Advertisement

MotorStorm creator's new studio is cooking up new IP

S. Prell
Updated ·5 min read
0

Remember that studio that MotorStorm creator Martin Kenwright founded not-quite two months ago, called Starship? Well, they're ready to talk about some of the projects they're got baking in the oven. That's no throwaway metaphor either, as one of Starship's upcoming IPs is CyberCook, a "next-gen eco-system for cookery."

"There has been no major step change in the evolution of consumer cooking experiences in over 20 years," Kenwright said in a press release. "The 19th century had cookery books, 20th century had TV, analogue media and live shows. Direct to consumer has come of age, with mass technology ownership allowing us to move beyond existing channels into a brave new world called CyberCook. It's an experience second only to real cooking, a genuine game-changing platform with infinite opportunities for collaboration, partnerships and social media."

Also on Starship's plate (haa) is Playworld, a mobile game designed for children ages five and up. No gameplay details or screenshots were shared, but Kenwright said the game is designed to "empower kids' creativity." Both Playworld and CyberCook are expected to reach smartphones and tablets in Q4 2014.

If all of this feels like too much of a departure from Kenwright's racing game history - along with creating MotorStorm, Kenwright founded Driveclub developer Evolution Studios - don't fret too much; Starship is also eyeing the growing sector of virtual reality with keen interest. "We're thinking about returning to our roots with a wicked twist," Kenwright said. "Original, made-for-VR propositions are on the way. It's truly a case of 'watch this space.'"

Oh, we'll be watching alright. Right after we cook that delicious-looking dish.

[Image: Starship]

Show full PR text

LONDON, May 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Starship, the Liverpool- based digital entertainment company, today unveil the breadth of their cross-genre portfolio with details of three new IPs, including world firsts in the gaming and lifestyle sectors.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/71400537-starship-reveal-a-glimpse-of-world-first-IPs

The studio, helmed by Evolution Studios founder and MotorStorm creator Martin Kenwright, today disclose top line details of a trio of pioneering products. Home to a dream team of world-class talent brought together by Kenwright and his vision, Starship are developing original content in the e-health, children's gaming and lifestyle sectors. The studio has been purpose built to challenge and disrupt existing thinking, and ways of delivering digital and consumer experiences with everyday use and value.

The first product, CyberCook, aims to unite the entire cooking sector with the first truly interactive cookery platform. Featuring the world's first hyper-realistic and time sensitive cooking simulation, CyberCook is a next-gen eco-system for cookery.

"There has been no major step change in the evolution of consumer cooking experiences in over 20 years," says Kenwright. "The 19th century had cookery books, 20th century had TV, analogue media and live shows. Direct to consumer has come of age, with mass technology ownership allowing us to move beyond existing channels into a brave new world called CyberCook. It's an experience second only to real cooking, a genuine game-changing platform with infinite opportunities for collaboration, partnerships and social media."

Details are also revealed for children's adventure series, Playworld, which Kenwright outlines as "the ultimate in create and play". Designed from the ground up for ages five +, Playworld is a console quality game designed for children on next generation mobile devices. "We're out to empower kid's creativity," he explains. "Playworld offers children the ultimate craft creation tool, but it's the amazing surprise inside that really sets it apart. Kids will love it, but parents will love it even more."

First versions of CyberCook and Playworld are set for a Q4, 2014 release on smartphones and tablets.

Further details are unveiled for e-health and lifestyle product Forget-Me-Not, a memory aid with multiple patents pending, which Kenwright describes as a "wearable second brain".
"In five years, I fully expect memory aids to be as ubiquitous as hearing aids," says Kenwright. "We're now in a position where we're waiting for the hardware to catch up with what we've created. We need the use of low-energy chipsets in the wearables sector to increase massively before the true power of Forget-Me-Not can be fully realised."

While the IP announcements seem to veer away from Kenwright's genre-defining driving and flight sim heritage, the Starship CEO says VR is very much a part of the studio's future plans. "We've been flirting with VR for more than 20 years," he explains, "make no mistake, that expertise will be put to good use. We're thinking about returning to our roots with a wicked twist. Original, made-for-VR propositions are on the way. It's truly a case of 'watch this space'.

"Starship gives us the opportunity to take chances that an established company could not," says Starship COO Clemens Wangerin. "Our first three IP announcements will go some way to explaining how broad our horizons are and how far we're reaching with our original content. We're out to develop the killer product for all next generation hardware. We're all extremely proud of Starship's amazing debut, and incredible efforts of the team.

"We've had an overwhelmingly positive response to the IPs we're developing from all corners of the industry; platform holders, device manufacturers and the press. Now we're looking to connect with key people in each of the sectors we're targeting - cookery, children's entertainment and wearables - to work closely with us as the IPs we're launching grow and develop further."

About Starship

Starship are a Liverpool-based digital entertainment studio harbouring a dream-team of world-class talent hailing from the games, media, and marketing sectors. Founded by Evolution and Digital Image Design founder Martin Kenwright in 2013, the studio is built upon a proven and unbroken track record delivering next generation and platform launch titles.

Led by senior veterans from Evolution and Sony Studio Liverpool, the core team of 20 have collectively devised or delivered more than 69 games, including launch titles and AAA franchises such as MotorStorm, WipEout, Formula 1 and World Rally Championship. Currently developing original content across games, entertainment, lifestyle and e-health, Starship builds upon its core team's gaming pedigree to create a proposition with interstellar ambitions.