Idea Fabrik's online game development platform HeroEngine now has more than 5,000 licensees, which the company credits to a spike in interest for the engine after a couple big 2011 releases.



The German company says last year's launch for BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic, which uses its platform, was one of the primary drivers behind the recent interest in HeroEngine.



Following Star Wars: The Old Republic's release, Idea Fabrik received thousands of inquiries about the engine last January from studios both large and small, more than in any other period in the company's existence.



Idea Fabrik believes it was able to attract its new licensees because large games built on its platform helped prove that its technology -- which accommodates a wide range of online projects, from MMORPGs to social games -- could handle titles of their scale.



"This lowers the perceived risk of developers in adopting the HeroEngine platform," claims Idea Fabrik COO Neil Harris. "HeroEngine crossed a crucial inflection point in terms of its adoption by online game developers."