Ex-SCEA Developers Form Machine

A number of ex-Sony Computer Entertainment America employees have announced the formation of a new independent game development company, Machine Union, LLC. Located just south of downtown San Diego, Machine, the first division of the privately funded company, will focus its efforts towards next generation console game development. The founders and employees of the company have been previously credited on more than 20 Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation2 and PlayStation titles, and they collectively represent more than 30 years of professional game development experience. "Machine has set its sights on creating great games in a highly functioning, enjoyable studio environment,” says Geoff Houston, co-founder and General Manager, “Our vision is to bring gameplay and game-control back to the front.” Houston also announced that pre-production on the company's first game title had started in July, and that the unspecified title, which "presents new gameplay mechanics we hope the player finds extremely captivating", will be revealed at Game-Connection 2005 in Lyon, France, to be held in early December.