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Denki is an interactive television and console game developer based in Dundee, Scotland. The company is the developer of over 180 console and interactive television games, covering a range of platforms. Denki has worked extensively in the digital interactive television (IDTV) market, with the majority of their titles created specifically for digital interactive television DirecTV platform.
History
Denki was founded on 20 March 2000 by four former DMA Design employees. The company was set up to be a design-driven development studio, focused on the creation of video games. Denki's intention was to develop games for a variety of smaller platforms, including the Game Boy Advance, which the company saw as opening the games market up to a new, more "casual" audience.
The company created two original new games for the Game Boy Advance. The first was a puzzle game called Denki Blocks! Published by Rage Software in September 2001. This was followed by a platform-style game called Go! Go! Beckham! Adventure on Soccer Island – based on the famous English footballer – also published by Rage in August 2002. Both games picked up widespread critical acclaim and Denki Blocks! received several awards. However sales for both titles did not meet expectations.
As part of the promotional campaign for Denki Blocks!, the company created a version of the game for the newly launched games service on Sky Television in the UK. The response to the game was positive and Denki made the decision to focus on this new platform.
Digital Interactive Television games
Denki Blocks!, Denki's first title for Sky Television was released on 9 October 2001 when Sky Gamestar launched. It was accessible by all Sky digital subscribers, using only the standard set-top box and controller. Given the favourable response to this initial title, Denki was asked to create a number of other titles for Sky – both original and based on brands from television and movies.
Over the next seven years, Denki focused on DiTV games. The company refined their design and development process to the point where it could take an agreed design document and produce a completed title in under ten weeks.
Brands and licences
Denki has worked with many of the world's largest media companies, releasing games based upon famous characters, brands and licenses from across the movie, television and videogames industries.
3MRT
Aardman
Atari
Bell ExpressVu
British Broadcasting Corporation
Cartoon Network
Celador
Digital Bridges (I-play) Disney DirecTV DreamWorks Eidos Interactive Endemol Fremantle Hasbro Lego Mattel Microsoft Mind Candy Namco Nickelodeon Nintendo Paramount Pat Sajak Games PBS Penguin Pixar Rage Realtime Worlds Sky Sky Sports Spil Games Taito The Tetris Company Universal Warner Bros. Waterfront Entertainment
In May 2007, Denki signed a deal with Waterfront, to provide games to DirecTV in North America for DirecTV's new Games Lounge service. Denki initially provided nine games though that number has grown.
In September 2008, Denki announced that DiTV games would become a much smaller part of the company's output, as the company returned to its original philosophy of creating original new games, focused specifically on toys, fun and drama.
In January 2009, Denki launched DenkiOrNot.com, an online game which challenges players to identify the most "Denki" image from several pairs. Participants who successfully identify the majority of the images, are then offered the opportunity to contact the company's recruitment department.
Non-DiTV projects
While the majority of the titles created by Denki during this period were for DiTV platforms, the company also worked on two other significant projects
InQuizitor is a game-based learning tool, created in conjunction with educational gaming company 3MRT. lDenki provided graphic design services to the company then developing the game with 3MRT. InQuizitor was released in September 2008. It is used by educational establishments across the UK and Europe. InQuizitor has won a number of trophies, including the 2007 eLearning Award.
Crackdown is a sandbox game developed by Realtime Worlds for the Xbox 360. When Realtime Worlds first created the concept, Denki provided design and audio consultancy for the project. Denki's input was instrumental in helping Realtime Worlds to secure its publishing agreement with Microsoft for the title. Crackdown was released in February 2007. The game received positive critical reviews and a number of awards.