ForthStar Games: The New Venture from Playdemic Founders

Paul Gouge and Alex Rigby have established a successful track record in the gaming industry, having set up and sold three studios prior to their latest venture, ForthStar Games. Their previous studios, BattleMail, Rockpool Games, and Playdemic, have all achieved significant success, with Playdemic being sold to Electronic Arts for $1.4 billion. ForthStar Games, based in Manchester, has already secured $10 million in funding and employs a team of 14, all of whom are alumni of Playdemic. The studio is focused on developing mobile games and is committed to a 'test and kill' approach, where ideas that do not meet expectations are scrapped, regardless of the resources invested. This approach is designed to ensure that only the most promising concepts are pursued, increasing the chances of finding a winning game concept. Gouge believes that the mobile market, despite being highly competitive, still offers opportunities for success, particularly in the area of 'mass market competitive products' that cater to a broad audience. The studio's goal is to create a game that can achieve commercial success and serve as a foundation for building a company with long-term longevity.