Microsoft Game Studios
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| Type | Subsidiary of Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Redmond, Washington |
| Industry | Interactive Entertainment |
| Products | Halo series Viva Piñata series Age of Empires series Perfect Dark series Black & White series Gears of War series Banjo-Kazooie series Conker series Microsoft Flight Simulator series |
| Parent | Microsoft |
| Website | http://www.microsoft.com/games/ |
Microsoft Game Studios (MGS), branded with current logo and moniker in 2002 (formerly the Microsoft Game Division or Microsoft Games), is a wholly owned subsidiary[citation needed] of Microsoft which develops and publishes video games for Windows-based PCs, as well as the the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game consoles. It also, through Rare Ltd., develops games for the Nintendo DS. MGS publishes games for several Microsoft-owned first-party developers, such as Lionhead Studios and Rare Ltd. MGS has also published games created by third-party developers, such as BioWare and Epic Games.
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[edit] History
Microsoft Game Studios have acquired many game development houses since its inception, such as Bungie in 1999, giving MGS full control of Bungie and shifting the development of Halo: Combat Evolved to its Xbox platform.[1]
In September 2002, MGS acquired Rare Ltd. from Nintendo and the Stamper brothers (Chris and Tim), who owned 49% and 51% of the company respectively in what is believed to be one of the most expensive purchases of a video games development company yet, at a cost of around USD375 million.[2] This also meant Microsoft acquired the rights to Rare’s own original IPs such as the Banjo-Kazooie, Conker and Perfect Dark franchises.
In April 2006, MGS announced that they had purchased Lionhead Studios for an undisclosed sum. This has allowed them to further bolst the range of exclusive titles for their Xbox platforms, notably with the Fable video game series.[3] The following month, MGS also acquired Massive Incorporated, an in-game advertising company to provide additional revenues from their gaming platforms such as PCs and the Xbox 360.[4]
In May 2007, Microsoft announced it would be opening a European office of MGS in Reading in the United Kingdom (the present location of Microsoft's General UK offices). This office will be headed by Phil Spencer, who was General Manager for the games division before the announcement.[5]
In September 2007 Microsoft disbanded FASA Studio best known for their MechWarrior series.
In October 2007, Bungie announced that it had split with Microsoft and become a privately held independent company.
In March 2008 Microsoft disbanded their casual games studio - Carbonated Games.
In May 2008, Microsoft announced the formation of a newly created internal games studio to create "high quality digital content" for Xbox Live Arcade.[6]
In January 2009, Microsoft closed both Ensemble Studios and ACES Game Studio due to a process of ongoing job cuts due to Financial crisis and restructuring of there game studios.
[edit] Studios
[edit] In-house
[edit] Owned franchises and properties
[edit] Games released under the MGS brand
This list of games is sorted by platform and includes games published by Microsoft. For those games not developed under the Microsoft name, the developer is noted after the game's release date.
[edit] MS-DOS/Windows
- 1990
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- Age of Mythology
- Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs
- Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania
- Rallisport Challenge
- Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe
- Dungeon Siege (Gas Powered Games)
- Links 2003
- MechWarrior 4: Clan Mech Pak
- MechWarrior 4: Inner Sphere Mech Pack
- MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries
- Asheron's Call 2
- MechCollection
- 2003
- Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection
- Rise of Nations
- Age of Mythology: The Titans
- Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna (Gas Powered Games)
- Freelancer
- Halo: Combat Evolved
- Impossible Creatures
- Kings & Myths: The Age Collection
- Links 2003: Championship Courses
- Links Championship Edition
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- Release Date Unknown
[edit] Xbox
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- Amped 2
- Brute Force
- Counter-Strike
- Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
- Grabbed by the Ghoulies
- Inside Pitch 2003
- Kung Fu Chaos
- Links 2004
- Midtown Madness 3
- NBA Inside Drive 2004
- NFL Fever 2004
- NHL Rivals 2004
- Project Gotham Racing 2
- Shenmue II
- Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
- Top Spin
- Voodoo Vince
- Xbox Exhibition Demo Disc Vol. 2
- Xbox Exhibition Demo Disc Vol. 3
- Xbox Exhibition Demo Disc Vol. 4
- Xbox Music Mixer
- Magatama (Japan Only)
- N.U.D.E.@Natural Ultimate Digital Experiment (Japan Only)
- The Wild Rings (Japan Only)
- 2004
- 2005
[edit] Xbox 360
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- Announced for 2009
- Announced for 2010
- Release Date Unknown
- Cancelled
[edit] Xbox Live Arcade
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- Announced for 2009
- South Park (working title)
- Shadow Complex
- Splosion Man
- Joy Ride
- Trials HD
[edit] Other
[edit] See also
- List of video games published by Nintendo
- List of video games published by Sony Computer Entertainment
[edit] References
- ^ Microsoft to Acquire Bungie Software: Microsoft Corp. announced it acquired Chicago-based Bungie Software Products Corp., a leading independent developer of action oriented co...
- ^ Microsoft Acquires Video Game Powerhouse Rare Ltd.: Developers of Such Worldwide Hits as "Donkey Kong 64," "Banjo-Kazooie," "GoldenEye 007" And "Perfect Dark" Bring Their Tale...
- ^ Microsoft Game Studios Acquires Video Game Luminary Peter Molyneux’s Lionhead Studios: Lionhead’s hit franchise “Fable” surpasses 2 million unit sales milestone
- ^ Microsoft to Acquire In-Game Advertising Pioneer Massive Inc.: Massive’s technology for weaving dynamic, relevant ads into video games will extend next-generation advertising ...
- ^ Gamasutra - New Microsoft Game Studios Office For Europe
- ^ Joe Keiser (2008-05-22). "Exclusive Interview: MS to Delist XBLA Titles". Next-Gen.biz. http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10620&Itemid=2. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
- ^ "Joy Ride developed by BigPark". June 1, 2009. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/01/bigparks-joy-ride-free-to-play-download-then-you-pay.
- ^ http://gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21981
- ^ http://pc.ign.com/articles/947/947737p1.html
- ^ http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-closes-aces-game-studio
[edit] External links
- Microsoft Game Studios official site
- Microsoft's Official Xbox Site
- Microsoft Game Studios profile on MobyGames
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