Microïds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Microïds | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Corporation |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Elliot Grassiano (Microïds 1984) |
| Headquarters | Paris, France Montréal, Canada and formerly Milan, Italy |
| Key people | Emmanuel Olivier (MC2 France) |
| Industry | Computer and video game industry |
| Employees | 150+ (95 in Montréal) (as of Feb 2004)[1] |
| Parent | MC2 France |
| Divisions | Microïds Montreal Microïds Paris |
| Website | The official Microïds website |
Microïds (also known as MC2-Microïds) is a French software company who publishes and develops video games. Since 2003 they have been part of MC2 France, and the Microïds brand was relaunched in late 2007.
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[edit] History
Microïds was founded in 1985 by Elliot Grassiano. For the first 10 years, Microïds was a development house, but in 1995 they expanded into publishing and distribution as well[2]. The company also then expanded worldwide with a publisher in Milan (Microïds Italy) and a developer in Montréal (Microïds Canada).
[edit] MC2 France
In 2003, Emmanuel Olivier created a new company called MC2 France which subsequently merged with Microïds. In September 2003 MC2-Microïds acquired Wanadoo Edition as part of a deal with the French government for Microïds to emerge from bankruptcy protection. As part of the deal, Wanadoo also became a 12% shareholder of Microïds[3].
In March of 2005 Ubisoft announced their intention to acquire MC2-Microïds (Microïds Canada) and to integrate it into Ubisoft's Montreal studios [4]. This deal only included fifty of MC2-Microïds' employees and technical equipment[verification needed]; however, the agreement did not include any transfer of intellectual property[5]. Microïds Italy split off from the company in 2005, turning into the Italian publisher Blue Label Entertainment[6].
On November 28, 2007 MC2 France officially relaunched the Microïds brand[7], with all of the company's future productions to be released either under the MICROÏDS Montreal or MICROÏDS Paris brands.
[edit] Games
MC2-Microïds is well known for the development of the adventure games including Syberia, Syberia 2, Post Mortem and its sequel Still Life. Other notable games that Microïds has produced include Far Gate and the Nicky Boum series of action games for the Commodore Amiga.
In 2007 Microïds announced that it was working on a number of games in collaboration with various development studios such as Elektrogames, Kheops Studio, Mzone Studio, TOTM Studio, and White Birds Productions. Still Life 2 was also announced to be developed by GameCo Studios. In 2008 Microïds announced they had entered into a publishing agreement with Encore (part of Navarre Corporation), where Encore would publish Microïds entire catalogue in North America[8].
[edit] Former logos
.jpg/108px-Microids_(Original_logo).jpg) Original logo |
.jpg/120px-Microids_(Old_logo).jpg) Logo 1995–2003 |
 Logo circa 2005 |
[edit] References
- ^ News. High Road Communications (2004-02-20).[dead link]
- ^ Virtools Development Applications. Virtools. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ Microids takes over Wanadoo's games division. Adventure Gamers (2003-10-02). Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ "Ubisoft Montreal enters into an agreement to acquire Microids Canada's development operations", Ubisoft, 2005-03-02. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ Ubisoft acquires MC2-Microïds. Just Adventure (2005-03-03). Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ Profilo dell’azienda (Italian). Blue Label Entertainment. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ Emmanuel Olivier and Index+ Founders Relaunch MICROÏDS (2007-11-28). Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ Encore and Microids sign exclusive publishing agreement for North America. Microïds (2008-04-16). Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
