Computer games designer Gordon Ross knows just what it is like to have a battle on his hands. But this time he is not taking part in a classic video games battle.

His company has become the first of its kind to choose the Highlands for its headquarters and he has already registered a victory in the sales department.

Just a few years ago, Gordon was fighting for his life against leukaemia.  Now, thanks to a bone marrow transplant from his brother Darren, he is fit and ready for new challenges, having relocated his video games company Genuine Games Ltd to Fort William.

Genuine Games has already completed its first 'hot' product, 'Flibbidy-Jibs'. Soon after arriving in the area at the beginning of October, a global retail deal for 'Flibbidy-Jibs' was signed with Singularity Software Ltd and an on-line distribution deal clinched with Phoenix Games. The deal confirms Genuine Games as the first published game developer in the Highlands.

Gordon was introduced to the video games world at the early age of two, playing games like 'Pong' on the Binatone System.

At the age of 18, he was able to turn a hobby into a career and became one of the first professional video games testers in the UK at DMA Design in Dundee, creators of the classic 'Grand Theft Auto' and 'Lemmings' games.

A move to London gave him the chance to join games giant Eidos Interactive - the makers of 'Tomb Raider' and 'Championship Manager. When Gordon left Eidos, he become a lead designer for the big budget game 'Red Meat' at Sony.

His next move was to become a games developer in his own right by setting up his own company, Genuine Games. However, plans had to be put on hold when he contracted leukaemia.

When Gordon was declared fit to return to work, his long-term friends and colleagues Dai Banner and Joseph Waller joined him at Genuine Games.

Now that he was free of the confines of a small hospital room, Gordon was determined not to be city-based, believing he could run an international business and enjoy a good quality of life by utilising the excellent telecommunications the Highlands has to offer.

Lochaber Enterprise, part of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network, agreed to assist Gordon with the initial costs of establishing the business through the EU-funded HIE Starts programme.

This finance contributes toward Genuine Games' wage costs in the early development stages. Gordon said: "Without it, the company would have had a more difficult first few months. We are currently based at the Ben Nevis Industrial Estate and intend to expand into Lochyside in February, where a further building is currently under construction."

Genuine Games Ltd currently employs four full-time staff and a further five contractors. By the turn of next year, the total staff requirements are expected to rise to around 20. Over the next 24 months it is expected that the business will employ around 50 staff with an estimated 32 staff working from the Lochaber headquarters.
 
The company aims to address one of the major issues of the video game industry - attracting more female employees, through encouragement within the community by targeting computer clubs, work placement programmes and training.
 
Genuine Games Ltd is already negotiating the development of a line of female orientated products scheduled for release in Christmas 2004.

Over half the new jobs are being generated at graduate level or above, ensuring more high quality employment being made available locally.

Gordon added: "We have a number of major contracts under negotiation including a game based on a popular sci-fi series aired on the BBC, so I think Genuine Games Ltd. can look forward to a bumper year of success in 2004."
 
Charlotte Wright, chief executive of Lochaber Enterprise, said: "We were delighted to be able to assist Genuine Games, which has the chance of becoming a real high-growth company in an exciting international market.

"The creation of this new business in Lochaber opens up a whole new branch of the creative industries sector for the Highlands and Islands and stands to create many high-quality jobs.

"Our business start-up assistance is available for a wide range of new ventures, from one-person firms to those with many employees and we welcome enquiries from all kinds of customers."