Big Ant Studios Pty Ltd is an Australian
video game developer
A video game developer is a broad term for a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who undertakes all tasks to a large ...
based in
Melbourne. Founded in 2001 by
chief executive officer Ross Symons, the company specialises in the development of
sports games. Big Ant's games include ''
Cricket 19'',
''Rugby League Live 4'',
''AFL Live'',
and ''Don Bradman Cricket 14''.
History
The studio was founded in 2001 and was originally named Bull Ant Studios, but renamed as "it was getting mispronounced all around the world because they don’t have
bull ants", according to Ross Symons. The studio initially worked primarily as a "studio for hire" with publishers such as
THQ and
Konami before moving towards sports games. Symons has explained this move on the basis that "Sport is renewable. There’s always a sequel. There’s always another season”.
The studio's first sports game was
Australian rules football
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
title ''
AFL Live
''AFL Live'' is a sports game in the AFL series of Australian rules football video games. It was developed by Big Ant Studios for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. It was released on 21 April 2011. The Game of the Year Edition was r ...
'', released in 2011, for the PC,
PlayStation 3 and
Xbox 360.
The studio has since gone to make further Australian rules football games, as well as rugby league,
cricket,
lacrosse
and tennis titles.
In January 2021, French video game publisher
Nacon acquired Big Ant for €35 million.
Symons has commented on his ambition "to grow Big Ant Studios into the largest developer of sports entertainment software in the world", and increase staff numbers from 66 (as of April 2022) to 200.
Games developed
Advocacy
Symons opined in a 2016 ''
Australian Financial Review
''The Australian Financial Review'' (abbreviated to the ''AFR'') is an Australian business-focused, compact daily newspaper covering the current business and economic affairs of Australia and the world. The newspaper is based in Sydney, New Sou ...
'' piece that interns should be properly compensated for their work. Big Ant Studios joined the
Interactive Games and Entertainment Association
The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) is the industry association for computer and video games in Australia and New Zealand.
The IGEA represents companies that are publishers, distributors and marketers of interactive enterta ...
(IGEA) in December 2015. Symons made a presentation on the games industry challenges and opportunities to the Australian government's new Parliamentary Friends of Video Games group. In 2021 Symons was added to the IGEA's board of directors.
Big Ant Studios sponsors the women's team at the
Carlton Football Club.
Notes
References
External links
*
{{Big Ant Studios
Companies based in Melbourne
Australian companies established in 2001
Video game companies established in 2001
Video game companies of Australia
Video game development companies
2021 mergers and acquisitions
Australian subsidiaries of foreign companies
Nacon