SEGA Studios Australia, previously known as the Australian arm of The Creative Assembly until a studio rebranding in late 2009, is working on the official video game of the next Olympic Games. Sega has announced that London 2012 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games is under production at the Brisbane studio and will feature over 30 Olympic events as well as online leaderboards with a multi-platform release in 2012 on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.
As the Australian arm of The Creative Assembly, the Brisbane based studio was well known for the well received strategy game, Medieval II: Total War, and its expansion, Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms. The studio then produced and released the real-time console strategy game, Stormrise, in early 2009 which unfortunately failed to meet any critical or commercial success.
During a recent interview with StrategyInformer.com, SEGA's Vice President of Production, Gary Dunn, revealed the radical leadership changes that occurred at the studio after Stormrise...
Gary Dunn: I suppose I can jump in there. We divested the Brisbane studio from the Creative Assembly stewardship, and we'll be making an announcement within the next few weeks about what they're working on next. Suffice to say since Stormrise's completion, the studio down under has been heavily invested in, entirely new leadership team from the likes of EA, Ubisoft... the people who made Stormrise aren't the people who populate, at least the leadership, that studio. There's a new set of standards in place, they're doing a very different game.
The investment that Mr. Dunn is referring is likely to include the motion capture facility which is described as the largest in the Southern hemisphere.
(press release as follows)
London 2012– The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games will allow gamers to create their own moments of sporting history and fame by experiencing the thrill and adrenaline rush of the events and disciplines that will be a part of the London 2012 Olympic Games. With over 30 events in which to claim gold, players will enjoy more gameplay variety than ever before, even taking the race for medals online by competing for personal and national glory with online leaderboards.
“The London 2012 Olympic Games is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience for many people” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA Europe and SEGA of America. “The official video game will give people all over the world the chance to participate in the greatest sporting event on earth from their homes, even if they are thousands of miles away!”
“London 2012 looks set to be our best ever release in the Olympic Games simulation franchise in terms of both sales and number and quality of events” commented Raymond Goldsmith, Chairman and CEO of ISM. “We are delighted to be working once again with SEGA to ensure we will achieve this historic milestone.”