Bullfrog Productions
Encyclopedia
Bullfrog Productions was a UK
computer game developer
that was founded in 1987 by Les Edgar and Peter Molyneux
. The company achieved recognition in 1989 for their third release, Populous
.
At the time of the company's founding, Edgar and Molyneux were already involved in an enterprise called Taurus Impex Ltd. Bullfrog's name was derived from "Taurus" (the Latin word for bull) and Edgar's daughter's love of frogs.
Electronic Arts
, Bullfrog's publisher
, acquired the studio in January 1995. Molyneux had become an Electronic Arts vice-president and consultant in 1994, after EA purchased a significant share of Bullfrog. Molyneux left Bullfrog in August 1997 to found Lionhead Studios
while other members of the original team founded Mucky Foot Productions
. The last titles to bear the Bullfrog logo were published in 2001. 2004 met the final end of Bullfrog when Electronic Arts
combined their side studios into EA UK.
In August 2009, Electronics Arts was considering revising some of Bullfrog's games for modern-day systems, and in 2011 they signed a deal with Good Old Games in order to do this.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
computer game developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
that was founded in 1987 by Les Edgar and Peter Molyneux
Peter Molyneux
Peter Douglas Molyneux OBE is an English computer game designer and game programmer. He created the God games Dungeon Keeper, Populous, and Black & White, among others, as well as business simulation games such as Theme Park and more recently, the RPG series Fable.Despite the success of his games,...
. The company achieved recognition in 1989 for their third release, Populous
Populous
-External links:*...
.
At the time of the company's founding, Edgar and Molyneux were already involved in an enterprise called Taurus Impex Ltd. Bullfrog's name was derived from "Taurus" (the Latin word for bull) and Edgar's daughter's love of frogs.
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
, Bullfrog's publisher
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
, acquired the studio in January 1995. Molyneux had become an Electronic Arts vice-president and consultant in 1994, after EA purchased a significant share of Bullfrog. Molyneux left Bullfrog in August 1997 to found Lionhead Studios
Lionhead Studios
Lionhead Studios is a British computer game development company led by industry veteran Peter Molyneux, and acquired by Microsoft Game Studios in April 2006. Lionhead started as a breakaway from the developer Bullfrog, which was also founded by Molyneux. Lionhead's first game was Black & White, a...
while other members of the original team founded Mucky Foot Productions
Mucky Foot Productions
-History:The Company was founded in 1997 in Guildford, United Kingdom by three ex-Bullfrog developers: Mike Diskett, Fin McGechie and Guy Simmons.A worldwide publishing deal with the UK publisher Eidos was announced in October 1997. That announcement was also used to announce Muckyfoot's first game...
. The last titles to bear the Bullfrog logo were published in 2001. 2004 met the final end of Bullfrog when Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
combined their side studios into EA UK.
In August 2009, Electronics Arts was considering revising some of Bullfrog's games for modern-day systems, and in 2011 they signed a deal with Good Old Games in order to do this.
Notable titles
- FusionFusion (video game)Fusion is a computer game by Bullfrog released in 1989.It is a multi-directional scrolling shoot 'em up game . The action is viewed from the top. The player controls either a ground-based crawler or a spacecraft...
(1988) - PopulousPopulous-External links:*...
(1989) - FloodFlood (computer game)Flood is a 1990 computer game developed by Bullfrog Productions. It was published for the Amiga and Atari ST by Electronic Arts. The game is a Platform game where the objective is to collect all the litter and find the exit to the level...
(1990) - PowermongerPowermongerPowermonger is a real-time strategy game developed by Bullfrog in 1990, derived from the Populous engine but presented using a 3-dimensional game map...
(1990) - Populous IIPopulous IIPopulous II: Trials of the Olympian Gods is a computer game in the Populous series for the Amiga, Atari ST and DOS-based computers, developed by Bullfrog Productions....
(1991) - SyndicateSyndicate (computer game)Syndicate is an isometric real-time tactical game from Bullfrog Productions created in . It is the first title in the Syndicate series. An expansion pack, Syndicate: American Revolt, and a sequel, Syndicate Wars, have also been released...
(1993) - Magic CarpetMagic Carpet (video game)Magic Carpet is a video game released by Bullfrog Productions in 1994. A revised edition, Magic Carpet Plus, included the Hidden Worlds expansion pack which added 25 levels and a winter-themed tileset...
(1994) - Theme ParkTheme Park (computer game)Theme Park is a construction and management simulation game designed by Bullfrog Productions and originally released in 1994, in which the player designs and operates an amusement park....
(1994) - Syndicate: American RevoltSyndicate: American RevoltSyndicate: American Revolt is an expansion set designed for the Bullfrog strategy game Syndicate. During the game, the player leads a four-man team of cyborgs through the streets of a dark, dystopian world and through 21 difficult missions....
(1994) - Tube (1994)
- Hi-OctaneHi-OctaneHi-Octane is a racing/vehicular combat video game released in 1995 for the PC, PlayStation and Sega Saturn developed by Bullfrog and based upon their earlier Magic Carpet game code....
(1995) - Magic Carpet 2Magic Carpet 2Magic Carpet 2: The Netherworlds is a 1995 computer game, the sequel to the Magic Carpet. It was developed by Bullfrog and published by Electronic Arts .-Story:...
(1995) - GenewarsGenewarsGenewars is a real time strategy video game for Windows and DOS featuring standard elements of strategy, along with minor terrain editing and, most importantly, cross-species breeding....
(1996) - Syndicate WarsSyndicate WarsSyndicate Wars is the third video game title in the Syndicate series created by Bullfrog Productions in 1996. Unlike the first game, Sean Cooper was not involved in development. It was released for MS-DOS and the PlayStation, with a Sega Saturn version also fully developed, but never published...
(1996) - Dungeon KeeperDungeon KeeperDungeon Keeper is a strategy video game released developed by Bullfrog Productions under Peter Molyneux and released by Electronic Arts in July 1997 for the PC in which the player attempts to build and manage a dungeon or lair while protecting it from 'hero' characters intent on stealing the...
(1997) - Theme HospitalTheme HospitalTheme Hospital is a simulation computer game developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts in 1997, in which the player designs and operates a hospital. Like most of Bullfrog's games, Theme Hospital is permeated by an eccentric sense of humour. The game is the thematic...
(1997) - Populous: The BeginningPopulous: The BeginningPopulous: The Beginning is a strategy and god-style video game. It is the third entry in the Populous video game series, developed by Bullfrog Productions in 1998. The PC version of the game was released November 30, 1998 and a PlayStation version was later developed and released on April 2, 1999...
(1998) - Theme AquariumTheme Aquariumis a simulation video game developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts, in which the player creates and controls a sea life aquarium. It was originally released on December 17, 1998 for PlayStation only in Japan...
(1998) - Dungeon Keeper 2Dungeon Keeper 2Dungeon Keeper 2 is a strategy game developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts in 1999 for Microsoft Windows. It was released in Europe and North America in June 1999. It was the sequel to Peter Molyneux's Dungeon Keeper and predecessor to the canceled Dungeon Keeper 3...
(1999) - Theme Park WorldTheme Park WorldTheme Park World is a construction and management simulation, and is a sequel to the successful video game Theme Park. Theme Park World was developed by Bullfrog Productions and released by Electronic Arts in 1999...
(SimTheme Park in the US) (1999) - Theme Park IncTheme Park IncTheme Park Inc is the last game of the series that started with Theme Park in 1994 and continued with Theme Park World in 1999....
(SimCoaster in the US) (2001)
External links
- Company profile at Home of the UnderdogsHome of the UnderdogsHome of the Underdogs was an abandonware archive founded by Thai Sarinee Achavanuntakul , aka: Underdogs or Fringer on her own blog, in September 1998, and grew to be one of the most significant abandonware websites on the Internet, despite losing its domains to cybersquatters and then briefly...
- Rhod's Populous & Powermonger Collection