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'''Martin Kenwright''' is a British video game designed and the founder of British-based virtual and augmented reality innovation company [[vTime]] Limited, digital media, entertainment and technology company [[Starship Group|Starship]], and video game development studios [[Digital Image Design|Digital Image Design (DID)]] and [[Evolution Studios]] and cofounder of BigBig Studios. He created seminal computer games such as [[F29 Retaliator]], Robocop 3D, TFX,[[EF2000 (video game)|EF2000]], F22 ADF, F22 TAW. He is also responsible for the [[World Rally Championship (video game)|World Rally Championship]] franchise and [[PlayStation 3]] launch title, [[MotorStorm (video game)|MotorStorm]], along with its respective franchise.
'''Martin Kenwright''' is a British video game designed and the founder of British-based virtual and augmented reality innovation company [[vTime]] Limited, digital media, entertainment and technology company [[Starship Group|Starship]], and video game development studios [[Digital Image Design|Digital Image Design (DID)]] and [[Evolution Studios]]. He created seminal computer games such as [[F29 Retaliator]] and [[EF2000 (video game)|EF2000]]. He is also responsible for the [[World Rally Championship (video game)|World Rally Championship]] franchise and [[PlayStation 3]] launch title, [[MotorStorm (video game)|MotorStorm]], along with its respective franchise.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Kenwright began life in the video game industry as a 2D And 3D graphics artist and game designer in 1986, working at [[Rowan Software]] on Mirrorsoft games such as Strike Force, Harrier, Spitfire 40, Fleet Street Editor, Flight of the intruder,as [[Falcon (video game series)|Falcon]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,6248/|title=Martin Kenwright Video Game Credits and Biography|website=MobyGames}}</ref> and [[List of Tetris variants|Tetris]]<ref>[http://eager.back2roots.org/DATA/T/TETRI.html Amiga Game: Tetris<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and on Microdeal games Turbo Trax, Jug, Goldrunner 3 straight after leaving [[Widnes]] Sixth Form College in [[Cheshire]].
Kenwright began life in the video game industry as a 2D graphics artist and game designer in 1987, working at [[Rowan Software]] on games such as [[Falcon (video game series)|Falcon]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,6248/|title=Martin Kenwright Video Game Credits and Biography|website=MobyGames}}</ref> and [[List of Tetris variants|Tetris]]<ref>[http://eager.back2roots.org/DATA/T/TETRI.html Amiga Game: Tetris<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> straight after leaving [[Widnes]] Sixth Form College in [[Cheshire]].


==Digital Image Design==
==Digital Image Design==
Kenwright founded [[Digital Image Design]] (DID) in 1989 with Philip Allsopp in [[Runcorn]], Cheshire. The studio specialised in [[flight simulation]] titles, the first being F29 Retaliator, Epic, Inferno and Robocop 3D, Phil Allsopp left the company in 1993, Martin continued to develop TFX flight sim which attracted attention from the RAF with the military using the technology from TFX and [[EF2000 (video game)|EF2000]] as a training tool and was AIAS nominated for best Simulation.
Kenwright founded [[Digital Image Design]] (DID) in 1989 with Philip Allsopp in [[Runcorn]], Cheshire. The studio specialised in [[flight simulation]] titles, with military using the technology from [[EF2000 (video game)|EF2000]] as a training tool. His original IP, [[F-22: Air Dominance Fighter|F-22]], won the "Milia D'Or"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.combatsim.com/archive/htm/htm_arc2/f22_main.htm|title=F22 ADF Index (www.combatsim.com)|website=www.combatsim.com}}</ref> for 'Best Game' and 'Best Flight Simulator' in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.migman.com/media/hjalmarson-20/|title=Media:|website=www.migman.com}}</ref> [[Wargasm (video game)|Wargasm]] won the "Milia D’Or" for Best Action Game in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|title=Milia media mart|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/1999/feb/18/onlinesupplement6|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 February 1999}}</ref>
Did later spun out a new military division called Didmil which went on disrupt the Military procurement market with low cost PC training tools and equipped most of NATOs front line squadrons, the Royal Armoured Core, and USAF with training tools. His original IP, [[F-22: Air Dominance Fighter|F-22]], won the "Milia D'Or"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.combatsim.com/archive/htm/htm_arc2/f22_main.htm|title=F22 ADF Index (www.combatsim.com)|website=www.combatsim.com}}</ref> for 'Best Game' and 'Best Flight Simulator' in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.migman.com/media/hjalmarson-20/|title=Media:|website=www.migman.com}}</ref> [[Wargasm]] won the "Milia D’Or" for Best Action Game in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|title=Milia media mart|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/1999/feb/18/onlinesupplement6|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 February 1999}}</ref> PCgamer described F22 as the worlds best flight simulation and was nominated for AIAS award of best Simulation


The studio broke new ground with the world's first online Multiplayer with BT wire play, the first 3D accelerated game in [[EF2000]] and the world's first Pentium accelerated game with [[Wargasm]], F22 Total Air War is being used in USAF Officer Training School to train Modern Air War Doctrine
The studio broke new ground with the world's first 3D accelerated game in [[EF2000]] and the world's first Pentium accelerated game with [[Wargasm (video game)|Wargasm]]


The studio was acquired by [[Ocean Software]] in 1999, who became [[Infogrames]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/digital-image-design-ltd/3010-1721/|title=Digital Image Design Ltd. (Company)|website=Giant Bomb}}</ref>,Martin Kenwright went on to form a new development studio called Evolution Studios.
The studio was acquired by [[Ocean Software]] in 1998, who became [[Infogrames]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/digital-image-design-ltd/3010-1721/|title=Digital Image Design Ltd. (Company)|website=Giant Bomb}}</ref>


==Evolution Studios==
==Evolution Studios==
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The franchise earned two [[BAFTA]] nominations for [[Wrc 2 extreme|WRC 2 Extreme]]<ref>[[BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards]]</ref> in 2003 and one [[BAFTA]] nomination in 2004 for WRC 4.<ref>[[2nd British Academy Video Games Awards]]</ref>
The franchise earned two [[BAFTA]] nominations for [[Wrc 2 extreme|WRC 2 Extreme]]<ref>[[BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards]]</ref> in 2003 and one [[BAFTA]] nomination in 2004 for WRC 4.<ref>[[2nd British Academy Video Games Awards]]</ref>


⚫
The success of the [[World Rally Championship (video game series)|WRC]] franchise gave Kenwright the freedom to work on original IP in the form of [[MotorStorm (video game)|MotorStorm]], a [[PS3]] exclusive [[PlayStation 3 launch|launch title]]. The title was a global number one<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/motorstorm-completes-hat-trick|title=MotorStorm completes hat-trick|first=Robert|last=Purchese|date=April 5, 2007}}</ref> and earned two [[BAFTA|British Academy of Arts (BAFTA)]] nominations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/search.html?q=martin%20kenwright&w=true|title=Search Results - The BAFTA site<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref> The [[MotorStorm]] franchise spawned four more titles, including the BAFTA nominated [[MotorStorm: Pacific Rift]].<ref name=autogenerated1>[[5th British Academy Video Games Awards]]</ref>
The success of the [[World Rally Championship (video game series)|WRC]] franchise gave Kenwright the freedom to work on original IP and he conceived Drive Club as the first community driven, cloud based driving game which went on to become a PlayStation 4 launch title years later and also devised developed the first original PS3 title
⚫
In the form of [[MotorStorm (video game)|MotorStorm]], a [[PS3]] exclusive [[PlayStation 3 launch|launch title]]. The title was a global number one<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/motorstorm-completes-hat-trick|title=MotorStorm completes hat-trick|first=Robert|last=Purchese|date=April 5, 2007}}</ref> and earned two [[BAFTA|British Academy of Arts (BAFTA)]] nominations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/search.html?q=martin%20kenwright&w=true|title=Search Results - The BAFTA site<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref> and won the AIAS award for best driving game. The [[MotorStorm]] franchise spawned four more titles, including the BAFTA nominated [[MotorStorm: Pacific Rift]].<ref name=autogenerated1>[[5th British Academy Video Games Awards]]</ref>


Both [[Evolution Studios|Evolution]] and [[Bigbig Studios]] were acquired by [[Sony Computer Entertainment]] in September 2007. Kenwright left the company, embarking on a five-year sabbatical.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tgs-sony-buys-motorstorm-dev|title=TGS: Sony buys MotorStorm dev|first=GamesIndustry|last=International|date=September 20, 2007}}</ref>
Both [[Evolution Studios|Evolution]] and [[Bigbig Studios]] were acquired by [[Sony Computer Entertainment]] in September 2007. Kenwright left the company, embarking on a five-year enforced sabbatical.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tgs-sony-buys-motorstorm-dev|title=TGS: Sony buys MotorStorm dev|first=GamesIndustry|last=International|date=September 20, 2007}}</ref>


==BigBigStudios==
==BigBigStudios==
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== Starship Group ==
== Starship Group ==
⚫
Kenwright returned to the industry in 2013, announcing new digital entertainment studio [[Starship Group|Starship]] in March 2014.<ref>[http://www.allgamesbeta.com/2014/03/motorstorm-creator-and-evolution.html All Games Beta: Motorstorm Creator and Evolution Founder Opens New Studio<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Developing original content across the VR, games, entertainment and lifestyle sectors, Kenwright announced details of the studio's first products, CyberCook and Playworld<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-05-27-motorstorm-creators-next-game-is-cybercook|title=MotorStorm creator's next game is… CyberCook|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> in May 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/video-games-entrepreneur-martin-kenwright-6880325|title=Martin Kenwright looks to shake up the video games sector in Merseyside|first=Bill|last=Gleeson|date=March 27, 2014|website=Liverpool Echo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/26/motorstorm-creator-and-evolution-founder-opens-new-studio|title=Motorstorm Creator and Evolution Founder Opens New Studio - IGN|via=www.ign.com}}</ref>
After selling Evolution and
⚫
Bigbig studios to Sony in 2007 and reaching a prestigious ranking of number 23 in Next Gen magazines Worlds top 100 in the games industry. Martin took a several year sabbatical, feeling he had accomplished all he wanted in the gaming world. However, his passion for innovation led him to form a technology incubator called Starship, where he explored the evolving relationship between people and technology. Locating the company in a deprived part of Liverpool with the aim of helping with the regeneration of the local area and kickstarting the technology sector in Liverpool. He then delved into the world of virtual reality, creating the first-ever realistic VR cooking simulator and then achieving breakout success with VTime, the first of a kind mobile VR social network in 2015. This success was followed by VTime XR, the first XR social network, and VTag, a pioneering AR messaging app. VTime limited was the first company spun out from[[Starship Group|Starship]] in March 2014.<ref>[http://www.allgamesbeta.com/2014/03/motorstorm-creator-and-evolution.html All Games Beta: Motorstorm Creator and Evolution Founder Opens New Studio<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-05-27-motorstorm-creators-next-game-is-cybercook|title=MotorStorm creator's next game is… CyberCook|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> in May 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/video-games-entrepreneur-martin-kenwright-6880325|title=Martin Kenwright looks to shake up the video games sector in Merseyside|first=Bill|last=Gleeson|date=March 27, 2014|website=Liverpool Echo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/26/motorstorm-creator-and-evolution-founder-opens-new-studio|title=Motorstorm Creator and Evolution Founder Opens New Studio - IGN|via=www.ign.com}}</ref>


With Kenwright as CEO, Starship unveiled Playworld Superheroes in January 2015<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/02/playworld-superheroes-review-ios-starship Article] on ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> and released VR demo CyberCook Taster on the [[Gear VR]] in February, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2015/02/26/samsung-gear-vr-launches-cybercook-taster|title=Samsung Gear VR launches CyberCook Taster|website=The Drum}}</ref>
With Kenwright as CEO, Starship unveiled Playworld Superheroes in January 2015<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/02/playworld-superheroes-review-ios-starship Article] on ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> and released VR demo CyberCook Taster on the [[Gear VR]] in February, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2015/02/26/samsung-gear-vr-launches-cybercook-taster|title=Samsung Gear VR launches CyberCook Taster|website=The Drum}}</ref>

According to the company website Starship Group is now in ‘stealth mode’ and is pioneering some unannounced new technology.


== vTime Limited ==
== vTime Limited ==
Kenwright announced new product [[vTime]] in August 2015, before launching the first ever mobile virtual reality social network on Samsung Gear VR on 22 December 2015. vTime Limited was established as a standalone venture in April 2016 with Kenwright as CEO, having been housed previously under the umbrella of parent company [[Starship Group]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/liverpool-computer-games-developer-starship-9934568|title=Liverpool computer games developer Starship move into social networking|first=Bill|last=Gleeson|date=August 26, 2015|website=Liverpool Echo}}</ref>
Kenwright announced new product [[vTime]] in August 2015, before launching the virtual reality social network on Samsung Gear VR on 22 December 2015. vTime Limited was established as a standalone venture in April 2016 with Kenwright as CEO, having been housed previously under the umbrella of parent company [[Starship Group]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/business/liverpool-computer-games-developer-starship-9934568|title=Liverpool computer games developer Starship move into social networking|first=Bill|last=Gleeson|date=August 26, 2015|website=Liverpool Echo}}</ref>


In April 2018, Kenwright announced that vTime Limited had raised $7.6 million (£5.4 million) in a series A funding round<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2018/04/11/uk-based-vtime-raises-7-6-million-to-get-people-to-create-memories-inside-vr/|title=UK-based vTime raises $7.6 million to get people to create memories inside VR}}</ref> and announced plans for the studio to release a social augmented reality experience later in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/social-vr-app-vtime-closes-7-6m-series-investment-ar-experience-come-2018/|title=Social VR App 'vTime' Closes $7.6M Series A Investment, AR Experience to Come in 2018|first=Scott|last=Hayden|date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>
In April 2018, Kenwright announced that vTime Limited had raised $7.6 million (£5.4 million) in a series A funding round<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2018/04/11/uk-based-vtime-raises-7-6-million-to-get-people-to-create-memories-inside-vr/|title=UK-based vTime raises $7.6 million to get people to create memories inside VR}}</ref> and announced plans for the studio to release a social augmented reality experience later in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/social-vr-app-vtime-closes-7-6m-series-investment-ar-experience-come-2018/|title=Social VR App 'vTime' Closes $7.6M Series A Investment, AR Experience to Come in 2018|first=Scott|last=Hayden|date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>

In 2017 the company released VTime XR the first ever XR social network

Martin is reportedly worked on an unannounced ‘Groundbreaking’ project for the next generation of formats which is due to debut in 2024

And in 2023 Martin Kenwright returned to the gaming industry, founding VTime Games division to continue his legacy of innovation and creativity in the world of interactive entertainment.


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==

Latest revision as of 07:40, 17 March 2024

Martin Kenwright
Born
Liverpool, England, UK
Years active1987–present

Martin Kenwright is a British video game designed and the founder of British-based virtual and augmented reality innovation company vTime Limited, digital media, entertainment and technology company Starship, and video game development studios Digital Image Design (DID) and Evolution Studios. He created seminal computer games such as F29 Retaliator and EF2000. He is also responsible for the World Rally Championship franchise and PlayStation 3 launch title, MotorStorm, along with its respective franchise.

Early life[edit]

Kenwright began life in the video game industry as a 2D graphics artist and game designer in 1987, working at Rowan Software on games such as Falcon[1] and Tetris[2] straight after leaving Widnes Sixth Form College in Cheshire.

Digital Image Design[edit]

Kenwright founded Digital Image Design (DID) in 1989 with Philip Allsopp in Runcorn, Cheshire. The studio specialised in flight simulation titles, with military using the technology from EF2000 as a training tool. His original IP, F-22, won the "Milia D'Or"[3] for 'Best Game' and 'Best Flight Simulator' in 1997.[4] Wargasm won the "Milia D’Or" for Best Action Game in 1998.[5]

The studio broke new ground with the world's first 3D accelerated game in EF2000 and the world's first Pentium accelerated game with Wargasm

The studio was acquired by Ocean Software in 1998, who became Infogrames in 1999.[6]

Evolution Studios[edit]

Kenwright went on to form Evolution Studios with Psygnosis founder, Ian Hetherington as chairman. The fledgling company was immediately enlisted as Sony Computer Entertainment's first European external development team. Evolution were subsequently handed the World Rally Championship video game licence, the first official FIA licensed World Rally Championship game in the series for the PlayStation 2 using official drivers, cars and tracks from the 2001 season.[7]

The franchise earned two BAFTA nominations for WRC 2 Extreme[8] in 2003 and one BAFTA nomination in 2004 for WRC 4.[9]

The success of the WRC franchise gave Kenwright the freedom to work on original IP in the form of MotorStorm, a PS3 exclusive launch title. The title was a global number one[10] and earned two British Academy of Arts (BAFTA) nominations.[11] The MotorStorm franchise spawned four more titles, including the BAFTA nominated MotorStorm: Pacific Rift.[12]

Both Evolution and Bigbig Studios were acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment in September 2007. Kenwright left the company, embarking on a five-year enforced sabbatical.[13]

BigBigStudios[edit]

Kenwright was also a major shareholder in Evolution's satellite studio, BigBig Studios, based in Warwickshire. BigBig developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Pursuit Force series and Motorstorm: Arctic Edge.

Starship Group[edit]

Kenwright returned to the industry in 2013, announcing new digital entertainment studio Starship in March 2014.[14] Developing original content across the VR, games, entertainment and lifestyle sectors, Kenwright announced details of the studio's first products, CyberCook and Playworld[15] in May 2014.[16][17]

With Kenwright as CEO, Starship unveiled Playworld Superheroes in January 2015[18] and released VR demo CyberCook Taster on the Gear VR in February, 2015.[19]

vTime Limited[edit]

Kenwright announced new product vTime in August 2015, before launching the virtual reality social network on Samsung Gear VR on 22 December 2015. vTime Limited was established as a standalone venture in April 2016 with Kenwright as CEO, having been housed previously under the umbrella of parent company Starship Group.[20]

In April 2018, Kenwright announced that vTime Limited had raised $7.6 million (£5.4 million) in a series A funding round[21] and announced plans for the studio to release a social augmented reality experience later in 2018.[22]

Personal life[edit]

Kenwright appeared in The Times Tech Track 100 in 2005 and 2006,[23] and in IGN's Next Generation Hot 100 Developers in 2007.[24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Martin Kenwright Video Game Credits and Biography". MobyGames.
  2. ^ Amiga Game: Tetris
  3. ^ "F22 ADF Index (www.combatsim.com)". www.combatsim.com.
  4. ^ "Media:". www.migman.com.
  5. ^ "Milia media mart". The Guardian. 18 February 1999.
  6. ^ "Digital Image Design Ltd. (Company)". Giant Bomb.
  7. ^ "WRC World Rally Championship (Game)". Giant Bomb.
  8. ^ BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards
  9. ^ 2nd British Academy Video Games Awards
  10. ^ Purchese, Robert (5 April 2007). "MotorStorm completes hat-trick".
  11. ^ "Search Results - The BAFTA site".
  12. ^ 5th British Academy Video Games Awards
  13. ^ International, GamesIndustry (20 September 2007). "TGS: Sony buys MotorStorm dev".
  14. ^ All Games Beta: Motorstorm Creator and Evolution Founder Opens New Studio
  15. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (27 May 2014). "MotorStorm creator's next game is… CyberCook".
  16. ^ Gleeson, Bill (27 March 2014). "Martin Kenwright looks to shake up the video games sector in Merseyside". Liverpool Echo.
  17. ^ "Motorstorm Creator and Evolution Founder Opens New Studio - IGN" – via www.ign.com.
  18. ^ Article on The Guardian
  19. ^ "Samsung Gear VR launches CyberCook Taster". The Drum.
  20. ^ Gleeson, Bill (26 August 2015). "Liverpool computer games developer Starship move into social networking". Liverpool Echo.
  21. ^ "UK-based vTime raises $7.6 million to get people to create memories inside VR".
  22. ^ Hayden, Scott (11 April 2018). "Social VR App 'vTime' Closes $7.6M Series A Investment, AR Experience to Come in 2018".
  23. ^ "Evolution Studios Scoops Prestigious Microsoft Tech Track 100 Placing". GamesIndustry.biz.
  24. ^ The Hot 100 Game Developers of 2007 | Edge Archived 2014-03-07 at the Wayback Machine
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