Iconic Gamedev Studios of the 90s and How They Disappeared
The history of computer games isn't only about fondly-remembered titles and their sequels, but also about the studios and publishers behind them. Let's recall those most notable companies from the 1990s that, for various reasons, failed to survive.
Table of Contents
- Iconic Gamedev Studios of the 90s and How They Disappeared
- MicroProse
- Origin Systems
- Psygnosis
- Bullfrog Productions
- Sensible Software
- Westwood Studios
- Strategic Simulations, Inc. (aka SSI)
- Interplay Productions / Interplay Entertainment
- LucasArts Entertainment
- Other notable studios
Westwood Studios
What we remember it for: Dune II, C&C, great RPGs
Years active: 1985–2003
Westwood was founded in 1985; first as Brelous Software, it quickly rebranded as Westwood Associates and later, in 1992, as Westwood Studios after being acquired by the publisher Virgin Games. Today, we mainly remember them for the wonderful Command & Conquer series of strategies, which launched the real-time strategy genre to the group of accessible, mainstream hits. Slightly older veterans still remember the predecessor of the C&C series, i.e. the extremely successful Dune II, in which the plot from Frank Herbert's books was neatly captured in the form of a strategy game.
Westwood is not only an RTS, but also an excellent RPG. One of the studio's first successes was the 1991 Eye of the Beholder, licensed by Dungeons & Dragons. Another popular series is Lands of Lore, one of the studio's greatest commercial successes, and the adventure game The Legend of Kyrandia. Other well-known titles include The Lion King platformer, licensed from the famous Disney movie, and the well-received adventure game Blade Runner, which tells an original story that happens parallel to the events of Ridley Scott's movie.
How did the studio disappear?
In 1998, the company was bought by Electronic Arts, which practically sealed its fate. Westwood Studios games then accounted for about 6% of the entire PC market, and the Command & Conquer brand was extremely strong. Their Los Angeles headquarters, with its own motion capture studio, was an industry benchmark. Initially, the team had quite a lot of autonomy, but in the end, they must have strained EA's confidence, as the corporation expected every game to be a smash hit. C&C: Renegade and Earth & Beyond did poorly, and in 2003 a plan to close the studio was announced. Many employees ended up unemployed, and others were relocated, along with EA Pacific, to EA Los Angeles. Westwood ceased to exist on March 31, 2003.
