Microids

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Microids
Formerly
  • Microïds (1985–2003; 2007–2019)
  • MC2-Microïds (2003–2005)
  • MC2 (2005–2007)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1985; 39 years ago (1985) in Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
FounderElliot Grassiano
Headquarters,
France
Key people
  • Stéphane Longeard (CEO)
  • Elliot Grassiano (VP)
Parent
DivisionsMicroids Distribution France
Websitemicroids.com

Microids (formerly Microïds) is a French video game developer and publisher based in Paris. Founded in 1985 by Elliot Grassiano, it attained early success with games published through Loriciel in France and other partners (including Activision and Broderbund) in international markets. Through expanding its staff and development teams, Microïds generated funds to expand from just development to publishing and distribution and opening international offices. The company merged with MC2 in 2003 to create MC2-Microïds, whereafter it acquired publishers Wanadoo Edition and Cryo Interactive. Grassiano left MC2-Microïds in 2005; under new management, MC2-Microïds was briefly renamed MC2 before returning to the old Microïds name. It was then acquired by Anuman Interactive in 2010, which itself was renamed Microïds (then simplified to Microids) in 2019.

History[edit]

Background and early years (1985–2003)[edit]

Microïds was founded by Elliot Grassiano, a French programmer. He was educated at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand school from 1972 to 1974 and later studied engineering, electronics, and computers at the École nationale supérieure d'arts et métiers. He started working as an engineer for the defence system company SAGEM in 1979. By the 1980s, Grassiano had become interested in telecommunications, consumer electronics, and video games. He acquired a Thomson MO5-model home computer, which he used to create his first game, Space Shuttle Simulator. The game was published by Loriciel and released to both critical and commercial success. Subsequently, Grassiano quit his job to establish his own company. He formally founded Microïds in 1985, setting it up in Vélizy-Villacoublay, a suburb of Paris. He was aided in these efforts by Loriciel's founders, Laurent Weill and Marc Bayle, as well as Patrick Le Nestour, another engineer. The name "Microïds" was a portmanteau of "microinformatique" ("micro-informatics") and "androids". Within its first year of operation, the company grew to five people, with Grassiano in the managerial role.[1]

Initially, Microïds set out to create consumer robotics projects before shifting its focus solely to video games. The first Microïds-developed game was Air Attack, released by Loriciel for the Thomson MO5 to moderate commercial success. Early adventure games developed by Microïds include Oceania (developed by Le Nestour and released in 1985 for the Thomson MO5 and TO7) and Les Pyramides D'Atlantys (developed by Luc Thibaud and released for the Amstrad CPC in 1986). Air Attack provided the groundwork for subsequent Microïds games, such as 500 cc Grand Prix for the Amstrad CPC, which debuted in 1986. This game was the company's first breakthrough title, partially driven by the CPC's success in France. By way of a deal between Loriciel and Activision, the game was also released in the UK, it was also released in the US, and it was later ported to other systems, such as the Atari ST. The American market appeared especially viable for Microïds, who believed that game sales would vastly outnumber the domestic ones. For this reason, it partnered with the American publisher Broderbund in 1987, which released several Microïds games in the country, partially under altered names. In return, Microïds managed sales of Broderbund's games, notably Prince of Persia and Karateka in France.[1]

Throughout the 1990s, Microïds underwent expansion, increasing both staff count and development team sizes. Development operations were accelerated to output more games, leading to increased profits. Through the new-earned funds, the company commenced operations in both video game publishing and distribution in 1995, and between then and 1997 opened three international subsidiaries: Microïds Italia in Milan, Microïds UK in Milton Keynes, and Microïds Canada in Montreal. By 1997, Microïds had 20 employees and a turnover of 20 million French francs. Both increased tenfold by 2002 and the Canadian studio alone housed 105 of Microïds' 200 employees by 2003.[1]

Later years (2003–present)[edit]

In 2003, Microïds merged with MC2, a French software company, with the amalgam assuming the name MC2-Microïds.[1] In September that year, it acquired Wanadoo Edition, the games division of Wanadoo, which itself had been created through a September 2000 merger between Index+ and France Telecom Multimedia in exchange, Wanadoo received a 12% stake in MC2-Microïds.[1][2] In 2004, MC2-Microïds proceeded to close Microïds UK, while Microïds Italia spun off as Blue Label Entertainment.[1] Microïds Canada was sold off to Ubisoft in March 2005, with the studio's 50 employees integrated into Ubisoft's own Ubisoft Montreal studio.[1][3] Later that year, Grassiano left MC2-Microïds due to internal disagreements. He was succeeded by Index+ founder Emmanuel Olivier, who was named chief executive officer (CEO).[1] With this management change, MC2-Microïds shortened its name to just "MC2". This decision was reversed in November 2007, when it returned to the original "Microïds" name.[1][4] In 2008, Microïds further acquired the assets and intellectual property of bankrupt publisher Cryo Interactive.[1]

In 2009, the publisher Anuman Interactive, while in the process of being acquired by Média-Participations, began looking for possible acquisitions of its own.[1] That November, the company announced its intent to acquire Microïds.[5] The acquisition was completed on 1 January 2010, after which Microïds continued operating as a division of Anuman. Alongside the acquisition, Olivier left the company. A sub-label for non-adventure games, Microïds Games for All, was launched the same year.[1] In 2013, Grassiano joined Anuman and became the vice-president for Microïds.[1] Additionally, an indie game label, Microïds Indie, was opened in September 2016.[6] In July 2019, the Microïds label name was simplified to "Microids".[7] That October, Microids announced that Anuman would be renamed "Microids", with Anuman CEO Stéphane Longeard becoming the CEO of Microids, co-managing it with Grassiano. Microids also opened a Japanese office run by Martial Meyssignac and Yves Bléhaut, and strengthened the Microids Indie label with a dedicated team managed by Vincent Dondaine.[8] A distribution arm, Microids Distribution France, was established in December 2020.[9]

Investments[edit]

Microids has had a minority stake in OSome Studio since April 2022.[10]

Games[edit]

List of games developed and/or published by Microids
Date Title Ref.
1986 Grand Prix 500 cc
1986 Rodeo
1986 Demonia
1987 Superbike Challenge
1987 Downhill Challenge / Super Ski
1989 Highway Patrol
1989 Chicago 90
1990 Highway Patrol 2
1990 Super Ski 2
1990 Eagle's Rider
1991 Sliders
1991 Killerball
1991 Grand Prix 500 2
1992 Nicky Boom
1993 Action Sport
1993 Super Sport Challenge
1993 Genesia/Ultimate Domain
1993 Nicky 2
1994 Super Ski 3
1994 Ultimate Domain
1994 Carlos
1995 Fort Boyard - The Challenge
1996 Evidence: The Last Report
1996 Secret Mission
1997 Saban's Iznogoud
1997 Des chiffres et des lettres
1997 Rising Lands
1998 Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
1999 Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy
1999 Corsairs: Conquest at Sea
1999 Dracula: Resurrection
1999 Speed Demons
2000 Empire of the Ants
2000 Far Gate
2000 Warm Up!
2001 Fort Boyard
2001 Monster Racer
2001 Road to India: Between Hell and Nirvana
2001 Open Kart
2001 Tennis Masters Series
2001 Times of Conflict
2001 Druuna: Morbus Gravis
2001 Snow cross, developed by Vicarious Visions
2001 X'treme Roller
2002 Kohan: Battles of Ahriman
2002 Syberia
2002 Post Mortem
2002 War and Peace: 1796–1815
2002 Warrior Kings
2002 Casper
2004 Jack the Ripper
2004 Syberia II
2005 Still Life
2005 Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Moon
2006 Dangerous Heaven: The Legend of the Ark [11]
October 2007 Sinking Island
2007 Nostradamus: The Last Prophecy
2008 Dracula 3 - The Path of the Dragon
2009 Still Life 2
2009 Return to Mysterious Island II
2011 Red Johnson's Chronicles
2012 Red Johnson's Chronicles - One Against All [12]
2012 Crazy Cars: Hit the Road
2013 Louisiana Adventure
2013 Nicolas Eymerich, The Inquisitor: Book 1 - The Plague
2013 Dracula 4: The Shadow of the Dragon
2013 Dream Chamber
2013 Dracula 5: The Blood Legacy
2014 9 Elefants
2015 Nicolas Eymerich, The Inquisitor: Book 2 - The Village [13]
2015 Subject 13 [14]
2016 Agatha Christie: The ABC Murders
2016 The Descendant
2016 Moto Racer 4
2016 Yesterday Origins
2017 Syberia III
2017 Gear.Club Unlimited
2018 Asterix & Obelix XXL 2
2018 Toki
2019 Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Cristal Menhir
2019 Blacksad: Under the Skin
2020 Asterix & Obelix XXL Romastered
2020 The Bluecoats: North & South
2020 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
2020 XIII
2021 Beyond a Steel Sky
2021 The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf
2021 Marsupilami: Hoobadventure
2021 Asterix & Obelix: Slap Them All!
2021 Alfred Hitchcock – Vertigo
2022 Syberia: The World Before
2022 Asterix & Obelix XXXL: The Ram From Hibernia
2022 Arkanoid: Eternal Battle
2022 Garfield: Lasagna Party
2022 Smurfs Kart
2022 New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja
2023 Scrap Riders
2023 Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission
2023 Tintin Reporter: Cigars of the Pharaoh
2023 Flashback 2
2023 Inspector Gadget: Mad Time Party
2023 Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission
2023 UFO Robot Grendizer: The Feast of the Wolves
2023 Agatha Christie - Murder on the Orient Express
2024 Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy remake [15]
2024 Unnamed Totally Spies game [16]


References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Crookes, David (21 April 2016). "From the Archives: Microïds". Retro Gamer. No. 154. Imagine Publishing. pp. 50–55.
  2. ^ Bronstring, Marek (2 October 2003). "Microids takes over Wanadoo's games division". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  3. ^ GamesIndustry International (4 March 2005). "Ubisoft buys Microids Canada". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  4. ^ Allin, Jack (28 November 2007). "MICROÏDS brand re-launched". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  5. ^ hosteel (23 November 2009). "Anuman s'offre Microïds" [Anuman to buy Microïds]. Gamekult (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  6. ^ MalloDelic (13 September 2017). "Microïds lance son label Microïds Indie" [Microïds launches its label Microïds Indie]. Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  7. ^ Team Microids (11 July 2019). "Microids gets a makeover: discover our new visual identity!". Microids. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  8. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (21 October 2019). "Anuman Interactive becomes Microids, opens Japan office". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  9. ^ Dealessandri, Marie (18 December 2020). "Microids announces in-house distribution arm". GamesIndustry.biz.
  10. ^ Microids (13 April 2022). "Microids acquires a stake in OSome Studio".
  11. ^ Gerli, Damiano (24 May 2023). "Dangerous Heaven, The DVD Game That Aimed To Unify Hardware Platforms". Time Extension. Hookshot Media. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Red Johnson's Chronicles - One Against All". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Microïds". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  14. ^ "Microïds". Archived from the original on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  15. ^ Smith, Ed (7 March 2024). "After 25 years, one forgotten PC classic is getting a complete remake". PCGamesN. Network N. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  16. ^ Moyse, Chris (1 May 2023). "Totally Spies! to return in 2024 with new season and video game". Destructoid. Gamurs Group. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.

External links[edit]