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  num_employees = ~50 (2007) |
  num_employees = ~50 (2007) |
  industry = [[Software  Programming]]|
  industry = [[Software  Programming]]|
  products = ''[[Eragon (video game)|Eragon]]'' VU Games br''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'' EA br''[[Blood Wake]]'' Microsoft br''[[NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition|NASCAR Racing]] series'' EA Sports br''[[Madden Football]]'' EA Sports br''[[Neverwinter Nights (AOL game)|Neverwinter Nights]]'' [[MMORPG]] on [[AOL]]br''[[Tony La Russa Baseball]]'' SSI br''[[Gold Box]] [[Dungeons and Dragons]] Games, SSI''brVarious Interactive Television demos |
  products = ''[[The Spiderwick Chronicles]]'' Sierra br''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'' EA br''[[Blood Wake]]'' Microsoft br''[[NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition|NASCAR Racing]] series'' EA Sports br''[[Madden Football]]'' EA Sports br''[[Neverwinter Nights (AOL game)|Neverwinter Nights]]'' [[MMORPG]] on [[AOL]]br''[[Tony La Russa Baseball]]'' SSI br''[[Gold Box]] [[Dungeons and Dragons]] Games, SSI''brVarious Interactive Television demos |
  revenue = N/A |
  revenue = N/A |
  homepage = http://www.stormfront.com
  homepage = http://www.stormfront.com
}}
}}
'''Stormfront Studios''' is a [[video game developer]] based in [[San Rafael, California]], and has one of the longest creative histories in the industry. The company has approximately 50 developers working on two teams, and owns all its proprietary engines, tools and technology. As of the beginning of [[2005]] over ten million copies of Stormfront-developed games had been sold.  
'''Stormfront Studios''' is a [[video game developer]] based in [[San Rafael, California]], and has one of the longest creative histories in the industry. The company has over 50 developers working on two teams, and owns all its proprietary engines, tools and technology. As of the end of 2007 over fourteen million copies of Stormfront-developed games had been sold.  


The company has received major awards and award nominations from [[The Academy of Interactive Arts  Sciences]], [[G4 (TV channel)|G4]] Television, [[BAFTA]], The [[Frankfurt Book Fair|EMMA Awards]], the [[Software Publishers Association]] and many magazines and websites.
The company has received major awards and award nominations from [[The Academy of Interactive Arts  Sciences]], [[G4 (TV channel)|G4]] Television, [[BAFTA]], The [[International Game Developers Association|IGDA]] [[Game Developers Choice Awards]], The [[Frankfurt Book Fair|EMMA Awards]], [[Sony Computer Entertainment America|SCEA]], the [[Software Publishers Association]] and many magazines and websites.


==History==
==History==
Stormfront was founded in [[1988]] by [[Don Daglow]], who had worked as a [[game programmer]] and then as Director of Game Development at [[Mattel]] [[Intellivision]], as a producer at [[Electronic Arts]], and as a production executive at [[Broderbund]]. Stormfront's management includes veterans of [[Blizzard Entertainment]], [[CNET]], [[The Walt Disney Company#Studio Entertainment|Walt Disney Studios]], [[Electronic Arts]], [[Industrial Light and Magic]], [[Lionhead Studios]], [[LucasArts]], [[Origin Systems]], [[Warner Bros.]] and [[Weta Digital]].
Stormfront was founded in [[1988]] by [[Don Daglow]], who had worked as a [[game programmer]] and then as Director of Game Development at [[Mattel]] [[Intellivision]], as a producer at [[Electronic Arts]], and as a production executive at [[Broderbund]]. Stormfront's management includes veterans of [[The Walt Disney Company#Studio Entertainment|Disney]], [[Electronic Arts]], [[Ensemble Studios]], [[LucasArts]], [[Origin Systems]], [[THX]], [[Vivendi Universal]] and [[Warner Bros.]].


Stormfront was originally founded as ''Beyond Software'', but changed its name in [[1991]] when the trademark for ''Beyond'' proved difficult to enforce.
Stormfront was originally founded as ''Beyond Software'', but changed its name in [[1991]] when the trademark for ''Beyond'' proved difficult to enforce.


===Highlights 1988-1993===
===Highlights 1988-1993===
* ''[[Neverwinter Nights (AOL game)|Neverwinter Nights]]''. Daglow had worked on game projects with [[Kathi McHugh]] and [[Steve Case]] of [[AOL]] (then called [[Quantum Computer Services]]) since early in AOL's history. Apart from baseball, Stormfront's initial projects were a series of online titles for AOL, including the first original [[play-by-mail game|play-by-email game]], ''[[Quantum Space]]'' ([[1989]]) and later the first graphical [[MMORPG]], the original ''Neverwinter Nights'' ([[1991]]-[[1997]]). ''Neverwinter Nights'' held the all-time record as the top revenue-producing online [[Role-playing game|RPG]] for almost ten years until the success of ''[[Ultima Online]]'' in the late [[1990s]]. [[BioWare]] subsequently purchased the rights to the name, and built a new generation of award-winning multiplayer RPG's set in the Neverwinter universe.
* ''[[Tony La Russa Baseball]]''. Upon its founding in 1988 Stormfront's first project was a baseball title, which over the following eight years was to become the ''Tony La Russa Baseball'' series of games, working closely with baseball manager [[Tony La Russa]]. La Russa remains a member of the company's Board of Directors today. Daglow had previously designed or co-designed a number of baseball games, including ''[[Baseball (Computer Game)|Baseball]]'', ''[[Intellivision World Series Baseball]]'' and ''[[Earl Weaver Baseball]]'', the latter two with programmer [[Eddie Dombrower]].
* ''[[Tony La Russa Baseball]]''. Upon its founding in 1988 Stormfront's first project was a baseball title, which over the following eight years was to become the ''Tony La Russa Baseball'' series of games, working closely with baseball manager [[Tony La Russa]]. La Russa remains a member of the company's Board of Directors today. Daglow had previously designed or co-designed a number of baseball games, including ''[[Baseball (Computer Game)|Baseball]]'', ''[[Intellivision World Series Baseball]]'' and ''[[Earl Weaver Baseball]]'', the latter two with programmer [[Eddie Dombrower]].
* ''[[Neverwinter Nights (AOL game)|Neverwinter Nights]]''. Daglow had worked on game projects with [[Kathi McHugh]] and [[Steve Case]] of [[AOL]] (then called [[Quantum Computer Services]]) since early in AOL's history. Apart from baseball, Stormfront's initial projects were a series of online titles for AOL, including the first original [[play-by-mail game|play-by-email game]], ''[[Quantum Space]]'' ([[1989]]) and later the first graphical [[MMORPG]], the original ''Neverwinter Nights'' ([[1991]]-[[1997]]). ''Neverwinter Nights'' held the all-time record as the top revenue-producing online [[Role-playing game|RPG]] for almost ten years until the success of ''[[Ultima Online]]'' in the late [[1990s]]. [[BioWare]] subsequently purchased the rights to the name, and built a new generation of award-winning multiplayer RPG's set in the Neverwinter universe.
* ''[[Gold Box]]'' [[DD]] Games. In [[1990]] the company began working with [[Strategic Simulations, Inc.|SSI]] on a series of ''Gold Box'' Dungeons and Dragons RPG games. This led to the company's first #1 hit, ''[[Gateway to the Savage Frontier]]'' (1991), and the first game where an AI character might fall in love with the player (depending on how they reacted to situations in the game), ''[[Treasures of the Savage Frontier]]'' (1992).  
* ''[[Gold Box]]'' [[DD]] Games. In [[1990]] the company began working with [[Strategic Simulations, Inc.|SSI]] on a series of ''Gold Box'' Dungeons and Dragons RPG games. This led to the company's first #1 hit, ''[[Gateway to the Savage Frontier]]'' (1991), and the first game where an AI character might fall in love with the player (depending on how they reacted to situations in the game), ''[[Treasures of the Savage Frontier]]'' (1992).  
* ''[[Stronghold (1993 game)|Stronghold]]''. These two games in turn led to Stormfront's design of an early [[real-time strategy|RTS]], ''Stronghold'' ([[1993]]). ''Stronghold'' was the first RTS to use a [[3-D computer graphics|3D]] perspective.
* ''[[Stronghold (1993 game)|Stronghold]]'' ([[1993]]). The first [[real-time strategy|RTS]] game to use a [[3-D computer graphics|3D]] perspective, ''Stronghold'' also featured a [[GUI]] interface in an era when most games continued to use text menus.


===Highlights 1994-2000===
===Highlights 1994-1999===
* ''[[NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition|NASCAR Racing]]'', the original versions of the top-selling American [[auto racing]] game series of all time, created by Stormfront for EA Sports. ''[[John Madden Football]]'' game designer [[Scott Orr]], who produced a long series of games with Stormfront, championed the development of ''[[Andretti Racing]]'', which led in turn to the creation of ''NASCAR''.
* ''[[NASCAR Racing 1999 Edition|NASCAR Racing]]'', the original versions of the top-selling American [[auto racing]] game series of all time, created by Stormfront for EA Sports. ''[[John Madden Football]]'' game designer [[Scott Orr]], who produced a long series of games with Stormfront, championed the development of ''[[Andretti Racing]]'', which led in turn to the creation of ''NASCAR''.
* ''[[Madden NFL]]''. Stormfront created the original PC versions of ''Madden'' for EA Sports.
* ''[[Madden NFL]]''. Stormfront created the original PC versions of ''Madden'' for EA Sports.
* ''[[Byzantine]]''  Although the game earned limited distribution in the United States, Stormfront's [[1997]] [[Discovery Channel]] game ''Byzantine'' swept the European Emma Awards at the [[Frankfurt Book Fair]], winning honors as Best Adventure Game, Game of the Year, and CD of the Year.
* ''[[Tiger Woods PGA Tour]] Golf'', EA Sports.
* ''[[Tiger Woods PGA Tour]] Golf'', EA Sports.
* ''[[Tony La Russa Baseball|Tony La Russa Baseball 3]]'' and ''[[Old Time Baseball]]''. In [[1994]]-[[1995]] the company self-published these two baseball games, both distributed by EA. The [[baseball strike]] of 1994 severely hampered sales, and Stormfront returned to being solely a developer.
* ''[[Tony La Russa Baseball|Tony La Russa Baseball 3]]'' and ''[[Old Time Baseball]]''. In [[1994]]-[[1995]] the company self-published these two baseball games, both distributed by EA. The [[baseball strike]] of 1994 severely hampered sales, and Stormfront returned to being solely a developer.
* Stormfront was the first video game developer to use [[motion control photography]] in a video game, in the Electronic Arts game ''[[Eagle Eye Mysteries]]'', ([[1993]]).
* Stormfront was the first video game developer to use [[motion control photography]] in a video game, in the Electronic Arts game ''[[Eagle Eye Mysteries]]'', ([[1993]]).
* Although the game earned limited distribution in the United States, Stormfront's [[1997]] [[Discovery Channel]] game ''Byzantine'' swept the European Emma Awards at the [[Frankfurt Book Fair]], winning honors as Best Adventure Game, Game of the Year, and CD of the Year.


===Highlights 2001-2006===
===Highlights 2000-2005===
* ''[[Blood Wake]]'' for [[Xbox]] ([[2001]]). A featured title in [[Microsoft]]’s launch of the Xbox, Blood Wake is a fast-action naval combat game with real wakes and waves and the most striking water effects created on a [[video game console]]. Players battle enemy gunboats in 28 single-player missions and several multi-player modes. A wide variety of boats, weapons, environments, weather and waves generate a wide variety of play experiences. The game later became part of the Xbox Platinum line of classic hits.
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'' ([[2002]]). Published by [[Electronic Arts]] for [[PlayStation 2|PS2]], [[Gamecube]]. and Xbox and based on the [[Peter Jackson]] film from [[New Line Cinema]]. One of the top-selling games of both 2002 and 2003, ''The Two Towers'' allows players to join [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and the Fellowship of the Ring in their quest to save [[Middle-earth]] from [[Sauron]]. Players can fight as [[Aragorn]], [[Legolas]] or [[Gimli (Middle-earth)|Gimli]] in this epic adventure that features scenes and music from the first two movies in the [[The Lord of the Rings film trilogy|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]], battling [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orcs]] including the [[Uruk-hai]], [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] and more. Players play a pivotal role in [[Battle of the Hornburg|the defense]] of [[Helm's Deep]]. The game features extensive unlockable content, including exclusive interviews with the stars of the films. Winner, [[Academy of Interactive Arts  Sciences]] [[Interactive Achievement Awards|Award]] for Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering.
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)|The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'' ([[2002]]). Published by [[Electronic Arts]] for [[PlayStation 2|PS2]], [[Gamecube]]. and Xbox and based on the [[Peter Jackson]] film from [[New Line Cinema]]. One of the top-selling games of both 2002 and 2003, The Two Towers allows players to join [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and the Fellowship of the Ring in their quest to save [[Middle-earth]] from [[Sauron]]. Players can fight as [[Aragorn]], [[Legolas]] or [[Gimli (Middle-earth)|Gimli]] in this epic adventure that features scenes and music from the first two movies in the [[The Lord of the Rings film trilogy|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]], battling [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orcs]] including the [[Uruk-hai]], [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] and more. Characters can be upgraded with new moves and weapons as players prepare to play a pivotal role in [[Battle of the Hornburg|the defense]] of [[Helm's Deep]]. The game features extensive unlockable content, including a secret character and level and exclusive interviews with the stars of the films. Winner, [[Academy of Interactive Arts  Sciences]] [[Interactive Achievement Awards|Award]] for Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering.
* ''[[Blood Wake]]'' for [[Xbox]] ([[2001]]). A featured title in [[Microsoft]]’s launch of the Xbox, Blood Wake is a fast-action naval combat game with real wakes and waves and the most striking water effects created on a [[video game console]]. The game later became part of the Xbox Platinum line of classic hits.
* ''[[Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone|Demon Stone]]'' ([[2004]]). Published by [[Atari]] for PS2, Xbox and PC. A lone fighter, a brash sorcerer, a beautiful hot-tempered rogue. Players can switch which of the three characters they control “on the fly” at any moment to battle an onslaught of enemies. Based on Stormfront’s sophisticated game engine used in The Lord of the Rings, advanced AI consistently guides the characters you don’t control, allowing the player to jump from hero to hero to pick the ideal character to play in order to defeat large and dangerous enemies. The game was nominated for several Academy of Interactive Arts  Sciences Interactive Achievement Awards and [[BAFTA]] Awards.
* ''[[Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone|Demon Stone]]'' ([[2004]]). Published by [[Atari]] for PS2, Xbox and PC. Players can switch which of the three main characters they control “on the fly” at any moment to battle an onslaught of enemies. The game was nominated for multiple Academy of Interactive Arts  Sciences Interactive Achievement Awards and [[BAFTA]] Awards.
* ''[[Eragon (video game)|Eragon]]'' (November, [[2006]]).  Published by [[Vivendi Universal Games]] for [[Xbox 360]], PS2, Xbox and PC, based on the [[Twentieth Century Fox]] movie ''Eragon'', adapted from the best-selling [[Christopher Paolini]] fantasy novel.
 
===Highlights 2006-Present===
* ''[[The Spiderwick Chronicles]]'' (To Be Released February 2008) Wii, Xbox360, PS2, PC and DS, published by Sierra, based on the Paramount film (adapted from the illustrated children's fantasy books written by [[Holly Black]] and illustrated by [[Tony DiTerlizzi]]).
* ''Unannounced Downloadable Title'' (To Be Released 2008) The company's website says that it is developing an original downloadable game for self-publication in 2008.
* ''[[Eragon (video game)|Eragon]]'' (2006).  Published by [[Vivendi Universal Games]] for [[Xbox 360]], PS2, Xbox and PC, based on the [[Twentieth Century Fox]] movie ''Eragon'', adapted from the best-selling [[Christopher Paolini]] fantasy novel.


===Interactive TV===
===Interactive TV===
Stormfront has had an ongoing involvement in the development of games for [[Interactive TV]], and has produced demos for companies including [[OpenTV]].
Stormfront has had an ongoing involvement in the development of games for [[Interactive TV]] since its first experiments on Florida cable systems in 1990, and has produced demos for companies including [[OpenTV]].


==List of Stormfront Titles==
==List of Stormfront Titles==
 
*''[[The Spiderwick Chronicles]]'' (To Be Released 2008) Wii, Xbox360, PS2, PC and DS, published by Sierra, based on the Paramount film (adapted from the illustrated children's fantasy books written by [[Holly Black]] and illustrated by [[Tony DiTerlizzi]]).
*''Unannounced Downloadable Title'' (To Be Released 2008)
*''[[Eragon (video game)|Eragon]]'' (2006) for Xbox360, PS2, Xbox and PC, published by Vivendi Universal Games, based on the film from Twentieth Century Fox (adapted from the Christopher Paolini novel).
*''[[Eragon (video game)|Eragon]]'' (2006) for Xbox360, PS2, Xbox and PC, published by Vivendi Universal Games, based on the film from Twentieth Century Fox (adapted from the Christopher Paolini novel).
*''[[Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone]]'' (2004) for PS2 and Xbox, published by Atari
*''[[Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone]]'' (2004) for PS2 and Xbox, published by Atari

Revision as of 07:33, 26 November 2007

Template:Infobox Company Stormfront Studios is a video game developer based in San Rafael, California, and has one of the longest creative histories in the industry. The company has over 50 developers working on two teams, and owns all its proprietary engines, tools and technology. As of the end of 2007 over fourteen million copies of Stormfront-developed games had been sold.

The company has received major awards and award nominations from The Academy of Interactive Arts Sciences, G4 Television, BAFTA, The IGDA Game Developers Choice Awards, The EMMA Awards, SCEA, the Software Publishers Association and many magazines and websites.

History

Stormfront was founded in 1988 by Don Daglow, who had worked as a game programmer and then as Director of Game Development at Mattel Intellivision, as a producer at Electronic Arts, and as a production executive at Broderbund. Stormfront's management includes veterans of Disney, Electronic Arts, Ensemble Studios, LucasArts, Origin Systems, THX, Vivendi Universal and Warner Bros..

Stormfront was originally founded as Beyond Software, but changed its name in 1991 when the trademark for Beyond proved difficult to enforce.

Highlights 1988-1993

Highlights 1994-1999

Highlights 2000-2005

Highlights 2006-Present

Interactive TV

Stormfront has had an ongoing involvement in the development of games for Interactive TV since its first experiments on Florida cable systems in 1990, and has produced demos for companies including OpenTV.

List of Stormfront Titles

References

External links

Pages in category "Stormfront Studios"

The following 3 pages are in this category, out of 3 total.