MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Our look at the firms backing this year’s Develop Awards continues with a look at Keywords.
CEO Andrew Day marvels at Minecon as proof of the industry’s growth and wishes luck to all the finalists.
Partner Spotlight: Keywords
Year founded: 1998
Website:www.keywordsstudios.com
For any readers who might not know you, tell us a little more about your company and its goal.
Keywords Studios is a global provider of technical services to the video games industry. We offer art creation, audio recording, localisation, testing, and customer management services across over 50 languages and 12 games platforms. With 14 studios worldwide, the group encompasses leading names of games services field, like Babel Media, Binari Sonori, Lakshya Digital, Liquid Violet, Alchemic Dream and Keywords International.
What differentiates you from similar outfits? What’s unique about you?
Technical services for the games industry is a highly fragmented market, with multiple small suppliers in various territories. Keywords Studios is one of very few international providers of a full range of integrated outsourced services and, thanks to its 14 studios, is able to support both small and large developers and publishers worldwide, acting both locally and globally.
What excites and/or encourages you about the games industry and games development today?
The proliferation of games platforms and monetisation models have opened the doors to an astounding number of success stories. Hearing that last weekend Minecon – a convention dedicated to a single video game largely created by a single person – attracted over 10,000 fans in London is mind blowing. It really feels like there are no limits for creative developers nowadays.
Regarding the Develop Awards finalists, what does it say to you about the industry and development today?
To me the variety of finalists is testament to the health of the games industry, with experienced studios like Rockstar North and Reflections alongside up-and-coming indie start-ups. We see this pattern every day at work, but looking at the list of Awards’ finalists allows to clearly understand how rich game development is today.
Do you have a message for the finalists?
Good luck to all finalists. And remember that just being nominated for an award is proof that you did great!
Anything else you’d like to add about your company and the Develop Awards?
Commitment to the highest quality standards is of paramount importance for Keywords Studios and it’s an honor for us to partner with the Develop Awards and celebrate excellence in the game industry.
About the Develop Awards
This year’s Develop Awards ceremony will be held at the Brighton Hilton Metropole on Wednesday, July 15th. It runs alongside the Develop: Brighton conference, organised by Tandem Events.
You can book your tickets over at www.developawards.com, or by contacting Kathryn Humphrey via khumphrey@nbmedia.com or call her on 01992 535646.
Other Develop Awards supporters include gold partners Amiqus, UKIE and Unity, table gift partner OPM, and event partners Aardvark Swift, Game Connection, Green Man Loaded, InnoGames, LocalizeDirect, Universally Speaking and Develop: Brighton. Unity is also partner for the Micro Studio Award, while Iconicfuture is sponsoring the Use of a Licence or IP Award.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Charlotte Nangle via cnangle@nbmedia.com or call her on 01992 515303.
