Company:Deck Nine

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Short description: American video game developer
Idol Minds, LLC
Deck Nine (2017–present)
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedApril 1, 1997; 27 years ago (1997-04-01) in Boulder, Colorado, US
Founders
  • Mark Lyons
  • Scott Atkins
Headquarters
Westminster, Colorado
,
US
Key people
Websitedeckninegames.com

Idol Minds, LLC (doing business as Deck Nine[1] or Deck Nine Games[2] since 2017) is an American video game developer based in Westminster, Colorado. The studio was founded in April 1997 by Mark Lyons and Scott Atkins and developed games exclusively for PlayStation consoles until 2012. Subsequently, it shifted to mobile games among other things before rebranding as "Deck Nine" in May 2017 to develop narrative-driven games. Lyons serves as president and chief technology officer of the company.

History

Idol Minds was founded by programmer Mark Lyons and artist Scott Atkins. They had previously worked for Sony Interactive Studios America in San Diego and, after Lyons moved to Colorado with his family, established Idol Minds on April 1, 1997, in Boulder, Colorado.[3][4][5] In November 2007, the studio released ragdoll physics-based game Pain,[6][7] which was among the most-downloaded games on PlayStation Network of 2008.[8][9] In October 2009, Idol Minds reportedly made 26 of its 46 employees redundant. One source attributed the layoffs to budget cuts by Pain publisher Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), which was Idol Minds' only source of funding.[10][11] At E3 2011, SCE announced Ruin, a "Diablo-style action role-playing game" developed by Idol Minds and SCE's San Diego Studio.[12][13] After the game was renamed Warrior's Lair, Idol Minds was taken off the project in April 2012 (Warrior's Lair was canceled by Sony in July 2013[14][15]).[16][17] Later in 2012, Idol Minds shifted its focus onto mobile free-to-play games.[18][19] In August 2015, Idol Minds launched a crowdfunding campaign via Kickstarter for photo safari game Shutterbug, seeking US$400,000 in funding (The project was canceled after raising $2,973 in ten days).[20]

On May 31, 2017, Idol Minds announced that it would focus on narrative-driven games with brand and trade name "Deck Nine",[21] an homage to 1983 video game Planetfall.[22] It built toolset StoryForge for creating these and was developing a project in a "critically acclaimed franchise".[21][23] During E3 2017, publisher Square Enix announced Deck Nine was developing Life Is Strange, a prequel to 2015's Life Is Strange.[24][25] The game's first episode was announced for release in August 2017.[26][27] In September 2018, Deck Nine announced it was working with Square Enix on a new project.[28] In March 2021, Square Enix announced Life Is Strange and the Life Is Strange Remastered Collection (containing remasters of Before the Storm and the original Life Is Strange), both developed by Deck Nine, for release in September 2021.[29][30] The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) supported Deck Nine with $2.5 million job-growth incentive tax credits and via the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM), the production of True Colors with $150,000 phased film incentives in 2017 and 2018.[31][32] In December 2021, Telltale Games announced to be co-developing The Expanse: A Telltale Series with Deck Nine during The Game Awards 2021.[33] Life Is Strange Remastered Collection was released in February 2022. In May 2023, Deck Nine reportedly laid off 30 employees.[34]

Games developed

As Idol Minds

Year Title Platform(s) Publisher(s) Ref.
1998 Cool Boarders 3 PlayStation 989 Studios
Rally Cross 2
1999 Cool Boarders 4
Supercross Circuit 989 Sports
2000 Cool Boarders 2001 PlayStation, PlayStation 2 Sony Computer Entertainment
2003 My Street PlayStation 2
2005 Neopets
2007 Pain PlayStation 3
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa PlayStation 2 Activision
2012 Ratchet & Clank Collection PlayStation 3 Sony Computer Entertainment
Linked Together iOS Idol Minds [35]
2013 Ratchet (HD Edition) PlayStation 3 Sony Computer Entertainment
Phrazzle iOS, Android GameFly [36]
2014 Tales of Honor: The Secret Fleet Mobage [37]
Qube Kingdom [37]

As Deck Nine

Year Title Platform(s) Publisher(s)
2017 Life Is Strange Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Square Enix
2021 Life Is Strange Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
2022 Life Is Strange Remastered Collection Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One
2023 The Expanse Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Telltale Games

References

  1. ↑ "Summary: Deck Nine". Colorado Secretary of State. https://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/TradeNameSummary.do?quitButtonDestination=BusinessEntityResults&nameTyp=TRDNM&masterFileId=20171312209&entityId2=20171312209&fileId=20171312209&srchTyp=TRDNM. 
  2. ↑ "Summary: Deck Nine Games". Colorado Secretary of State. https://www.sos.state.co.us/biz/TradeNameSummary.do?quitButtonDestination=BusinessEntityResults&nameTyp=TRDNM&masterFileId=20171312234&entityId2=20171312234&fileId=20171312234&srchTyp=TRDNM. 
  3. ↑ "info". http://www.idolminds.com/info.html. 
  4. ↑ Thomas, David (March 10, 2003). "Preteens may follow 'My Street' online Louisville's Idol Minds aims to expand appeal of Internet gaming". The Denver Post (Digital First Media). http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives. 
  5. ↑ Mook, Bob (November 20, 2005). "Louisville company tries to leave mark in video game world". American City Business Journals. https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2005/11/21/story3.html. 
  6. ↑ Roper, Chris (November 7, 2007). "Pain is Coming". IGN Entertainment. http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/07/pain-is-coming. 
  7. ↑ Caron, Frank (November 30, 2007). "Pain brings pleasure on the PlayStation Network". Condé Nast. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2007/11/pain-brings-the-pleasure/. 
  8. ↑ Cavalli, Earnest (December 30, 2012). "Pain Tops 2008 PSN Download List". Condé Nast. https://www.wired.com/2008/12/pain-tops-2008/. 
  9. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (January 26, 2009). "Open Up For A Strong Dose Of PSN Stats". Gizmodo Media Group. http://kotaku.com/5139807/open-up-for-a-strong-dose-of-psn-stats. 
  10. ↑ Yoon, Andrew (October 21, 2009). "Rumor: PAIN developer Idol Minds lays off more than half of staff". AOL Tech. https://www.engadget.com/2009/10/21/rumor-pain-developer-idol-minds-lays-off-more-than-half-of-staf/. 
  11. ↑ Crecente, Brian (October 21, 2009). "PS3 PAIN Developers Hit With Lay-Offs?". Gizmodo Media Group. http://kotaku.com/5386866/ps3-pain-developers-hit-with-lay-offs. 
  12. ↑ Schramm, Mike (June 7, 2011). "Ruin preview: Hack and social". AOL Tech. https://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/ruin-preview-hack-and-social/. 
  13. ↑ Welsh, Oli (June 7, 2011). "Ruin announced for Vita and PS3". Gamer Network. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-06-07-ruin-announced-for-vita-and-ps3. 
  14. ↑ Lien, Tracey (July 3, 2013). "Sony cancels Warrior's Lair on PS Vita and PS3". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2013/7/3/4490902/sony-cancels-warriors-lair-on-ps-vita-and-ps3. 
  15. ↑ Moriarty, Colin (July 3, 2013). "Warrior's Lair on PS3 and Vita Has Been Cancelled". IGN Entertainment. http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/03/warriors-lair-on-ps3-and-vita-has-been-cancelled. 
  16. ↑ Dutton, Fred (January 13, 2012). "Vita/PS3 RPG Ruin gets a new name". Gamer Network. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-01-13-vita-ps3-rpg-ruin-gets-a-new-name. 
  17. ↑ Brightman, James (April 2, 2012). "Sony pulls Pain studio Idol Minds off Warrior's Lair project". Gamer Network. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-04-02-sony-pulls-pain-studio-idol-minds-off-warriors-lair-project. 
  18. ↑ "Idol Minds thinking mobile for gaming's future". BizWest. August 2, 2013. https://bizwest.com/2013/08/02/idol-minds-thinking-mobile-for-gamings-future/. 
  19. ↑ "Games — Idol Minds Game Development". June 16, 2016. http://www.idolminds.com/games/. ""Unfortunately, the title was not completed and in 2012 we shifted into mobile F2P gaming."" 
  20. ↑ "Colorado team's video game project a fantastical photo safari" (in en-us). August 17, 2015. http://www.chieftain.com/news/3849051-120/game-litchford-idol-minds. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Wawro, Alex (May 31, 2017). "Pain dev Idol Minds rebrands and shifts focus to 'narrative-driven' games". UBM TechWeb. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/299095/Pain_dev_Idol_Minds_rebrands_and_shifts_focus_to_narrativedriven_games.php. 
  22. ↑ "Our Story". Deck Nine. https://deckninegames.com/about-us/. 
  23. ↑ Dring, Christopher (June 1, 2017). "Pain developer Idol Minds rebrands to focus on narrative". Gamer Network. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-01-pain-developer-idol-minds-rebrands-to-focus-on-narrative. 
  24. ↑ O'Connor, James (June 11, 2017). "Life is Strange's three-part prequel, Before The Storm, announced". Videogaming247. http://www.vg247.com/2017/06/11/life-is-stranges-three-part-prequel-before-the-storm-announced/. 
  25. ↑ Davenport, James (June 11, 2017). "Life is Strange: Before the Storm is releasing its first episode this August". Future US. http://www.pcgamer.com/life-is-strange-before-the-storm-is-releasing-its-first-episode-this-august/. 
  26. ↑ O'Connor, Alice (June 12, 2017). "Life Is Strange: Before the Storm starts in August". Gamer Network. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/12/life-is-strange-2-release-date/. 
  27. ↑ Sarkar, Samit (June 11, 2017). "Life is Strange prequel Before the Storm debuts this summer (update)". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/e3/2017/6/11/15779506/life-is-strange-prequel-before-the-storm-release-date. 
  28. ↑ Fogel, Stefanie (September 20, 2018). "'Life Is Strange: Before the Storm' Dev Making New Square Enix Game" (in en-US). Variety. https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/deck-nine-square-enix-project-1202951623/. 
  29. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (March 18, 2021). "'Life is Strange: True Colors stars an Asian-American lead in an all-new adventure" (in en-US). Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2021/3/18/22334256/life-is-strange-true-colors-release-date-mxmtoon. 
  30. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (March 18, 2021). "'Life is Strange and Before the Storm getting remastered re-releases" (in en-US). Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2021/3/18/22337802/life-is-strange-remastered-collection-before-the-storm-release-date-platforms. 
  31. ↑ Sealover, Ed (November 19, 2020). "Colorado EDC offers incentives to 3 companies for a combined 655 jobs". Denver Business Journal. https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2020/11/19/colorado-economic-development-commission-deck-9.html. 
  32. ↑ "Deck Nine Games is set to release All-New Game “Life is Strange: True Colors” adventure with Asian American lead". Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. April 13, 2021. https://oedit.colorado.gov/blog-post/deck-nine-games-is-set-to-release-all-new-game-life-is-strange-true-colors-adventure-with. 
  33. ↑ Holt, Kris (December 10, 2021). "'The Expanse' is getting the Telltale Games treatment". https://www.engadget.com/the-expanse-telltale-games-deck-nine-010806268.html. 
  34. ↑ Carter, Justin (2023-05-22). "Life is Strange dev Deck Nine Games hit with staff layoffs" (in en). https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/life-is-strange-dev-deck-nine-games-hit-with-staff-layoffs. 
  35. ↑ "Linked Together" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/linked-together/details/?platform=ios-iphoneipad. 
  36. ↑ Garnett, Lee (November 15, 2013). "Phrazzle is GameFly's second mobile game, lets you build phrases" (in en). https://www.shacknews.com/article/82060/phrazzle-is-gameflys-second-mobile-game-lets-you-build-phrases. 
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Qube Kingdom: difendete il regno di Qubria con tanti soldati...cubici!" (in it-IT). September 22, 2014. https://www.androidworld.it/2014/09/22/qube-kingdom-disponibile-android-248786/. 

External links



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