Codemasters, the video game developer and publisher behind the BAFTA award-winning Race Driver: GRID, has implemented Aspera high-speed file transfer software to enable fast, secure and reliable transmission and distribution of its game builds at global distances.

Having previously relied on standards such as FTP to transfer game builds across EMEA, Australasia and the Americas, Codemasters sought a solution to counter the typical inefficiencies of file delivery over the public Internet, such as high network latency and low bandwidth utilization, which result in slow, unpredictable and unreliable file transfer.

Using Aspera’s Enterprise Server software built upon Aspera’s fasp™ transport technology, multi-GB file transfers are now faster, more predictable and completely secure. For example, transfers from international partner facilities on broadband links of only a few Mbps now fully utilize the available bandwidth, are three times faster than before, and will continue to speed up as the bandwidth capacity is extended in the future. During heavy use periods, Aspera’s adaptive rate control enables concurrent transfers to maintain fast and stable speeds, while giving the option to adjust bandwidth priority and resulting finish times of individual transfers.

“We work across many different time zones with games developers and generally, the greater the distance, the longer it takes for the file transfer,” said Jonathan Humphrey, IT director at Codemasters. “Not only does this slow down the process of getting a game completed but it also creates a bigger margin for error. Aspera’s technology not only provides significantly faster transmission speeds, which reduce the margin for error, but also includes comprehensive security and data verification schemes to ensure that the possibility of corruption is reduced significantly. Plus, adaptive bandwidth control allows concurrent transfers to run with high efficiency, enabling us to meet strict deadlines.”

Codemasters was introduced to Aspera through other companies in the gaming industry and selected Aspera software after an extensive evaluation of competing products and technologies from software and hardware WAN acceleration vendors. It’s now looking to further automate file transfer processes for even better service provision.

“We consider Aspera to be an important business partner of ours,” said Humphrey. “Not only does the technology have clear and demonstrable benefits but the company also listens to our feedback and has already incorporated changes based on our needs. Moving forward we’ll be looking to use Aspera Console and Aspera Client Software for further internal distribution of game builds throughout internal departments.”

About Codemasters

Codemasters is a leading developer and publisher of best-selling interactive entertainment products for a global audience across multiple gaming platforms and channels. Established in 1986, the company’s dominant brands include Colin McRae DiRT, Race Driver GRID, Overlord and Operation Flashpoint; the company recently secured the exclusive worldwide video game rights to FORMULA 1. Codemasters is headquartered in Warwickshire UK, with North American operations based in Universal City, California. The company also maintains operations in Japan, Germany, France, Spain, Benelux and Malaysia.