Game developers set sights on product from St. John's

Computer code written in St. John's may eventually delight video gamers around the world, say a brother-and-sister team who are relocating some of their business to their hometown.

Andrew Ayre, owner of California-based Other Ocean Interactive, is launching a St. John's office this fall, with an expectation of hiring 62 people.

Ayre's company has developed products for gaming giants like Sega and Konami, and on platforms ranging from Xbox to the iPhone. Among its hits is Super Monkey Ball, which has been successful on Apple's iPhone.

Ayre and his sister, Deirdre Ayre, grew up in St. John's.

Deirdre Ayre, who will oversee the St. John's office, said she is excited about the prospects of developing software from her home base.

"We believe very strongly that the talent is here [for] for the videogame industry," she told reporters during a launch event Tuesday in St. John's.

"Really, you can be anywhere in the world and do what we do, so it was an obvious move for us to bring it back home."

To launch the office, though, the company is receiving a boost from the Newfoundland and Labrador government, via a $2.4-million contribution toward start-up costs over the next five years.

The company, which already runs a business in Prince Edward Island, has already started with recruitment efforts for the St. John's office.