Double Fine Productions has earned a new lease on life by delivering high-quality downloadable games like Costume Quest, Stacking, and Iron Brigade to Xbox Live Arcade and other digial distribution platforms, but it hasn't been easy. In a recent interview with Digital Spy, studio founder Tim Schafer talked openly about the difficulty, stating "Publishers often don't want to release anything new. I mean they're scared of new IP, and Double Fine specalises in new IP."

Citing the challenge of getting backing for high-budget fare like Brutal Legend, Schafer revealed the secret of the company's recent success, noting "The whole reason [Double Fine Happy Action Theater] got made was that I was asking for very little money [...] and once it proved the power of it, money was invested in it, but the original thing that we were asking for was very small."

You can check out the review of Double Fine's latest original IP (Happy Action Theater) by clicking the title link just a few words back.

SOURCE: Tim Schafer: 'Publishers are scared of new properties' [Digital Spy]