Flash, Flex, iPhone, Android

We took the time this cold winter to take part in a national think tank experiment to thin the boundaries between technicals and creatives (like ourselves) and the happy folks in the journalistic media. It was an interesting experience to say the least and we were taken on a roller coaster ride of emotion as our ideas were put through their paces.
We were happy to take part and have the opportunity to explore new concepts and present them to a panel of peers including Sky Media, Johnston Press and other bigwig names to name a few.
You can visit the meld where you will find a breaks down of our tortures here.

Last week, amidst the chaos of an international business meeting and a concurrent running website project Twisted Studio found time to sit in and judge the entries at this years acclaimed international animation festival, Animex.

It was a gruelling day with some amazing animation entrants rivalling professional production realms. We laughed and we cried and animators from around the world took us on a roller coaster of animated heaven.... oh and they fed us which makes the experience all the more fun....

We hope to see the final's judges pull out the winners and show them during the Animex week on February 4th to the 8th. You can find us there too, we do like our animations 'don't ya know'!

Just a quick message to everyone who drops by and reads our news section. Merry Christmas people. We hope you have a great one, we are!! Its time off work which is a novelty.

We hope that you’re enjoying a good mince pie and a warm fire!! Oh and you can send our presents to....

Please take the time to comment on the website, you can find comment sections inside each clip. We look forward to hearing what you think and welcome any suggestions.

Take care and see you in the New Year!

Twisted Staff

A Tees Valley business start up is set to help the next generation of entrepreneurs as it hosts a gaming session workshop as part of Enterprise Week 2007.

Twisted Studio, a software and design company that focuses on the development of games technology, was set up by three graduates from Teesside University and they are holding a three day long ‘Twisted Gaming Session' from Tuesday to Thursday this week in several schools throughout the region.

The event introduces people to the basics of computer games design through a game called Meteor Golf. Participants will be given a games development tool that allows them to customise the game by using their own imagination and creative talent. The aim of the session is to encourage young people to challenge their thinking and to be enterprising.

Kevin Jones, Technical Director at Twisted Studio, said: "Level design in computer games is great for introducing the industry to young people, it is quick and simple and most importantly fun. It can result in students competing among themselves to design the best level which is a very entrepreneurial trait and will hopefully make people stop and think ‘I really can do this!'"

Pamela Hargreaves, Head of the Make your Mark campaign, which is running Enterprise Week in Tees Valley, said: "The guys from Twisted Studio are a great example of an inspiring business start up in Teesside. They can help drive the message that young people can make their bright ideas work right here in Tees Valley and there are so many people out there to give help and advice."

Twisted Studio is based in Teesside's creative hub DigitalCity. Its objective is to create a vibrant, successful and self-sustaining supercluster in the Tees Valley based on the digital technologies, digital media and creative sectors.

Article taken from bdaily.inf

Through a series of overseas talks, Sun are finally coming back to discuss with ourselves a potential piece of technology they would like. We can say now more but they are welcome guest and we can only hope that we impress the president as he honours us with his presence this time round...

So we finally found some spare moments to wreak havoc on our website again, we we're not happy to be honest. The old site was just a little off beat, all grim reaper and lacking a little Pandora to keep you smirking. So here we present our newest effort to stand out with a 3D website. Travel through the world, play with how it looks, throw it about and listen t the dry sarcasm of our little blue friends... we hope you like it...

A TEAM of award-winning graduates plan to approach one of the world’s biggest video-gaming companies after only one year of launching their company.

Twisted Studio, which designs video games and other software, says it is ready to approach gaming giant Nintendo after a year of impressive growth.

The business was spun out of Teesside University last year by Graham Bryan, 24, Kevin Jones, 25, and Michael Kirby, 25, and has already managed to grow by working with companies such as the BBC and a number of Asian gaming companies including Inixsoft.

Twisted plans to use its rapid growth to impress Nintendo in order to produce software for its Wii and DS consoles which it believes to be among the key platforms for the company’s future development.

Graham said: “We are focusing on games that include user generated content, for which the Nintendo consoles are known. Also, as the Wii can connect to the internet, we see greater integration between our mobile phone and console game designs.”

Its core product is a software package known as the Logic Project and is a toolkit designed to help other software companies create video games for mobile phones.

The trio worked with the BBC earlier this year to create an animated backdrop to this year’s Proms in the Park in Middlesbrough.

The team has already outgrown its current office at the Teesside University campus and is moving to a larger site on the premises over the coming months. It is also looking to employ a team of designers and sales staff.

Kevin said: “The games industry is massive. However, we think we stand out from the crowd. As an up-and-coming games designer, we want to grow in various markets, which we have already made steps in doing so. We also want to become more involved with companies outside the gaming world in order to get our name out there.” The company has developed unique branding, with a quirky design that incorporates a new cartoon character for every member of staff. The team has discussed launching an online competition to help name the characters. Stephen said: “We have created a very identifiable brand which we feel is important. My character designs have been compared to Tim Burton’s, which I am pleased with as they stand out. We are also planning to use these characters in our game designs.”

Twisted Studio this month was named a runner-up in the Business Award category at this year’s North-East Universities Business Planning Competition.

Twisted Studio is the proud owner of one glass trophy…we stole it…*ahem* okay no we won it at the Blueprint Finals. After being entered for two categories we walked away as proud prize winners in the Business Development Category. Didn’t I tell you all we were born to win… We’re glad I don’t have to eat my own foot now…

Twisted Studio partners with talented local animator Tom Bailey aka Brimblashman to help produce a wondrous piece of animation to be played in the background of the BBC Proms. It’s a wonderful opportunity and perhaps the start of a brilliant partnership as Twisted Studio’s aims to breach the animation markets? Who knows, we’re open to more offers, we have animators coming out of the woodwork, something to keep them busy would be helpful.

Twisted Studio entered the NE business plan competition Blueprint last month frankly because we put quite a bit of effort into our business planning stages and we thought it might be nice if our hard work had some quick returns and that we looked good doing it...

Well we definitely impressed someone because we walked away with the “Overall Winner” prize from the Teesside leg of the competition and landed a well received cash prize, oh and some nifty looking Lamborghini  pens . So now it’s on to the grand finals where we will face the winners for each of the five universities including esteemed Durham and Newcastle who boast strong reputations.  We’re not scared though, we were born to be winners… will we live to regret that bold statement? Tune in during October to find out more…