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Company

Activision were the first third-party software publisher for Atari’s 2600 VCS, and grew to be very successful in publishing innovative software for popular home computer systems.

Their newly established European operation in London soon realized that product localization was important to increase local sales, and then, that they would need to find and publish product specifically to suit local tastes; American home computer software frequently differed to successful products from European publishers, not least because the USA was a 5.25-inch diskette market, while in Europe the cassette was the popular, low cost media of choice.

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Position Summary

My role was to establish and run the "Software Studios" from scratch. It was here that I really discovered how much I enjoyed being ‘hands-on’ in all aspects of the business, and would get involved with everything from signing developers through game design to product testing.  Key tasks were:-

• Setting up a custom co-ordination and development facility in Southampton as a sub-operation within Activision UK, which was known as "Software Studios"

• Budgeting and planning

• Hiring and training a staff of ten people – a mixture of Producers and testers – to co-ordinate and oversee third-party development on a day-to-day basis

• Porting product from Activision USA to popular local international formats (such as Sinclair Spectrum cassette, Amstrad CPC cassette and diskette, Super Famicom and MSX1 or MSXII diskette)

• Acquiring rights to products created by European developers, including contract negotiation and contract preparation

• Commissioning third-party developers to port successful coin-op titles to home computers, the rights to which Activision had licensed

• Liaising with Activision development in Sunnyvale, visiting and working there as necessary

• Liaising with Marketing and Operations departments on scheduling and timings for product code release and product shipment

• Working on Activision stands at exhibitions

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Achievements

• Setting up Custom European Development Facility – ‘Software Studios’

  Based in Southampton, England, as a sub-operation within Activision UK, producing titles for all Activision’s international brands, including Electric Dreams, Real Sports, Infocom, Lucasfilm, System 3 and Activision. I started the Studio from scratch.

• Producing Activision Europe’s first ever locally produced number-one movie-tie-in – "Aliens":

  Based on the movie of the same name. Click here to see Softography

• Producing Activision Europe’s first ever locally produced number-one hit – "Enduro Racer":

A port of Sega’s coin-op of the same name. Click here to see Softography

• Code releasing over 200 skus in two years

Using 125 external developers. My involvement as head of studio ranged from contract negotiation, developer liaison, executive producer and often games designer. I had hands-on involvement in every title. Click here to see Softography

• Hiring and training a staff of ten people

A mixture of Producers and testers – to co-ordinate and oversee third-party development on a day-to-day basis. Many of these employees, most of whom were new to the games industry and received their training from me, have gone on to senior positions in the games industry. These include Peter Sleeman, Simon Barnard, Neil Jackson, Saul Marchese, Stuart Hibbert, Dave Cummings, Nik Dawson, Andy Routledge

• Implementing project management procedures

At Activision Europe including use of Instaplan and Microsoft Project software

• List of Projects created for Activision - Click here to see Softography

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Reason For Leaving

To start my own consultancy business; my first client was  Activision

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This was my first senior appointment. I learned a great deal from, and enjoyed tremendous support from Rod Cousens, who became International Vice-President of the company. I learned a considerable amount about being a leader and motivator of subordinates, and how to achieve results within the structure of an American-based International organization.

Press Coverage Of Software Studios
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Press - "Aliens" (Amtix)
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Press -"Aliens" (CVG)
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Press -"Enduro Racer" (Sinclair User)
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Press -"Knightmare" (TGM)
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Press -"Knightmare" (Sinclair User)
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Press -"Little Computer people" (Sinclair User)
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Internal memo Announcing My Departure
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