AN Abergavenny man's company has launched its first game - an action-packed space adventure entitled 'Cosmic Sunder'.

Determined to put Wales on the map in the computer games industry Matthew Clark set up Dark Rock Games in partnership with three other graduates of the Games Development and Artificial Intelligence course at the University of Wales, Newport, in an effort to provide employment for Wales' talented games designers and help the country to profit from this multi-million pound industry.

Matthew designed the 3D art for the retro game - in which players control a futuristic vessel smashing through the galaxy to reclaim stolen Earth elements.

"We're all pleased with the game and hoping for a good response now it's on sale at our website," said 22-year-old Matthew. "We currently have two more games in various stages of production, and hope to start creating more sophisticated 3D games that will put Wales on the map in the computer games industry."

Matthew set up Dark Rock Games with fellow graduates Adam Griffiths, Rob Simmonds and Cameron Coles because they wanted to stay in Wales after graduating.

"The computer games industry is one of the biggest in the world yet there are very few companies in Wales making games. As a result, many people like myself who are gaining degrees in computer game design are having to leave the country in order to find jobs.

"Newport's University has two excellent computer games development courses producing talented students with lots of potential. It seems ludicrous that Wales is losing them to other countries because we have no computer games industry."

Dr Mike Reddy, Senior Lecturer in Computing at Newport Business School, said, "The release of this game represents a considerable success for Cameron and the team at Dark Rock. They have been determined to create job opportunities for games developers in Wales and have put their money where their mouth is with this game which is an imaginative version of the classic retro Breakout game.

"At Newport, we believe it's essential to maintain close links with the computer games industry to enable our students to successfully find jobs when they graduate. We already have graduates working for major games companies such as Sega and Blitz, and this year sees the first woman graduate from the course."

Dark Rock Games was set up with funding from the Knowledge Exploitation Fund (KEF) which has provided £20,000 to help the company become established.

"The University has now helped more than 65 graduates set up their own business," said Emma Williams of the Research and Enterprise (RED) department. "We have many enterprising students who posses a diverse range of talent, and we help them by providing funding and the business skills necessary to become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow, and ensure the future growth and prosperity of Wales."

The 'Cosmic Sunder' game is available from http://www.darkrockgames.com">www.darkrockgames.com.