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DICE (company)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ferret (talk | contribs) at 19:30, 22 January 2021 (Reverted 1 edit by LooneyTraceYT (talk): That doesn't make it a predecessor. DICE long pre-dates Danger Close.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

EA Digital Illusions CE AB
Formerly
  • Digital Illusions HB (1992–1993)
  • Digital Illusions CE AB (1993–2006)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedMay 1992; 32 years ago (1992-05) in Växjö, Sweden
Founders
Headquarters
Stockholm
,
Sweden
Key people
Oskar Gabrielson (general manager)[1]
Products
Number of employees
640 (2016)
ParentElectronic Arts (2006–present)
Divisions
  • DICE LA
  • Frostbite Labs
Websitedice.se

EA Digital Illusions CE AB (DICE) is a Swedish video game developer based in Stockholm. The company was founded in 1992 and has been a subsidiary of Electronic Arts since 2006. Its releases include the Battlefield, Mirror's Edge and Star Wars Battlefront series. Through their Frostbite Labs division, the company also develops the Frostbite game engine.

History

Foundation (1992)

Digital Illusions was founded in May 1992 by Olof "Olle" Gustafsson, Markus Nyström, Fredrik Liljegren and Andreas Axelsson, four friends and former members of The Silents, a demogroup that developed for Amiga systems.[2] The four studied at Växjö University, thus DICE was established in Växjö.[2]

Expansion (2000–2004)

File:DICE logo (2000).svg
Logo used by DICE between 2000 and 2006

In 2000, DICE acquired developer Refraction Games (developers of Codename Eagle).[3] From the acquisition, DICE inherited the in-development Battlefield 1942.[3] Patrick Söderlund, who had founded Refraction Games in 1997, subsequently joined DICE as chief executive officer.[4] This was followed with the merger of Sandbox Studios April 2001.[5] Sandbox Studios added 50 employees to DICE's staff, amounting to 150 total employees.[6] In September 2004, DICE also merged with Trauma Studios in New York City.[7][8] Trauma Studios employed nine people at the time.[9]

Acquisition by Electronic Arts (2006–present)

In November 2004, Electronic Arts (EA) announced their intent to purchase all outstanding shares in DICE at a price of 61 kr per share, with the deal's closing deadline scheduled for 27 December.[10] At the time, EA owned 18.9% in DICE.[11] Initially, the offer was rejected by shareholders representing 28% of DICE's ownership on 15 December,[12] after which EA adjusted its offer on 20 December, intending to only purchase 44.5% at the same price per share, extending the offer deadline to 20 January 2005.[13] On 25 January 2005, shareholders agreed to the acquisition, and EA raised their ownership in DICE to 59.8%.[14][15]

In March 2006, EA announced a new plan to acquire all outstanding shares in DICE for 67.50 kr per share.[16] The acquisition was completed on 2 October, with 2.6 million shares in DICE transferred to EA in exchange for a total of 175.5 million kr.[17][18] Shortly following the acquisition, on 5 October, EA closed Digital Illusions Canada, DICE's Ontario-based studio.[19] The 25 employees working at the studio at the time were given the option to transfer to DICE's headquarters in Stockholm or any other EA studio.[20] DICE co-founder Liljegren announced on 16 October that he established RedJade as a successor to Digital Illusions Canada.[21]

In May 2013, EA opened a new Los Angeles-based division for DICE known as DICE LA, helmed by former senior staff of EA's previously closed studio Danger Close Games.[22] DICE LA had generally been involved with support of DICE and other EA games and had not generated any title on their own. Vince Zampella of Respawn Entertainment (another EA studio) was named as the studio's new lead in January 2020; Zampella announced that the studio will become separate from DICE and will likely change its name in association with an unannounced game they are working on.[23]

Games developed

Year Title Platform(s)
1992 Pinball Dreams Amiga, MS-DOS, SNES
Pinball Fantasies Amiga, MS-DOS, SNES, Jaguar
1993 Amiganoid Amiga
1994 Benefactor Amiga
1995 Pinball Illusions Amiga, MS-DOS
1997 True Pinball PlayStation, Sega Saturn
S40 Racing Microsoft Windows
1998 Motorhead Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
1999 Swedish Touring Car Championship Microsoft Windows
2000 Swedish Touring Car Championship 2
Riding Champion: Legacy of Rosemond Hill
Michelin Rally Masters: Race of Champions Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
NASCAR Heat PlayStation
2001 Diva Starz: Mall Mania Game Boy Color
Shrek Xbox
2002 RalliSport Challenge Microsoft Windows, Xbox
Pryzm: Chapter One — The Dark Unicorn PlayStation 2
Battlefield 1942 macOS, Microsoft Windows
Shrek Extra Large GameCube
The Land Before Time: Big Water Adventure PlayStation
V8 Challenge Microsoft Windows
2003 Battlefield 1942: The Road to Rome macOS, Microsoft Windows
Midtown Madness 3 Xbox
Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII macOS, Microsoft Windows
2004 Battlefield Vietnam Microsoft Windows
RalliSport Challenge 2 Xbox
2005 Battlefield 2 Microsoft Windows
Battlefield 2: Special Forces
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360
2006 Battlefield 2142 macOS, Microsoft Windows
2008 Battlefield: Bad Company PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Mirror's Edge iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2009 Battlefield Heroes[1] Microsoft Windows
Battlefield 1943 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2010 Battlefield: Bad Company 2 iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Windows Phone, Xbox 360
Battlefield Online[2] Microsoft Windows
Medal of Honor Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2011 Battlefield Play4Free Microsoft Windows
Battlefield 3 iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2013 Battlefield 4 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
2015 Star Wars Battlefront Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4, Xbox One
2016 Mirror's Edge Catalyst
Battlefield 1
2017 Star Wars Battlefront II
2018 Battlefield V
2019 Ultracore[3] Mega Sg, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita[4]

Notes

  1. ^ Cancelled in 1994 but eventually revived by Strictly Limited Games and released in 2019
  2. ^ Co-developed with Easy Studios
  3. ^ Co-developed with Neowiz Games

References

  1. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (25 May 2018). "DICE GM pushes back against Battlefield V anger". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b Gunner (9 September 2017). "Digital Illusions fyller 25 år" [Digital Illusions turns 25 years]. Hype.se. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b nnirvi (2 November 2006). "Digital Illusions – taisteluni" [Digital Illusions – My Struggle]. Pelit. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  4. ^ Crecente, Brian (14 August 2018). "EA Chief Design Officer Patrick Soderlund Leaves Company". Variety. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  5. ^ IGN Staff (6 April 2001). "Digital Illusions and Sandbox Studios Merge". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  6. ^ IGN Staff (11 April 2001). "Digital Illusions Nabs Sandbox Studios". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  7. ^ Carless, Simon (1 September 2004). "Digital Illusions Acquires Trauma Studios". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  8. ^ Goldstein, Maarten (1 September 2004). "DICE Buys Trauma Studios". Shacknews. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  9. ^ Adams, David (1 September 2004). "Digital Illusions Embraces Trauma". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  10. ^ Adams, David (15 November 2004). "EA to Buy Digital Illusions". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  11. ^ GamesIndustry International (15 November 2004). "EA tables bid to take over Digital Illusions". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  12. ^ Fahey, Rob (15 December 2004). "Digital Illusions shareholders reject EA buyout". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  13. ^ Brunes, Andrew (20 December 2004). "EA Adjusts Offer For Digital Illusions". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  14. ^ Bloodworth, Daniel (25 January 2006). "EA Gains Controlling Interest of Digital Illusions". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  15. ^ Fahey, Rob (26 January 2006). "Digital Illusions shareholders accept EA offer". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  16. ^ Bramwell, Tom (17 March 2006). "EA and DICE announce new merger plan". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  17. ^ Thorsen, Tor (2 October 2006). "EA rolls DICE for $23 million". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  18. ^ Martin, Matt (2 October 2006). "EA completes DICE acquisition". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  19. ^ Martin, Matt (5 October 2006). "EA confirms DICE Canada closure". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  20. ^ Adams, David (5 October 2006). "Digital Illusions Canada Closes". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  21. ^ GamesIndustry International (16 October 2006). "REDJADE Opens for Business". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  22. ^ Dyer, Mitch (16 May 2013). "DICE LA: From the Ashes of Medal of Honor". IGN.
  23. ^ Marten, Todd (2 January 2020). "From 'Titanfall' to 'Star Wars,' the evolution of game studio Respawn mirrors our search for story". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
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