Ignition Entertainment: История британского игрового издателя

Введение

Бывшая британская компания, занимавшаяся разработкой и изданием видеоигр, Ignition Entertainment Limited, работавшая под брендом UTV Ignition Games, являлась издателем видеоигр индийского медиаконгломерата UTV Software Communications. После того, как The Walt Disney Company приобрела UTV Software Communications как полностью принадлежащую дочернюю компанию The Walt Disney Company India, активы UTV Ignition Games были проданы.

История

UTV Ignition Games возникла как британский издатель видеоигр в сентябре 2001 года под названием Valecombe Limited и располагалась в Уолтхэм-Эбби. 30 марта 2002 года компания была переименована в Ignition Entertainment. Она была создана из нескольких небольших разработчиков и издателей, таких как Archer Maclean's Awesome Studios (также известная как Awesome Developments и Awesome Games). В 2007 году компания была приобретена UTV Software Communications и открыла два новых филиала: Ignition Tokyo в Японии и Ignition Florida в Соединенных Штатах. Ориентируясь на создание игр для PlayStation Portable и Nintendo DS, компания выпустила ряд бюджетных игр для Game Boy Advance, включая Pool Paradise от Awesome Studios, а также игру Zoo Keeper для Nintendo DS. Компания также издавала полный ассортимент игр SNK в Европе, включая серии Metal Slug, Samurai Shodown и The King of Fighters. В 2005 году компания планировала несколько игр, в том числе Mercury, The King of Fighters Neowave и Pool Paradise International. Компания приобрела права на тактическую ролевую игру Spectral Force Genesis. Игра была выпущена позже в том же году в Северной Америке и Европе. 20 апреля 2007 года компания объявила о завершении приобретения UTV Software Communications, индийского медиа-конгломерата. 17 декабря 2007 года было объявлено об открытии двух студий разработки – Ignition Florida и Ignition Tokyo. Обе студии, как сообщалось, работали над оригинальными интеллектуальными свойствами для платформ нового поколения. Токийская студия состояла из бывших сотрудников Clover Studio и Capcom и работала над игрой El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. 21 апреля 2009 года Ignition объявила о публикации Muramasa: The Demon Blade для Wii в Северной Америке. 22 октября было объявлено о публикации Arc Rise Fantasia. Ignition Entertainment также издала The King of Fighters XII в Северной Америке и Европе для Xbox 360 и PlayStation 3 летом 2009 года. 2 ноября 2010 года источники в UTV подтвердили закрытие студии во Флориде. Сотрудникам предложили переехать в Техас или найти другую работу. Это произошло после широких обвинений в сексуальных домогательствах со стороны бывшего руководителя Пола Стида и нецелевом использовании средств компании. Игра, над которой они работали, Reich, была завершена на 2 из 9 основных уровней, что обошлось примерно в 23 миллиона долларов США. Несмотря на серьезные неудачи, лондонский офис продолжил работу в более ограниченном масштабе. Утекшие кадры из Reich были загружены на YouTube в ноябре 2010 года неизвестным источником.

UTV Ignition Games originated as a British video game publisher in September 2001 called Valecombe Limited and was located in Waltham Abbey. The company was renamed Ignition Entertainment on 30 March 2002. It was created from a selection of smaller developers and publishers, such as Archer Maclean's Awesome Studios (also known as Awesome Developments and Awesome Games). In 2007, the company was acquired by UTV Software Communications and opened two new branches: Ignition Tokyo in Japan and Ignition Florida in the United States. Focused on the production of games for the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS, the company has produced a selection of budget titles for the Game Boy Advance: Pool Paradise from Awesome Studios as well as the Nintendo DS game Zoo Keeper. The company also published SNK's full lineup in Europe which includes the Metal Slug series, Samurai Shodown series as well as The King of Fighters series. In 2005, the company had several games planned, including Mercury, The King of Fighters Neowave and Pool Paradise International. The company had acquired the rights to the tactical role playing game Spectral Force Genesis. The game was released later that year in North America and Europe. On 20 April 2007, the company announced the completion of their acquisition by UTV Software Communications, a media conglomerate based in India. On 17 December 2007, they announced the opening of two development studios – Ignition Florida, and Ignition Tokyo. Both studios were said to be working on proprietary intellectual property for next generation platforms. The Tokyo studio was composed of former members of Clover Studio and Capcom, worked on the game El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. On 21 April 2009, Ignition announced that they would be publishing Muramasa: The Demon Blade for the Wii in North America. On 22 October, they announced they would be publishing Arc Rise Fantasia. Ignition Entertainment also published The King of Fighters XII in North America and Europe for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 during Summer 2009. On 2 November 2010, sources at UTV confirmed the closing of the Florida based studio. Staff were given opportunities to relocate to Texas or find other work. This announcement followed the widespread allegations of sexual harassment by former boss Paul Steed and mismanagement of company funds. The title they were producing, Reich, had completed 2 of 9 major levels' costing roughly US$23 million. Despite major setbacks, the London office continued on in a more limited scope. Leaked footage of Reich was uploaded to YouTube in November 2010 by an unknown source.

Опубликованные игры

Год Название Платформа(ы) Разработчик(и) 2002 Monster! Bass Fishing Game Boy Advance AIA USA Demon Driver: Время сжигать резину! Super Dropzone: Intergalactic Rescue Mission Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Eurocom 2003 Chop N' Drop System 3 Strike Force Hydra Digi Guys Archer Maclean's Pool Archer Maclean Stadium Games Game Boy Advance Ignition Entertainment 2004 Metal Slug 3 PlayStation 2, Xbox SNK Metal Slug Advance Game Boy Advance Noise Factory The King of Fighters 2000 PlayStation 2 SNK The King of Fighters 2001 Archer Maclean Presents Pool Paradise GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 Awesome Studios 2005 The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact PlayStation 2, Xbox SNK, Noise Factory Zoo Keeper Nintendo DS Success SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom PlayStation 2, Xbox SNK Animaniacs: The Great Edgar Hunt PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube Warthog Animaniacs: Lights, Camera, Action! Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS Archer Maclean's Mercury PlayStation Portable Awesome Studios The King of Fighters 2002 PlayStation 2, Xbox SNK, Eolith Metal Slug 4 Mega Enterprise, BrezzaSoft, Noise Factory, SNK 2006 Metal Slug 5 Noise Factory, SNK The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact 2 Noise Factory PoPoLoCrois PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable Epics Samurai Shodown V PlayStation 2, Xbox Yuki Enterprise Mercury Meltdown PlayStation Portable Ignition Banbury Puyo Pop Fever Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable Sonic Team The King of Fighters Neowave PlayStation 2, Xbox SNK NeoGeo Battle Coliseum PlayStation 2 SNK Mercury Meltdown Remix PlayStation 2 Ignition Branbury 2007 Blade Dancer: Lineage of Light PlayStation Portable Hit Maker Metal Slug Anthology PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, Wii Terminal Reality Art of Fighting: Anthology PlayStation 2 SNK Playmore The King of Fighters XI Terminal Reality, Alpha Denshi, SNK Playmore Mercury Meltdown Revolution Wii Ignition Banbury New Zealand Story Revolution Nintendo DS Taito 2008 SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS SNK George of the Jungle and the Search for the Secret PlayStation 2 7 Studios, Payapa Studios World Heroes Anthology Prosoft SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii Terminal Reality, Alpha Denshi, SNK Fatal Fury: Battle Archives Volume 1 PlayStation 2 SNK Playmore Metal Slug 7 Nintendo DS Obscure II Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii Hydravision Entertainment The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga PlayStation 2 Terminal Reality Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys! Nintendo DS inLight Entertainment Tornado SKONEC Entertainment Red Bull BC One Smack Down Productions 2009 Blue Dragon Plus Mistwalker, Feelplus, Brownie Brown Boing! Docomodake DS Suzack, AQ Interactive Lux Pain Killaware Nostalgia Matrix Software, Red Entertainment Muramasa: The Demon Blade Wii Vanillaware The King of Fighters XII PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 SNK Samurai Shodown Anthology PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii SNK, Terminal Reality The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match PlayStation 2 SNK 2010 Arc Rise Fantasia Wii Imageepoch Deadly Premonition Xbox 360 Access Games Spectral Force Genesis Nintendo DS Idea Factory Blacklight: Tango Down Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Zombie Studios 2011 Swarm PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Hothead Games El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron Ignition Tokyo Faxion Online Microsoft Windows UTV True Games National Geographic Challenge! PlayStation 3, Wii Gusto Games Mercury Hg PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Eiconic Games 2012 Magical Drop V Microsoft Windows Golgoth Studio Fractured Soul: Deep Void Nintendo 3DS Endgame Studios Order Up!! SuperVillain Studios Planet Crashers Renegade Kid 2013 Kung Fu: High Impact Xbox 360 Virtual Air Guitar Company

Year Title Platform(s) Developer(s) 2002 Monster! Bass Fishing Game Boy Advance AIA USA Demon Driver: Time to Burn Rubber! Super Dropzone: Intergalactic Rescue Mission Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Eurocom 2003 Chop N' Drop System 3 Strike Force Hydra Digi Guys Archer Maclean's Pool Archer Maclean Stadium Games Game Boy Advance Ignition Entertainment 2004 Metal Slug 3 PlayStation 2, Xbox SNK Metal Slug AdvanceGame Boy Advance Noise Factory The King of Fighters 2000 PlayStation 2 SNK The King of Fighters 2001 Archer Maclean Presents Pool Paradise GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2Awesome Studios 2005 The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact PlayStation 2, Xbox SNK, Noise Factory Zoo Keeper Nintendo DS Success SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom PlayStation 2, Xbox SNK Animaniacs: The Great Edgar Hunt PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube Warthog Animaniacs: Lights, Camera, Action! Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS Archer Maclean's Mercury PlayStation Portable Awesome Studios The King of Fighters 2002 PlayStation 2, Xbox SNK, Eolith Metal Slug 4 Mega Enterprise, BrezzaSoft, Noise Factory, SNK 2006 Metal Slug 5 Noise Factory, SNK The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact 2 Noise Factory PoPoLoCrois PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable Epics Samurai Shodown V PlayStation 2, Xbox Yuki Enterprise Mercury Meltdown PlayStation Portable Ignition Banbury Puyo Pop Fever Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable Sonic Team The King of Fighters Neowave PlayStation 2, Xbox SNK NeoGeo Battle Coliseum PlayStation 2 SNK Mercury Meltdown Remix PlayStation 2 Ignition Branbury 2007 Blade Dancer: Lineage of LightPlayStation Portable Hit Maker Metal Slug Anthology PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, Wii Terminal Reality Art of Fighting: Anthology PlayStation 2 SNK Playmore The King of Fighters XI Terminal Reality, Alpha Denshi, SNK Playmore Mercury Meltdown Revolution Wii Ignition Banbury New Zealand Story Revolution Nintendo DS Taito 2008 SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters DS SNK George of the Jungle and the Search for the Secret PlayStation 2 7 Studios, Payapa Studios World Heroes Anthology Prosoft SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii Terminal Reality, Alpha Denshi, SNK Fatal Fury: Battle Archives Volume 1 PlayStation 2 SNK Playmore Metal Slug 7 Nintendo DS Obscure II Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii Hydravision Entertainment The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga PlayStation 2 Terminal Reality Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys! Nintendo DS inLight Entertainment Tornado SKONEC Entertainment Red Bull BC One Smack Down Productions 2009 Blue Dragon Plus Mistwalker, Feelplus, Brownie Brown Boing! Docomodake DS Suzack, AQ Interactive Lux Pain Killaware Nostalgia Matrix Software, Red Entertainment Muramasa: The Demon Blade Wii Vanillaware The King of Fighters XII PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 SNK Samurai Shodown Anthology PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii SNK, Terminal Reality The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match PlayStation 2 SNK 2010 Arc Rise Fantasia Wii Imageepoch Deadly Premonition Xbox 360 Access Games Spectral Force Genesis Nintendo DS Idea Factory Blacklight: Tango Down Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Zombie Studios 2011 Swarm PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Hothead Games El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron Ignition Tokyo Faxion Online Microsoft Windows UTV True Games National Geographic Challenge! PlayStation 3, Wii Gusto GamesMercury HgPlayStation 3, Xbox 360Eiconic Games 2012 Magical Drop V Microsoft Windows Golgoth Studio Fractured Soul: Deep Void Nintendo 3DS Endgame Studios Order Up!! SuperVillain Studios Planet Crashers Renegade Kid 2013 Kung Fu: High Impact Xbox 360 Virtual Air Guitar Company