NHNZ has given the go ahead for a gaming unit to work from its Dunedin headquarters.
NHNZ General Manager John Crawford said with three decades of television production experience, NHNZ was the “ultimate survivalist”.
“As a company we’ve never shied from taking on new challenges – whether it’s a new program genre, new technology or a new production partner. The gaming unit is an additional revenue raising opportunity with exciting possibilities.
“There are clearly synergies with NHNZ’s core business. With an in house computer graphics team and thousands of hours of footage coming in to our library each year, we’ve got ample resources for gaming developers to tap into.”
The fledgling unit will develop both stand-alone products as well as games complementing NHNZ’s programs.
Gaming developer Tim Nixon has spent the past three months carrying out a feasibility study into the development of a range of interactive gaming products with NHNZ’s backing.
The resulting proposal has been given the green light with additional developers being recruited to join the micro-studio before the end of the year.
“I’m thrilled that NHNZ has had the foresight to support this concept. As a start up venture, it’s great to have access to their resources and expertise, and to be able to leverage off their well respected brand while at the same time developing a unique identity for the unit that speaks directly to our community,” he said.
Games developed will be accessible via a range of platforms from the internet to iPhone with social media and social networking sites playing a key role in both product development and marketing.
The feasibility study and associated research indicates enormous growth in the gaming industry.
“The games industry has doubled in size over the last four years to become a $50b global market, with all signs pointing to even further exponential growth, particularly in the casual online markets. Our games will cater directly to the burgeoning niche of lightweight, inclusive, casual experiences that anyone can pick up and play,” Mr. Nixon said.