Company:Midway Studios San Diego

From HandWiki
THQ San Diego
FormerlyLeland Corporation (1987-1992)
Leland Interactive Media (1992-1997)
Midway Studios San Diego (1997–2009)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
PredecessorCinematronics
FoundedJune 5, 1987; 39 years ago (1987-06-05)
Defunct4 June 2012; 14 years ago (2012-06-04)
Headquarters
San Diego, California
,
U.S.
ProductsSoftware:Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp
Super Off Road
Quarterback
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
ParentTradewest (1987-1994)
WMS Industries (1994-1996)
Midway Games (1996–2009)
THQ (2009–2012)

Midway Studios San Diego was an American video game company formed on June 5, 1987 as Leland Corporation, from the assets of Cinematronics. It was a subsidiary of arcade and home game producer Tradewest, which acquired those assets out of the former company’s bankruptcy. After 1992, the company moved to development of home games to be published by Tradewest and other companies like Williams under the name Leland Interactive Media. In 1994, when WMS Industries acquired Tradewest, Leland was absorbed into their internal development, which was then renamed to Midway Studios San Diego in 1997.[1] Warner Bros. Games, through their acquisition of Midway Games, owns the rights to Leland Corporation/Midway San Diego's games until 2009. In 2009, it was sold to THQ and renamed to THQ San Diego.

History

Background

Cinematronics Inc. was a manufacturer of arcade video games based in San Diego (later in the suburb of El Cajon). They notably introduced games utilizing vector graphics to the coin-op industry with Space Wars (1977) and the first successful Laserdisc game in Dragon’s Lair (1983). The company had gone bankrupt in August 1982 in the wake of several unsuccessful games and spent more than four years staving off foreclosure under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Tradewest was a company who licensed arcade games from other companies for manufacture, both as full upright cabinets utilizing outsourced manufacturing and kit games that fit into popular cabinets. Most notably, they released the smash hit SNK game Ikari Warriors (1986). In 1986, they released Cinematronics’ Redline Racer (1986) as a kit game.[2] Looking to expand their operations, the company entered into negotiations to purchase the assets of the privately held Cinematronics from a bankruptcy trustee led by Jim Pierce. This union was announced at the ACME trade show in March 1987.[3][4]

Early history and arcade success

The Leland Corporation was incorporated on June 5, 1987.[5] Tradewest purchased all the assets including the factory and all of its employees to transfer into the new company and Cinematronics itself was renamed to The Leland Corporation and also absorbed the arcade cabinets selling under the Tradewest name.[6][7] Initially, Cinematronics co-founder Jim Pierce remained President of the new company, but he was eventually supplanted by Tradewest partner John Rowe. Pierce left the company on March 18, 1988. He initially partnered with Tradewest on an independent venture before fully retiring until his death in 2011.[8]

The first release by Leland was Quarterback (1987), a standalone upright cabinet – a break from their previous strategy of releasing games under their Cinemat hardware. It became a success and prompted the release of updates including the celebrity endorsed John Elway’s Team Quarterback (1988) and All-American Quarterback (1989). The celebrity endorsement strategy was carried over into other games including Ivan “Ironman” Stewart’s Super Off-Road (1988) and Danny Sullivan’s Indy Heat (1991). Product development at the company came to involve a large team of specialist game developers, salesmen, and executives. The game concepting involved storyboards and physical mock-ups of objects – an early form of digitization in arcade games.[9]

Leland’s arcade games found their way to home consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System courtesy of their connection to Tradewest. Developers like British Rare Ltd and Software Creations created versions of their games for the home market. These games often underwent QA testing by Leland’s development team before release. A revised version of the Cinemat system played host to games like Brute Force (1990). The arcade games Aaaargh! (1988) and Ataxx (1990) were created in cooperation with Virgin Interactive, who had opened an office in California under the name Arcadia Systems which Leland did distribution for.[10]

Software:Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp, which had been completed in 1984, had been location tested but not released due to the decline of LaserDisc arcade games. With a revival in interest for games featuring video through CD-ROM multimedia releases and LaserDisc releases like American Laser Games’ Mad Dog McCree (1990), Leland released the long-shelved Dragon's Lair II in cooperation with Sullivan Bluth Interactive in 1991. The game was only available in an upright cabinet.[citation needed]

Shift to home consoles, rebrand and sale

Dragon’s Lair II was Leland’s final arcade release. In 1992, they moved out of their manufacturing facility on Friendship Drive to a small studio located at 4444 Zion Ave in El Cajon.[11] Their strategy changed to in-house development of Tradewest titles on home systems and the brand of the studio changed to Leland Interactive Media. A large number of their game developers left for other studios while the remaining team created new titles. These included sequels to Leland arcade titles like Super Off Road: The Baja (1993) and original titles like Fun 'N Games (1992).

In April 1994, WMS Industries purchased Tradewest as part of their strategy to become more directly involved in the home video game market.[12][13] Leland Interactive Media was acquired as part of this deal and the assets were placed in the hold of Williams Home Entertainment. The original company was renamed to Rowe Resources Inc. on May 4, 1994 to be used as a holding company by John Rowe who joined Williams to oversee development efforts.

Scott Patterson, who joined the company, created the Williams Entertainment Sound System, which was in use by the company's development division for its sound engine.[14] The team went on to develop games for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64, most notably conversions of Mortal Kombat 3 and Cruis'n USA.[14] The company was also an early supporter of Nintendo 64's development tools, developing most of the hardware.[15] In 1996, the company moved into a new state-of-the art facility in San Diego, to develop games for the Nintendo 64, which was led by Mike Abbott.[16] The company as a business corporation was thereafter formally dissolved in February 1997, and the entire company, including its development staff was renamed to Midway Studios San Diego.

Midway Studios San Diego then started supplying design work for Nintendo 64.[15][17] The company had last year just moved into a state-of-the art facility in San Diego in mid 1996.[16] The two offices were combined in 2001. In addition to original games, Midway San Diego developed home-console versions of arcade games produced by sibling studios Midway Studios Chicago (the original Midway Manufacturing Company), and Midway Games West, the former Atari Games, the arcade division of the original Atari Inc., which Midway acquired in 1996 and was closed in 2004.

Asides from ports, the company produced a few original games from original IPs, like Bio F.R.E.A.K.S., Off-Road Challenge, Hydro Thunder and Offroad Thunder for the arcades, the latter two was included for Midway Arcade Treasures 3,[18][19][20] as well as Ready 2 Rumble Boxing,[21] Software:Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt[22] and Freaky Flyers.[23] They also assisted development on games like Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War.[24] In 2008, Midway Studios Los Angeles was then morged into Midway Studios San Diego.[25]

Sale to THQ and rename

On July 10, 2009, Midway confirmed all their remaining assets would be sold off to Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (now Warner Bros. Games). Midway Studios San Diego however was not included and would be closed down. On August 9, THQ announced they had acquired the studio from Midway for $200,000. The sale of the studio included all assets, except for TNA Impact! as the license went to SouthPeak Games (THQ San Diego would keep the source code for the original 2008 game).[26]

The first game the developer released under the new name was the game WWE All Stars.[27] THQ would later make them the main developer for future UFC licensed games, but it on June 4, 2012, THQ announced that not only that the UFC license would be sold to Electronic Arts, but they would also close THQ San Diego.[28] Each of its assets were sold individually, such as the WWE license going to Take-Two Interactive and the Darksiders license going to Nordic Games GmbH.[29] Nordic would later buy the THQ name and become THQ Nordic, but the San Diego studio remained closed.

Games

Year Title Platform(s) Notes
1987 Double Play: Super Baseball / Home Run Derby[30] Arcade
Quarterback[31]
1988 Super Dodge Ball[32][33] Developed by Technos Japan
Viper[34] Sequel to Danger Zone
Strike Zone[35][36]
John Elway's Team Quarterback
Aaargh! Developed by Virgin Interactive
1989 Ivan “Ironman” Stewart’s Super Off-Road[37]
All-American Quarterback[38][39]
1990 Pig Out[40]
Ataxx[41]
King Arthur's Court Not a game. A redemption prize display distributed by Leland.
Brute Force[42][43]
1991 Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat[44][45]
Software:Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp[46][47] [lower-alpha 1]
Space Ace[lower-alpha 2] Modernised re-release of Cinematronics game from 1984. Originally developed by Advanced Microcomputer Systems.
Asylum Unreleased
1992 Pro Quarterback SNES, Genesis
1993 Fun 'n Games[48] SNES, Genesis, 3DO
Super Off Road: The Baja SNES
1994 Troy Aikman NFL Football SNES, Genesis, Atari Jaguar
Software:Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls
1995 Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing[49] SNES
Mortal Kombat 3 PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
DOOM PlayStation
1996 Final DOOM
Mortal Kombat Trilogy Nintendo 64
Robotron X PlayStation, Nintendo 64 Assisted Player 1
Cruis'n USA Nintendo 64
1997 NBA Hangtime PlayStation, Nintendo 64 Assisted Director's Cut International
DOOM 64 Nintendo 64
Rampage World Tour PlayStation
Off Road Challenge Arcade
1998 Bio F.R.E.A.K.S. PlayStation, Nintendo 64 Assisted Saffire
Quake Nintendo 64
NFL Blitz PlayStation
1999 Hydro Thunder Arcade
Offroad Thunder
NFL Blitz 2000 PlayStation
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing[50] Dreamcast
2000 Software:Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 Dreamcast, PlayStation 2
2002 Software:Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt[51][52] PlayStation 2, Xbox
2003 Freaky Flyers GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
2005 Software:Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows PlayStation 2, Xbox
Midway Arcade Treasures 3 PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube Assisted Digital Eclipse and GameStar
2006 Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War Microsoft Windows Assisted Stainless Steel Studios
Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition Assisted Digital Eclipse and GameStar
2008 Mechanic Master Nintendo DS Assisted Most Wanted Entertainment
TouchMaster 2
TNA iMPACT! PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Assisted Midway Studios Los Angeles
Software:Blitz: The League II PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Assisted Midway Games
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Assisted Midway Games
2011 WWE All Stars PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 First title under THQ San Diego
2012 Darksiders II Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Assisted Vigil Games, under THQ San Diego

Notes

  1. ↑ Animation produced in 1984
  2. ↑ Released in limited quantities as a conversion kit for Dragon's Lair II

References

  1. ↑ "Midway Takes Project Reality to the Arcades, Williams Buys Tradewest". GamePro (IDG) (59): 182. June 1994. 
  2. ↑ "Cinematronics' Redline Racer". Play Meter: pp. 66. June 1987. 
  3. ↑ "Tradewest Buying Cinemx?". RePlay: 16. April 1987. 
  4. ↑ "Tradewest buys Cinematronics". Play Meter: 38. April 1987. 
  5. ↑ Articles of Incorporation, The Leland Corporation, June 5, 1987 
  6. ↑ "Leland's winning team". Play Meter: pp. 26. June 1988. 
  7. ↑ "Excuse the error!". Play Meter: pp. 46. July 1988. 
  8. ↑ "Pierce Now Consultant". RePlay: 16. April 1988. 
  9. ↑ "Born in the U.S.A". Play Meter 14 (11): 56-60. December 1988. 
  10. ↑ "Arcadia Systems enters coin-op games market in a big way". RePlay: 64. October 1987. 
  11. ↑ "Leland Moves, Down-Sizes Coin-Op Division". RePlay: 14. February 1992. 
  12. ↑ "Midway Takes Project Reality to the Arcades, Williams Buys Tradewest". GamePro (IDG) (59): 182. June 1994. 
  13. ↑ "Nintendo, WMS join forces". Play Meter: 10. 12. May 1994. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Voices in the Blood: Scott Patterson and the Terrifying Soundscape of Doom 64" (in en). 2020-03-19. http://www.shacknews.com/article/117010/voices-in-the-blood-scott-patterson-and-the-terrifying-soundscape-of-doom-64. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Oxford, David (2019-01-24). "Remembering the Nintendo Ultra 64 Dream Team: Williams/Midway" (in en-US). https://www.oldschoolgamermagazine.com/remembering-the-nintendo-ultra-64-dream-team-williams-midway/. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Williams: Arcade King". Nintendo Power: pp. 38-39. June 1996. https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Power_Issue001-Issue127/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20085%20June%201996/page/n37/mode/2up. 
  17. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (1997-10-14). "Midway: Dream or Nightmare?" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/10/14/midway-dream-or-nightmare. 
  18. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (1997-09-16). "Midway's Bio Freaks Confirmed" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/09/16/midways-bio-freaks-confirmed. 
  19. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (1999-03-05). "Now Playing Vol. 7" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/05/now-playing-vol-7. 
  20. ↑ Harris, Craig (2005-10-26). "Midway Arcade Treasures 3" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/10/26/midway-arcade-treasures-3. 
  21. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (1999-07-31). "Ready 2 Rumble Boxing" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/31/ready-2-rumble-boxing-8. 
  22. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (2000-01-25). "Midway Confirms First Gravity Game" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/01/25/midway-confirms-first-gravity-game. 
  23. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (2001-08-31). "Midway Announces Four New Games" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/08/31/midway-announces-four-new-games. 
  24. ↑ Adams, Dan (2006-02-25). "Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/02/25/rise-fall-civilizations-at-war-3. 
  25. ↑ "Midway LA folds - TNA iMPACT!". https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/944423-tna-impact/44435969. 
  26. ↑ "THQ To Obtain Midway's San Diego Studio". Gamer Daily News. August 9, 2009. http://www.gamersdailynews.com/story-12644-THQ-To-Obtain-Midways-San-Diego-Studio.html. 
  27. ↑ Thomas, Lucas M. (2011-12-06). "WWE All Stars Review" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/12/06/wwe-all-stars-review. 
  28. ↑ Plunkett, Luke. "THQ Chooses Today of All Days to Fire Employees, Close Studio". https://kotaku.com/thq-chooses-today-of-all-days-to-fire-employees-close-5915701. 
  29. ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (2013-01-24). "THQ is no more. This is where its assets went" (in en). https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-23-thq-is-no-more-this-is-where-its-assets-went. 
  30. ↑ "Double Play: Super Baseball Home Run Derby - Videogame by Cinematronics" (in en-US). https://www.arcade-museum.com/Videogame/double-play-super-baseball-home-run-derby.  (The source credits it to Cinematronics, but the cabinet artwork displays a copyright to "The Leland Corp.")
  31. ↑ "Leland "Kicks Off" a New Dedicated Football Game". RePlay: 16. November 1987. 
  32. ↑ "Super Dodge Ball". Play Meter: 87. February 1988. 
  33. ↑ "Leland's SUPER DODGE BALL". RePlay: 119-120. February 1988. 
  34. ↑ "Leland's VIPER". RePlay: 132. June 1988. 
  35. ↑ "Leland's STRIKE ZONE & QUARTERBACK". RePlay: 134. June 1988. 
  36. ↑ "Strike Zone". Play Meter: 87. August 1988. 
  37. ↑ "Hats Off to Off Road". RePlay: 29. March 1989. 
  38. ↑ "All American Quarterback". Play Meter: 93. October 1989. 
  39. ↑ "Leland Gets Dirty With Latest Gridiron Viddie". Vending Times: 75. October 1989. 
  40. ↑ "It's Alive! Pig Out Ships". RePlay: 12. August 1990. 
  41. ↑ "Leland's Ataxx". Cash Box 54 (10): 40. 1990-10-13. 
  42. ↑ "Leland's Brute Force". Cash Box 54 (16): 25. 1990-11-24. 
  43. ↑ "Brute Force". Play Meter: 172. November 1990. 
  44. ↑ "Leland INDY HEAT". RePlay: 149. May 1991. 
  45. ↑ "Indy Heat". Play Meter: 114. July 1991. 
  46. ↑ "Leland Surprises the Video Industry with 'Dragon's Lair II' Disc Upright". RePlay: 41. September 1991. 
  47. ↑ "Dragon's Lair II". Play Meter: 98. October 1991. 
  48. ↑ "Short ProShots". GamePro (IDG) (53): 228. December 1993. https://archive.org/details/game-pro-issue-53-december-1993/page/228/mode/1up. 
  49. ↑ "Kyle Petty's No Fear Racing". Club Nintendo 4 (4): 70. April 1995. 
  50. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (1999-07-31). "Ready 2 Rumble Boxing" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/31/ready-2-rumble-boxing-8. 
  51. ↑ Roper, Chris (2004-02-09). "Gravity Games Bike: Street. Vert. Dirt." (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/09/gravity-games-bike-street-vert-dirt-5. 
  52. ↑ "Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt Review" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gravity-games-bike-street-vert-dirt-review/1900-2885404/. 




Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Company:Midway_Studios_San_Diego&oldid=4580729"