Westwood Studios: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
'''Westwood Studios''' ([[1985 in video gaming|1985]]-[[2003 in video gaming|2003]]) was a [[computer game|computer]] and [[video game developer]], founded in 1985 as '''Westwood Associates''' by [[Brett Sperry]] and [[Louis Castle]] and based in [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]. |
'''Westwood Studios''' ([[1985 in video gaming|1985]]-[[2003 in video gaming|2003]]) was a [[computer game|computer]] and [[video game developer]], founded in 1985 as '''Westwood Associates''' by [[Brett Sperry]] and [[Louis Castle]] and based in [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]. |
||
==History== |
== History == |
||
===Initial projects=== |
=== Initial projects === |
||
The company's first projects consisted of contract work for companies like [[Epyx]] and [[Strategic Simulations]] (SSI), porting 8-bit titles to 16-bit systems like [[Commodore Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]]. Proceeds from contract work allowed the company to expand into designing its own games in-house. Their first original title was ''[[Mars Saga]]'', a game developed for [[Electronic Arts]] and released in [[1988 in video gaming|1988]]. One of the company's first great successes was ''[[Eye of the Beholder (computer game)|Eye of the Beholder]]'' (1990), a real-time [[computer role-playing game]] based on the [[Dungeons & Dragons]] license, developed for SSI. Other publishers of early Westwood games included [[Infocom]] and [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]. |
The company's first projects consisted of contract work for companies like [[Epyx]] and [[Strategic Simulations]] (SSI), porting 8-bit titles to 16-bit systems like [[Commodore Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]]. Proceeds from contract work allowed the company to expand into designing its own games in-house. Their first original title was ''[[Mars Saga]]'', a game developed for [[Electronic Arts]] and released in [[1988 in video gaming|1988]]. One of the company's first great successes was ''[[Eye of the Beholder (computer game)|Eye of the Beholder]]'' (1990), a real-time [[computer role-playing game]] based on the [[Dungeons & Dragons]] license, developed for SSI. Other publishers of early Westwood games included [[Infocom]] and [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | In [[1992 in video gaming|1992]], the company was renamed '''Westwood Studios''' and sold to [[Virgin Interactive]]. Well-known Westwood titles from this period include ''[[Dune II]]'', the [[adventure game]] ''[[The Legend of Kyrandia]]'' and the role-playing game ''[[Lands of Lore]]''. Westwood's greatest commercial success came in [[1995 in video gaming|1995]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Image:FormerWestwood.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Steve Wetherill]] (Vice President of Research & Development), [[Brett Sperry|Brett W. Sperry]] (President), [[Louis Castle]] (Vice President of Creative Development)]] |
|||
| ⚫ | In [[1992 in video gaming|1992]], the company was renamed '''Westwood Studios''' and sold to [[Virgin Interactive]]. Well-known Westwood titles from this period include ''[[Dune II]]'', the [[adventure game]] ''[[The Legend of Kyrandia]]'' and the role-playing game ''[[Lands of Lore]]''. Westwood's greatest commercial success however came in [[1995 in video gaming|1995]] with the release of the [[real-time strategy]] game ''[[Command & Conquer (video game)|Command & Conquer]]''. Building on the gameplay and interface ideas of ''Dune II'', it added pre-rendered 3D graphics for gameplay sprites and video cinematics, an alternative pop\rock soundtrack with techno elements streamed from disk, and [[modem]] play. ''Command & Conquer'', ''Kyrandia'', and ''Lands of Lore'' all spawned multiple sequels. |
||
| ⚫ | In August [[1998 in video gaming|1998]], Westwood was [[List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts|acquired]] by [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) for $122.5 million in cash, and at the time Westwood had 5% to 6% of the PC game market.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/1998/08/17/life/q_ea/ Electronic Arts buys Westwood Studios - Aug. 17, 1998<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. In response to what was perceived as an unwillingness to maintain the Westwood brand and independence from EA, many long-time employees quit over the next few years. |
||
| ⚫ | In August [[1998 in video gaming|1998]], Westwood was [[List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts|acquired]] by [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) for $122.5 million in cash, and at the time Westwood had 5% to 6% of the PC game market.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/1998/08/17/life/q_ea/ Electronic Arts buys Westwood Studios - Aug. 17, 1998<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. In response to what was perceived as an unwillingness to maintain the Westwood brand and independence from EA, many long-time employees quit over the next few years and formed [[Petroglyph Games]]. |
||
Along with Westwood, EA had also acquired a development studio in [[Irvine, California|Irvine]], [[California]]. It was managed by Westwood and became known as ''Westwood Pacific'' (later ''EA Pacific''). Westwood Pacific developed or co-developed games like ''[[Nox (computer game)|Nox]]'' and the Command & Conquer sequel ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2|Red Alert 2]]''. |
Along with Westwood, EA had also acquired a development studio in [[Irvine, California|Irvine]], [[California]]. It was managed by Westwood and became known as ''Westwood Pacific'' (later ''EA Pacific''). Westwood Pacific developed or co-developed games like ''[[Nox (computer game)|Nox]]'' and the Command & Conquer sequel ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2|Red Alert 2]]''. |
||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
One of the last games released by Westwood, ''[[Command & Conquer: Renegade]]'' (an action game which mixed elements from [[first-person shooter]]s and [[real-time strategy]] games) failed to meet consumer expectations and commercial goals Westwood and EA had set for it. In March of [[2003 in video gaming|2003]], Westwood Studios (along with [[EA Pacific]]) was liquidated by EA and all willing staff were assimilated into [[EA Los Angeles]]. At the time of its closure, Westwood employed more than 100 people. Their last game was the [[MMORPG]] ''[[Earth & Beyond]]''. |
One of the last games released by Westwood, ''[[Command & Conquer: Renegade]]'' (an action game which mixed elements from [[first-person shooter]]s and [[real-time strategy]] games) failed to meet consumer expectations and commercial goals Westwood and EA had set for it. In March of [[2003 in video gaming|2003]], Westwood Studios (along with [[EA Pacific]]) was liquidated by EA and all willing staff were assimilated into [[EA Los Angeles]]. At the time of its closure, Westwood employed more than 100 people. Their last game was the [[MMORPG]] ''[[Earth & Beyond]]''. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
Some time after the closing of Westwood Studios, a new game studio, [[Petroglyph (game studio)|Petroglyph]], was formed consisting mainly of former Westwood employees. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
* ''[[Battletech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception]]'' |
* ''[[Battletech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception]]'' |
||
* ''[[Blade Runner (video game)|Blade Runner]]'' [[computer game]] [[Film adaptation|movie adaptation]]. |
* ''[[Blade Runner (video game)|Blade Runner]]'' [[computer game]] [[Film adaptation|movie adaptation]]. |
||
| Line 53: | Line 51: | ||
* ''[[Young Merlin]]'' |
* ''[[Young Merlin]]'' |
||
==See also== |
== See also == |
||
*[[Petroglyph Games]] |
*[[Petroglyph Games]] |
||
*[[Command & Conquer]] |
|||
*[[Dune computer and video games|Dune]] |
|||
*[[Louis Castle]] |
|||
*[[Brett W. Sperry]] |
|||
==References== |
== References == |
||
<div class="references-small"> |
<div class="references-small"> |
||
<references/> |
<references/> |
||
</div> |
</div> |
||
==External links== |
== External links == |
||
* [http://www.westwoodstudios.com/ Offical Westwood Studios Website] |
* [http://www.westwoodstudios.com/ Offical Westwood Studios Website] |
||
* [http://www.petroglyphgames.com Petroglyph's Website] |
* [http://www.petroglyphgames.com Petroglyph's Website] |
||
Revision as of 12:59, 19 September 2008
| Westwood logo | |
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Fate | Acquired by EA in 1998, closed in 2003 |
| Successor | Electronic Arts |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Products | Command & Conquer Lands of Lore |
Westwood Studios (1985-2003) was a computer and video game developer, founded in 1985 as Westwood Associates by Brett Sperry and Louis Castle and based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
History
Initial projects
The company's first projects consisted of contract work for companies like Epyx and Strategic Simulations (SSI), porting 8-bit titles to 16-bit systems like Commodore Amiga and Atari ST. Proceeds from contract work allowed the company to expand into designing its own games in-house. Their first original title was Mars Saga, a game developed for Electronic Arts and released in 1988. One of the company's first great successes was Eye of the Beholder (1990), a real-time computer role-playing game based on the Dungeons & Dragons license, developed for SSI. Other publishers of early Westwood games included Infocom and Disney.
Westwood Studios
In 1992, the company was renamed Westwood Studios and sold to Virgin Interactive. Well-known Westwood titles from this period include Dune II, the adventure game The Legend of Kyrandia and the role-playing game Lands of Lore. Westwood's greatest commercial success however came in 1995 with the release of the real-time strategy game Command & Conquer. Building on the gameplay and interface ideas of Dune II, it added pre-rendered 3D graphics for gameplay sprites and video cinematics, an alternative pop\rock soundtrack with techno elements streamed from disk, and modem play. Command & Conquer, Kyrandia, and Lands of Lore all spawned multiple sequels.
In August 1998, Westwood was acquired by Electronic Arts (EA) for $122.5 million in cash, and at the time Westwood had 5% to 6% of the PC game market.[1]. In response to what was perceived as an unwillingness to maintain the Westwood brand and independence from EA, many long-time employees quit over the next few years and formed Petroglyph Games.
Along with Westwood, EA had also acquired a development studio in Irvine, California. It was managed by Westwood and became known as Westwood Pacific (later EA Pacific). Westwood Pacific developed or co-developed games like Nox and the Command & Conquer sequel Red Alert 2.
One of the last games released by Westwood, Command & Conquer: Renegade (an action game which mixed elements from first-person shooters and real-time strategy games) failed to meet consumer expectations and commercial goals Westwood and EA had set for it. In March of 2003, Westwood Studios (along with EA Pacific) was liquidated by EA and all willing staff were assimilated into EA Los Angeles. At the time of its closure, Westwood employed more than 100 people. Their last game was the MMORPG Earth & Beyond.
Selected games developed by Westwood Studios
- Battletech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception
- Blade Runner computer game movie adaptation.
- Circuit's Edge, a game adaptation of George Alec Effinger's novel When Gravity Fails
- Command & Conquer series (1995-2002, up to Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge)
- DragonStrike a 3D dragon flight combat simulator.
- Dune II (1992)
- Dune 2000 (1998)
- Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun (1992)
- Emperor: Battle for Dune (2001)
- Earth & Beyond
- Eye of the Beholder series (minus Assault on Myth Drannor)
- Lands of Lore series
- The Legend of Kyrandia series
- Nox
- Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat
- Resident Evil (Windows port, uncredited)
- Young Merlin
See also
References
External links
- Offical Westwood Studios Website
- Petroglyph's Website
- Westwood Remembered A fan-recreation of the Westwood website from around 1997, made with content from The Internet Archive
- A brief history of Westwood Studios from MobyGames
- Story of Closing
- FED2k (Since WW's site was closed, the onus for support of the Dune series passed to this fan community)