UTV Ignition Games

UTV Ignition Games was the trading identity of Ignition Entertainment Limited, a British video-game publisher and development business associated with UTV Software Communications. The company began in September 2001 as Valecombe Limited in Waltham Abbey, England, and adopted the Ignition Entertainment name on 30 March 2002. Its formation drew together capabilities from smaller developers and publishers, including Archer Maclean's Awesome Studios, also known as Awesome Developments and Awesome Games. In its earlier period, Ignition concentrated on publishing and producing games for handheld and console platforms. Its catalogue included Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable projects, as well as lower-priced Game Boy Advance releases. The company also became a European publisher for a substantial selection of SNK properties, including Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown and The King of Fighters. Other projects associated with its publishing activities included Pool Paradise, Zoo Keeper, Mercury, Spectral Force Genesis and later console titles such as The King of Fighters XII. UTV Software Communications completed its acquisition of Ignition Entertainment in April 2007. The acquisition expanded the company's resources and international structure, and in December of that year Ignition announced new development operations in Florida and Tokyo. These studios were intended to work on original intellectual property for contemporary console platforms. Ignition Tokyo included former personnel associated with Clover Studio and Capcom and developed El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. The business also announced North American publishing arrangements for Wii title Muramasa: The Demon Blade and Arc Rise Fantasia, while continuing to handle selected international releases. The company later experienced serious operational and financial difficulties. UTV confirmed in November 2010 that the Florida studio would close, with employees offered relocation opportunities to Texas or the option of seeking other employment. The closure followed allegations concerning sexual harassment involving former executive Paul Steed and claims of poor management of company funds. A major project connected with the Florida operation, Reich, was reportedly far from complete despite substantial expenditure, and leaked footage appeared online after the studio's closure. The allegations and project setbacks were reported in connection with the Florida shutdown; the available reference material does not establish a final legal disposition. Ignition's London operation continued in a reduced form after the Florida closure. In January 2012, The Walt Disney Company acquired UTV Software Communications through its Indian subsidiary. Disney and UTV subsequently moved to liquidate Ignition Games' assets as part of an effort to integrate publishing activities with Disney's broader operations. The London studio closed in February 2012, and UTV Ignition Games is therefore treated as a defunct video-game publishing and development brand. No current standalone website, public listing, or continuing operating business is identified in the supplied sources.

UTV Ignition Games developed from Valecombe Limited, a British company established in September 2001 in Waltham Abbey. Valecombe changed its name to Ignition Entertainment on 30 March 2002. The business was assembled partly from smaller development and publishing capabilities, including Archer Maclean's Awesome Studios, which had also operated under the names Awesome Developments and Awesome Games. During its first phase, Ignition operated primarily as a publisher and producer of games for handheld and console platforms. It supported releases for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable, while also handling projects for home consoles. Its catalogue included the budget-oriented Game Boy Advance version of Pool Paradise and the Nintendo DS title Zoo Keeper. The company acquired rights connected with Spectral Force Genesis and arranged its later release in North America and Europe. Ignition also published a broad selection of SNK software in Europe, including titles from the Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown and The King of Fighters franchises. The company's acquisition by UTV Software Communications was completed on 20 April 2007. This placed Ignition within an Indian media conglomerate and gave it a larger international corporate framework. In December 2007, Ignition announced two new development studios: Ignition Florida in the United States and Ignition Tokyo in Japan. Both were presented as operations working on original intellectual property for newer console platforms. The Tokyo team included former members of Clover Studio and Capcom and worked on El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. Ignition expanded its publishing programme during 2009. It announced North American publishing of Muramasa: The Demon Blade for the Wii, publishing of Arc Rise Fantasia, and North American and European publication of The King of Fighters XII for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. These announcements reflected the company's dual role as a rights holder and distributor of externally developed titles and as a developer or backer of internally originated projects. The business entered a more difficult period in 2010. UTV confirmed the closure of the Florida studio on 2 November. Employees were offered the possibility of relocation to Texas or the opportunity to find other employment. The decision was reported alongside allegations of sexual harassment involving former boss Paul Steed and claims of mismanagement of company funds. The Florida studio had been working on Reich, a project reported to have completed only two of nine major levels despite costs of approximately 23 million United States dollars. The supplied reference material does not provide an independent financial filing or a final legal ruling concerning the allegations or the reported project expenditure. Footage associated with Reich was leaked online in November 2010. After the Florida closure, the London office continued in a substantially reduced capacity. On 30 January 2012, The Walt Disney Company acquired UTV Software Communications through its Indian subsidiary. UTV then announced the liquidation of Ignition Games' assets in an effort to integrate its publishing operations with Disney. The London studio closed in February 2012. With its assets liquidated and its remaining operation closed, UTV Ignition Games became defunct.

• 2012

  Assets liquidated and London studio closed

  [1]UTV Ignition Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Following Disney's acquisition of UTV Software Communications, Ignition Games' assets were liquidated and the London studio closed in February.

• 2010

  Florida studio closes

  [1]UTV Ignition Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  UTV confirmed the closure of Ignition's Florida operation amid project difficulties and allegations concerning workplace conduct and financial management.

• 2009

  Expansion of console publishing programme

  [1]UTV Ignition Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Ignition announced publishing plans for Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Arc Rise Fantasia and The King of Fighters XII in specified markets.

• 2007

  UTV completes acquisition

  [1]UTV Ignition Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  UTV Software Communications completed its acquisition of Ignition Entertainment on 20 April 2007.

• 2007

  Florida and Tokyo studios announced

  [1]UTV Ignition Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Ignition announced development studios in Florida and Tokyo, both intended to work on original intellectual property.

• 2002

  Valecombe adopts the Ignition Entertainment name

  [1]UTV Ignition Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The company was renamed Ignition Entertainment on 30 March 2002.

• 2001

  Valecombe Limited is established

  [1]UTV Ignition Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The business originated as Valecombe Limited in September 2001 in Waltham Abbey, England.

An internationally oriented independent publisher and developer focused on console and handheld software, third-party publishing partnerships, and selected original projects.

• Game Boy Advance game

  Pool Paradise

  A budget-oriented Game Boy Advance title associated with Awesome Studios and included among Ignition's early publishing and production activities.

• Nintendo DS game

  Zoo Keeper

  A Nintendo DS game published or produced within Ignition's handheld-focused catalogue.

• Handheld video game

  Mercury

  A title included among Ignition's planned and published handheld-oriented projects during the company's mid-2000s period.

• Tactical role-playing game

  Spectral Force Genesis

  Ignition acquired rights to this tactical role-playing game and arranged its release in North America and Europe.

• Fighting game · 2009

  The King of Fighters XII

  A SNK fighting game that Ignition published in North America and Europe for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 during 2009.

• Wii action game

  Muramasa: The Demon Blade

  A Wii title for which Ignition announced North American publishing responsibilities in April 2009.

• Role-playing game

  Arc Rise Fantasia

  A role-playing game included in Ignition's 2009 publishing announcements.

• Original video game

  El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

  A game developed by Ignition Tokyo, whose team included former Clover Studio and Capcom personnel. It represented the company's effort to develop proprietary intellectual property through its Japanese studio.

• Cancelled video game

  Reich

  An ambitious project developed by the Florida studio. The project was reported to have completed two of nine major levels before the studio closed, and leaked footage appeared online afterward.

• Cancelled video game

  WarDevil / Project Kane

  A cancelled project listed among Ignition-associated unreleased games.

• 2010

  Allegations surrounding the Florida studio

  The closure of Ignition's Florida studio was reported alongside widespread allegations of sexual harassment involving former boss Paul Steed and claims of mismanagement of company funds. The supplied source does not establish a final court finding or legal resolution.

  Source

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• 2012

  Liquidation of Ignition Games assetsM&A

  Background

  The Walt Disney Company acquired UTV Software Communications and sought to integrate its publishing activities.

  Action taken

  UTV announced the liquidation of Ignition Games' assets, followed by closure of the London studio.

  Aftermath

  UTV Ignition Games ceased operating as a business and became a defunct brand.

  Source

• 2010

  Closure of the Florida studioStrategy

  Background

  The Florida operation faced project setbacks and was associated with allegations concerning workplace conduct and financial management.

  Action taken

  UTV confirmed the studio's closure and offered staff relocation opportunities to Texas or the option of finding other work.

  Aftermath

  The Reich project was cancelled or left unreleased, while the London office continued in a more limited form.

  Reported development expenditure on Reich. (By the time of the 2010 Florida studio closure)

  Source

• 2007

  UTV acquires Ignition EntertainmentM&A

  Background

  Ignition was a British publisher and developer seeking to expand its international development and publishing activities.

  Action taken

  UTV Software Communications completed the acquisition of Ignition Entertainment in April 2007.

  Aftermath

  The company operated within UTV's group and subsequently opened development operations in Florida and Tokyo.

  Source

• 2007

  Creation of Florida and Tokyo development studiosStrategy

  Background

  Following its acquisition by UTV, Ignition sought to supplement publishing with internally developed intellectual property for newer platforms.

  Action taken

  Ignition announced development studios in Florida and Tokyo.

  Aftermath

  The Tokyo operation worked on El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, while the Florida studio was later closed.

  Source

1. 1UTV Ignition Gamesen.wikipedia.org