Epicenter Studios opening new shop in Michigan

Epicenter Studios, the makers of Real Heroes: Firefighter for the Wii, are planning to open an office in Detroit , Michigan, according to a report in Michigan Job Search. The company currently holds court in Las Angeles (or more precisely, Sherman Oaks), California and plans to continue to do business there as well. The starting goal is to open a Detroit-area studio and hire 20 workers beginning next month.

Speaking to Michigan Job Search, CEO Nathaniel McClure pointed to Michigan’s refundable tax credits program for entertainment companies as a key factor in its decision to look in Detroit. In a perfect world where everything goes according to plan, McClure hopes that the new studio will employ anywhere from 50 to 90 game designers and developers in two years. He also said that “handshake deals” are in place to hire a handful of recent college graduates from the Detroit area.

“I need to be fully operational by January because we already have our first title to ship by next Christmas,” McClure told Michigan Job Search in a phone interview from downtown Detroit.

That new title is unknown as of this writing  though it has been pegged as an Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 game. Epicenter is also going to dabbling in a television show in preproduction and a couple of low-budget films — if it can find some partners.

Michigan Job Search also confirmed with Janet Lockwood, the director of the Michigan Film Office, that “McClure has spoken with staff there about obtaining an infrastructure tax credit to offset construction or remodeling costs.”

While it might all seem like wishful thinking or something, McClure must be fairly serious about opening a new studio because he has moved to nearby Farmington Hills from Los Angeles.

We’ll have more on this story as it develops.

Real Heroes: Firefighter released

Epicenter Studios and Conspiracy Entertainment have released Real Heroes: Firefighter for Wii. Developed by Epicenter Studios, Real Heroes: Firefighter emphasizes non-violent, game-integral puzzles and challenges that mirror the on-the-fly choices firefighters face every day. Featuring Epicenter’s proprietary “Thinking Fire” technology, blazes will come alive as they attack structures, potential victims and firefighters, and cause unexpected changes to the environments that will suddenly alter the player’s options and strategies.

The game carries a family-friendly price (MSRP - $29.99 USD), with a percentage of proceeds being donated to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.

Star line up for Real Heroes: Firefighter

Conspiracy Entertainment and Epicenter Studios announced the voice actors to be heard in heir upcoming first-person action game Real Heroes: Firefighter for the Wii. The game, which went gold earlier this week, is set for an August 2009 release, and was developed in cooperation with a 27-year firefighting veteran.

The cast of voice actors for Real Heroes: Firefighter includes James Marsters (”Spike” from the cult-classic TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Michael Jace – coming off his sixth season as (Officer Julien Lowe from the hit TV series The Shield), Jamie Kennedy (comedian), Jenette Goldstein (Private Vasquez in the classic film Aliens), Jack McGee (Backdraft and Rescue Me) and John Di Maggio (Bender from Futurama and Marcus Fenix in Gears of War).

Real Heroes: Firefighter gold, in stores August 4

Epicenter Studios and Conspiracy Entertainment announced that Real Heroes: Firefighter for Wii has gone gold today, and is set to hit retail shelves on August 4. Real Heroes: Firefighter challenges players to take on the role of a rookie firefighter and save lives and property from a series of fires raging through a major fictional metropolitan area.

Developed by Epicenter Studios, Real Heroes: Firefighter emphasizes non-violent puzzles and challenges that mirror the choices firefighters have to face every day. Featuring Epicenter’s proprietary Thinking Fire technology, blazes come alive as they not attack structures, potential victims and firefighters, and cause unexpected changes to the environments that ultimately alter the player’s options and strategies. Because of this, say the developers, no two scenarios will play out the same way in the game. Interesting.

Real Heroes: Firefighter is rated E10+, and will be released to retail for $29.99 USD. A percentage of the proceeds are being donated to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.