Kwalee

Kwalee
Private
Industry Interactive entertainment
Founded Leamington Spa, United Kingdom (2011)
Headquarters Leamington Spa, United Kingdom
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 David Darling
Products Gobang Social
Website kwalee.com

Kwalee is an independent UK video game developer. The company was founded in September 2011 by David Darling CBE, best known for founding Codemasters. The company makes games for iOS devices, including the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The company is based in Leamington Spa[1] in the County of Warwickshire. Kwalee is one of several companies that go up to make the Leamington Spa video gaming cluster, sometimes known as Silicon Spa.

Kwalee employs approximately 25 technical, marketing and administrative staff in its Leamington Spa offices. Andrew Graham, the designer of the Micro Machines series works for the company as Gameplay Guru.

The Kwalee name

Kwalee is the Australian Aboriginal for “wait for me”. It was the name of David Darling's grandfather's sailing boat which David sailed on frequently in his youth. David's grandfather was a TV engineer who taught him electronics. The name Kwalee is thus a homage to the grandfather who started David on his career.[2]

Developed titles

iPhone and Android

  • Gobang Social - based on the game of Gomoku, Gobang Social is a multiplayer, turn-based game where players must get 5 pieces in a row, either up, down or diagonally, before their opponent does.[3]
  • Pussy Flip - based on the game of Reversi, Pussy Flip is a turn-based game where players sandwich their opponents' cats and flip them over to take control of the game board.[4]
  • Farm Fighters - Kwalee's first game which was not based on a board game. It featured original gameplay, character customization and farmyard characters.[5]
  • TENS! - a Sudoku-style number puzzle and block-dropping game.
  • SPILLZ - a puzzle game involving removing piled up blocks to send a container crashing to the ground, whilst trying not to move too quickly or risk spilling the balls.
  • Skidz - an arcade racing game with a simple mechanic: tap to turn - follow the track and don’t hit the edge.
  • Ball Blast! - A fun and frantic block-breaking game.

Awards

In 2012 Kwalee was named in the Startups 100 awards as one of the UK's most innovative, inspiring and ground-breaking new companies.[6]

Notable staff

  • David Darling - CEO - previously founder of Codemasters [7]
  • Jim Darling - Chairman - previously Chairman of Codemasters.[8]
  • Andrew Graham - Gameplay Guru - designer of the Micro Machines video games.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Kwalee's David Darling on the new challenge of making games and apps for iOS | interview". PocketGamer.biz. 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  2. ↑ "The Story of the Kwalee Brand | blog". Kwalee.com. 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  3. ↑ "Press Releases - Kwalee launch game in Asia and Asia Pacific". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  4. ↑ Usher, Anthony (2012-07-28). "Codemasters co-founder David Darling working on Pussy Flip for iOS | news". PocketGamer.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  5. ↑ "Kwalee announce Farm Fighters for release in 2012; news". iPhonelife.com. 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  6. ↑ "Startups 100 2012 - Kwalee". Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  7. ↑ Brown, Graeme (2011-09-16). "Codemasters co-founder David Darling sets up iPhone app business". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
  8. ↑ Chapple, Craig (2011-09-29). "Jim Darling joins son David at Kwalee | news". Develop-online.net. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  9. ↑ Hussain, Tamoor (2012-02-02). "News: Codies founder hires Micro Machines designer for start-up studio". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
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