Lionhead trio form splinter studio

Three experienced developers at Lionhead have broken away from the acclaimed studio to form their own outfit.

Guilford-based Wonderland Software was set up last year by Matthew Wiggins and Mark Rose, and later joined by Al Harding.

All three were based at Lionhead before they decided to work under their own steam, having previously helped create games such as Fable 1, Fable 2, and Black & White 2.

In announcing their new venture the trio said that they all felt “the time was right for us to break out on our own.”

The move is reminiscent of Dene Carter’s recent departure from Lionhead to form his own iPhone microstudio – not least because both Wonderland and Carter’s studio Fluttermind will start out by developing for mobile games.

Wonderland was founded back in the Summer last year, though the studio has only now decided to publicly announce its formation.

“Wonderland is a scrappy startup, aiming towards a big future,” read the announcement on the studio’s blog. “Our games will be full of charm & wonder, with social interaction at their core. Initially targeting the iPhone and iPod Touch, we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”