Tag Archives: ian livingstone

Ian Livingstone has revealed to the world of Twitter that Lionhead’s secret project is “ambitious and innovative”.

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Eidos head honcho Ian Livingstone has confirmed to PWGM that Batman: Arkham Asylum dev, Rocksteady Studios, aren’t developing Hitman 5.

“This is the first I’ve heard about it. Hitman always has been and always will be IO Interactive’s baby, which it still continues to be so,” said Livingstone.

“Rocksteady are not involved with the development of Hitman 5.”

Last Thursday, a rumour came out that the studio were working on a sequel after it appeared in a CV for an actor who apparently did mo-cap for the game.

Thanks, Anders.

New screens for the DS adventure title Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain have popped up over on CVG.

“We showed the playable prototype of our game to Ian Livingstone back in 2007,” said Damir Slogar, CEO of developer Big Blue Bubble. “Ian immediately recognized the potential and we agreed to continue the development using the Fighting Fantasy brand.

“Around the same time, Steve & Ian had just published the 25th anniversary edition of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain so the choice to base the game on that book was obvious.”

iPhone and iPod Touch are also expected to get versions based on the books later this year.

The DS version is expected to be released just in time for the holidays.

Hit the link for the rest.

Eidos president Ian Livingstone’s confirmed that the Fighting Fantasy books, beginning with Warlock of Firetop Mountain, are to be released as iPhone and iPod Touch games beginning later this year.

“I’m happy to say, because of the advances in technology, there’s been recurring interest,” he said, talking of the paper gaming series in the latest OneLifeLeft episode.

“Not just from the book publishers… but from iApp people who are saying, ‘Why don’t you put these Fighting Fantasy game books onto an iApp.’

“And we thought, ‘Great idea.’”

Livingstone added: “Quite confident in saying that sometime later on this year there’ll be Fighting Fantasy adventures on [iPhone and iPod Touch].”

He also says they’ll play in the same way as the books, and that you’ll be able to shake your iThing to roll dice on the screen.

Listen from 26 minutes onward. They talk specifically about it at 28.30.

Fighting Fantasy was an iconic RPG book series that sold more than 16 million copies in 23 languages, mainly in the 80s.

Ian Livingstone has stated that 2009 will be a year of hit or miss for publishers, with smaller titles languishing at retail while “big ticket” titles rule the shelves.

“A lot of titles have already hit the shelves and there is a deluge planned for Christmas, but I think 2009 will be remembered as the year of ‘roast duck or no dinner’,” the Eidos president told GI.biz. “Big ticket titles continue to sell well but many of the smaller titles will probably disappoint their owners.

“There’s a glut of product and in a discerning market.There is no room for mediocrity. To make a suboptimal game with a suboptimal marketing spend is a recipe for disaster. I think we’ll continue to see more production resources going into fewer titles supported by even bigger marketing budgets.

“Publishers are continuing to raise the investment bar, ensuring the mega-franchises will rule.”

Sounds a bit dire.

More through the link.

Despite recent lay-offs, Crystal Dynamics is hiring for a Senior Art Director for “one of the most prestigious AAA franchises in the industry”, according to a job post on Gamasutra.

According to the listing:

“Crystal Dynamics has a rare opening for a Senior Art Director on one of the most prestigious AAA franchises in the industry. We are looking for an exceptional talent to bring onto the team and continue the long tradition of visually stunning and award winning titles from Crystal Dynamics.”

Job requirements include having shipped a “minimum of 2 video games as Art Director demonstrating a high visual bar”, seven years in the industry, a proven track record of “working with an established AAA franchise”, and next-gen console expertise.

We have put a word in with Crystal Dynamics for further information.

Who knows. This could be the reinvented Tomb Raider game Ian Livingstone was chatting about last month.

Via Joystiq.

Eidos chief Ian Livingstone’s teased the next Tomb Raider for the first time, saying the game is to “reinvigorate” the IP after a lukewarm Underworld reception.

“The next Tomb Raider, I think, will surprise a lot of people and reinvigorate the franchise,” he said, talking to GamingIndians.

“There are some remarkable things we’re doing in the next Tomb Raider to make you say, ‘Oh Lara, I love you so much!’”

We’re willing to bet you a huge amount of money it doesn’t make us say that, Ian.

There’s no other detail as yet. More soon, hopefully.

There may be another Tomb Raider movie on the way. Eidos boss Ian Livingstone said so in an interview with GamingIndians.

“It’s great that we’ve had Tomb Raider movies, we’ve had a Hitman movie; now there’s a Kane and Lynch movie and possibly another Tomb Raider movie,” he said.

“We’re also looking at the possibility of a television animated series based on Mini Ninjas.”

Amazing. Thanks, GoNintendo.

Ian Livingstone has said that Batman: Arkham Asylum was delayed for the right reasons in order to maximize the game’s potential.

“We’re expecting review scores in the 90s and clearly when you have an amazing game like Arkham Asylum, you want to maximise its potential” he told GamingIndians. “So we think it’s worthwhile going that slightly extra distance to make it the game it has to be. We’re immensely proud of what we’ve created so far.

“Rock Steady’s done an incredible job, we’ve got to 100 percent realise that dream that we have and not disappoint at the last minute. So we’re going that extra mile to make sure it’s going to be the game we think it’s going to be.

“We’re delaying it for the right reasons and no one is going to be disappointed because we’ve put in an enormous effort into it. For example, there was one person working on nothing but the cape for two years, so there are over 700 animations and sound clips attached to the cape alone. That’s why it looks so beautifully realisitic.”

There is a megaton of information in that interview. Your head will hurt afterward.

He talks about Kane and Lynch 2 targeted for September, the movie adaptation of the first game starring Bruce Willis, says the next Hitman game is currently being worked on by IO Interactive, teases the next Thief and discusses the possibility of a third Tomb Raider movie.

Ian Livingstone has been promoted to “life president” of Eidos, following the acquisition of the publisher by Square Enix.

“I’m delighted with new role of life president as it gives me the opportunity to further promote the good ship Eidos and the industry too. I never get tired talking about games,” said the UK industry stalwart.

Does that mean he’s president until he’s dead? Like being married to Eidos? We’re unsure. Whatever. Congrats, Ian. Thanks, GI.

Eidos creative director Ian Livingstone has told the Guardian that the establishment still sees the gaming industry as just “one notch up from pornography.”

“We’re still seen as the red-headed stepchild of the creative industries, one notch up from pornography in the eyes of most of the establishment,” he said.

“They forget that half of the world and half of the UK’s population play games. Games help define who we are as human beings – they are as important, culturally and socially, as music and films.”

Right on.

Full interview through the link.

By Mike Bowden

Speaking at what is supposedly the Middle East’s first gaming conference, GAMES08, in Dubai this week, Eidos boss Ian Livingstone said the region is becoming important to the industry because of the obvious thing: money.

“The Middle East is definitely an emerging market for the gaming industry,” he said.

“People here have a large amount of disposable income making them ideal consumers. Gaming is as important culturally as movies and music.”

Livingstone added that the market in the region is estimated at $750 million, a figure agreed by Sony.

“We estimate the market here to be currently at… $550 million for hardware, $150 million for software and $50 million for accessories,” said Tim Stokes, marketing head for Sony PlayStation Sony Gulf.

More on Xpress. Thanks, MaxConsole.

Speaking to MCV, Eidos boss Ian Livingstone has said that the company’s re-jig is coming on apace, with the new, studio-led ethic working well.

“The restructuring is going very well,” he said. “We have been very upfront about what we are as a business and where we are going.

“We have put in place a studio-led and product-centric operation and everybody is now happily on board.”

The exec added by way of explanation:

“Studio-led means that operationally we have moved publishing responsibilities such as brand, PR and marketing into our key studios.

“This means bringing people closer to games so that the whole team offering can be creatively driven. Having a focused team based around our cornerstone franchises means one team based in the same office, country and time zone so that they can explore every opportunity directly alongside the game’s development.”

As long as it makes Deus Ex 3 good, Ian, we’ll be groovy.

More through the link.

Speaking to Develop, Eidos dev boss Ian Livingstone has claimed that Britain is the most expensive country in the world in which to develop a videogame.

“The Government should address the issues of skills and costs for the UK to remain competitive,” he said.

“The UK is now the most expensive country in the world in which to develop. There are naturally cheap labour markets in Asia and also subsidised markets like Canada. The UK has slipped from third to fourth in world development. Given the heritage of development in the UK, this is a tragedy.”

Livingstone added: “Whilst the UK Government does nothing, developers will continue to shut down or be acquired by overseas companies who see greater long term value in our talent than we do ourselves. The Government needs to invest in this valuable creative industries asset or suffer the consequences.”

There’s a full interview here.