Microsoft Game Studios
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 of Microsoft Corp. which develops and publishes video games for Windows-based PCs and the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game consoles. MGS publishes games for several Microsoft-owned first-party developers, such as Lionhead and Rare Ltd.. MGS has also published games created by third-party developers, such as Bioware and Bizarre Creations as of October 2007.
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[edit] Acquisitions and announcements
Microsoft Game Studios had acquired many game development houses such as Bungie Studios in 2001, giving MGS full control of Bungie and shifting the development of Bungie’s game Halo: Combat Evolved to its Xbox platform. [1]
In August 2002, MGS acquired Rare 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 USD 375 million.[2] This also meant Microsoft acquired the rights to Rare’s own original IP’s such as the Perfect Dark and Banjo-Kazooie franchises.
An announcement on April 6th 2006 brought news that Microsoft Game studios had purchased Lionhead Studios for an undisclosed sum, to further bolster the range of exclusive titles it could provide for the Xbox 360 platform.[3]
During May 2006 Microsoft also acquired Massive Inc, an in-game advertising company to provide additional revenues from their gaming platforms such as PCs and the Xbox 360. [4]
On May 4th 2007 Microsoft announced it would be opening a European office of Microsoft Game Studios 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]
[edit] In-house studios
- ACES Game Studio: Flight Simulator series, Combat Flight Simulator series and the upcoming Train Simulator 2
- Carbonated Games: Hexic, 7 Hand Poker, UNO, Aegis Wing
- Ensemble: Age of Empires series, Age of Mythology series, Halo Wars
- Hired Gun: Halo 2 for Windows Vista
- Lionhead: Black & White series, The Movies, Fable series
- Rare: Perfect Dark series, Kameo, Conker series, Banjo series, Viva Piñata
- Turn 10: Forza Motorsport series
- Wingnut Interactive: A new studio set up in conjunction with Peter Jackson (they will be producing alongside with Bungie Studios a new game based in the Halo universe)
- Massive Inc.: A studio primarily set up for in game advertising.
[edit] Former studios
- Bungie: Became an independent studio on October 1, 2007
- Digital Anvil: Dissolved on January 31, 2006.
- Indie Built: Sold off to Take 2 in October, 2004.
- FASA Interactive: The studio was closed on September 12, 2007. [6]
[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] PC
- 1994
- 1995
- Microsoft Golf
- 1996
- Monster Truck Madness
- Close Combat
- Microsoft Soccer
- Microsoft Golf Version 3.0
- Microsoft Flight Simulator '95
- Deadly Tide
- Fury3
- Gex
- Hellbender
- 1997
- Return of Arcade Anniversary Edition
- Age of Empires
- Microsoft Flight Simulator '98
- Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far
- Fighter Ace
- Microsoft CART Precision Racing
- Microsoft Entertainment Pack: The Puzzle Collection
- 1998
- Urban Assault
- Outwars
- NBA Full Court Press
- Monster Truck Madness 2
- Motocross Madness
- Microsoft Pinball Arcade
- Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition
- Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome
- Close Combat III: The Russian Front
- Combat Flight Simulator WWII Europe Series
- 1999
- Pandora's Box
- NBA Inside Drive 2000
- NFL Fever 2000
- Midtown Madness
- Age of Empires: Gold Edition
- Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
- Asheron's Call
- Microsoft Baseball 2000
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000
- 2000
- 2001
- Zoo Tycoon
- Racing Madness 2
- Microsoft Train Simulator
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002
- MechCommander 2
- MechWarrior 4: Black Knight
- 2002
- Age of Mythology
- Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs
- Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania
- RalliSport Challenge
- Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe
- Dungeon Siege
- 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
- 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
- Zoo Tycoon 2
- Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots
- Age of Mythology Gold Edition
- 2005
- Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species
- Age of Empires III
- Age of Empires III Collector's Edition
- Dungeon Siege II
- Fable: The Lost Chapters
- 2006
- 2007
- Announced for 2008
- 2009
- Release Date Unknown
- Combat Flight Simulator 4
- Cancelled
[edit] Xbox
- 2001
- 2002
- Blinx: The Time Sweeper
- Kakuto Chojin
- MechAssault
- NBA Inside Drive 2002
- NBA Inside Drive 2003
- NFL Fever 2003
- NightCaster
- Quantum Redshift
- RalliSport Challenge
- Sneakers
- Whacked!
- Xbox Exhibition Demo Disc Vol. 1
- Sega GT 2002 / Jet Set Radio Future (combo disk)
- 2003
- Amped 2
- Brute Force
- Counter-Strike
- Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
- Dinosaur Hunting
- 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)
- The Wild Rings (Japan Only)
- N.U.D.E.@Natural Ultimate Digital Entertainment (Japan Only)
- 2004
- Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space
- Fable
- Halo 2
- Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders
- MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf
- Phantom Dust
- RalliSport Challenge 2
- Sudeki
- Xbox Exhibition Demo Disc Vol. 5
- OutRun 2 (Co-published with Sega)
- Xbox Video Chat (Japan Only)
- 2005
- Conker: Live & Reloaded
- Forza Motorsport
- Jade Empire
- Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes
- Xbox Exhibition Demo Disc Vol. 6
- Xbox Exhibition Demo Disc Vol. 7
- Zillernet (Korea Only)
- Wreckless 2 (Japan Only)
- Cancelled
- True Fantasy Live Online
- BC
- Kameo: Elements of Power (Released later as an Xbox 360 game)
- Perfect Dark Zero (Released later as an Xbox 360 game)
[edit] Xbox/Xbox 360
[edit] Xbox 360
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- Announced for 2008
- Release Date Unknown
- Cancelled
[edit] Xbox Live Arcade
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- Announced for 2008
[edit] External links
- Microsoft Game Studios official site
- Microsoft's Official Xbox Site
- Microsoft Game Studios profile on MobyGames
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