MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Finishing off our series of profiles on the companies who help make our awards possible, we catch up with Unity Technologies.
The company’s EMEA VP Antony Douglas reflects on how new IP is taking over and why Brighton beer is better than San Francisco’s.
Partner Spotlight: Unity Technologies
Year founded: 2004
Website:www.unity3d.com
For any readers who might not know you, tell us a little more about your company and its goal.
Unite Europe 2015 took place in Amsterdam a few weeks ago, with over 1,100 game developers sharing ideas, best practices and birthday cake as Unity Technologies celebrated its tenth birthday. For the uninitiated, the Unity development engine and its game promotion services are used by over one million active developers each month. Our mission is bold but simple: democratize game development, solve hard problems and help developers make money. More games are made with Unity than any other game technology on the planet, more players play games made with Unity, and more developers rely on Unity to drive their business than any other.
What differentiates you from similar outfits? What’s unique about you?
Unity supports development on 22 platforms across desktop, console, mobile, VR and AR devices, including newcomers such as WebGL and Oculus Rift. No other video games engine offers developers the opportunity to release their games on so many platforms. With Unity, developers really can author once and effortlessly deploy to their platform of choice. Unity is more than an engine and with Unity Ads, Analytics and Everyplay we have introduced services to help developers make games and engage, retain and monetize audiences.
What excites and/or encourages you about the games industry and games development today?
We are always incredibly excited to see our customers success stories. The last twelve months have seen some amazing Unity-based titles released across every genre and platform imaginable. For us it’s incredibly humbling to play a key role in helping our customers succeed; many of the individuals and teams making games with Unity are putting heart and soul (and often life savings) into their projects and our job is to provide tools that give them every chance of success.
Regarding the Develop Awards finalists, what does it say to you about the industry and development today?
We often hear about ‘engine wars’ and judging by this year’s finalists if indeed there is a war, the winner will be original IP. Cities Skyline, Grow Home, Playworld Superheroes all highly imaginative titles made with Unity highlighting a simple truth of democratisation: if we solve the hard problems, developers can spend more time spent creating compelling worlds, characters and gameplay.
Do you have a message for the finalists?
Looking at the finalists we have been blown away by how many of the games have been built with Unity. We wish all of the teams involved the best of luck and look forward to celebrating with the winners on on Wednesday 15th July, for a shandy or two.
Anything else you’d like to add about your company and the Develop Awards?
Long may the Develop Awards continue their association with Brighton. It’s our European business and support HQ and we hope more games and software companies think about a move to the South Coast. We may not have the Silicon Valley weather but the brains are as bright and the beer is infinitely better!
About the Develop Awards
This year’s Develop Awards ceremony will be held at the Brighton Hilton Metropole on Wednesday, July 15th. It runs alongside the Develop: Brighton conference, organised by Tandem Events.
You can book your tickets over at www.developawards.com, or by contacting Kathryn Humphrey via khumphrey@nbmedia.com or call her on 01992 535646.
Other Develop Awards supporters include gold partners Amiqus, UKIE and Unity, table gift partner OPM, drinks reception partner Keywords and event partners Aardvark Swift, Game Connection, InnoGames, LocalizeDirect, Universally Speaking and Develop: Brighton. Unity is also partner for the Micro Studio Award, while Iconicfuture is sponsoring the Use of a Licence or IP Award.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Charlotte Nangle via cnangle@nbmedia.com or call her on 01992 515303.
