Everquest designer forms indie studio Stonethunder Games

Everquest franchise designer Ryan Barker has moved on from the game he spent the past fifteen years working on to found his own studio, Stonethunder Games.

Games Industryreports Barker formed the studio earlier this year, likely spurred by Sony’s sale of Everquest developer Sony Online Entertainment – which has since become independent outfit Daybreak Games.

Joining Barker at Stonethunder Games is Everquest 2 and Splatterhouse developer Steve Merghart, along with musical composer and producer Russell Hugo.

"My time in the industry has given me some great friends who are even greater creatives. I’m ecstatic that I’m able to work with them on a project much more personally,” Barker said.

"After fifteen years of EverQuest, it was time to move on to something else. Projects don’t get bigger than EverQuest, and I can safely say that our upcoming projects will all be decidedly smaller in comparison. In fact, our first game will fit right on your phone."

The title Barker refers to is Fruit Folly – a $1 mobile action title available now on iOS and Android. Here’s a trailer for the game: