Cryptic Studios
Encyclopedia
Cryptic Studios, a wholly owned Perfect World
subsidiary, is a small American
massively multiplayer online role-playing game
developer
headquartered in Los Gatos, California
.
"Rick and I wanted to do an online role-playing game," Lewis told the Los Gatos Weekly Times in January 2007. "We'd been role-playing gamers growing up, and thought that online would be a great way to continue that experience, while overcoming the distances involved. We decided that there were too many fantasy games in development—this was 1999
, so we discussed many alternatives. Superheroes quickly rose to the top of the list. It is something people could understand and identify with quickly, versus ideas like science fiction or horror, because it provides an infinite background on which to create adventures of all kinds. And who doesn't want to have super powers?"
At a New Year
's party in 1999, Lewis and Dakan met Bruce Rogers, Matt Harvey and Cameron Petty, veterans of Atari
's Coin Operated Games
division who had begun trying to found a computer game company but lacked funding.
In 2000, Lewis sold his company, Stellar Semiconductor, Inc., to Broadcom Corporation. With Lewis' funding and Rogers' expertise, the group formed Cryptic Studios. Role-playing game
writer Jack Emmert joined the team to work on game design.
In March 2007, Cryptic Studios moved to a larger corporate headquarters in Los Gatos, California
. Plans for the new headquarters include adding a state-of-the-art sound studio to be built by the Walters-Storyk Design Group
. At that time the company also adopted a new corporate logo. Cryptic Studios now employs more than 100 full-time employees.
On December 9, 2008, Atari SA announced that it had acquired Cryptic Studios.
On March 2010, Bill Roper
was promoted to Chief Creative Officer, succeeding Emmert (who became the Chief Operations Officer), but left the studio in August that same year.
On March 2011, Jack Emmert was promoted to Chief Executive Officer when John Needham left to pursue other opportunities in the gaming industry.
On May 17, 2011, Atari announced it is looking to sell off Cryptic Studios.
On May 31, 2011 it was announced that Perfect World
had acquired Cryptic Studios.
for City of Heroes with NCSoft
, which wanted to expand into the United States gaming market.
Cryptic Studios' first MMORPG, City of Heroes
, was launched on April 28, 2004. On October 31, 2005, it launched City of Villains
, a separate game that was linked with City of Heroes through player versus player
combat zones.
, Cryptic Studios had released ten free expansions for City of Heroes and City of Villains.
On November 6, 2007, Cryptic announced that it had sold the City of Heroes/City of Villains intellectual property
to NCSoft
. All of the City of Heroes/City of Villains development team transitioned to work under NCSoft under the working title NCNorCal (NCNC), which later became the NCSoft-owned subsidiary, Paragon Studios
.
and Cryptic announced that Cryptic Studios was developing Marvel Universe Online, the Marvel universe
MMO video game to be published by Microsoft Game Studios
for exclusive release to Windows Vista
(and Xbox 360
, which was later cancelled in March 2010). February 7, 2008, Shane Kim of Microsoft Game Studios
reported that MUO was canceled. Cryptic Studios said development would continue using a new IP license of The Champions
and became Champions Online.
Cryptic Studios released Champions Online, loosely based on a superhero-based role-playing game, on September 1, 2009. Cryptic Studios had announced this title on February 14, 2008. It has, of February 2011, implemented a free-to-play model with optional micropayment transactions generating revenue, in addition to its traditional subscription system.
based MMORPG previously developed by Perpetual Entertainment
. Earlier, on March 13, 2008, Star Trek news site TrekMovie.com reported Cryptic Studios as the developer for Star Trek Online based on unnamed sources, confirming a several-weeks-old rumor.
Star Trek Online was officially launched on February 2, 2010. The game resembles an action-oriented MMORPG, with combat and features divided between Space environments and Ground environments during play.
Cryptic Studios' Web site contains several images of concept art from one or more additional games currently in development. One of these games is Neverwinter
, a new MMORPG game.
Perfect World (company)
Perfect World is a China-based online game company specializing in MMORPGs. Beijing Perfect World Co. was founded in 2004 by Chi Yufeng, the president of Human Software Corporation. The company aims to develop and market games with Chinese characteristics...
subsidiary, is a small American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
massively multiplayer online role-playing game
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
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...
headquartered in Los Gatos, California
Los Gatos, California
The Town of Los Gatos is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 29,413 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area at the southwest corner of San Jose in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains...
.
History
Established in June 2000, Michael Lewis and Rick Dakan conceived the idea for Cryptic Studios."Rick and I wanted to do an online role-playing game," Lewis told the Los Gatos Weekly Times in January 2007. "We'd been role-playing gamers growing up, and thought that online would be a great way to continue that experience, while overcoming the distances involved. We decided that there were too many fantasy games in development—this was 1999
1999 in video gaming
-Events:*British Academy of Film and Television Arts hosts the 2nd annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards*March – Game Over republished as “Game Over: Press Start to Continue”...
, so we discussed many alternatives. Superheroes quickly rose to the top of the list. It is something people could understand and identify with quickly, versus ideas like science fiction or horror, because it provides an infinite background on which to create adventures of all kinds. And who doesn't want to have super powers?"
At a New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
's party in 1999, Lewis and Dakan met Bruce Rogers, Matt Harvey and Cameron Petty, veterans of Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
's Coin Operated Games
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
division who had begun trying to found a computer game company but lacked funding.
In 2000, Lewis sold his company, Stellar Semiconductor, Inc., to Broadcom Corporation. With Lewis' funding and Rogers' expertise, the group formed Cryptic Studios. Role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
writer Jack Emmert joined the team to work on game design.
Los Gatos, California
The Town of Los Gatos is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 29,413 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area at the southwest corner of San Jose in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains...
. Plans for the new headquarters include adding a state-of-the-art sound studio to be built by the Walters-Storyk Design Group
Walters-Storyk Design Group
Walters-Storyk Design Group, or WSDG, is a Highland, New York-based acoustic architecture firm which designs recording studios and other acoustic spaces...
. At that time the company also adopted a new corporate logo. Cryptic Studios now employs more than 100 full-time employees.
On December 9, 2008, Atari SA announced that it had acquired Cryptic Studios.
On March 2010, Bill Roper
Bill Roper (video game producer)
Bill Roper is a video game designer and has been a well-known person in the worldwide gaming industry since 1994. He personally represents the games he works and has built a solid reputation with his strong relationships with press, developers, and gamers...
was promoted to Chief Creative Officer, succeeding Emmert (who became the Chief Operations Officer), but left the studio in August that same year.
On March 2011, Jack Emmert was promoted to Chief Executive Officer when John Needham left to pursue other opportunities in the gaming industry.
On May 17, 2011, Atari announced it is looking to sell off Cryptic Studios.
On May 31, 2011 it was announced that Perfect World
Perfect World (company)
Perfect World is a China-based online game company specializing in MMORPGs. Beijing Perfect World Co. was founded in 2004 by Chi Yufeng, the president of Human Software Corporation. The company aims to develop and market games with Chinese characteristics...
had acquired Cryptic Studios.
City of Heroes/Villains
In early 2002, Cryptic signed a publishing agreementVideo 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....
for City of Heroes with NCSoft
NCsoft
NCsoft is a South Korea-based online video game company, which has published massively multiplayer online role-playing games including Lineage, City of Heroes, Wildstar, Exteel, Guild Wars and Aion.-History:...
, which wanted to expand into the United States gaming market.
Cryptic Studios' first MMORPG, City of Heroes
City of Heroes
City of Heroes is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the superhero comic book genre, developed by Cryptic Studios and published by NCsoft. The game was launched in North America on April 27, 2004 and in Europe on February 4, 2005 with English, German and French language...
, was launched on April 28, 2004. On October 31, 2005, it launched City of Villains
City of Villains
City of Villains is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the superhero comic book genre, developed by Cryptic Studios and published by NCSoft. Released on October 31, 2005 , the game is integrated with their previous release, City of Heroes...
, a separate game that was linked with City of Heroes through player versus player
Player versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
combat zones.
, Cryptic Studios had released ten free expansions for City of Heroes and City of Villains.
On November 6, 2007, Cryptic announced that it had sold the City of Heroes/City of Villains intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
to NCSoft
NCsoft
NCsoft is a South Korea-based online video game company, which has published massively multiplayer online role-playing games including Lineage, City of Heroes, Wildstar, Exteel, Guild Wars and Aion.-History:...
. All of the City of Heroes/City of Villains development team transitioned to work under NCSoft under the working title NCNorCal (NCNC), which later became the NCSoft-owned subsidiary, Paragon Studios
Paragon Studios
Paragon Studios is a computer game developer, and wholly owned subsidiary of NCsoft. Founded in November 2007 as NCsoft NorCal, the studio's remit was to further develop the City of Heroes and City of Villains franchises following the acquisition of the titles by NCsoft from Cryptic Studios...
.
Champions Online
On September 27, 2006, Marvel EntertainmentMarvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC , formerly Marvel Enterprises and Toy Biz, Inc., is an American entertainment company formed from the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and Toy Biz, Inc....
and Cryptic announced that Cryptic Studios was developing Marvel Universe Online, the Marvel universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
MMO video game to be published by Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
for exclusive release to Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
(and 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...
, which was later cancelled in March 2010). February 7, 2008, Shane Kim of Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
reported that MUO was canceled. Cryptic Studios said development would continue using a new IP license of The Champions
The Champions (Hero Universe)
The Champions are a prominent superhero team in the Hero Universe, the official setting of the Champions role-playing game. They serve as an example of a balanced team dynamic, a team of NPC allies, or a source of pregenerated characters to allow players to bypass the game's lengthy character...
and became Champions Online.
Cryptic Studios released Champions Online, loosely based on a superhero-based role-playing game, on September 1, 2009. Cryptic Studios had announced this title on February 14, 2008. It has, of February 2011, implemented a free-to-play model with optional micropayment transactions generating revenue, in addition to its traditional subscription system.
Star Trek Online
On July 27, 2008, Cryptic announced that they had acquired the license to continue development of a Star TrekStar Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
based MMORPG previously developed by Perpetual Entertainment
Perpetual Entertainment
Perpetual Entertainment, founded in March 2002, was an American developer, publisher and operator of networked multiplayer games and MMORPGs. Their headquarters were in San Francisco, California, USA. From October 2007 to February 2008 the company was known as P2 Entertainment...
. Earlier, on March 13, 2008, Star Trek news site TrekMovie.com reported Cryptic Studios as the developer for Star Trek Online based on unnamed sources, confirming a several-weeks-old rumor.
Star Trek Online was officially launched on February 2, 2010. The game resembles an action-oriented MMORPG, with combat and features divided between Space environments and Ground environments during play.
Other projects
On May 9, 2007, Cryptic Studios released the Cryptic Animation Rig (Cryptic AR), a free download that gives animators the same tools used by Cryptic to create its games.Cryptic Studios' Web site contains several images of concept art from one or more additional games currently in development. One of these games is Neverwinter
Neverwinter (video game)
Neverwinter is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game in development by Cryptic Studios for the Microsoft Windows platform and is currently scheduled for a "late" 2012 release...
, a new MMORPG game.