In a country as bijou as Scotland and within an industry as close-knit (and incestuous) as the interactive business, it's nice to meet an entirely new company. They're new and fresh to it all. They're excited by the opportunities and - more importantly - were never at that Christmas party in 1999 where things got so dreadfully out of hand.
It was a delight to spend some time with Waracle a couple of weeks ago. They're a brand new company focusing on the server side of gaming and creating new ways for gamers, clans and teams to create and play multiplayer games online.
The team come from a business background rather than being hardcore gamers. This gives them a useful perspective coming to an area which is surrounded with as much passion and fanboy enthusiasm as multiplayer gaming.
We sent the team the usual SG.biz company profile form and they turned it around - complete in under 24 hours. So already we're impressed. We're not naming names, but we it's getting to the point with some companies, where we consider making a completed profile form a ransom demand rather than a polite reminder...
Without any further ado, here's the Waracle team:
Company Name: Waracle Ltd
Date Founded: October 2007
Location: 15 South Tay Street (Top Floor), Dundee, DD1 1NU
Managing Director: Michael Romilly
Key Staff: Mike Wharton (Technical Director), Oskar Kirkwood (Creative Director), Dennis McPhail (Lead advisor, HGSU), David Wightman (Commercial advisor)
Number of Employees: 5
Main Areas of Business: Clan and tournament based software functionality for online PC games.
Key Games, Projects and/or Partners: Waracle gaming system (WGS) (http://beta.waracle.co.uk/). The WGS provides game server management tools for clans and individuals with a variety of thrilling tournament features and social networking functionality. Waracle works closely with the SE HGSU (High-growth-start-up- unit) and DC consulting to fulfill commercial and technical milestones.
Highlight/s To Date: Obtaining Industrial Fellowship through SE to pursue product development
Greatest achievement So Far: Being adopted by the Scottish Enterprise HGSU after they recognised the company’s ability to achieve a valuation of £5 million within 3 years of trading.
Tell us something about you that nobody really knows: Oskar Kirkwood, the company's Creative Director, claims to be the world’s first ‘human billboard’. He is willing to have any companies logo tattooed on ‘any’ part of his body, if the price is right. Still up for grabs are his forehead (prime slot!), arms and face. All enquiries should be directed by phone or email to the MD.
Willing to challenge other companies at what online/multiplayer game: Michael Romilly (ISS Pro Evo Online), Oskar Kirkwood (Unreal Tournament), and Mike Wharton (Guitar Hero). Naturally, we would have to say Counter Strike for all 3 directors as well.
