Singapore's first DS developer spends a million on Dropcast
Puzzler due to go global this year
Whatever you think about globalisation, there's no doubt one positive outcome is that it encourages a wider geographical spread of innovation. Just look at the game developers of varying, exotic flavours that are sprouting up all over the place, from South America to the Middle East.
Of course, Singapore has always been pretty high-tech: EA, the world's biggest game publisher, has a big studio there, for example.
Still, it's nice to see a bit of local pride from The Strait Times, which has interviewed Alex Goatcher from previously mobile-only developer Mikoishi about Dropcast, the studio's first DS title.
The puzzle game seems to play like a battle version of Tetris, where you send blocks to fill up your opponents' screen. There are four single-player modes and three wi-fi multiplayer options – both via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and ad-hoc – which promise to support up to four players.
Adding depth to the game is a crowd of wacky characters; something Mikoishi also hopes to build on with merchandise such as comics and anime.
The company's got a decent pedigree, having worked on the mobile version of Phoenix Wright for Capcom, as well as other games for THQ Wireless and LucasArts.
It's also raised over $3 million in funding, of which it's spent around $1 million making Dropcast and funding the requisite technology.
And as well Dropcast, the developer also has an online real-time mobile strategy game called Steam Iron in development. This uses the company's in-house Theatre server technology to support online features such as tournaments, buddy lists, global rankings and multiplayer matching.
Dropcast is due to be released in Japan, North America and Europe before the end of 2007. Publishers for any of the territories haven't yet been officially announced, however.