Codies to up digital presence in 2010

Codemasters will ramp up its digital games output next year – as it brings sequels to its strongest franchises to market in a bid to grow its business.

The firm celebrated a return to form in 2009, with Ashes Cricket, Dirt 2 and Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising all hitting top five positions in the All Formats chart. The firm’s latest release, F1 2009, has also been performing solidly on PSP and Wii.

The performance of the company came good in the last four months of the year where franchises such as Ashes Cricket, Dirt 2, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising and F1 all reached chart-topping levels which clearly showed our capabilities,” Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens told MCV this week.

The Ego technology come good across multi formats and multi genres with most of these releases. We have also continued to demonstrate our standing in the online segment with LOTRO: Siege of Mirkwood and have released our first game for the iPhone with Formula One.

"The titles went out at a highly contested time of year and they rose to the occasion. It was not without its challenges. Product delays, the economic climate and a more conservative approach meant it was a testing time but we’re pleased to end the year on a high.”

Cousens added that the firm was not complacent”, but had its eye on an even better fiscal performance in 2010.

We expect to achieve growth by focusing on core brands of high quality,” he said. With Formula One debuting on PS3 and 360, we have high expectations.

The digital aspect of our business will increase in relevance too. We will look to play to our strengths. We know what we do well and we will concentrate on that.”