Slitherine Raises $7.75m To Fund Self-Publishing Unit

UK based developer Slitherine (The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome) has announced that starting January 2009 it will begin self-publishing all of its titles, raising an initial 5 million euros ($7.75 million) for its first three years of operation. Slitherine says its new publishing unit has begun a "strategic development plan to approach the retail market with a fully developed release schedule starting Q1 next year," adding that its slate of new titles and release schedule will be announced shortly. The company says it will continue to remain in "the field of history-themed games as it always has done," but now with a renewed focus to bring the titles to the console market as well as the PC. Slitherine was a 2007 IGF Technical Excellence finalist for its Arcane Legions: A Rising Shadow, as well as a 2005 IGF finalist for its Legion Arena. Said development and production director Iain McNeil, "We have always been committed in bringing games that are both playable and enjoyable to the market and to allow all kind of player, from the strategy enthusiast to the curious newcomer, to have an entertaining experience. By moving directly into publishing we will be in full control of the content of our products and can leverage on the experience we've accumulated over these long years of development and production".