We’ve always known that Carlsbadistan’s hills were loaded with high-tech gaming companies, but now a few of the founders of High Moon Studios have started their own game company in downtown Carlsbadistan and they’re going to focus on games for the iPhone and iPod touch.
Game industry vets Chris Ulm, Farzad Varahramyan, Emmanuel Valdez, Rick Olaffson, and Paul O’Connor — all past founding members of High Moon Studios — have banded together to create Appy Entertainment. Along with Executive Producer Steve Sargent and Lead Programmer Marc-Antoine Argenton, they’re bringing experience gleaned from creating console games like Ready 2 Rumble, the Oddworld series, Darkwatch and The Bourne Conspiracy to Apple’s small screen.
Appy’s games will reportedly be “quick and habit forming.” And that sounds great to us. Being rabid iPhone users we’re hoping they let us test a few of the games before they go public so we can go to our appy place before anyone else.
[Link: Appy Place]
APPY ENTERTAINMENT COMBATS WORLD FUN CRISIS
Video Game Vets Discover Their “Appy Place” With New iPhone Games Venture
CARLSBAD, California — January 12, 2009 — “Everywhere we look, fun is taking a beating,” said Chris Ulm, CEO of iPhone games startup Appy Entertainment, Inc. “We’ve got mortgage meltdowns, a banking crisis, and anxiety all over the globe. The world needs a lift, even if it comes just five minutes at a time. That’s why we founded Appy Entertainment.”
Game industry vets Chris Ulm, Farzad Varahramyan, Emmanuel Valdez, Rick Olaffson, and Paul O’Connor — all past founding members of High Moon Studios — have banded together to create Appy Entertainment. Along with Executive Producer Steve Sargent and Lead Programmer Marc-Antoine Argenton, they’re bringing experience gleaned from creating console games like Ready 2 Rumble, the Oddworld series, Darkwatch and The Bourne Conspiracy to Apple’s small screen.
Appy’s mission is simple — bring laughter, friendship and fun to iPhone and iPod Touch owners everywhere. “Apple’s iPhone is the first truly universal portable computer,” Appy Brand Director Paul O’Connor said. “There are twenty million customers out there and every one of them would love a laugh.”
It takes determination to start a new business in this climate, but the Appy Entertainment crew is optimistic. “Just take a look at our mascot,” says Farzad Varahramyan, a world-renowned artist bringing his skills to the mobile world for the first time. “Appy’s been socked in the eye, but he’s grinning like a fool. He’s not going to let anything stop him from having fun.”
“Our games present five minutes of fun that people will play five hundred times or more,” said Appy co-founder Emmanuel Valdez. “Our past games — like Darkwatch, Oddworld, and Ready 2 Rumble — all had distinct style, personality and a sense of humor. But they were complex and time-consuming games. Appy’s games are quick, habit-forming experiences for gamers on the go. Appy is a shortcut to the pleasure center of the game brain.”
Appy’s first game is not yet announced, but Appy invites everyone to visit their Appy Place blog at http://goldenboat.wordpress.com/welcome-to-your-appy-place/. “Our blog is an eclectic snapshot of our ideas, inspirations and snarky observations as our infant company takes its first baby steps,” said Appy CFO Rick Olaffson. “Appy Place is our opening salvo in the fun crisis war.”
“The iPhone changes everything,” said Ulm. “Appy Entertainment games are for a new generation of iPhone users and casual gamers, enriching the spare minutes of their lives, whether they’re eating out with friends, waiting in line at Starbucks, or catching a five-minute brain break between classes. Games are mainstream, and the whole world will benefit from the surprises and laughter our games provide.”
“That’s why we called our company, ‘Appy Entertainment,’” said O’Connor. “Games have always been our ‘Happy Place,’ and now, through the games we’re making for the iPhone and iPod Touch, everyone can find an ‘Appy Place’ of their own.”
Appy Entertainment, Inc. founders Chris Ulm, Paul O’Connor, Farzad Varahramyan, Rick Olaffson, and Emmanuel Valdez are long-time entertainment industry vets. Their past game titles include Darkwatch, The Bourne Conspiracy, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, and Oddworld, along with numerous comic-book and film projects. As co-founders of High Moon Studios, the five helped grow that studio from a vision on paper into a world-class facility and helped direct it to acquisition by Vivendi in 2006.
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