We R Interactive Social Games Studio Opens, Receives Funding

We R Interactive, a new London-based social games studio that looks to combine the film and gaming industries, announced that it's now open for business and has attracted investors. David Rose, formerly a senior executive at gaming firms like Psygnosis/SCEE and Eidos, serves as director of the studio. He's joined by ex-ITV executive Oli Madgett and Ingenious Media non-executive director Richard Dale, the latter of whom is now chairman of We R Interactive. Several folks from production company Bigballs Films (KateModern) helped establish the new studio,including Bigballs' CEO Tom Thirlwall, creative director Gav Rowe, and owners Chris Kelly and Luke Taylor. The developer's initial investors -- their contributions undisclosed -- include Fru Hazlitt, the new commercial head of television network ITV; Peter Mead, co-founder of ad agency Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO; and Eric Fellner, co-chairman of film production company Working Title Films (Four Weddings and a Funeral). According to Fellner, We R Interactive, which looks to create social games for both smartphones and sites like Facebook, is in the best position to deliver "a ground-breaking fusion of online video game and narrative story-telling". He added that the studio's first project is "genre defining." "This is branded content, but not as you know it ... It is where the game and film industries collide," said Rose, according to a report from The Guardian. "We are backed by some of the most influential people in media and finance and our management team is recognised as leaders in their fields."