Dirt 3 developer Codemasters is shifting its focus solely onto racing games, with the proposed closure of its Guildford studio and expansion of its Warwickshire studio.
Codemasters Guildford was responsible for first-person shooter Bodycount, released last month and receiving largely mixed reviews. Codemasters is currently consulting with staff at the facility about the proposal.
The company is looking to invest in its racing portfolio by increasing the size of its existing development team at Dirt and Grid studio Warwickshire, while also forming a new team at its Birmingham studio that will assist the F1 2011 team on a new unannounced racing title.
Codemasters noted that it will be encouraging current employees at its Guildford site to apply for positions at both the Warwickshire and Birmingham studios.
A spokesperson for the company said, "As Codemasters looks to take greater leadership in the racing category, the company is proposing a studio structure that adds resource and strengthens our best-in-class racing teams."
"The output from the studios on the Warwickshire campus and in Birmingham is on the increase with multiple continuing game series, brand extensions and new racing IPs in production."
"Both the Warwickshire and Birmingham studios have won BAFTAs for their critically acclaimed, multi-million selling titles and the company is adding resource to ensure they constantly over achieve in this competitive sector," it concluded.
CodeMasters has made an excellent decision and should stick to it's core competency which are racing games.
The FPS market is saturated at the moment. Games like FallOut 3 have breathed new life into the hybrid FPS genre` and companies needs to re-ivent the wheel if they hope to sell new and original First Person Shooters.
Will be interesting to see if they keep trying to develop the Operation Flashpoint series as well - while it's not mentioned here, their statements are ominous.
I really enjoy their racing games, GRID is still one of my favorites. I even bought my racing wheel for just it. I just wish that CodeMasters weren't so tied to GFWL, which fortunately GRID was not.
The FPS market is saturated at the moment. Games like FallOut 3 have breathed new life into the hybrid FPS genre` and companies needs to re-ivent the wheel if they hope to sell new and original First Person Shooters.
Arush
My Website:www.fingermonkeywire.com
Ouch.