Guerrilla Games
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2009) |
| Guerrilla Games logo | |
| Company type | Subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer and video games Interactive entertainment |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Key people | Hermen Hulst (Managing director) Arjan Brussee (Development director) |
| Products | Killzone series |
| Owner | Sony Corporation |
Number of employees | 150+ |
| Parent | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Website | www.guerrilla-games.com |
Guerrilla Games is a first party video game developer and wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment. The company is based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, currently employs approximately 150 individuals, and is headed by managing director Hermen Hulst and development director Arjan Brussee.
The developer is best known for its Killzone series; exclusive to PlayStation. The most recent game in the series, Killzone 3, was first released in North America on February 22, 2011. On August 18, 2010 during a press briefing at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, managing director Herman Hulst confirmed that Guerrilla Games' next titled would be an all-new IP, making it Guerrilla's first game not based on the Killzone series since Shellshock: Nam '67.
History
Prior to the acquisition of Guerrilla by Sony Computer Entertainment, the developer was a subsidiary of the large Dutch multimedia conglomerate Lost Boys, and operated under the moniker Lost Boys Games. The developer was formed as a result of a merger between 3 separate Dutch-based developers, including Orange Games, founded by Arjan Brussee, and Digital Infinity, founded by Arnout van der Kamp. Over the next 3 and a half years, Lost Boys Games would release four titles, two each for Nintendo's Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance handheld gaming consoles.
In mid 2003, due to a variety of mergers and corporate reshuffling, the gaming unit was sold off to Media Republic, a new media venture by original Lost Boys' founder Michiel Mol, and in July of that year was renamed to Guerrilla Games. Shortly thereafter, the developer began work on its first two titles, Killzone, in development for Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, and Shellshock: Nam '67, in development for Eidos Interactive, also for the PlayStation 2 as well as Microsoft's Xbox and the PC.
Both titles would release the following year to lukewarm reviews and reception, however Killzone enjoyed immense pre-release hype and anticipation (often being cited as the "Halo Killer" by PlayStation fans)[citation needed], and despite the backfire effect much of this media coverage caused and the lackluster reviews the title received, went on to sell over a million copies worldwide, earning Greatest Hits and Platinum status in North America and Europe respectively. Thanks in part to this success, Guerrilla signed an exclusive development agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment in late 2004, that would see future development at the company exist solely for Sony's line of video game consoles, the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and the PlayStation 3. Shellshock sold over 900,000 copies.[1] A sequel was developed by Rebellion Developments.
In May 2005, the developer enjoyed yet another massive influx of attention and interest, both positive and controversial, after the release of a pre-rendered trailer of its upcoming Killzone sequel, Killzone 2 for the PlayStation 3, at the unveiling of the new console at Sony's press conference during the E3 video game trade show that year. The hysteria and skepticism surrounding both the game and its initial unveiling still resonates to this day, and has vaulted Guerrilla to the forefront of developers within Sony Computer Entertainment, despite the company's short history and small catalog of past titles.
In December of that year, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the acquisition of Guerrilla Games from then parent company Media Republic, making the developer a wholly owned first party studio within the publisher. Guerrilla has since gone on to release Killzone: Liberation for the PlayStation Portable in October 2006, Killzone 2 for the PlayStation 3 in February 2009, and Killzone 3 for the Playstation 3 in February 2011.
Games developed
As Lost Boys Games
| Game title | Release date | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Rhino Rumble | 2000 | Game Boy Color |
| SpongeBob SquarePants | 2000 | PlayStation |
| Tiny Toon Adventures: Dizzy's Candy Quest | 2001 | Game Boy Color |
| Invader | 2002 | Game Boy Advance |
| Black Belt Challenge | 2002 | Game Boy Advance |
As Guerrilla Games
| Game title | U.S. release date | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Shellshock: Nam '67 | September 14, 2004 | Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox |
| Killzone | November 2, 2004 | PlayStation 2 |
| Killzone: Liberation | October 31, 2006 | PlayStation Portable |
| Killzone 2 | February 27, 2009 | PlayStation 3 |
| Killzone 3 | February 22, 2011 | PlayStation 3 |
| Killzone | 2012 | PlayStation Vita |
References
- ^ Patrick Garratt. "Eidos on the brink as investors flee sinking ship". EuroGamer.
