Blitz Games Studios

Blitz Games Studios Limited

Formerly|

* Dizzy Enterprises Limited (1990–1994)
* Interactive Studios Limited (1994–2000)
* Blitz Games Limited (2000–2008)

Type| Private
Industry| Video games
Fate| Dissolved
Successor| Radiant Worlds
Founded| 1990; 36 years ago (1990)
Founders|

* Andrew and Philip Oliver

Defunct| September 12, 2013 (2013-09-12)
Headquarters|

Leamington Spa

England

Key people

* Philip Oliver (CEO)
* Andrew Oliver (CTO)
* Richard Smithies (COO)

Number of employees

| 230+[1] (2009)
Divisions|

* Blitz Games
* Blitz Arcade
* Volatile Games
* TruSim
* Blitz Academy
* BlitzTech

Website| www.blitzgames.com

Blitz Games Studios Limited was a British video game developer based in Leamington Spa. Founded in 1990 by the Oliver Twins, who ran the company until its closure in 2013, it is best known for producing games such as The Fairly OddParents, Bratz, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Biggest Loser, and Karaoke Revolution.[2] The company was initially named Dizzy Enterprises, then Interactive Studios, until it was finally changed to Blitz Games in 2000, because the Interactive Studios name was too generic.[3]

## Contents

* 1 Divisions
* 1.1 Blitz Games
* 1.2 Blitz Arcade
* 1.3 Volatile Games
* 1.4 TruSim
* 1.5 BlitzTech
* 1.6 Earlier divisions
* 1.6.1 Virtual Experience Company
* 1.6.2 Blitz 1UP
* 2 Games
* 3 Awards
* 4 Closure
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## Divisions

### Blitz Games

Blitz Games (originally Interactive Studios until 2000)[3] created the games that the company first became well known for: family titles, often licensed on popular characters and existing intellectual property.

### Blitz Arcade

Blitz Arcade was founded in 2006 with a team of 35 people. It was focused on developing downloadable titles of a small scope.[4] Its first release was an advergame series created for the US Burger King chain. After that, Blitz Arcade turned its focus to downloadable titles and had success with its first game of this type: Software:SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam. They also developed shooter PowerUp Forever, puzzler Droplitz and the 3DTV-compatible beat 'em up Software:Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao.[5]

### Volatile Games

Volatile Games was responsible for the company's mature games. The division dates from 2006.[6] The company and the division ended in 2013.[7]

Video games created by this division include Reservoir Dogs, runner-up in the 2006 BAFTA awards for Best Soundtrack.[8] Despite allowing the player to complete the game without firing a single shot, the game was considered so realistic in its depictions of violence that it was banned in Australia.[9] They released Software:Dead to Rights: Retribution on 27 April 2010.

A proposed game, Possession, was cancelled.

### TruSim

TruSim was the serious games division. The idea was to bring commitment to training through video games.[10] It is best known for its work on medical-related training programs including the award-winning Interactive Trauma Trainer.[11]

### BlitzTech

BlitzTech created and licensed the game development engine and toolchain.

### Earlier divisions

#### Virtual Experience Company

Past projects include the Tintern Abbey virtual tour.[12] The company was acquired by Blitz Games at the end of 2006 but was sold back to former owner Mike Gogan in May 2009.[13]

#### Blitz 1UP

In 2008 Blitz Games Studios launched the Blitz1UP programme to help independent developers bring their games to market. The programme provided free help and advice on all aspects of game production as well as crowd sourced QA. The programme was closed in 2011 and was replaced by IndieCity, an online indie game marketplace.

## Games

Games created or published by Interactive Studios/Blitz Games Studios include:

Title  | Year  | Platforms

|
|

Firo & Klawd | 1996  | PlayStation, Windows, MS-DOS
Software:WarGames: Defcon 1 | 1998  | PlayStation, Windows
Glover | Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Windows
Action Man: Mission Xtreme | 1999  | PlayStation
Action Man: Destruction X | 2000  | PlayStation, Windows
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea | PlayStation
Software:Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge | PlayStation, Dreamcast, Windows
Chicken Run | PlayStation, Dreamcast, Windows, Game Boy Color
The Mummy Returns | 2001  | PlayStation 2
Cubix - Robots for Everyone: Race 'N Robots | PlayStation, Game Boy Color
Fuzion Frenzy | Xbox
Cubix - Robots for Everyone: Clash 'N Bash | 2002  | Game Boy Advance
Software:Lilo & Stitch: Trouble in Paradise | PlayStation, Windows
Software:Taz: Wanted | PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows
Software:Zapper: One Wicked Cricket
Software:Cubix Robots for Everyone: Showdown | 2003  | PlayStation 2, GameCube
Software:The Fairly OddParents: Breakin' Da Rules | PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube
Barbie Horse Adventures: Wild Horse Rescue | PlayStation 2, Xbox
Software:Bad Boys: Miami Takedown | 2004  | PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows
Software:The Fairly OddParents: Shadow Showdown | PlayStation 2, GameCube
Bratz: Rock Angelz | 2005
Pac-Man World 3 | PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows, PlayStation Portable
Reservoir Dogs | 2006  | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows
Bratz: Forever Diamondz | PlayStation 2, GameCube
Software:SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab | PlayStation 2, Wii, GameCube
Sneak King | Xbox, Xbox 360
PocketBike Racer
Big Bumpin'
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol | 2007  | PlayStation 2
Bratz: The Movie | PlayStation 2, Wii
SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis
Software:SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam | Xbox 360
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore | 2008  | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Project Aftermath | Windows
Tak and the Guardians of Gross | PlayStation 2, Wii
Bratz: Girlz Really Rock
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Make the Grade | Xbox 360
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Software:Buccaneer: The Pursuit of Infamy | Windows
PowerUp Forever | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Droplitz | 2009  | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, iOS
Software:Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
KrissX | Xbox 360, Windows, Mac
iCarly | Wii, Nintendo DS
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Game Time | Xbox 360
Karaoke Revolution | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
The Biggest Loser | Wii
Fluttabyes | 2010  | Windows
Clover: A Curious Tale | Xbox 360, Windows
Mole Control | Windows
All Star Karate | Wii
Software:Dead to Rights: Retribution | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
The Biggest Loser Challenge | Wii
The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout | Xbox 360
SFG Soccer: Football Fever | Windows
Droplitz Delight | iOS, Android
Your Doodles Are Bugged! | 2011  | Xbox 360, Windows
Yoostar 2 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Mac
Fantastic Pets | Xbox 360
SpongeBob's Surf & Skate Roadtrip
Michael Phelps: Push the Limit
Puss in Boots | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Kumo Lumo | 2012  | iOS
Software:Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Windows, PlayStation Vita, Wii U
Paper Titans | 2013  | iOS
Shrek Alarm
Valedo Home | 2015  | iOS, Android
Raceline CC |

## Awards

2007

* Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2007 - Favourite Videogame – SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
* Edge award for Training and Development of young people
* ICT Excellence in Skills
* Blitz Games wins Develop Industry Excellence Award for Business Development
* Cannes Titanium Grand Prix Award for the Burger King games
* Golden Clio Award for Burger King games

2006

* Blitz Games CEO Philip Oliver named Best Industry Player by TIGA [1]
* Warwickshire Employer of Choice Awards 2006 for creating an exceptional working environment [2].

## Closure

On 12 September 2013, the company announced that it was closing after 23 years of business.[14] The closure came as a result of the company struggling to raise money to support future development projects, with the demise of THQ, a major client, said by Philip Oliver to have hit the company particularly hard.[14][15] The company is reported to have owed £2.2 million to staff and creditors.[16]

The Oliver brothers along with the former company's COO Richard Smithies almost immediately formed a new company, Radiant Worlds, in the same town, and were reported to have recruited up to 50 former Blitz staff.[17][18]

## References

1. ↑ "Droplitz Drops in to PSN – PlayStation.Blog". Blog.us.playstation.com. http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/06/29/droplitz-drops-in-to-psn.
2. ↑ Warr, Philippa. "Blitz Games Studios announces closure after 23 years". Wired.co.uk. https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-09/12/blitz-games-studio-closes.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Co-Founder, Gestalt; Editor-in-Chief, former (2000-08-11). "Philip Oliver of Blitz Games" (in en). https://www.eurogamer.net/i-blitz.
4. ↑ Stuart, Keith (12 March 2009). "Blitz Games Studios: altruism, recession and the arcade business". https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2009/mar/12/gameculture-playstation.
5. ↑ "C3 Exclusive Interview | Seeing Double: The Oliver Twins (Blitz Games Studios) #1 at Nintendo Cubed3". Cubed3.com. http://www.cubed3.com/news/12810.
6. ↑ "Volatile Games". MobyGames. http://www.mobygames.com/company/volatile-games.
7. ↑ "U.K. Blitz Game Studios Closes After 23 Years". Volatile Games. https://volatilegames.com/.
8. ↑ "BAFTA Awards". Bafta.org. http://www.bafta.org/site/page413.html.
9. ↑ 5:42PM PDT (2006-08-25). "Reservoir Dogs game banned in Australia - GameSpot.com". Uk.gamespot.com. http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6153207.html?sid=6153207.
10. ↑ "Playtime at work". Coventry Telegraph. 7 March 2008. https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/business/playtime-at-work-3100313.
11. ↑ "School of Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering - University of Birmingham". Iecs.bham.ac.uk. http://www.iecs.bham.ac.uk/hit/sg_research.htm.
12. ↑ "Ancient abbey's virtual world". BBC News. 3 June 2003. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/2958778.stm.
13. ↑ "The Virtual Experience Company Parts From Blitz Games Studios". Serious Games. 7 May 2008. http://seriousgames.ning.com/group/gamesandvirtualworldsforcultureandheritage/forum/topics/630751:Topic:40217.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lee, Dave (2013-09-12). "UK games developer Blitz Games Studios shuts down". bbc.co.uk. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24066065.
15. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (12 September 2013). "There have been a lot of men crying, including me". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-09-12-there-have-been-a-lot-of-men-crying-including-me.
16. ↑ "Creditors owed £2.2m after games firm collapse". Birmingham Post. 24 October 2013. http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/creative/2m-debts-leamington-based-blitz-games-6237612.
17. ↑ Crookes, David (2013-07-29). "UK-based Blitz Games Studios to close after 23 years - News - Gadgets & Tech". The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/ukbased-blitz-games-studios-to-close-after-23-years-8814834.html.
18. ↑ Rose, Mike (27 November 2013). "Defunct Blitz Games Studios returns as Radiant Worlds". Gamasutra. Think Services. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/defunct-blitz-games-studios-returns-as-radiant-worlds.

## External links

* Official website
* Blitz Games Studios at MobyGames

* v
* t
* e

Blitz Games Studios

Corporate foundation|

* Oliver Twins

Divisions|

* Blitz Games
* Blitz Arcade
* Volatile Games
* TruSim
* BlitzTech
* Blitz 1UP

Releases|

* Dead to Rights
* The Biggest Loser
* Karaoke Revolution
* Invincible Tiger
* Droplitz
* PowerUp Forever
* Bratz: Girlz Really Rock
* Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore
* SpongeBob Squarepants - Underpants Slam
* Bratz: The Movie
* Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol
* Sneak King
* PocketBike Racer
* Big Bumpin'
* SpongeBob SquarePants
* Bratz: Forever Diamondz
* Reservoir Dogs
* Rock Angelz
* Pac-Man World 3
* The Fairly OddParents
* Bad Boys
* The Fairly OddParents
* Barbie Horse Adventures: Wild Horse Rescue
* Taz
* Zapper
* Software:Lilo & Stitch: Trouble in Paradise
* The Mummy Returns
* Fuzion Frenzy
* Chicken Run
* WarGames
* Glover

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