality’s cheek. It enabled extremely responsive interplay with video, unlocking immersive gameplay experiences on touchscreens, smartTVs, PCs, and consoles.
Flavourworks’ video games embody Erica, Hush: Crane and Cuttlefish. Telltale, which is beneath new possession from a gaggle led by CEO Jamie Ottilie, simply launched its first episode of a story recreation based mostly on The Expanse.
In an interview with GamesBeat, Ottilie cited as causes for the deal the rising demand for deeper interplay with mental properties (IPs) amongst followers and the necessity for accessibility throughout varied gadgets and platforms. Flavourworks’ know-how and experience in interactive video will allow Telltale to create story-based video games extra effectively and broaden its attain by means of streaming and new platforms, particularly on cell gadgets.
“It was a fairly easy equation when it comes to what Flavourworks does and what Telltale does and synergies are fairly apparent. We’ve been listening to Flavourworks since Erica,” mentioned Ottilie. “It’s a special take, clearly, however it falls into the branching narrative house and their method to it” was distinctive.
Telltale has been vocal about its technique to collaborate with strategically-aligned studios and applied sciences to boost its narrative experiences. The acquisition of Flavourworks aligns with Telltale’s imaginative and prescient and positions each corporations to capitalize on the convergence of the movie and recreation sectors.
“Followers right this moment need to work together with their favourite IPs extra deeply, and interactive narratives are a
actually immersive approach to try this,” mentioned Ottilie. “On the identical time, folks need to entry their video games from wherever they’re, no matter machine or platform. Flavourworks’ know-how and interactive video experience will allow us to effectively create story-based video games and attain extra folks by means of streaming and new platforms. We’re enthusiastic about what it may imply for our portfolio of video games.”
Ian Livingstone, cofounding companion of Hiro Capital, mentioned in a press release, “The Flavourworks’ staff, know-how, and artistic experience is an ideal match for Telltale. Following Telltale’s profitable launch of The Expanse, with its robust evaluations and glorious participant suggestions, I look ahead to seeing what gameplay improvements a collaboration with Flavourworks will usher in constructing best-in-class narrative video games.”
Flavourworks has beforehand developed cinematic recreation titles resembling Erica, obtainable on PlayStation, Steam, and iOS, in addition to Hush: Crane and Cuttlefish for cell platforms. Zachary Slatter, CEO of Flavourworks, will be part of the Telltale administration staff because the managing director for Europe.
“The Flavourworks staff is delighted to be a part of Telltale,” Slatter mentioned. “We clearly acknowledged the of iconic model and clearly the staff. We spent numerous time actually making an attempt to innovate, notably across the know-how, getting it engaged on a number of totally different platforms and permitting us to deliver these actually graphically wealthy experiences to decrease finish gadgets, cell linked TVs, and extra.”
He added, “Flavourworks has all the time had ambitions to deliver our know-how extra intently to the participant expertise. Working with Jamie and the inventive staff there, we’re going to have the ability to proceed to raise the forms of experiences we need to make.”
The acquisition of Flavourworks by Telltale underscores the dedication of each corporations to delivering distinctive narrative gaming experiences and leveraging progressive applied sciences.
Based in 2015 by Jack Attridge and Pavle Mihailovic, Flavourworks is a mobile-first, next-generation studio that develops and produces know-how for cinematic interactive tales.
The Telltale model and belongings are owned by LCG Leisure, which operates and markets video games beneath the Telltale title. In its prior possession, Telltale was profitable on the PC and ported its video games over as premium titles on cell. However as premium titles disappeared in favor of free-to-play video games, that model of Telltale struggled on cell.
Now, Flavourworks permits Telltale to hit the cell platforms with prime quality. Within the close to time period, the deal opens up new distribution alternatives, platforms, and methods to make use of present content material, Ottilie mentioned. He mentioned the businesses will work collectively in collaborative methods, versus working individually.
“Our intention is that the 2 groups will wind up being built-in and we’ll cross issues forwards and backwards fluidly,” Ottilie mentioned. “We’re going to spend time getting these issues lined up.”
Telltale has round 28 folks, and Flavourworks has round a dozen. Telltale is engaged on publishing the remainder of The Expanse episodes now and it’s engaged on a sequel to The Wolf Amongst Us in addition to a 3rd unannounced title. It has been working with outdoors builders.
Ottilie mentioned he foresees that Telltale will function with a mixture of inside groups like Flavourworks and exterior groups as properly.
“Telltale 1.0 tells you what occurs whenever you do the whole lot in-house, it turns into a really unwieldy enterprise. And so I believe that we’ll proceed to maintain core staff members internally. The query we ask ourselves, for any employees position, is that if this particular person or position goes for use on each recreation, or simply on one recreation.”
As a core focus, Telltale is creating interactive tales that give gamers company to play a job within the main choices of a recreation. Now there will probably be extra experimentation with what Flavourworks and Telltale can do collectively.
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