Civilization V lead designer opens new PC studio

Former Firaxis and Civilization V lead designer Jon Shafer has opened a new Michigan-based independent studio called Conifer Games.

The US outfit is made up of a core of three developers and a number of part-time contractors, and will focus on PC game development.

Conifer Games has launched its first title, empire building game At The Gates, on Kickstarter, and is looking for $40,000 to complete development.

The title’s Kickstarter page claims the it is already a fully-playable prototype, but that the studio needs more funds to finish developing the game, with aspects such as game AI still in their early stages.

If successful, At The Gates is expected to be released during the first half of 2014.