• Please make sure you are familiar with the forum rules. You can find them here: https://forums.tripwireinteractive.com/index.php?threads/forum-rules.2334636/

Gaming Companies

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
Chadwiick

Chadwiick

Grizzled Veteran
Dec 21, 2010
429
164
Tampa, Florida
#1
Hey guys, Lately I have been looking up old games I used to love to play when I was younger. I found out that most of them died. So I wanted to know, what were some of your favorite gaming companies that died off and what games did they make that you missed specifically?

I'll start, mine were-
Acclaim (I hope I spelt it right) Studios - Turok: Rage Wars.
New World Computing - Heroes of Might and Magic I-III I think.
PANDEMIC - Star Wars Battlefront I & II.
2015 Inc. - Medal of Honor: Allied Assault (I know they ended up becoming IW, but before they became IW)

People who reminded of some of my favorite companies.
Sierra - Empire Earth (thanks to Nimsky.)
Westwood - Self explanitory (Thank to smokeythebear)

That's all I can remember at the moment, I'll update it if I remember or look up some more.
 
Last edited:
#4
My favorite ever games developer/publisher is Microprose, they meant a lot to me, and still do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprose_Software

For a period in the late 80s and early 90s I bought almost everything they released, first on the C64, then Amiga (and PC to a lesser extent). From the list on the Wiki page, I owned (not pirated mind!) *all* the games they released 1986-1991- when it seems to me they lost the track somewhat. They continued to release classics after that though, like Colonization, X-Com, Transport Tycoon, Falcon 4.0 ...

Just a quick glance at this list shows you what a place in the history of video games they have:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MicroProse_games

They were the uncontested masters of simulations and tactical games in that period, and were responsible to I guess thats where my love of smart wargames comes from. For me, that love of clever games led me directly to RO much later :)

The manuals that came with the games were massive, high quality tomes, and often contained detailed Jane-style military reference sheets for stuff in the game. As well as a keyboard overlay - and you *really* needed it for those games, believe me.

Just look at this:
3065429528_40d0fe0f08.jpg


MAN, I wish I'd held on to those boxes...

I can still remember the wonderful smell of opening a new Microprose game - a mix of immaculate paper and fresh plastic :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: I. Kant and fiftyone
Upvote 0
#5
These are pretty much defunct. Either closed, changed name or have been bought out and disbanded.

Sensible Software (Mega Lo Mania, Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder. Behind some of the greatest Amiga games. Bought by Codemasters)
Delphine Software (Future Wars, Another World, Flashback, Cruise for a Corpse. Great French Developer which sadly went bankrupt)
Sierra Entertainment (King's Quest, Gabriel Knight, Space Quest. Part of the golden age of adventure games. Now a subsidiary of Activision)
Bullfrog (Syndicate, Populous, Theme Park, Dungeon Keeper. Bought out by EA and merged with EA UK. Lionhead Studios keeps the spirit alive)
The Bitmap Brothers (Speedball, The Chaos Engine, Gods. Still around but without the original people)
 
  • Like
Reactions: I. Kant and Shadrach
Upvote 0
#6
How about game companies that drastically changed over the years for whatever reason.. namely, Origin :[
(and lesser so, Bungie, and actually back when EA actually MADE games, I liked them.. but now they just are about churn-and-burn game IP... blech).. incidently Totally Games fits this now (makers of X-Wing series and SWOTL... but now just a mobile/web game company)

Aside from that, I really do miss Bullfrog and Microprose... thanks guys.. jackasses.. :]
 
Upvote 0
#11
Shadrach said:
My favorite ever games developer/publisher is Microprose, they meant a lot to me, and still do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprose_Software

For a period in the late 80s and early 90s I bought almost everything they released, first on the C64, then Amiga (and PC to a lesser extent). From the list on the Wiki page, I owned (not pirated mind!) *all* the games they released 1986-1991- when it seems to me they lost the track somewhat. They continued to release classics after that though, like Colonization, X-Com, Transport Tycoon, Falcon 4.0 ...

Just a quick glance at this list shows you what a place in the history of video games they have:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MicroProse_games

They were the uncontested masters of simulations and tactical games in that period, and were responsible to I guess thats where my love of smart wargames comes from. For me, that love of clever games led me directly to RO much later :)

The manuals that came with the games were massive, high quality tomes, and often contained detailed Jane-style military reference sheets for stuff in the game. As well as a keyboard overlay - and you *really* needed it for those games, believe me.

Just look at this:
3065429528_40d0fe0f08.jpg


MAN, I wish I'd held on to those boxes...

I can still remember the wonderful smell of opening a new Microprose game - a mix of immaculate paper and fresh plastic :D
Click to expand...



Oh, man, I had many many MANY hours of fun with Gunship, in CGA, on an 8088-10mHz. I actually really miss that ...

re: Falcon 4.0 ... it's still the best flight sim ever made, so far as I know. (I haven't played A-10:DCS yet though.) BUT don't forget the ones that came before - Falcon, Falcon AT, Falcon 3.0.


UncleDrax said:
How about game companies that drastically changed over the years for whatever reason.. namely, Origin :[
(and lesser so, Bungie, and actually back when EA actually MADE games, I liked them.. but now they just are about churn-and-burn game IP... blech).. incidently Totally Games fits this now (makers of X-Wing series and SWOTL... but now just a mobile/web game company)

Aside from that, I really do miss Bullfrog and Microprose... thanks guys.. jackasses.. :]
Click to expand...


EA used to be pretty brilliant - 688 Attack Sub consumed just as many hours as Gunship did, when I was a kid.

About X-Wing series ... I thought that was done in-house by LucasArts?
 
Upvote 0
#17
Psygnosis made some good games way back when.
Troika also, it was quite sad they didn't get to finish Vampire Bloodlines.

And amazingly enough, Activision, remeber when they where publishing things like Mech Warrior 2?
And EA, i remember when they where making things like Chuck Yeagers Air Combat, and The Need For Speed 3..

Ohh how things have changed :(
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply
Jump to latest Follow Reply
Community News
Forums
Merch
Menu