Xbox co-creator Seamus Blackley launches mobile-game startup

THQ has announced a “strategic agreement” with Innovative Leisure, a mobile game startup founded by Xbox co-creator Seamus Blackley.

Blackley revealed his new company last week and in an interview with VentureBeat.  He said the iPhone is “the new arcade,” and that the 99¢ pricepoint is “the new quarter”.

Blackley has assembled a team of industry veterans, built of many of the minds that created Atari’s arcade games back in the 70s and 80s.  Include Asteroids and Centipede co-designer Ed Logg, Battlezone creator Ed Rotberg, Owen Rubin of Major Havoc and Space Duel and Rich Adam, creator of Gravitar and co-developer of Missile Command.  Also involved are Dennis Koble, Tim Skelly and Bruce Merrit.  Which Blackley calls “the dream team from Atari”.

Innovative Leisure already has 30 employees and has secured funding from THQ.

Blackley “I’m lucky, because I love games and following that love has always done me well. Once we figured out iPhone is the new arcade, that games from the old days fit this new audience and their on-the-go lifestyle, we knew what to do.” he told VentureBeat, “There is already a group of people here who know how to operate and innovate in this space. They had the longest string of hit games in history. And they wanted to get back together again.”

Danny Bilson, EVP of core games at THQ, said “We are always looking to work with the best creative talent in the videogame industry and we feel this relationship with Innovative Leisure reinforces our goal. We are committed to delivering creative games through digital distribution and Innovative Leisure has the expertise to deliver remarkable and cutting-edge games for a new generation.”

The deal gives THQ first refusal on the Innovative Leisures games, should THQ choose not to publish one, Blackley is free to take it elsewhere.

Source: VentureBeat