Who says that being laid off can’t be fun? Four victims of Electronic Arts’ Pandemic closure created their own studio — suitably named Downsized Games — and have taken to that most lucrative of ventures, iPhone game development. Their first title,Bullet Train,will be seen as either petty or amusing, depending on what you think of EA.
Bullet Traintasks players as members of a small shipping company on the planet Glendon 19, a reference to Pandemic’s former LA offices. The company is then taken over by en evil corporation known subtly as Elaborate Acquisitions, and it’s up to players to take on the hostile entity and its leader, JR (or John Riccitiello). Again, it’s subtle stuff.
The game’s tagline is perhaps the greatest part of this whole thing: “It’s time to hand out the pinkslips … in blood.”
Downsized insists it’s all tongue-in-cheek, although it obviously looks atadbitter on their part. Nevertheless, it’s good to see some Pandemic guys dusting themselves off and getting back into business. Apps are a brilliant way to go for any small studio, so may they enjoy the best of luck.Bullet Trainwill be hitting iTunes in the near future.
[ViaDownsized Games]
