Gas Powered Games
Encyclopedia
Gas Powered Games is a video game developer
located in Redmond, Washington
. The development studio was started in May 1998 by Chris Taylor
, creator of Total Annihilation
, and several other ex-Cavedog Entertainment
employees.
Gas Powered Games' launch title was the 2002 3D
role-playing game (RPG) Dungeon Siege
, published
by Microsoft Game Studios
. Apart from its custom graphics engine
, it also featured simple and innovative RPG rules and mechanics that made it stand out from a market already crowded with sword & sorcery/fantasy role-playing games.
In 2003 Gas Powered released a stand-alone expansion pack
for the game, Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
. The expansion was co-developed by Mad Doc Software
and again published by Microsoft Game Studios
. In August 2005, Gas Powered released its sequel to Dungeon Siege, Dungeon Siege II
.
In March 2006, Take-Two Interactive
purchased the full publishing rights of the Dungeon Siege series, ending the four-year Microsoft partnership with Gas Powered Games.
GPG released Supreme Commander (SupCom), a real-time strategy
game in February 2007, published by THQ
. Announced in the August 2005 issue of PC Gamer
magazine, Chris Taylor
touted SupCom as the spiritual successor to Total Annihilation
as TA remains the intellectual property
of Atari
. As a "stand alone expansion", Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
was announced in June 2007, for a November release.
In May 2007, Gas Powered Games announced a partnership with Sega
to work on an original RPG. On July 6, 2007, the original RPG was announced as Space Siege. The game was released on August 12, 2008 to generally middling reviews.
In January 2008, GPG announced a new project, Demigod
, to be released sometime in early 2009. It is an Action RPG / RTS hybrid inspired by the Warcraft III
mod Defense of the Ancients
. Demigod was released on 14 April 2009 in the USA.
On November 12, 2008, Square Enix
announced that it would be partnering with Gas Powered Games to create Supreme Commander 2
. The game was released in March 2010 for the PC and Xbox 360
, with a version for Mac OS X
following in September 2010.
On February 24, 2011, it was announced that Gas Powered Games would be taking over development on the upcoming RTS
game Age of Empires Online
, replacing Robot Entertainment
on the project.
Gas Powered Games has also announced plans to create a real-time strategy game named Kings and Castles, which will use the game engine from Supreme Commander 2.
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...
located in Redmond, Washington
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000....
. The development studio was started in May 1998 by Chris Taylor
Chris Taylor (game designer)
Chris Taylor is a computer game designer and entrepreneur most famous for developing Total Annihilation and the Dungeon Siege series and for founding Gas Powered Games...
, creator of Total Annihilation
Total Annihilation
Total Annihilation is a real-time strategy video game created by Cavedog Entertainment, a sub-division of Humongous Entertainment, and released on September 30, 1997 by GT Interactive for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. It was the first RTS game to feature 3D units and terrain...
, and several other ex-Cavedog Entertainment
Cavedog Entertainment
Cavedog Entertainment, or Cavedog, was a video game developer based in Bothell, Washington. Cavedog gained the attention of gamers and the gaming press alike with the 1997 release of Total Annihilation , winning many accolades such as multiple Game of the Year honors or being one of The Greatest...
employees.
Gas Powered Games' launch title was the 2002 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
role-playing game (RPG) Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Siege is a computer role-playing game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Chris Taylor showed Dungeon Siege years in production for the first time at E3 2000...
, published
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....
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...
. Apart from its custom graphics engine
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
, it also featured simple and innovative RPG rules and mechanics that made it stand out from a market already crowded with sword & sorcery/fantasy role-playing games.
In 2003 Gas Powered released a stand-alone expansion pack
Expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
for the game, Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna is a computer role-playing game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios.Released in April 2002 by Gas Powered Games and Mad Doc Software, it is as an official standalone expansion pack for the game Dungeon Siege...
. The expansion was co-developed by Mad Doc Software
Mad Doc Software
Rockstar New England, formerly Mad Doc Software, is a computer game development company founded in 1999 by Dr. Ian Lane Davis. The company is based in New England in Andover, Massachusetts, just north of Boston.-Overview:...
and again 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...
. In August 2005, Gas Powered released its sequel to Dungeon Siege, Dungeon Siege II
Dungeon Siege II
Dungeon Siege II is a computer role-playing game and is the sequel to 2002's popular Dungeon Siege. It was developed by Gas Powered Games and released on August 16, 2005, one year delayed from original projections. The story is a continuation of the Dungeon Siege storyline...
.
In March 2006, Take-Two Interactive
Take-Two Interactive
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a major American publisher, developer, and distributor of video games and video game peripherals. Take-Two wholly owns 2K Games and Rockstar Games. The company's headquarters are in New York City, with international headquarters in Windsor, United Kingdom...
purchased the full publishing rights of the Dungeon Siege series, ending the four-year Microsoft partnership with Gas Powered Games.
GPG released Supreme Commander (SupCom), a real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
game in February 2007, published by THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
. Announced in the August 2005 issue of PC Gamer
PC Gamer
PC Gamer is a magazine founded in Britain in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future Publishing. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games magazines in their respective countries...
magazine, Chris Taylor
Chris Taylor (game designer)
Chris Taylor is a computer game designer and entrepreneur most famous for developing Total Annihilation and the Dungeon Siege series and for founding Gas Powered Games...
touted SupCom as the spiritual successor to Total Annihilation
Total Annihilation
Total Annihilation is a real-time strategy video game created by Cavedog Entertainment, a sub-division of Humongous Entertainment, and released on September 30, 1997 by GT Interactive for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. It was the first RTS game to feature 3D units and terrain...
as TA remains the 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...
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...
. As a "stand alone expansion", Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance is a standalone real-time strategy computer game expansion to Supreme Commander, and was released in November 2007, developed by Gas Powered Games and published by THQ, and the second title in the franchise...
was announced in June 2007, for a November release.
In May 2007, Gas Powered Games announced a partnership with Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
to work on an original RPG. On July 6, 2007, the original RPG was announced as Space Siege. The game was released on August 12, 2008 to generally middling reviews.
In January 2008, GPG announced a new project, Demigod
Demigod (video game)
Demigod is a Dota based game developed by Gas Powered Games for the PC platform. The game was significantly influenced by the popular Warcraft III custom map Defense of the Ancients and is widely considered as the first stand-alone game title in the "DotA subgenre". The game's title refers to the...
, to be released sometime in early 2009. It is an Action RPG / RTS hybrid inspired by the Warcraft III
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos is a real time strategy computer game released by Blizzard Entertainment on July 3, 2002 . It is the second sequel to Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, and it is the third game set in the Warcraft Universe...
mod Defense of the Ancients
Defense of the Ancients
Defense of the Ancients is a custom scenario for the real-time strategy game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, based on the "Aeon of Strife" map for StarCraft...
. Demigod was released on 14 April 2009 in the USA.
On November 12, 2008, Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
announced that it would be partnering with Gas Powered Games to create Supreme Commander 2
Supreme Commander 2
Supreme Commander 2 is a real-time strategy video game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Square Enix. It is a sequel to Supreme Commander...
. The game was released in March 2010 for the PC 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...
, with a version for Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
following in September 2010.
On February 24, 2011, it was announced that Gas Powered Games would be taking over development on the upcoming RTS
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
game Age of Empires Online
Age of Empires Online
Age of Empires Online , is a history-based real-time strategy computer game released on August 16, 2011 with digital download and retail distribution. It was originally being developed by Robot Entertainment, but on February 24, 2011, it was announced that Gas Powered Games, the creators of Supreme...
, replacing Robot Entertainment
Robot Entertainment
Robot Entertainment is a video game publishing company created by the founders of the defunct Ensemble Studios, after being shut down by Microsoft. Other members of the company founded Bonfire Studios. Robot Entertainment was responsible for maintaining and updating Halo Wars until February 28,...
on the project.
Gas Powered Games has also announced plans to create a real-time strategy game named Kings and Castles, which will use the game engine from Supreme Commander 2.
| Title | Year | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Dungeon Siege Dungeon Siege Dungeon Siege is a computer role-playing game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Chris Taylor showed Dungeon Siege years in production for the first time at E3 2000... |
2002 | 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... , MAC Macintosh The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a... |
| Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna is a computer role-playing game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios.Released in April 2002 by Gas Powered Games and Mad Doc Software, it is as an official standalone expansion pack for the game Dungeon Siege... |
2003 | PC |
| Dungeon Siege II Dungeon Siege II Dungeon Siege II is a computer role-playing game and is the sequel to 2002's popular Dungeon Siege. It was developed by Gas Powered Games and released on August 16, 2005, one year delayed from original projections. The story is a continuation of the Dungeon Siege storyline... |
2005 | PC |
| Dungeon Siege II: Broken World Dungeon Siege II: Broken World Dungeon Siege II: Broken World is the expansion pack for the computer role-playing game Dungeon Siege II and continues the unfinished plot of the previous game. It was developed by Gas Powered Games and published by 2K Games on August 22 2006.-Story:... |
2006 | PC |
| Supreme Commander Supreme Commander (video game) Supreme Commander is a real-time strategy computer game designed by Chris Taylor and developed by his company, Gas Powered Games. The game is considered to be a spiritual successor to Taylor's 1997 game Total Annihilation,, alongside the Spring remake... |
2007 | PC, 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... |
| Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance is a standalone real-time strategy computer game expansion to Supreme Commander, and was released in November 2007, developed by Gas Powered Games and published by THQ, and the second title in the franchise... |
2007 | PC |
| Space Siege | 2008 | PC |
| Demigod Demigod (video game) Demigod is a Dota based game developed by Gas Powered Games for the PC platform. The game was significantly influenced by the popular Warcraft III custom map Defense of the Ancients and is widely considered as the first stand-alone game title in the "DotA subgenre". The game's title refers to the... |
2009 | PC |
| Supreme Commander 2 Supreme Commander 2 Supreme Commander 2 is a real-time strategy video game developed by Gas Powered Games and published by Square Enix. It is a sequel to Supreme Commander... |
2010 | PC, Xbox 360 |
| Age of Empires Online Age of Empires Online Age of Empires Online , is a history-based real-time strategy computer game released on August 16, 2011 with digital download and retail distribution. It was originally being developed by Robot Entertainment, but on February 24, 2011, it was announced that Gas Powered Games, the creators of Supreme... |
2011 | PC |
| Kings and Castles | In development | ? |