 Broadening Horizons and Narrowing Media Gaps Amersfoort, Netherlands Developer Est. 2006 Our featured profile today highlights Creative Artists, who are on a mission to break the modern pre-conceptions about the line dividing different media. Beginning on the Internet as innovative modders, this amalgalm of free spirits sees inspiration for games coming from many different sources, from film to online culture and more. They are risk-takers, ready to take on the challenge of radical new financial models and unorthodox game designs. Their clearly defined vision, desire to innovate and welcoming nature makes them a valuable BGIn member.
Who are you, and what are you responsible for at your company? Richard Francis Kay, Director. My task is to maintain the creative scope (overseeing the look and feel) and manage the right people on the right place. You could say, keeping the focus during playtime and keep communications clear.
What’s one interesting fact about your business? (if applicable)
The name “Creative-Artists” gives it away actually. We combine individual creative disciplines (film, game and internet) and together we “Broaden your Horizon”.
What’s one interesting fact about your area?
At this moment we operate from Amersfoort, and because it’s in the center of The Netherlands we can be easy reached from all angles.
Work wise we tend to work a lot with freelancers, and they come from all over the place (which allows us again to have different feedback and personal freedom to some extend). Local Challenge(s) (e.g. qualified talent, funding, government support, etc.)
Talented and nominated for designs. Started a Mafia game modification during college which actually got a lot of attention, awareness and views, even tough it had not been finished!
What’s your (and/ or) company’s specialty?
My personal specialty is that I can create worlds and put them down on paper. I’m very positive towards a lot of things. The company that I lead holds a lot of different insights, due to our variety of people, which allows us to create and come up with some really nice (and sometimes unorthodox) ideas. The ideas are most times combined with a broad spectrum: film, game and internet. Increasing the fun and allow switching moments internally.
What’s the company philosophy?
“Broaden your horizon” is our payoff. We believe that everybody has experience in something – it could be big or small – and combining these multiple insights, expierences and forces you can achieve more than on your own. We like being together with others.
What’s the company’s vision?
We predict that games will be blended into more and more different areas (filmgames genre?) The upcoming technology and embracement by the society will eventually open more creative doors. Combining ideas and creations from all over the place. We want to push that envelope and let everybody enjoy the fun together.
What’s the single most important thing BGIn members should know about you?
We like to help others! We’re very keen on helping out and sharing knowledge amongst our peers. We are open minded to all kinds of things, even it’s not game related – if you want to swing by for a cup of coffee – no problem!
What’s your favorite game?
The Lucasarts adventures have my fondest memories, because I think that these games really ignited creativity… The humor was a great asset! You really had to think out of the box and beyond the solar system sometimes to get a solution (or that could just be me …) Oh, and games like Prince of Persia because of the swordfights and Half-Life because of the story and tension it contained.
What has your attention in the games industry at the moment?
We noticed that there’s a gap between universities and the real deal developers. And on the other hand there’s a large group of people who want to get into the gaming industry. But there’s not enough learning space? What could be better than to combine these people on a platform? We are making an effort to persuade the government to take gaming seriously – so hopefully together with BGIN members we can make a difference.
What do you think the future holds for the Benelux games industry?
A lot of potential! Last week I saw a program about Polygram. A small film studio in England. They were “unorthodox” because they spent $7 million instead of $70 million on branding a movie like “Notthing Hill”. They were persistent in their own way. They were unique. They had all the potential of becoming the European equivalent of some big Hollywood studio. Somewhere down their road of success, it plummeted because some bad informed people predicted the future wrong. Europe could have set the new landmark of film making, bypassing America….
What I’m pointing out here is that I believe that the game industry in Benelux or somehow the European influence could be the next best haven for game developers and young talent. Why? Because we tend to have an exquisite originality to most games. We spend our money differently compared to America (and get a bigger result, with a lower input). And as European continent we have a very wide variety of people, history, landmarks, countries, stories etc. and cultural good affects everybody in multiple ways. We have a lot of potential!
Where do you see challenges for the games industry in the Benelux?
Government and other economic departments should be more aware of what’s happening here and should be more helpful in “startups” – There are some funds, but not easy to reach. I heard that Gerrit van der Zalm (ex-Minister of Finance) he plays online games – so he could be persuaded ;)
Where do you see the industries greatest opportunities in the Benelux?
Although the Benelux maybe relatively small, there’s a lot of potential here.
In fact, there’s a lot of brain drain, because people who want to work in the game industry, don’t easily find something around here. I they can, they have to be top of the class. People need more experience in the hard and soft skills… If we get our focus right here, combining the forces of developers and educational institutes. Damn, it could spread throughout Europe. The government will notice eventually. So if we push it all together we think that the European games industry could flourish quite a bit these upcoming years.
What local games industry events do you attend and why?
www.NLGD.nl
List the most important three games industry events outside the Benelux you attend and why?
www.GDCONF.com
www.GC-Germany.com http://www.creative-artists.eu/ |
