Pre-GDC: Emergent Adds 18 Licensees, Appoints New Biz Dev Execs

Emergent Game Technologies has revealed it has made licensing deals with 18 companies using its technology, which includes the recently-announced Lightspeed expansion on the Gamebryo engine. The new users include Tencent, 3D Chat, Sidhe and Straylight Studios. LightSpeed is the fruit of a $12.5 million venture capital investment, and promises rapid prototyping, real-time updates and a single pipeline from prototype to gold master. The company also recently forged a technology partnership with Big Red Button Entertainment, who will support Emergent by showcasing prototypes and refining tools and features for the new platform, while Emergent provides custom support services for the studio's first projects. With today's announcement, Emergent also reveals it has appointed Sony Computer Entertainment vets Amanda Cinfio and Tim Flett to key positions on the Emergent worldwide business development team as director of business development and developer relations manager, respectively. "There has been an explosion of highly creative studios -- big and small, start-up and established -- that have recognized Emergent’s rock-solid, AAA core technology as the best choice for bringing their game visions to reality," says sales and marketing VP Katie Morgan.