CloudGate Studio

CloudGate Studio is a game development studio focused on creating high-definition, immersive virtual reality (VR) games and experiences. Founded in 2016 by industry veterans Steve Bowler, Jeremy Chapman, and Mike Fischer, the company aimed to develop premium games that pushed the boundaries of VR. Bowler, serving as President, brought over two decades of experience from titles like Mortal Kombat, while Chapman, the Chief Creative Officer, had a background that included the Brookhaven Experiment. Fischer, the company's chairman, had extensive experience in global publishing and marketing for major game franchises.

The studio's work centered on developing deep, engaging games for a casual audience, designed to be receptive to multiple sensors, such as the HTC Vive Tracker, which can turn physical objects into VR peripherals. This technology integrated motion, speed, and direction into their games, including their dinosaur-hunting title, Island 359. The company operated on a venture capital-backed model, securing $150,000 in a seed funding round in June 2016 from VIVE X. Based in Aurora, Illinois, CloudGate Studio developed experiences for home use, VR arcades, and other location-based entertainment facilities. According to public records and statements from its former CEO, the company is no longer in operation.

Keywords: virtual reality gaming, game development, VR experiences, entertainment software, HTC Vive, Island 359, VR arcade games, motion sensor games, location-based VR, immersive games, venture-backed, Steve Bowler, Jeremy Chapman, Mike Fischer, VIVE X, gaming studio, VR peripherals, body sensor technology, premium games, casual gaming