Realtime Worlds

Infobox_Company
company_name = Realtime Worlds
company_
company_type = Private
company_slogan =
foundation = 2002
location = Dundee, Scotland, UK
key_people = David Jones (CEO/Director)
Tony Harman (President)
Ian Hetherington (Chairman)
industry = Computer and video games
num_employees = 200+
products = "Crackdown" (2007)
"APB" (TBA 2009)
homepage = http://realtimeworlds.com/

Realtime Worlds Ltd is a video game developer based in Dundee, Scotland. It was founded in early 2002 by David Jones (formerly of DMA Design) who developed the popular franchises "Grand Theft Auto (GTA)" and "Lemmings".cite web | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/14/AR2008041400834.html | title=WPP Amongst $50 Million Investors In Game Maker Realtime Worlds | date=2008-04-14|accessdate=2008-04-15|publisher=Washington Post] Much of the initial workforce was previously employed at Rage Software, which had ceased operations.Fact|date=April 2008 Realtime Worlds is currently the largest independent game developer in Scotland with over 200 employees as well as a small Boulder, Colorado office.Fact|date=April 2008

Their first release was the vgy|2007 critically acclaimed action-driving game, "Crackdown", an Xbox 360 exclusive title. They are presently developing a massively multiplayer online game for Microsoft Windows, titled "APB (All Points Bulletin)", which is expected to release in vgy|2009 and could generate revenues upwards of "hundreds of millions of pounds". [cite web | url = http://www.developmag.com/news/29636/Dave-Jones-says-APB-could-generate-revenues-in-the-hundred-millions | title =Dave Jones says APB could generate revenues in the hundred millions | date = 2008-04-15 | accessdate = 2008-04-16 | first = Michael | last = French | publisher = Develop UK ]

In 2007, at Develop Magazine's Industry Excellence Awards the company was nominated in a record-breaking seven categories, and took home the awards for "Innovation" and "New UK/European Studio". Company chairman Ian Hetherington was also crowned "Development Legend". [cite web | url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/games-industry-creatives-honoured-at-5th-annual-develop-industry-excellence-awards | title= GAMES INDUSTRY CREATIVES HONOURED AT 5TH ANNUAL DEVELOP INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE AWARDS | date=2007-07-27 |accessdate=2008-04-15|publisher=GamesIndustry.biz] At the 2007 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Video Game Awards ceremony, "Crackdown" was nominated in five categories and won two, for "Action and Adventure" and "Use of Audio". [cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/video-games/video-game-awards-nominations,99,BA.html|title=Video Games Award Winners 2007|date=2007-10-01|accessdate=2008-04-15|publisher=BAFTA] . In 2008, Crackdown was honoured as "Best Debut" by the GDC's Game Developers Choice awards. [cite web | url= http://www.gamespot.com/news/6186460.html | title=Portal BioShocks GDC Awards | date=2008-02-20 | accessdate=2008-04-15 |publisher=GameSpot]

On February 14 2008, it was announced that Realtime Worlds had secured USD$50 million in funding from a consortium led by venture capitalists Maverick Capital and New Enterprise Associates and joined by the WPP Group, a London-based advertising firm. The funds are expected to be used towards "continued expansion".

References

External links

* [http://www.realtimeworlds.com Realtime Worlds website]
* [http://crackdownoncrime.com Official Crackdown website]
* [http://www.apb.com Official APB website]