Former "Hitman" programmers plunge into the casual games industry.

January 2, 2007

Former "Hitman" programmers
plunge into the casual games industry.

Former "Hitman" programmers
launch their first casual game, Deep Blue Sea for PC and Mac, from their new
game studio, The Game Equation.

The hit game, Deep Blue Sea, is the
first release from the brand new game studio, The Game Equation. "After working
on top-rated shooters for years, we were ready to work in a smaller company and
make smaller games. We started to notice how people with our background were
making top hits in the casual games industry," explains Brian Meidell, co-owner
of the Copenhagen based company, The Game Equation. "We realized that the high
end of the casual games industry was within our reach, and that the shorter
product cycles and smaller company setting was exactly what we wanted. These are
games that remind us of the ones we played when growing up," he smiles.

"We studied the different options,
and decided on the match-3 genre for Deep Blue Sea,” explains Bo Cordes,
co-owner of The Game Equation. “Our goal was to apply our knowledge and
experience towards creating a casual game with totally smooth and responsive
gameplay or, ‘tight’ gameplay as we call it." Deep Blue Sea’s initial sales and
feedback indicate that they have accomplished just that.

One challenge was creating an
original soundtrack that sets the mood throughout the game. "We knew from
working on the internationally best-selling ‘Hitman’ series that the game’s
sound and music mean a lot for its enjoyment, yet this is often the most
overlooked element," Meidell clarifies. To this end, The Game Equation
contracted a Danish composer, Rasmus Hartvig with years of experience creating
music for films and theatrical productions, to create an integrated music and
sound design for Deep Blue Sea.

"Making music and sound for computer
games is a very different challenge from making music for films – you have to
consider unusual factors like, ‘would this be annoying to listen to after four
hours,’ and, ‘what if these sounds are played simultaneously?’ But I’m always up
for a new challenge," says Hartvig.

Deep Blue Sea is the result of The
Game Equation’s experienced approach and dedication to detail. Deep Blue Sea is
available for PC and Mac, both versions retailing at $20.

Deep Blue Sea and free demo for PC
and Mac available here:

http://www.thegameequation.com/games/deepbluesea/