Zoo Entertainment teams with Jason Rohrer for Diamond Trust of London
Zoo Entertainment, Ohio's very own video game publisher, has just signed indie developer Jason Rohrer for work on a new title. Rohrer is known for his simple, evocative indie games like Inside a Star Filled Sky and Passage, a game that lasts only 5 minutes but explores the costs and benefits of marriage. He also recently won the GDC 2011 game design challenge, by creating a Minecraft mod inspired by the stories of his grandfather.
At Zoo, Rohrer will be working on Diamond Trust of London, a turn-based strategy title for the DS. Taking place in Angola, the game tasks players with controlling the country's blood diamond mines by bribing, spying and undercutting their competition. Not your typical fare for a DS game by a long shot, and with the 3DS in a software slump this year, I'm glad talented developers like Rohrer are still making games for the platform, and publishers like Zoo are willing to take risks on a game that isn't exactly another pet simulator.
ZOO ENTERTAINMENT TEAMS UP WITH
RENOWNED INDEPENDENT GAME DEVELOPER JASON ROHRER
CINCINNATI - May 23, 2011 - Zoo Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ CM: ZOOG), a leading developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software, today announced that its indiePub division has partnered with widely acclaimed independent video game developer Jason Rohrer to release Diamond Trust of London, a clever turn-based strategy game, for Nintendo DS™.
"As a strong supporter of independent game development, we recognize the importance of unique ideas and working with exceptional talent," said Zoo Entertainment CEO, Mark Seremet. "Jason Rohrer is an exceptional guy and a standout in the indie community. We are collaborating to sell Diamond Trust of London to Jason's avid fan base in an exclusively digital, unique way."
"As soon as I talked to Mark Seremet, his genuine enthusiasm won me over," said Rohrer. "Zoo has rescued Diamond Trust of London from a year-long holding pattern, and I still feel like I'm dreaming. What they are doing with indiePub is great for indie games and unprecedented in the industry."
Diamond Trust of London takes place in a diamond mining company in Angola, prior to the U.N. restrictions on the sale of blood diamonds. To maintain their hold on the country's diamond mines, players must bribe and cut illicit deals, while spying on their competitors.
Development of Diamond Trust of London is scheduled to begin shortly with an anticipated limited edition release this fall.
