NZ Game Developers

Who develop games in New Zealand? This page is a work in progress, a master list of the names, details and games of the New Zealand development firms.

It is primarily based on the membership of the New Zealand Game Developers Association (NZGDA)

Last Updated: 30/03/06

Sidhe Interactive

www.sidheinteractive.com

Summary

Sidhe Interactive is a game development studio dedicated to producing high quality entertainment titles, bringing together a close-knit team of talented and highly educated specialists, with world class creative and software development skills…

Games

Binary Star

www.binary-star.com

Summary

Binary Star Limited was formed in early 2002 and is based in Devonport, Auckland.

Staff experience includes work in the television visual effects industry, with the highly successful series “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” and “Xena: Warrior Princess” amongst the list of credits.

Binary Star are currently working on ‘Homeland’, an action/adventure title initially for console and PC set in a dark and wartorn future.

Games

Homeland

Ignite Studios

Summary

Ignite Studios is an interactive entertainment developer creating brand experiences for the PC, PlayStation formats, Xbox and Motion Picture mediums.

Games

Rugby League 2 (Xbox, PC, PS2)
bro’ Town (Mobile Phone Game)

Squashy Software

www.squashysoftware.com

Summary

Squashy Software is a small independent game development studio that has been creating action games for the PC since 1999. They are currently focused on developing shareware games for online distribution, with the aim of combining small download size and fairly modest system requirements with the highest possible production values.

Company founder Anthony Flack draws on his background in commercial stop-motion animation to give Squashy Software games a unique clay-animated graphical style.

Games

Platypus
Cletus Clay

Metia Interactive

www.metia.co.nz

Summary

Metia Interactive is a game development company, designing and creating game art assets from modelling and texturing to pre-rendered cut-scenes.

Their first major projects are the development of “Cube” for the PlayStation Portable, and “The Guardian” expected to be the first Maori themed game developed for the console market.

Games

Cube
The Guardian
Takaro

Screaming Duck Software

www.screamingduck.com

Summary

Screaming Duck Software, based in Christchurch, has been running for a few years. Starting out with small shareware projects and contract game work, Screaming Duck has built itself to a level of self sufficiency.

KADS

KADS
www.kads.co.nz

Summary

Kiosk and Display Systems Ltd (KADS) develops innovative self-service kiosk technology based on the highly effective Kluster Creation Environment (KCE) software tool set. KADS has invested in extensive research and development activity over three years to become a leader in total kiosk solutions in New Zealand.

KADS has developed several PC based gaming entertainment delivery systems and is the technology provider for Play Hutt. KADS has an active R & D programme and is currently developing several new gaming and gaming delivery concepts including merged skill and luck based games, and the development of the NuSlots centralised gaming machine model.

Blue Boar Mobile

www.blueboar.co.nz

Summary

Blue Boar Mobile is a Wellington-based wireless games development studio. The company has a suite of single-play titles and published its first game – Hoki Moki – with Telecom New Zealand in 2004. Hoki Moki was an ‘04 TUANZ Innovation Award finalist.

Blister

www.blister.co.nz

Summary

Blister develops and publishes short-form mobile entertainment for casual consumers.

Lexaloffle Games

www.lexaloffle.com

Summary

Lexaloffle Games Ltd is a small developer founded by game author Joseph White as a way of distributing his games to the outside world. By self-publishing our games online, we are able to operate as an independent game developer. This means that we do not have to compromise the design of our games for any third party, such as publishers or distributers.

Instinct

www.instinct.co.nz

Summary

Instinct design and develop online Flash games and characters, with strengths in ActionScript 1.0 and 2.0, character design, level/environmental design, and game mechanics/system design.

Twin Developments

www.twindev.com

Summary

Twin Developments limited has been involved in game development for 6 years. With a small team of highly experienced assembler and C programmers, they have provided sub-routines, algorithms, and development tools to many large American based companies including AT&T and NCR Corporation.

Recently, they have concentrated their efforts in assisting education institutions with the creation of game development courses and providing resources for students in post-graduate ventures. Their current projects include the coding of a 3D engine for Metia Interactive game, The Guardian, and the development of a series of java based mobile phone games called Takaro.

Straylight Studios

www.straylight-studios.com

Summary

traylight Studios is a Dunedin based game development company formed in 2003 from specialists in graphic design, 3D modelling, fine arts, large scale system architecture and artificial intelligence programming.

Games

Startag

Myndspy Entertainment

www.myndspy.com

Summary

MYNDSPY ENTERTAINMENT is a software development company, specializing in computer games.

Using proprietary technology we have developed our own 3d engine for use on DirectX Based architecture (such as PC and Xbox).

Based in Palmerston North, New Zealand, the company has spent the last 2 years researching and developing reusable code for use in computer games.

Second Intention

www.secondintention.com

Summary

econd Intention Limited is a game development consultancy based in Wellington, New Zealand. We specialise in high-end graphical technology and can make your PC or console title look better and run faster, at a lower cost than you might expect.