<![CDATA[Kotaku: foundation 9]]> http://tags.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png <![CDATA[Kotaku: foundation 9]]> http://kotaku.com/tag/foundation9 http://kotaku.com/tag/foundation9 <![CDATA[Listen In On A Very 8-Bit Christmas Album]]> Some developers send holiday cards, fancy gaming cards, to us this time of year. But not Foundation 9, they send their own holiday album of not just Christmas music, but 8-Bit Christmas music.

Here is the album art and track listing for your viewing pleasure. I also uploaded 8 Bit Weapon's remix of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen to put you in the festive spirit.


Track Listing
8 Bit Weapon - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
ComputeHer - Deck the Halls
Leeni - Silent Night
8 Bit Weapon - Hanukkah
Bud Melvin - Toyland
Doctor Octoroc - We Three Kings
DJ Mike Haggar - The 8 Bits of Christmas
CCIVORY - Joy to the World
Melbot - O Christmas Tree
Unicorn Dream Attack - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Dauragon - Auld Lang Syne

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman - 8 Bit Weapon Mix (MP3) [To Avoid Lag Try Saving The File]

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<![CDATA[Foundation 9 Entertainment Acquiring Sumo Digital]]> Sumodigital.png Foundation 9 Entertainment, the developer that has studios scattered all over North America, has added the UK-based Sumo Digital (of Virtua Tennis, etc. fame) to their stable. Terms of the acquisition were not released and the transition should be complete by the end of the year. Full press release after the jump.

For Immediate Release

SUMO DIGITAL TO BE ACQUIRED BY FOUNDATION 9 ENTERTAINMENT

Transaction marks F9E's first expansion overseas

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - August 20, 2007 - Foundation 9 Entertainment announced today that UK-based Sumo Digital, along with its recently established Indian development facility, will be joining the F9E family of studios. The transaction will mark F9E's first expansion outside of North America and strengthen the company's ability to deliver top titles across multiple gaming platforms and genres.

"The team at Sumo has done a tremendous job building a world class studio in a relatively short amount of time," said Jon Goldman, chairman and CEO of F9E. "By bringing them into our family of existing studios, we're now able to tap into the vast talent pool of game developers overseas and expand the company's presence in the sports and racing genres."

Since its founding in 2003, Sumo has developed a number of critically-acclaimed titles, including Virtua Tennis 3 for Xbox 360(TM), Super Rub 'a' Dub for PLAYSTATION(R) Network, and Outrun 2006: Coast to Coast for multiple platforms. Sumo is based in Sheffield, with an additional office in Pune, India. Sumo is currently working on a number of unannounced titles for major publishers.

"We're excited to join Foundation 9 and help expand its European presence," said Sumo CEO James North-Hearn. "We believe joining F9E will bring us tremendous opportunities for growth in the future, as well as the chance to offer many more great games to our publishing partners." As part of the deal, North-Hearn will transition into the position of Managing Director, Foundation 9 Europe, overseeing all European operations.

Sumo Digital will join F9E's current studios and brands: Amaze Entertainment, Backbone Entertainment, The Collective, Digital Eclipse, ImaginEngine, Pipeworks and Shiny Entertainment. F9E develops in multiple genres for all platforms and age groups, and has shipped more than 400 titles, including many bestsellers.

The company's studios are currently at work on more than 20 titles, including The Golden Compass, to be published by SEGA(R), and Godzilla(R): Unleashed, to be published by Atari, Inc. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2007. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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<![CDATA[How To Get A Job In The Games Industry]]> I sat in on a panel at Comic Con titled "FTW!: Breaking Into The Video Game Industry" featuring Foundation 9's Chris Charla, Christian Svensson of Capcom, Jon Middleton of Mad Catz, Mark Vitello at Sony and journalist Gary Whitta. They had great insight and amusing anecdotes about getting into the gaming industry. It spanned the course of an hour, but I'll give you the whole thing in a one-minute read.

The bullet points:
Start writing. If you're not technical, try getting a job in the gaming media. Gary Whitta says it requires no real talent.
Make a friend in the industry. Talent matters, but who you know can get you in the door.
Go to GDC. If you can't get in, ask someone else for their badge or harass developers on their smoke breaks.
Drunk hunt. Buy developers drinks at GDC! A little shmoozing can go a long way.
Be a pest. Bug them until they hire you or at least look at your reel.
Start small. If you're not getting a response from the HR department at THQ, find a developer without an HR department.
Staple your resume to a donut. It really works!
Be creative. One Foundation 9 employee made a mock "Mike Salmon Fishing" box with his resume on the back. Cheesy, but he got the job.
Don't stalk. Seriously, be a pest, but don't stalk.
Improvise. If you've got a bad portfolio, leave your journal. One aspiring artist lost his portfolio, showing up with only photocopies. He "accidentally" left his personal journal, filled with sketches, which made a great impression.

Furthermore, if your talents lie outside of the programming or artistic fields, you can still work for a developer or publisher in other capacities. If you're a law students, database programmer or marketing type, there are plenty of opportunities in the industry.

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<![CDATA[Foundation 9 Reveals Shhhhedule]]> godzillaswii.jpg

Foundation 9 Entertainment will have five demos running on the Comic Con show floor this year, many of them playable.

Their booth will feature the first publicly playable demo of Godzilla: Unleashed for the Wii as well as demos of Sonic Rivals 2 for PSP, The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night for DS, WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw for DS and Super Puzzle Fighter II: Turbo HD Remix for the Playstation Network.

The company will also be selling games and other merchandise at the show including action figures and comics based on their original "IP". Finally F9 will be hosting a panel about how to break into the gaming industry. PR after jump.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOUNDATION 9 ENTERTAINMENT FINALIZES COMIC-CON LINEUP

Largest North American Developer Will Have Five Upcoming Titles on Display

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - July 19, 2007 - Foundation 9 Entertainment, the largest independent game developer in North America, announced today that it has finalized its game demo lineup for Comic-Con International: San Diego. The company will display demos of five new titles, the majority of which will be playable, to attendees.

The company will feature the first publicly playable demo of Godzilla(R): Unleashed for Nintendo Wii(TM), which is slated for release by Atari, Inc. holiday 2007. Other titles on display will be:
- The recently announced Sonic Rivals(TM) 2 for PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, published by SEGA(R)
- The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night for Nintendo DS(TM), published by Sierra Entertainment
- WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) 2008 for Nintendo DS, published by THQ, Inc.
- Super Puzzle Fighter(R) II: Turbo HD Remix for PLAYSTATION(R) Network, published by Capcom(R) Entertainment

"The variety of Foundation 9 games we'll be showing at Comic-Con clearly illustrates the breadth of genres and platforms we develop for. We're excited to let fans get their hands on some highly anticipated releases and see what they think," said F9E CEO Jon Goldman.

In addition to game demos, F9E will continue its Comic-Con tradition of selling games and other merchandise, including action figures and comics based on the company's original property, Death, Jr. The company will also be hosting a panel about how to break into the game industry.

Comic-Con International: San Diego takes place at the San Diego Convention Center, July 26-29, with a preview night on July 25. F9E will be located at booth 4630.

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<![CDATA[Foundation 9 Buys Shiny Entertainment, But Not Earthworm]]>

Foundation 9 Entertainment, which already owns Backbone, Pipeworks Circle of Confusion, Digital Eclipse and Imagine Engine, just snatched up Shiny Entertainment from Atari.

Shiny Entertainment, creators of the Earthworm Jim franchise, will "co-locate" with The Collective, creators of crap movie knock-off The Da Vinci Code, in 2007.

While F9 managed to wrestle the studio out of Atari's weakening grasp, then didn't get away with the Earthwork Jim IP, which remains firmly in claws of Atari.

"Shiny Entertainment fits well with the current studios of Foundation 9 Entertainment and aligns with our long-term goals for the future," said Jon Goldman, Chairman and CEO. "The studio has tremendous talent and experience working with big Hollywood franchises and will be working with us on a major, as-yet-undisclosed day and date release. The Shiny team will only add to our capabilities and technology base."

What is this, buy-out Monday?

LOS ANGELES, CA - October 2, 2006 - Foundation 9 Entertainment, the largest
independent game developer in North America, announced today that it acquired
the non-game assets of Shiny Entertainment Studio from Atari, Inc. in an
acquisition funded by Foundation 9's recent investment from Francisco Partners.

"Shiny Entertainment fits well with the current studios of Foundation 9
Entertainment and aligns with our long-term goals for the future," said Jon
Goldman, Chairman and CEO. "The studio has tremendous talent and experience
working with big Hollywood franchises and will be working with us on a major,
as-yet-undisclosed day and date release. The Shiny team will only add to our
capabilities and technology base."

Under the terms of the deal, the Shiny team will remain intact and will
co-locate with The Collective, one of the Foundation 9 studios, in 2007.

Shiny Entertainment was started in 1993 and has shipped eight products including
two games based on The Matrix film franchise. The studio develops for all
platforms and is perhaps best known for its original property, Earthworm Jim
(which remains an Atari property), which debuted on the Sega Genesis and Super
Nintendo in 1994. Shiny was acquired by Atari in 2002.

Shiny will join current F9E studios - The Collective, Backbone Entertainment,
Pipeworks, ImaginEngine and Digital Eclipse - solidifying Foundation 9's
presence as the largest independent developer in North America. The company
develops in all genres for all platforms and age groups, and has shipped more
than 300 titles, including many bestsellers.

The company is currently at work on more than 20 titles, including two new
editions of its original property, Death, Jr., to be published by Konami; Dirty
Harry to be published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment; and Sonic
Rivals to be published by Sega. The company's Backbone studio just recently
shipped MechAssault: Phantom War for the Nintendo DS, published by Majesco
Entertainment.


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