Ubisoft, Vicious Cycle Vets Form Sentinel Studios

Officials have announced the launch of Sentinel Studios, a new independent development studio in North Carolina being headed by industry veterans Paul Potera, formerly of Ubisoft, and Marc Racine, former co-owner of Vicious Cycle Software. Officials note that the company, which currently employs five individuals, aims to develop games for the retail market, as well as contribute to the growing market for downloadable titles for next generation consoles and handhelds. Potera and Racine most recently worked together and produced licensed titles for Octagon Entertainment, which opened up its own in-house development division in January after having previously acted as a go-between for clients seeking video games and development contractors. Together, over the past year, the duo were involved with shipping more than 30 titles for multiple platforms, including the PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, and PC. “The value that Marc and I bring to publishers is a deep knowledge of game production as well as strong ties with international partners,” said Potera. “Producing over two-dozen titles within challenging development constraints during the past year compelled us to identify the market segment we deem most attractive. Now we will pursue it aggressively.” Racine added: “Paul and I have a long history of working with licensed properties as well as original IP. Leveraging our in-house development talent in coordination with our overseas partners will be integral to increasing profitability and mitigating risk for our strategic partners.”