Pitched as its biggest move to date, Dundee based studio Tag Games has signed a deal with BBC Worldwide to develop an official Doctor Who title on iOS

The new game, heading for iPhone and iPad, will be launched in time for Christmas, with a BBC Worldwide spokesperson claiming the initial reaction to the app has been extremely positive.

Timely Time LordIt's the importance of the deal from a local perspective, however, that is garnering the most attention.

Tag has previously worked on apps for other TV licenses such as Channel 4's Come Dine With Me, but picking up Doctor Who - in the studio's view - represents something of a step up.

"Doctor Who is the UK's number one science fiction property, and I think it is in the BBC's top three for worldwide sales, so it is great to bring it to Dundee - especially in light of what happened at Realtime Worlds and the effect it had on Dundee," Tag Games co-founder Robert Henning told The Courier.

"It shows there is still something positive we can bring to the sector."

Not down in Dundee

The developer is fully aware that it operates in a different field to the likes of Realtime Worlds, however.

Indeed, operating in the mobile games sector, Henning believes, gives the developer a distinct advantage.

"Since we were established we have never done a game for ordinary retail - it has always been digital distribution," he added.

"The digital model allows us to talk directly to our customers, so it is quite different from the traditional games model."

Adding to the plaudits, TIGA chief executive Dr. Richard Wilson has hailed the significance of the deal, describing it as both good news for Tag Games and the health of the development scene in Dundee alike.

[source: The Courier]