MENA Gamer - Where Game Begins

New games start-up brings fresh ideas to the table.

Citrus Suite is a new interactive development studio formed by a group of nine talented artists, designers, and programmers from the vibrant Liverpool games scene. With a top-tier creative team credited with producing artwork for some of the world's most prestigious titles, and programmers who have worked on numerous hit games, the establishment of Citrus Suite marks an exciting milestone in the development of creative technology within Merseyside.

According to Development Director, Chris Morland: 'Liverpool is an important hub for UK games developement. Setting up here has allowed us to tap into an extraordinary talent pool as well as capitalise on important industry connections. Liverpool is in the thick of the action as far as games development is concerned – that fact, and a healthy competition between developers, gives our new venture both a sense of vitality and industry credibility.'

The firm is already making waves, having won creative pitches at events such as Get In The Game and Liverpool Sound City, as well as clinching the contract to develop content for 'Project Canvas', the new Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) platform, in conjunction with the BBC.

Citrus Suite looks to innovate where the brief allows, bringing fresh ideas and sharp solutions to the client. The company has in-house tools that give the technological capability to develop for across all major platforms.

Morland explained: 'Our technical team have built a game-engine that allows us to develop for PC, console and mobile platforms, which has greatly elevated the company's potential.. We are currently building technology to give us capability for social gaming applications, and are about to launch a game on iPhone, iPad and Wii.'

The company's short-term goals include expanding the range of digital services on offer to clients wishing to explore new markets in the games sector. It is equipped to take advantage of the viral nature of social networks ahead of other developers in the Northwest Region, and has ambitions to become the first port of call for businesses that want to enhance their online presence with games.

Morland added: 'We can get products in front of hundreds of thousands of people – it's about evaluating clients' needs then releasing games to see where we can add value to their brand. Small projects, for clients who need instant impact on the iPhone or Facebook, can be turned around in about 6-8 weeks. The barriers to publishing on social media or mobile platforms are diminutive compared to consoles – It's an open market, but we still have an eye on developing games for consoles with major players – that's where our heritage lies.'

With a yet unannounced game launching on iPad, iPhone, and Nintendo Wii in the near future, and prototype project in the pipeline for Facebook, these are exciting times for Team Citrus.

Morland concluded: 'Our debut release will go a long way to convince potential partners and commissioners they should be working with us. It not only showcases our skills, but also proves we have made the transition from being a service-based company to one that creates its own intellectual property. We have produced a first-class iPad and iPhone game that we feel will be a serious contender in the marketplace – We are confident our diligence and attention to detail will pay off.'