List of video games developed by Looking Glass Studios
Encyclopedia
Looking Glass Studios
, founded in 1990
as Blue Sky Productions, was a video game developer
based in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. The video games developed by Looking Glass Studios encompass genres such as first-person role-playing games, flight simulators and stealth games. Their debut title, Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
, was published by Origin Systems
in March 1992; its numerous innovations have had a widespread influence since its release. That year, a merge with Lerner Research, combined with the team's discovery of the similarly named BlueSky Software
, resulted in the company's name being changed from Blue Sky Productions to Looking Glass Technologies. After releasing Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
in January 1993, the company reconsidered its design approach, and released the science fiction
System Shock
in 1994. While both of these games were also published by Origin Systems
, the companies broke ties following System Shock, and Looking Glass self-publishing its next game, Flight Unlimited
, in 1995.
The company's self-publishing venture was ended by the commercial failure of Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri
(1996) and British Open Championship Golf
(1997). Following this, they partnered with publisher Eidos Interactive
. Around this time, the company's name was again changed, this time to Looking Glass Studios. After financial turmoil, the company released Thief: The Dark Project
in November 1998, which was greeted with acclaim and commercial success. Following this, they co-developed System Shock 2
(1999) with Irrational Games
, an offshoot developer founded by former Looking Glass members. Their final project was Thief II: The Metal Age
in 2000; after its release, the company was closed due to debt problems, and several projects were cancelled or finished by other developers. Notably, Jane's Attack Squadron
, originally developed as Flight Combat: Thunder Over Europe, was reworked and released by Mad Doc Software
and Xicat Interactive, Inc. in 2002. In total, Looking Glass Studios released 12 original games in its 10 years of activity, alongside with several ports and other spin-offs. The licenses for their games are currently owned by Electronic Arts
, Square-Enix and other companies.
Looking Glass Studios
Looking Glass Studios was a computer game development company during the 1990s.The company originally formed as Looking Glass Technologies, when Blue Sky Productions and Lerner Research merged....
, founded in 1990
1990 in video gaming
-Notable releases:*Bonk's Adventure is released for NEC's TurboGrafx-16 and is the first US appearance of Bonk, the mascot of the TurboGrafx-16.*February 12 — Nintendo releases the NES game Super Mario Bros. 3 in North America...
as Blue Sky Productions, was a video 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...
based in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. The video games developed by Looking Glass Studios encompass genres such as first-person role-playing games, flight simulators and stealth games. Their debut title, Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss is a first-person role-playing video game developed by Blue Sky Productions and published by Origin Systems...
, was published by Origin Systems
Origin Systems
Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004...
in March 1992; its numerous innovations have had a widespread influence since its release. That year, a merge with Lerner Research, combined with the team's discovery of the similarly named BlueSky Software
BlueSky Software
BlueSky Software was an American software company situated in California formed in 1988 and had a successful run for 12 years before closing down in March 2001, when parent company Interplay was in financial trouble.- Atari 7800 :* Basketbrawl...
, resulted in the company's name being changed from Blue Sky Productions to Looking Glass Technologies. After releasing Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds is a 1993 first-person role-playing video game developed by Looking Glass Technologies and published by Origin Systems. It is the sequel to Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss. Set in the Ultima fantasy universe, the game puts the player in control of the...
in January 1993, the company reconsidered its design approach, and released the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
System Shock
System Shock
System Shock is a first-person action-adventure video game developed by Looking Glass Technologies and published by Origin Systems. Released in 1994, the game is set aboard the fictional Citadel Station in a cyberpunk vision of 2072...
in 1994. While both of these games were also published by Origin Systems
Origin Systems
Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004...
, the companies broke ties following System Shock, and Looking Glass self-publishing its next game, Flight Unlimited
Flight Unlimited
Flight Unlimited is a 1995 aerobatic flight simulator video game developed and published by Looking Glass Technologies. It allows players to pilot reproductions of real-world aircraft and to perform aerobatic maneuvers. They may fly freely, race through floating rings against a timer or take...
, in 1995.
The company's self-publishing venture was ended by the commercial failure of Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri
Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri
Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri is a 1996 tactical first-person shooter video game developed and published by Looking Glass Technologies. Set in a science fictional depiction of the 24th century, the game follows a faction of humans who colonize the Alpha Centauri star system to escape from a...
(1996) and British Open Championship Golf
British Open Championship Golf
British Open Championship Golf is a 1997 sports video game developed and published by Looking Glass Technologies. A simulation of The Open Championship, it allows the player to engage in multiple forms of golf, including stroke play and fourball. The player competes at reproductions of the Royal...
(1997). Following this, they partnered with 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....
. Around this time, the company's name was again changed, this time to Looking Glass Studios. After financial turmoil, the company released Thief: The Dark Project
Thief: The Dark Project
Thief: The Dark Project is a 1998 first-person stealth game developed for Windows by Looking Glass Studios and published by Eidos Interactive...
in November 1998, which was greeted with acclaim and commercial success. Following this, they co-developed System Shock 2
System Shock 2
System Shock 2 is a 1999 first-person action role-playing video game, designed by Ken Levine for Microsoft Windows. The title is a sequel to the 1994 PC game System Shock, and was co-developed by Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios...
(1999) with Irrational Games
Irrational Games
Irrational Games is a video game developer founded in 1997 by three former employees of Looking Glass Studios: Ken Levine, Jonathan Chey, and Robert Fermier as Irrational Games...
, an offshoot developer founded by former Looking Glass members. Their final project was Thief II: The Metal Age
Thief II: The Metal Age
Thief II: The Metal Age is a 2000 first-person stealth game developed by Looking Glass Studios and published by Eidos Interactive. The sequel to Thief: The Dark Project, the game's plot follows Garrett, a master thief, as he attempts to uncover a conspiracy in a medieval, steampunk city...
in 2000; after its release, the company was closed due to debt problems, and several projects were cancelled or finished by other developers. Notably, Jane's Attack Squadron
Jane's Attack Squadron
Jane's Attack Squadron is a World War II flight simulator computer game for the PC. It was created by Looking Glass Studios, then finished by Mad Doc Software. It was published by Xicat Interactive, Inc.. It was released in the North America on March 22, 2002.-Gameplay:In Jane's Attack Squadron,...
, originally developed as Flight Combat: Thunder Over Europe, was reworked and released 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 Xicat Interactive, Inc. in 2002. In total, Looking Glass Studios released 12 original games in its 10 years of activity, alongside with several ports and other spin-offs. The licenses for their games are currently owned by 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...
, Square-Enix and other companies.