SockMonkey Studios

Behaviour UK - North (formerly SockMonkey Studios) is a British video game developer, founded by Teesside University graduates[1] Bob Makin and Darren Cuthbert, in Middlesbrough, North East England.[2]

SockMonkey Studios
IndustryVideo games
FoundedFebruary 2013
HeadquartersMiddlesbrough, United Kingdom
Key people
  • Bob Makin
  • Darren Cuthbert
  • Darren Falcus
  • Ron Ashtiani
OwnerBehaviour Interactive (2023–present)
Websitesockmonkeystudios.net

History

Founded in February 2013[3] with the help of DigitalCity,[4] prior to SockMonkey Studios Makin and Cuthbert worked at other studios[5] including Team17, Jagex and Iguana.

Makin and Cuthbert were later joined by industry veteran Darren Falcus.[2] Building their foundation on primarily work for hire jobs, the studio collaborated with numerous video game companies such as SEGA, Double Eleven and Team 17[2][6] to assist in the porting of their games to other consoles.

After setting up their offices on Victoria Road in Middlesbrough, in 2015 they moved their headquarters to the Phoenix Building at Teesside University,[4] moving again to Boho 5 [7] as the studio grew and as of 2021 reside at 16/26 Albert Road North[8] in Middlesbrough.

From its inception, the studio experienced growth due to increasing demand within the gaming industry and by 2020 had added dozens of positions. In 2019 alone they reported doubling the headcount in their Teesside office.[9]

In 2020, during an expansion phase, Ron Ashtiani[10] - former CEO of Sumo Group's Atomhawk Business - was added to the board of directors.[11] During 2020, the studio also received funding[12] from Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

In February 2023 it was announced that SockMonkey Studios had been acquired by Behaviour Interactive, becoming Behaviour UK - North.[13]

Contract work

Although the studio also worked on full-scale development[6] SockMonkey was predominantly a work-for-hire studio, having worked globally on contracts for both PC and console,[2] including US-based developers such as tinyBuild and Outfit7.[14]

Awards[15][16]

Year Institution Award Result
2015 GameBridge Business Award Won
2020 Tees Tech Awards 2020[16] Tech Ambassador Nominated
Company of the Year Nominated
North East Business Awards[17] Small Business Award: Teesside Won
Small Business Award: Grand Final Won
2021 Tees Tech Awards 2021 Unsung Hero: Darren Falcus Won
Business Leader: Bob Makin Won
2022 Tees Tech Awards 2022 Company of the Year Nominated
Game Dev Heroes Awards 2022 Design Hero 2022: Dewi Roberts Nominated
Gi.biz Best Places to Work 2022 Best Boss UK : Bob Makin Nominated
Best Places to Work: Small Company Won
2023 Velocitees Awards Job Creation: Small Business Nominated
Turnover: Small Business Nominated

Games[6]

Year Game Title Role Notes
2013 Wurdy Development
2014 Joe Danger Porting Ported to Android
SockaMonkeys Full Development
The Soccer Monkey Full Development
2015 Joe Danger Infinity Porting Ported to Android
Unannounced Title Porting Unreleased title
2016 Farm Fighters Development Added online multiplayer and design work
Kingdom Conquest (Unreleased) Art and Animation Unreleased mobile title
2017 The Rocky Horror Show: Touch Me Development Code development
PlayPhoto Development Addition of Imessage add-on
The Escapists Porting
2018 Beat the Intro Development
Songbringer Porting Ported to Nintendo Switch
Prison Architect Porting Ported to Nintendo Switch
2019 Prison Architect Development Created content and updates for console and PC
2020 Talking Tom Candy Run Porting Ported to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and added Multiplayer Mode
Deliver Us the Moon Porting Ported to Xbox One and PlayStation 4
Tens! Porting and Development Ported to PC, Mac and Nintendo Switch added content, Story Mode and Multiplayer Mode
Kill it with Fire Porting Ported to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iOS and Android
2021 Totally Accurate Battlegrounds Development Co-development of future updates and content and changing the game from premium to free to play
2022 Happy's Humble Burger Farm Porting Ported to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch
Little Orpheus Porting and Development Remastered and Ported to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 / 5, Switch and PC
Tinykin Porting Ported to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, MS Store, PlayStation 4 / 5 and Switch
CoComelon: Play with JJ Full Development Nintendo Switch

References

  1. Manning, Jonathon (2018-07-04). "Teesside Uni graduates some of most successful at launching firms". TeessideLive. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  2. Manning, Jonathon (2019-02-05). "Games studio SockMonkey to create 50-strong team by 2021". TeessideLive. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  3. "New original video game developed in the North-East launched following investment". The Northern Echo. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  4. "Teesside app development startup expands with new offices". Bdaily Business News. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  5. "SockMonkey Studios". www.sockmonkeystudios.net. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  6. "SockMonkey Studios". Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  7. Manning, Jonathon (2019-09-04). "Middlesbrough's game studio SockMonkey kits out Boho Five office". Business Live. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  8. Manning, Jonathon (2020-11-18). "Game studio SockMonkey plans to triple headcount after move". Business Live. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  9. Dawson, Richard (June 17, 2020). "Teesside games studio raises £250,000 to launch its first title". North East Times. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  10. "Ins and Outs – June 2020's industry hires roundup | Business News". MCV/DEVELOP. 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  11. "SockMonkey Studios". Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  12. "UK studio SockMonkey raises £250,000". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  13. Pavey, Vince (2023-02-23). "Behaviour Interactive has acquired UK game developer SockMonkey Studios". MCV. ISSN 1469-4832. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  14. Imrie, Jane (November 18, 2020). "Games studio levels up with move to emerging Teesside tech hub". Bdaily Business News. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  15. "Shortlist & Winners". North East Business Awards. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  16. "Tees Tech Awards". Tees Business. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  17. Manning, Jonathon (2020-09-24). "North East Business Awards 2020: RECAP". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
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