Blitz Games created the games that the company first became well known for: family titles, often licensed on popular characters and existing
intellectual property.
Volatile Games was responsible for the company's mature games. The division dates from 2006.[5] The company and the division ended in 2013.[6]
Video games created by this division include Reservoir Dogs, runner-up in the 2006
BAFTA awards for Best Soundtrack.[7] Despite allowing the player to complete the game without firing a single shot, the game was considered so realistic in its depictions of violence that it was banned in Australia.[8] They released Dead to Rights: Retribution on 27 April 2010.
TruSim was the
serious games division. The idea was to bring commitment to training through video games.[9] It is best known for its work on medical-related training programs including the award-winning Interactive Trauma Trainer.[10]
BlitzTech
BlitzTech created and licensed the game development engine and toolchain.
Earlier divisions
Virtual Experience Company
Past projects include the
Tintern Abbeyvirtual tour.[11] The company was acquired by Blitz Games at the end of 2006 but was sold back to former owner Mike Gogan in May 2008.[12]
Blitz 1UP
In 2008 Blitz Games Studios launched the Blitz1UP programme to help independent developers bring their games to market.
The programme provided free help and advice on all aspects of game production as well as crowd sourced QA.
The programme was closed in 2011 and was replaced by IndieCity, an online indie game marketplace.
Games
Games created or published by Interactive Studios/Blitz Games Studios include:
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2007 - Favourite Videogame – SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
Edge award for Training and Development of young people
ICT Excellence in Skills
Blitz Games wins Develop Industry Excellence Award for Business Development
Cannes Titanium Grand Prix Award for the Burger King games
Golden Clio Award for Burger King games
2006
Blitz Games CEO Philip Oliver named Best Industry Player by
TIGA[1]
Warwickshire Employer of Choice Awards 2006 for creating an exceptional working environment
[2].
Closure
On 12 September 2013, the company announced that it was closing after 23 years of business.[13] The closure came as a result of the company struggling to raise money to support future development projects, with the demise of
THQ, a major client, said by Philip Oliver to have hit the company particularly hard.[13][14] The company is reported to have owed £2.2 million to staff and creditors.[15]
The Oliver brothers along with the former company's
COO Richard Smithies almost immediately formed a new company,
Radiant Worlds, in the same town, and were reported to have recruited up to 50 former Blitz staff.[16][17]