Zoë Mode opens new studio in San Francisco

Zoë Mode has established a new studio in San Francisco, to be headed up by Sony Computer Entertainment vets Sarah Stocker and Mark Danks.

Stocker was previously senior producer at Sony Computer Entertainment’s Studio 5, where she headed up the US launch of the SingStar franchise. Previously she lead North American production at Glu Mobile and worked at US independent Stormfront Studios.

Danks, meanwhile, was previously senior manager of developer relations at Sony Computer Entertainment. Prior to that, he worked as director of technology for Electronic Arts and studio technical director for Stormfront Studios.

According to newly-crowned ‘worldwide general manager’ Ed Daly, the move is aimed at bringing the studio closer to its West Coast publishing partners. "With the growth of both our Brighton and London studios, we’ve been looking for an opportunity to form a US studio that can build upon our successes in the genre. We’re excited to have Sarah and Mark join the Zoë team to lead that effort and provide us with access to the tremendous creative and technical talent in the San Francisco Bay area.”

“Zoë Mode has an unrivaled track record as the premiere independent developer for music and party games,” added co-studio head Sarah Stocker. “Mark and I are excited to join the rest of the Zoë team in extending that experience into the next generation of social games on console and beyond.”

Danks added: "With Zoë SF we’re able to combine the passion and excitement of start-up culture with the established infrastructure of an existing successful studio system. This lets us focus on building a great team and making great games. It’s a tribute to Zoë Mode’s success and the strength of the Kuju Entertainment studio network that even in this economy, we’re in the enviable position of expanding.”