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'''Raven Software''' (or Raven Entertainment Software, Inc.) is an [[United States|American]] [[video game developer]]. The company was founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel. In 1997, Raven made an exclusive publishing deal with [[Activision]] and was subsequently acquired by them. After the acquisition, much of the studio's original talent responsible for creating the ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]'' and ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic]]'' games left to form [[Human Head Studios]].
'''Raven Software''' (or Raven Entertainment Software, Inc.) is an [[United States|American]] [[video game developer|video game developing]] company based in [[Wisconsin]] and founded in 1990. In 1997, Raven made an exclusive publishing deal with [[Activision]] and was subsequently acquired by them. After the acquisition, much of the studio's original developers, largely responsible for creating the ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]'' and ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic]]'' games, left to form [[Human Head Studios]].


==History==
⚫
Raven has a history of working with [[id Software]]: After using id's [[game engine|engine]]s for many of their games (from ''Heretic'' in 1994), they took over development of id's ''Quake'' franchise for ''[[Quake 4]]'' and the new iteration of id's ''Wolfenstein'' series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=175541 |title=id Software and Activision, Inc. Confirm Wolfenstein(R) for the Xbox 360 Video Game and Entertainment System |date=2005-10-05 |publisher=[[PR Newswire]]}}</ref> A major layoff at the company occurred in August 2009 after the poor performance of ''[[Wolfenstein (2009 video game)|Wolfenstein]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/news/raven-software-hit-layoffs|title=Raven Software Hit By Layoffs|first=Tom|last=Ivan}}</ref> followed by another in October 2010 after delays with ''[[Singularity (video game)|Singularity]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/news/raven-software-loses-staff|title=Raven Software loses more staff}}</ref>


Raven Software was founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel. The company was independent until 1997 when it looked for a buyer; eventually being bought by [[Activision]] due to their happiness to leave the studio relatively untouched. When Raven Software were acquired they lost many employees unhappy with the acquisition.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.edge-online.com/features/lessons-learned-raven-software/ |title= Lessons Learned from Raven Software |date= 20 February 2009 |accessdate= 1 December 2013 |work= Edge}}</ref>
⚫
On April 3, 2013 following the closure of [[LucasArts]], Raven Software released the source codes for ''[[Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast]]'' and ''[[Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy]]'' on Kotaku.


⚫
Raven has a history of working with [[id Software]]: After using id's [[game engine|engine]]s for many of their games (from ''Heretic'' in 1994), they took over development of id's ''Quake'' franchise for ''[[Quake 4]]'' and the new iteration of id's ''Wolfenstein'' series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=175541 |title=id Software and Activision, Inc. Confirm Wolfenstein(R) for the Xbox 360 Video Game and Entertainment System |date=2005-10-05 |publisher=[[PR Newswire]]}}</ref>
⚫
==Games developed==

The company started off with three development teams, cut to two from the major layoffs, of 30-35 staff, which occurred in August 2009 following the poor performance and possible over-budget of ''[[Wolfenstein (2009 video game)|Wolfenstein]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/news/raven-software-hit-layoffs|title=Raven Software Hit By Layoffs|first=Tom|last=Ivan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://kotaku.com/5346302/raven-hit-by-layoffs-some-point-to-lackluster-wolfenstein-sales |title= Raven Hit By Layoffs, Some Point to Lackluster Wolfenstein Sales |date= 26 August 2009 |accessdate= 1 December 2013 |first= Brian |last= Crecente |work= Kotaku}}</ref> The amount of teams reduced to one as a result of more layoffs in October 2010 after delays with ''[[Singularity (video game)|Singularity]]'' in which as many as 40 staff were released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/news/raven-software-loses-staff|title=Raven Software loses more staff}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://kotaku.com/5661071/singularity-game-developer-hit-with-layoffs |title= Singularity Game Developer Hit with Layoffs |date= 11 October 2010 |accessdate= 1 December 2013 |first= Brian |last= Crecente |work= Kotaku}}</ref>

==Games==

⚫
On April 3, 2013 following the closure of [[LucasArts]], Raven Software released the source codes for ''[[Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast]]'' and ''[[Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy]]'' on Kotaku.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/jedi-outcast-and-jedi-academy-source-code-released/ |title= Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy source code released |date= 4 April 2013 |accessdate= 1 December 2013 |first= David |last= Hinkle |work= [[Joystiq]]}}</ref>

In 2012 Raven began hiring for a [[History of video game consoles (eighth generation)|next generation]] game,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/02/raven-job-listings-suggest-next-gen-game-in-the-works/ |title= Raven job listings suggest next-gen game in the works |date= 2 November 2012 |accessdate= 1 December 2013 |first= David |last= Hinkle |work= Joystiq}}</ref> and were announced as collaborating with [[Infinity Ward]] and [[Sledgehammer Games]] on [[Call of Duty: Ghosts]] in May 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/22/4354758/raven-software-and-neversoft-assisted-infinity-ward-in-call-of-duty |title= Raven Software and Neversoft assisted Infinity Ward in Call of Duty: Ghosts development |date= May 22 2013 |accessdate= 1 December 2013 |first= Jenna |last= Pitcher |work= Polygon}}</ref>

⚫
===Games developed===
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.ravensoft.com/|name=Raven Software official website}}
*{{Official website|http://www.ravensoft.com/|name=Raven Software official website}}
*[http://www.mobygames.com/company/raven-software-corporation Raven Software] entry at [[MobyGames]]
*http://kotaku.com/lucasarts-closure-convinces-developers-to-release-awes-468994505
*http://gamerant.com/raven-software-singularity-2-mole-127545/
{{Raven Software}}
{{Raven Software}}
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{{Call of Duty series}}
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[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Call of Duty series]]
[[Category:Call of Duty series]]


{{US-media-company-stub}}

Revision as of 01:00, 1 December 2013

Raven Software, Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary of Activision
IndustryComputer and video games
Interactive entertainment
Founded1990
HeadquartersMadison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Key people
Brian Raffel (founder)
Steve Raffel (co-founder)
ProductsVideo games
OwnerActivision Blizzard
ParentActivision
Websiteravensoft.com

Raven Software (or Raven Entertainment Software, Inc.) is an American video game developing company based in Wisconsin and founded in 1990. In 1997, Raven made an exclusive publishing deal with Activision and was subsequently acquired by them. After the acquisition, much of the studio's original developers, largely responsible for creating the Heretic and Hexen: Beyond Heretic games, left to form Human Head Studios.

History

Raven Software was founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel. The company was independent until 1997 when it looked for a buyer; eventually being bought by Activision due to their happiness to leave the studio relatively untouched. When Raven Software were acquired they lost many employees unhappy with the acquisition.[1]

Raven has a history of working with id Software: After using id's engines for many of their games (from Heretic in 1994), they took over development of id's Quake franchise for Quake 4 and the new iteration of id's Wolfenstein series.[2]

The company started off with three development teams, cut to two from the major layoffs, of 30-35 staff, which occurred in August 2009 following the poor performance and possible over-budget of Wolfenstein.[3][4] The amount of teams reduced to one as a result of more layoffs in October 2010 after delays with Singularity in which as many as 40 staff were released.[5][6]

Games

On April 3, 2013 following the closure of LucasArts, Raven Software released the source codes for Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy on Kotaku.[7]

In 2012 Raven began hiring for a next generation game,[8] and were announced as collaborating with Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games on Call of Duty: Ghosts in May 2013.[9]

Games developed

Year Game Platform(s)
1992 Black Crypt Amiga
1993 Shadowcaster DOS
1994 CyClones
Heretic MS-DOS, Mac OS
1995 Hexen: Beyond Heretic MS-DOS, Mac OS, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64
1996 Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders DOS, Microsoft Windows
Deathkings of the Dark Citadel DOS, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh
Necrodome Microsoft Windows
1997 Mageslayer
Take No Prisoners
Hexen II Microsoft Windows, Macintosh
1998 Hexen II Mission Pack: Portal of Praevus Microsoft Windows
Heretic II Microsoft Windows, AmigaOS, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Linux
2000 Soldier of Fortune Microsoft Windows, Linux, PlayStation 2, Dreamcast
Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force Microsoft Windows, Mac OS
2001 Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force: Virtual Voyager Microsoft Windows
2002 Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix
2003 Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
2004 X-Men Legends GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
2005 X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse
Quake 4 Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Xbox 360
2006 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Wolfenstein
2010 Singularity
Call of Duty: Black Ops (DLC, user interface)[10] Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
2011 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (DLC, user interface)[10]
2013 Call of Duty: Ghosts[11] Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One

References

  1. ^ "Lessons Learned from Raven Software". Edge. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  2. ^ "id Software and Activision, Inc. Confirm Wolfenstein(R) for the Xbox 360 Video Game and Entertainment System". PR Newswire. 2005-10-05.
  3. ^ Ivan, Tom. "Raven Software Hit By Layoffs".
  4. ^ Crecente, Brian (26 August 2009). "Raven Hit By Layoffs, Some Point to Lackluster Wolfenstein Sales". Kotaku. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Raven Software loses more staff".
  6. ^ Crecente, Brian (11 October 2010). "Singularity Game Developer Hit with Layoffs". Kotaku. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  7. ^ Hinkle, David (4 April 2013). "Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy source code released". Joystiq. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  8. ^ Hinkle, David (2 November 2012). "Raven job listings suggest next-gen game in the works". Joystiq. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  9. ^ Pitcher, Jenna (May 22 2013). "Raven Software and Neversoft assisted Infinity Ward in Call of Duty: Ghosts development". Polygon. Retrieved 1 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b gamerzines (2011-07-20). "Infinity Ward clarifies Raven's involvement with CoD franchise". gamerzines.com.
  11. ^ Conklin, Aaron K. (October 31, 2013). "Raven Software revolutionizes multiplayer gaming with Call of Duty: Ghosts". The Daily Page. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
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