Buzz Monkey Software
Encyclopedia
Buzz Monkey Software is a United States video game developer
based in Eugene, Oregon
. Buzz Monkey was formed in late 2001
by four former Dynamix
employees: senior producer Randy Thompson, senior engineers
Jon Milnes and Steve Cordon, and lead artist
Barry Drew.
and PC
systems for publishers such as Simon & Schuster Interactive, Wild Tangent, Vivendi Universal Games, Midway Games
, and Sony Computer Entertainment
. Buzz Monkey also provided online game lobby development for developer Insomniac Games
for PlayStation 2 titles, Ratchet: Deadlocked
and Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
.
In June 2006
, publisher Eidos Interactive
released Tomb Raider: Legend, an action title developed by Buzz Monkey for the PlayStation Portable
(PSP). Later that year in November 2006, American publisher Electronic Arts
released NFL Street 3
, an arcade-style football title developed by Buzz Monkey for the PlayStation 2 and PSP. NFL Street 3 won "Best Alternative Sports Game" of 2006 from IGN
.
In June 2007
, Eidos, Inc. released another Buzz Monkey title, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, which was co-developed with Crystal Dynamics
. Later that year, Eidos, Inc. released the Buzz Monkey-developed Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 versions of Tomb Raider: Anniversary.
In November 2008
, Eidos, Inc. published the Buzz Monkey developed title Tomb Raider Underworld for the Wii
. Buzz Monkey also provided animation and programming support to Crystal Dynamics
for the development of the Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3
versions of that same game.
Buzz Monkey is currently in development of unannounced titles for all major seventh generation
consoles: Xbox 360
, PlayStation 3
, Wii
and PSP
.
As of April 2009, Buzz Monkey employs approximately 70 full-time developers.
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...
based in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. Buzz Monkey was formed in late 2001
2001 in video gaming
-Events:* Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall of Fame...
by four former Dynamix
Dynamix
Dynamix, Inc. was an American developer of computer games from 1984 to 2001, best known for their flight simulator, Red Baron, the Front Page Sports series, Betrayal at Krondor, and their online multiplayer game, Tribes.-History:...
employees: senior producer Randy Thompson, senior engineers
Game programmer
A game programmer is a software engineer, programmer, or computer scientist who primarily develops codebase for video games or related software, such as game development tools. Game programming has many specialized disciplines all of which fall under the umbrella term of "game programmer"...
Jon Milnes and Steve Cordon, and lead artist
Game artist
A game artist is an artist who creates art for one or more types of games. Game artists are responsible for all of the aspects of game development that call for visual art...
Barry Drew.
History
Buzz Monkey got its start by developing and co-developing licensed property games for the PlayStation 2PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
systems for publishers such as Simon & Schuster Interactive, Wild Tangent, Vivendi Universal Games, Midway Games
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
, and Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
. Buzz Monkey also provided online game lobby development for developer Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games, Inc. is an American video game developer headquartered in Burbank, California. Founded in 1994, Insomniac has released titles for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. It created Disruptor, the first three Spyro the Dragon games, and the Ratchet &...
for PlayStation 2 titles, Ratchet: Deadlocked
Ratchet: Deadlocked
Ratchet: Deadlocked is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony. Released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005...
and Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony. It is the third installment in the Ratchet & Clank series and was released in North America on November 3, 2004...
.
In June 2006
2006 in video gaming
-Events:* January 26, 2006 -- Nintendo announces its newly redesigned handheld, the Nintendo DS Lite. The new model is lighter, smaller, has configurable brightness and features an improved user interface.* January 26, 2006 -- Konami Corp...
, publisher Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive Ltd. is a British video game publisher and is a label of Square Enix Europe. As an independent company Eidos plc was headquartered in the Wimbledon Bridge House in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton....
released Tomb Raider: Legend, an action title developed by Buzz Monkey for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
(PSP). Later that year in November 2006, American publisher 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...
released NFL Street 3
NFL Street 3
NFL Street 3 is the third installment of the NFL Street Series which was released on November 11, 2006 for the PS2 and PSP. This time the player can perform jumping moves to get big air over opponents. This installment features more game modes and things to unlock. Chad Ochocinco of the Cincinnati...
, an arcade-style football title developed by Buzz Monkey for the PlayStation 2 and PSP. NFL Street 3 won "Best Alternative Sports Game" of 2006 from IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
.
In June 2007
2007 in video gaming
-Events:*March 14: Microsoft announces Games for Windows - Live, a version of Xbox Live for the Windows platform. The service launched on May 8.*March 27: Microsoft announces the new "Xbox 360 Elite" stock-keeping unit . The revision comes with a bigger hard drive and the ability to output HDMI...
, Eidos, Inc. released another Buzz Monkey title, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, which was co-developed with Crystal Dynamics
Crystal Dynamics
Crystal Dynamics is an American video game developer based in the San Francisco Bay Area and founded in 1992 by Judy Lang, Madaline Canepa and Dave Morris...
. Later that year, Eidos, Inc. released the Buzz Monkey-developed Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 versions of Tomb Raider: Anniversary.
In November 2008
2008 in video gaming
Notable events of 2008 in video gaming. See also history of video games. The release dates listed in this article are the games' original release dates.-Events:...
, Eidos, Inc. published the Buzz Monkey developed title Tomb Raider Underworld for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. Buzz Monkey also provided animation and programming support to Crystal Dynamics
Crystal Dynamics
Crystal Dynamics is an American video game developer based in the San Francisco Bay Area and founded in 1992 by Judy Lang, Madaline Canepa and Dave Morris...
for the development of the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
versions of that same game.
Buzz Monkey is currently in development of unannounced titles for all major seventh generation
History of video game consoles (seventh generation)
In the history of video games, the seventh generation of consoles is the current generation , and includes consoles released since late by Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony...
consoles: Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
and PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
.
As of April 2009, Buzz Monkey employs approximately 70 full-time developers.
Titles
- Fluid Monkey (iPhone, iPad, 2011)
- The Tomb Raider Trilogy (PS3, 2011)
- Block Rogue (iPhone, iPad, 2011)
- Tony Hawk: SHREDTony Hawk: ShredTony Hawk: Shred is the eleventh and last game in the Tony Hawk series. It is the successor to Tony Hawk: Ride , a peripheral-based, motion controlled skateboarding game....
(Wii Version, 2010) - ESPNU College Town (Facebook, 2010)
- Army of Two: The 40th DayArmy of Two: The 40th DayArmy of Two: The 40th Day is a third-person shooter video game that is developed by EA Montreal and published by Electronic Arts for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable. It is the sequel to Army of Two...
(PSP, 2010) - Tony Hawk: RIDE (Wii, 2009)
- Tomb Raider: UnderworldTomb Raider: UnderworldTomb Raider: Underworld is the eighth instalment of the Tomb Raider series. The story continues from the events in Tomb Raider: Legend as a direct sequel, but also addresses unexplained plot elements by association with Tomb Raider: Anniversary; the 2007 remake of the original Tomb Raider...
(PS2, Wii, 2008) - Tomb Raider: Anniversary (PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, 2007)
- Tomb Raider: Legend (PSP, 2006)
- NFL Street 3NFL Street 3NFL Street 3 is the third installment of the NFL Street Series which was released on November 11, 2006 for the PS2 and PSP. This time the player can perform jumping moves to get big air over opponents. This installment features more game modes and things to unlock. Chad Ochocinco of the Cincinnati...
(PS2, PSP, 2006) - Outlaw VolleyballOutlaw VolleyballOutlaw Volleyball is a video game based on the sport of volleyball. It was originally published for Xbox and included a sampler CD of tunes by cover band Diffuser. It was later ported to PlayStation 2 with two new courts and a handful of additional player costumes, accessories, etc. under the...
(PS2, 2004) - Outlaw GolfOutlaw GolfBoth Outlaw Golf and Outlaw Golf 2 are golf video games developed by Hypnotix.Players take control of 10 playable characters, each with their own unique caddy. The series is noted for its crude humor, particularly in regard to the characters, most of whom fall under an exaggerated archetype...
(PS2, 2003) - Witchblade: The Game (PC, 2002)
- Lilo & Stitch Pinball (PC, 2002)
External links
- Buzz Monkey Software Official Site
- Buzz Monkey profile on MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...