Kennedy, a former developer for Runcorn-based Evolution Studios, believes that his apparently small contribution could be worth millions of pounds in a growing games industry which turned over £16bn worldwide in 2007.

His software package, called Simul Clouds, enables game developers to insert 3D moving clouds directly into the computer games they are working on.

Kennedy (pictured), who is based at offices in Salford Quays and Daresbury Innovation Centre, claims his unique product, which creates “realtime, volumetric, dynamic clouds” will save them thousands of man hours and money. To develop a typical game takes 18 months, around £15m and 50 technicians. Kennedy, 35, said his input helps to make the developers' job less complex and expensive. “Games are now so advanced that they can't all be built in house. There is too much to do.

“The advantage is that it gives a really good looking result and gives them a complete solution. It is easy to integrate. You get clouds that move convincingly. If they are just a static picture in the background it does not work. The market for what we're doing is in the hundreds of thousands to a few millions. I don't expect to capture all of that.”

While at Evolution, which was brought by Sony last November, Kennedy developed the World Rally Championships game. Others he has worked on include the flight simulator Eurofighter 2000.

Within months of leaving the company in November the simulation software engineer started his own business which has one part-time member of staff as well as himself.

He has already sold the cloud package to a major games developer, who he cannot name because of a confidentiality agreement, and claims he has had enquiries from over 40 companies.

He added: “We hope we will make some more sales in the next few weeks. We have had enquiries from all over the world, the US, Japan, Bulgaria and Belarus. There is one company out there doing trees. We hope to be the main ones for clouds.” He also plans to develop similar simulations for explosions, waves, volcano eruptions, smoke and tornadoes.

Jason Della Rocca, executive director of the International Game Developers Association, which represents games engineers worldwide, said: “While we are seeing more and more niche solutions, for example tree and foliage generation, I don't have a sense of the numbers as IGDA does not track sales or usage stats.

“But on the whole, the assumption is that developers are moving more towards off-the-shelf solutions and middleware for the nuts and bolts tech, while spending more of their time on the higher level "gameplay' programming and content aspects, as in story, characters, etc. What I will say is that this should be a thriving business as the industry and art form matures.”

Dr Richard Wilson, chief executive of UK-based Tiga, an association which represents developers, said it was unclear yet whether this type of simulation outsourcing was a trend as no figures had been collated on the subject.

He said games developers were outsourcing in some cases to cut down on costs and get the very best expertise.