Raven Software
 | |
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry |
Computer and video games Interactive entertainment |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder |
Brian Raffel Steve Raffel |
| Headquarters | Madison, Wisconsin, United States |
| Products | Soldier of Fortune (2000–2002) |
Number of employees | 173 |
| Parent | Activision |
| Website |
ravensoftware |
Raven Software (or Raven Entertainment Software, Inc.) is an American video game developing company based in Wisconsin and founded in 1990. In 1997, Raven made an exclusive publishing deal with Activision and was subsequently acquired by them. After the acquisition, many of the studio's original developers, largely responsible for creating the Heretic and Hexen: Beyond Heretic games, left to form Human Head Studios.
History
Raven Software was founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel. The company was independent until 1997 when it was acquired by Activision.
Raven has a history of working with id Software, who were briefly located on the same street[1]. They used id's engines for many of their games, such as Heretic in 1994. They took over development of id's Quake franchise for Quake 4 and the 2009 iteration of id's Wolfenstein series.[2]
The company started with three development teams. In August 2009 following poor performance and possible over-budget of Wolfenstein,[3][4] the company made a major layoff of 30-35 staff, leaving two development teams. This was reduced to one after more layoffs in October 2010, after delays with Singularity; as many as 40 staff were released.[5][6]
Games
In 2012, Raven began hiring employees for a next generation game,[7] and were announced as collaborating with Infinity Ward on Call of Duty: Ghosts in May 2013.[8]
On April 3, 2013 following the closure of LucasArts, Raven Software released the source codes for Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy on Sourceforge.[9]
As of April 2014, the company is the lead developer of the free-to-play Chinese Call of Duty title, Call of Duty: Online.[10]
Games developed
| Year | Game | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Black Crypt | Amiga, Windows(Demo, OpenGL Demo) |
| 1993 | Shadowcaster | DOS, PC-98 |
| 1994 | CyClones | DOS |
| Heretic | Mac OS(? - Non Official), MS-DOS | |
| 1995 | Hexen: Beyond Heretic | Mac OS, MS-DOS, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Windows |
| 1996 | Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders | DOS, Microsoft Windows(? - Non Official) |
| Deathkings of the Dark Citadel | DOS, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows | |
| Necrodome | Microsoft Windows | |
| 1997 | Take No Prisoners | Microsoft Windows |
| MageSlayer | Microsoft Windows | |
| Hexen II | Mac OS, Microsoft Windows | |
| 1998 | Hexen II Mission Pack: Portal of Praevus | Microsoft Windows |
| Heretic II | AmigaOS, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux | |
| 2000 | Soldier of Fortune | Dreamcast, Linux, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 |
| Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force | Mac OS, Microsoft Windows | |
| 2001 | Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force: Virtual Voyager | Microsoft Windows |
| 2002 | Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows |
| Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows | |
| 2003 | Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows |
| 2004 | X-Men Legends | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox |
| 2005 | X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows |
| Quake 4 | Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 | |
| 2006 | Marvel: Ultimate Alliance | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Windows |
| 2009 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
| Wolfenstein | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | |
| 2010 | Singularity | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops (DLC, user interface)[11] | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 | |
| 2011 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Multiplayer, Singleplayer (elements), DLC, user interface)[11] | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 |
| 2013 | Call of Duty: Ghosts (Multiplayer, Singleplayer (elements), DLC)[12] | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
| 2014 | Call of Duty Online[10] | Microsoft Windows |
| 2014 | Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Multiplayer, Exo Zombies, DLC) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
| 2015 | Call of Duty: Black Ops III (Assisted on Redwood map) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
References
- ↑ "From Dungeon & Dragons to Call of Duty: The Story of Raven Software". USgamer.net. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
- ↑ "id Software and Activision, Inc. Confirm Wolfenstein(R) for the Xbox 360 Video Game and Entertainment System". PR Newswire. 2005-10-05.
- ↑ Ivan, Tom. "Raven Software Hit By Layoffs".
- ↑ Crecente, Brian (26 August 2009). "Raven Hit By Layoffs, Some Point to Lackluster Wolfenstein Sales". Kotaku. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- ↑ "Raven Software loses more staff".
- ↑ Crecente, Brian (11 October 2010). "Singularity Game Developer Hit with Layoffs". Kotaku. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- ↑ Hinkle, David (2 November 2012). "Raven job listings suggest next-gen game in the works". Joystiq. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- ↑ Pitcher, Jenna (May 22, 2013). "Raven Software and Neversoft assisted Infinity Ward in Call of Duty: Ghosts development". Polygon. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- ↑ Hinkle, David (4 April 2013). "Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy source code released". Joystiq. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- 1 2 "Raven Software now the lead developer on CoD: Online for China". CharlieIntel. April 17, 2014.
- 1 2 gamerzines (2011-07-20). "Infinity Ward clarifies Raven's involvement with CoD franchise". GamerZines.
- ↑ Conklin, Aaron K. (October 31, 2013). "Raven Software revolutionizes multiplayer gaming with Call of Duty: Ghosts". The Daily Page. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
External links
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