
Factsheet
Developer:
Ant Workshop
Based in Edinburgh, Scotland
Founding date:
January 12, 2015
Website:
ant-workshop.com
Press / Business contact:
press@ant-workshop.com
Social:
Ant Workshop's Twitter
Ant Workshop's Facebook
Tony's Twitter
Releases:
Binaries
Dead End Job
Run From The Sun
Taps Aff
Description
Ants - tiny, strong, focussed, good at working with others to achieve their goals and often with a nasty bite. Some of these characteristics (not so much the bitey ones) are also shared by Ant Workshop, a small independent game developer based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
History
CompanyAnt Workshop is a Develop and TIGA Award nominated microstudio founded in January 2015 by Tony Gowland to focus on developing original IP full of character and with a quirky sense of humour.
The company's first title was Binaries, a BAFTA nominated controller-smashingly tough 2D puzzle platform game, followed by the Scottish Summertime Simulator Taps Aff, and most recently the Apple Arcade launch title Dead End Job - a 90's cartoon-style shooter where you bust ghosts as a Paranormal Pest Control worker.
As well as their own titles, Ant Workshop has also helped other indies bring over a dozen cool games (such as John Wick Hex, Yes Your Grace, and Thomas Was Alone) to current and next generation console platforms.
In January 2022 Ant Workshop received a seven figure equity investment from Chroma Ventures to enable the development of new titles including Dungeon Golf, in which minotaurs, goblins, and other mythical creatures compete with one another.
Tony GowlandTony has been a professional game developer for over twenty years. He has held senior and lead positions at Rockstar Games (working on hits such as the Grand Theft Auto: Stories series, GTA: Chinatown Wars, and 2010 Game of the Year Red Dead Redemption) and been Associate Creative Officer of Mobile at ActivisionBlizzard, bringing a brand new Call of Duty experience to mobile.
Chroma VenturesChroma Ventures was created in 2021 by Paddy Burns and Chris van der Kuyl as a broad-spectrum investment arm. Based in Scotland, but with an international outlook, Chroma Ventures backs companies developing and deploying innovative technology and data-led businesses. Its investment approach will reflect the principals' commitment to investing in great people with great ideas and supporting their growth through long-term collaboration. Chroma Ventures' expanding portfolio include 4J Studios, Ace Aquatec, ADV Holdings, Blippar, Broker Insights, Parsley Box, Puny Astronaut, Stormcloud Games, Team 17, TVSquared, and the property development company Chroma Developments.
Starter for 6Ant Workshop was supported through its early development by Starter for 6. This prestigious enterprise training programme is run by Cultural Enterprise Office, Scotland's only specialist business support and development service for creative micro-businesses and cultural practitioners with investment from the Scottish Government via Creative Scotland’s Innovation Fund.
Projects
Videos
Dead End Job - Ghoul-B-Gone Trailer (January 2019) YouTube
Dead End Job Trailer (March 2018) YouTube
Binaries Console Announce Trailer (July 2016) YouTube
Images
There are far more images available for Ant Workshop, but these are the ones we felt would be most useful to you. If you have specific requests, please do contact us!
Logo & Icon
Awards & Recognition
- "PocketGamer Mobile Games Awards "Best Indie Developer" 2020 Finalist" - January 2020
- "BAFTA Scotland Best Game nominee" - Dead End Job, 2020
- "6th Round UK Games Fund Awardee" - July 2020
- "Apple Arcade Launch Title" - Dead End Job, September 2019
- "4th Round UK Games Fund Awardee" - July 2018
- "PocketGamer Big Indie Pitch Winner" - Dead End Job, November 2017
- "Best Gameplay Design" - Binaries, Game Design Awards 2017
- "Micro/Start Up Studio Develop Award 2017 Finalist" - July 2017
- "BAFTA Scotland Best Game nominee" - Binaries, 2016
- "Rock Paper Shotgun EGX Rezzed Selection" - Binaries, April 2016
- "EGX Rezzed Top 20 Games of the Show, Voted by Attendees" - Binaries, April 2016
- "2015 Starter for 6 Programme Awardee" - Glasgow, 07 August 2015
Additional Links
Edinburgh Video Games Studio Ant Workshop Secures Equity Investment From Chroma Ventures 
Further details of Chroma Ventures' investment in Ant Workshop chroma.ventures.
Indie Spotlight: Tony Gowland reflects on running Ant Workshop for five years
An interview with Pocket Gamer about running Ant Workshop. pocketgamer.biz.
Accessibility does not mean making your game easier
Tony discusses how indies can reach beyond - but still satisfy - core gamers. gamesindustry.biz.
Edinburgh games developer creates independent design hub
A piece about Ant Workshop's involvement in forming an Edinburgh game development hub. scotsman.com.
BAFTA Guru Spotlight On... Indie Games Developer Tony Gowland
A short interview about routes in to the games industry and what Tony's job entails. guru.bafta.org.
Team
Tony Gowland
Founder
Ewan McKenzie
Production / QA
Martin Scott
Programmer
Samantha Davidson
Programmer
James Paton
Programmer
Paula Lucas
Art
Michael Cameron
Design
Contact
Inquiries
press@ant-workshop.com
Company Twitter
twitter.com/AntWorkshop
Facebook
facebook.com/AntWorkshop
Personal Twitter
twitter.com/Tony_Gowland
presskit() by Rami Ismail (Vlambeer) - also thanks to these fine folks