Media Molecule
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer and video games Interactive entertainment |
| Founded | 4 January 2006 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Mark Healey (Creative Director) Alex Evans (Technical Director) David Smith (Technical Director) Kareem Ettouney (Art Director) Siobhan Reddy (Studio Director) Rex Crowle (Designer) |
| Products | LittleBigPlanet (2008–11) |
| Owner | Sony |
Number of employees | 50+[1] |
| Parent | SIE Worldwide Studios |
| Website | http://www.mediamolecule.com/ |
Media Molecule is a British video game developer based in Guildford in Surrey. The studio was founded on 4 January 2006[2] by former Lionhead Studios employees Mark Healey, Alex Evans, David Smith and Kareem Ettouney[3] Before starting the company, the founders from Lionhead Studios worked together on Healey's independent game Rag Doll Kung Fu while still at Lionhead.[4]
On 2 March 2010, Sony Computer Entertainment announced that it had acquired Media Molecule.[5]
Projects
The studio's first game was the PlayStation 3 title LittleBigPlanet, which was announced and demonstrated at the Game Developers Conference 2007. The plan was always to produce a chart-topping game, but to keep the size of the company as small as possible so as to keep a tight rein on costs. Evans in particular was keen to avoid what he calls the "cycle of debt". It was chiefly this concern that led the founders to consider user-generated content.[6] LittleBigPlanet 's best selling point became its set of level-creation tools and the ability to publish that content on the Internet. "Every time you boot up there are more levels to play," says Evans.
Media Molecule won the Studio of the Year award at the Spike Video Game Awards 2008. LittleBigPlanet scored a 95 on Metacritic.[7] The game also won numerous game of the year awards leading to a 'Game Of The Year Edition' a year later.
Media Molecule also worked with SCE Studio Cambridge in the development of LittleBigPlanet for the PlayStation Portable which was released in 2009. The PlayStation 3 sequel to LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet 2, was released in January 2011.
As of June 2012, Media Molecule have opened up new job opportunities for work on new intellectual properties "...even more ambitious..." than LittleBigPlanet,[8] sparking rumours of new games from the company.
At the Sony Press Conference at Gamescom 2012, Media Molecule announced Tearaway for PS Vita.[9] Whilst talking to press at Gamescom it was revealed that Media Molecule were also working on a second unannounced title, "We're working on a second project right now, and that's very much in an R&D phase," said Mark Healey to Eurogamer.[10]
At 2013's PlayStation Meeting, the PlayStation 4 was unveiled. Media Molecule was shown during the event to be working on new technology for the PlayStation 4 involving the PlayStation Move, allowing players to create 3D objects and animate them with motion-controlled input. At the Sony Press Conference at E3 2015, this project was later revealed to be Dreams.
Games developed
| Game title | Year released | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| LittleBigPlanet | 2008 | PlayStation 3 |
| LittleBigPlanet 2 | 2011 | |
| Tearaway | 2013 | PlayStation Vita |
| Tearaway Unfolded* | 2015 | PlayStation 4 |
| Dreams[11] | TBA | PlayStation 4 |
* Alongside Tarsier Studios.
Game Collaborations
In addition to the games above, Media Molecule is also credited as a contributor or co-developer on numerous other LittleBigPlanet titles.
| Game title | Release | Platform | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|
| LittleBigPlanet | 2009 | PlayStation Portable | SCE Cambridge Studio[12][13] |
| Sackboy's Prehistoric Moves | 2010 | PlayStation 3 | XDev; Supermassive Games |
| LittleBigPlanet PS Vita | 2012 | PlayStation Vita | Double Eleven; Tarsier Studios |
| LittleBigPlanet Karting | 2012 | PlayStation 3 | United Front Games[14] |
| LittleBigPlanet 3[15] | 2014 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 | Sumo Digital[16] |
Awards
Wins
- (2008) Winner —Spike Video Game Awards for Studio of the Year
- (2009) Winner—Develop Award for Best Independent Developer
- (2009) Winner—Develop Award for Best New Studio
- (2011) Winner—Develop Award for In-House Studio of the Year
Nominations
- (2009) Nominated—Golden Joystick Awards UK Developer of the Year
References
- ^ "Working at Media Molecule". Media Molecule. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ^ Simons, Iain (2007). http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3046/book_excerpt_inside_game_design_.php. Inside Game Design. Laurence King (published 27 September 2007). ISBN 978-1-85669-532-9. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
{{cite book}}:|chapter-url=missing title (help) - ^ "Media Molecule sign exclusive deal with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe". Media Molecule. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
The company was founded in January this year by Alex Evans, Mark Healey, Dave Smith and Kareem Ettouney.
- ^ Boyer, Brandon (10 November 2006). "Q&A: The Organic Chemistry Of Media Molecule". Gamasutra. CMP Technology. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
- ^ "Sony Computer Entertainment Acquires Media Molecule Studios" (PDF). 2 March 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "Media Molecule". Director.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "LittleBigPlanet for PlayStation 3 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "Jobs - Media Molecule - We Make Games". 28 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ^ "Announcing our next game Tearaway". 14 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ "Media Molecule working on second project". 16 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "PlayStation on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ^ Brian Crecente (24 February 2009). "LittleBigPlanet, Rock Band, Assassin's Creed Coming to PSP". Kotaku.
- ^ Miller, Greg (24 February 2009). "MEGATON: Major Franchises Assault PSP". IGN. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ "LittleBigPlanet Karting is Coming to PS3!". PlayStation.Blog. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ^ Holmes, Mike (26 June 2014). "Media Molecule involved with LittleBigPlanet 3". Gamereactor. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ^ Wawro, Alex (10 June 2014). "LittleBigPlanet 3 is coming, but not from Media Molecule". Gamasutra. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
