Former Rockstar Developers Form Socialspiel, Announce 'Push'

Socialspiel, a new Vienna-based development studio featuring several ex-Rockstar employees, has announced its first title. Called Push, the turn-based title is a browser-based online board game featuring a character named Pon Du Bear. It will be available to play on Facebook, Belgian social networking website Netlog, and other social services. Socialspiel is focused on creating browser-based social games. Founder and CEO Helmut Hutterer said of the studio's mission: "After almost 10 years of developing big budget, AAA titles such as Grand Theft Auto and Max Payne for Rockstar Games, it is a breath of fresh air to focus on developing independent games with a direct connection to our fans and players on social networks around the world." Founded in 2010, the team at Socialspiel is comprised of Martin Schreiber and Barbara Fux, both previously employed at Deep Silver, and Wolfgang Deutsch and Helmut Hutterer, who came from Rockstar Vienna. Rockstar Vienna was closed in 2006 due to the "challenging environment facing the video game business".