Firemint
Winner, Arts & Entertainment Award 

Firemint founder Robert Murray’s vision for his game development studio was sustainable, organic growth. Primarily developing games for hand-held devices (including mobile phones), Firemint started out by delivering unbranded contract work. Having established a solid reputation in the industry, the company began working on higher profile games, creating brand awareness and selling its first original game concept, Mega Monsters, to Nokia.

In 2009, Firemint achieved its most outstanding success to-date, with its two original iPhone games, Flight Control and Real Racing. Selling more than one million copies in the first three months, Flight Control continues to rate as one of the most popular paid games in the Apple Apps store.

Initial export revenue was from the USA and Europe, but self-publishing on Apple's App store now means world-wide sales, with particular growth in Japan and Canada.

Commenting on this amazing growth, the Australian Export Award judges commended Firemint on its good risk management as well as its highly responsive and innovative marketing strategies.

Using positive personal relationships with specialist media for major announcements, Firemint clearly understands how to connect with its target audiences. The company also uses a wide range of social media, including its own blog, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook pages.

Firemint continues to focus purely on export growth and anticipates a prosperous future, both through its continued self-publishing of new games and through diversification, by offering sponsorships to companies interested in branding opportunities.