社交及手机游戏的崛起给整个游戏行业带来了巨大的冲击，英国传统游戏公司Slightly Mad Studios的最新动向就是明证。

该公司曾开发了一系列知名的硬核模拟赛车游戏，包括《GT Legends》以及《极品飞车：变速》。但是，该公司联合创始人Ian Bell以及Andy Garton最近却成立了一家新的工作室Gamagio，进军手机、社交及网页游戏市场。

游戏邦获悉，Slightly Mad和Gamagio的运营总监Dom Duhan在最近的媒体采访中介绍了他们采取这一行动的原因。

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为何从赛车模拟游戏转向休闲游戏领域？

我们想扩大自己的业务范围，我们有一个非常强大的团队，也想对目前的赛车游戏的发展空间进行调整，但这并不是说我们不会将赛车游戏独立出来，我们一直对赛车游戏很有热情。

Gamagio会推出赛车游戏吗？

刚开始不会，但我确信今年会推出一个交叉项目。

Gamagio是Slightly Mad公司的一个分支，还是一个全新的工作室？

它是一个完全独立于Slightly Mad的工作室。不过，作为Slightly Mad Studios工作室的成员，我还是要说发行商要是想开发AAA项目，这个团队真是不错的选择。

我们是英国最强大的开发团队之一，我们每人在游戏领域的平均工作经验长达16年，此外我们还拥有Madness 2引擎，它仍然是业内最好的开发工具之一。这些条件可支持我们发挥新创意，进军新领域。

Gamagio将如何把自己的开发经验运用于手机及社交游戏？

我们团队有不少成员之前开发过手机及社交游戏项目，所以这应该是一个自然发展的过程。我们都是狂热的手机游戏玩家，另外社交游戏也常让我们回想起以前玩《模拟城市》的美好时光。

Gamagio会自主发行游戏吗？

我们想自主发行游戏，所幸这个市场也支持我们这么做。但是，我们也希望找到能为游戏增值的合作伙伴。

你曾提到，你们的引擎支持HTML5和WebGL技术，但你们如何通过这个以免费模式为主的平台创收呢？

免费模式适用于我们的游戏运营，社交游戏市场很庞大，如果我们不直接引来玩家，那就是很不高明的做法了。

对平板电脑有何看法？

我曾经极度怀疑iPad，但不到一个月时间我就自己买了一个，并深深为其所迷。苹果为这一行树立了标杆，我认为平板电脑有可能取代台式电脑和笔记本电脑。

我认为在未来几年内，更卓越而更低价的移动设备，将推动手机及社交游戏的巨大发展。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，转载请注明来源：游戏邦）

Gamagio’s Dom Duhan on how the irresistible lure of mobile and social gaming triggered the start up

If you want an example of how the rise of social and mobile gaming is shaking up the industry, there’s no better example than London-based Slightly Mad Studios.

Through various names and owners, the bulk of its team have been making highly regarded hardcore racing sims such as GT Legends, and most recently the Need for Speed: Shift series for a decade.

Now however, co-founders Ian Bell and Andy Garton have set up Gamagio, a studio focused on mobile, social and browser games.

We caught up with business director Dom Duhan – who works across Slightly Mad and Gamagio – to find out more.

PocketGamer: Why the move from racing sims to casual games?

Dom Duhan: We have wanted to expand our horizons for a while now. We have a really strong team and want to try and change the space as we’ve done with racing games, although that’s not to say we won’t leave racing alone. We’re always passionate about racing.

Should we expect racing games from Gamagio?

Initially no, but I’m sure there will be a crossover later in the year.

Is Gamagio part of Slightly Mad games or a new outfit?

It’s a separate, completely independent, entity from Slightly Mad. Although, with my Slightly Mad Studios hat on, I should say there’s a great opportunity for a publisher to nail that team for triple-A projects.

It’s one of the UK’s strongest teams in terms of expertise – on average our guys have worked in the industry for 16 years – and it owns the Madness 2 engine which is constantly being improved to remain best in field. This foundation allows us to bring new and fresh ideas to the plate.

How will Gamagio use its development experience when it comes to social and mobile gaming?

Many of our team have worked on mobile and social games previously, so this felt like a natural progression. We are all mad mobile gamers and the social gaming takes us back to when we were playing SimCity

Will Gamagio be self publishing its titles?

We are looking to self-publish: luckily the market allows us to do that. However, we’re always looking for partners who can add value to our games.

You mentioned your engine supports HTML5 and WebGL, but how do you expect to monetise this free-to-play platform?

The freemium model works for us and our games, and the social space is so huge we would be foolish not to engage players directly.

What’s your view on tablets?

I was a big iPad sceptic before it came out, but within a month, I had one and I love it. Apple has set the benchmark, and I see tablets replacing desktops and laptops, becoming the norm.

I think over the next couple of years, we’ll see huge growth especially when good devices with lower price points come to market.（source:pocketgamer）