Krome Studios Pty Ltd. - MobyGames (original) (raw)

The Australian-based Krome Studios was originally established in 1999 as a joint venture between Gee Whiz! Entertainment (founded by John Passfield and Steve Stamatiadis - who had also founded Interactive Binary Illusions in 1993) and another company (owned by Robert Walsh). Passfield and Stamatiadis met Walsh through their work on the title Mike Stewart’s Pro Bodyboarding (1999) and decided to continue together. Krome was established with the goal of creating original and licensed games for PC, console and later handheld, systems.

John Passfield left the company after selling his shares in early 2005. He is the co-creator and designer of the TY the Tasmanian Tiger series.

From a humble team of five, Krome grew exponentially each year to become Australia's largest game development company. In its early days, Krome pioneered surfing games on the PlayStation with Championship Surfer and Sunny Garcia Surfing, utilising in-house technology. Following this, Krome produced a number of children's titles including games for the Barbie, Disney and Nickelodeon franchises.

On 23rd March 2006 a second office was formally opened: Krome Studios Adelaide. From then on the main studio with the headquarters was often referred to as Krome Studio Brisbane.

Half a year later, in November 2006, Krome Studios acquired Atari Melbourne House Pty Ltd., Australia's oldest development studio (known as Beam Software Pty., Ltd. in the eighties until the mid-nineties) and it was renamed Krome Studios Melbourne.

On 18th August 2010 it became known the Adelaide office had been closed along with heavy cuts at the Brisbane and Melbourne offices. The studio (presumably along with the Melbourne office) was entirely closed on 15th October 2010. Its last title was Blade Kitten.

A number of developers went on to work at the newly-founded development studio KMM Brisbane, but it was confirmed to be closed in October 2011, while the team was working on the unreleased title Happy Feet Two.

In July 2012, Krome Studios re-opened their website, announcing that Ty the Tasmanian Tiger would return.