Stainless Games
Encyclopedia
Stainless Games is a British
video game developer
based on the Isle of Wight
that specialises in developing downloadable games for Microsoft Windows
and the Xbox 360
's Xbox Live Arcade
. They are most well known for developing the multimillion-selling Carmageddon
franchise.
, and Neil Barnden, previously a senior designer at Conran and The Body Shop
. Starting out with sub-contracted 3D engine work for Argonaut Games
, and developing medical multimedia titles for the Times-Mirror Company, the company then went on to develop what later became Carmageddon
for SCi
. This was launched amidst much controversy over its violent content in 1997 but garnered high review scores thanks to its compelling gameplay and many ground-breaking features (including a fully featured physics engine - a world-first for video games). Stainless released a sequel, Carmageddon II in 1998. Subsequent versions of the franchise (including TDR2000) were contracted by SCi to other developers.
In 2006 Stainless were sub-contracted by Blitz Games
to code one of their three Burger King games, PocketBike Racer
, although all design and contractual work was carried out by Blitz themselves.
The company has subsequently developed in the console download field, having eleven titles released or soon to be released on XBLA, plus two titles on PSN (PS3).
These include a range of Atari classic titles which feature both the original version running under an emulator, and a completely re-written evolved version. These have also been released on PSP as a single product in December 2007.
Electronic Arts released the Stainless developed PSP and DS title Scrabble in early 2009. This was available for the North American market only, for licensing reasons.
The company released Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers in June 2009 on XBLA. Developed over nearly two years in conjunction with Wizards of the Coast
, the title broke sales records on Xbox Live Arcade (171,000 in the first month) and was well received by both critics and players.
Stainless has also licensed Buckland's 80's Mac classic Crystal Quest
and has produced versions for XBLA and Vista.
On June 1st 2011, Stainless announced that they had reacquired the rights to the Carmageddon brand, and that a new - and completely independent - game was in development, named Carmageddon Reincarnation.
In April 2011, it was announced by Wizards of the Coast that Stainless Games are working on the new updated client version of Magic the Gathering Online (commonly known as MTGO or MODO).
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...
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 on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
that specialises in developing downloadable games for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and 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...
's Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
. They are most well known for developing the multimillion-selling Carmageddon
Carmageddon
Carmageddon is the first of a series of graphically violent vehicular combat video games produced by Stainless Games, published by Interplay and SCi...
franchise.
History
Originally named Stainless Software, the company was founded in 1993 by industry veteran Patrick BucklandPatrick Buckland
Patrick Buckland is a British computer programmer and Chief Executive Officer of Stainless Games, co-founded with Neil Barnden in 1994.-Career:...
, and Neil Barnden, previously a senior designer at Conran and The Body Shop
The Body Shop
The Body Shop International plc, known as The Body Shop, has 2,400 stores in 61 countries, and is the second largest cosmetic franchise in the world, following O Boticario, a Brazilian company...
. Starting out with sub-contracted 3D engine work for Argonaut Games
Argonaut Games
Argonaut Games plc was a British video game developer. Founded as Argonaut Software by teenager Jez San in 1982 the company name is a play on his name and the movie title Jason and the Argonauts. It had its head offices in Edgware, London....
, and developing medical multimedia titles for the Times-Mirror Company, the company then went on to develop what later became Carmageddon
Carmageddon
Carmageddon is the first of a series of graphically violent vehicular combat video games produced by Stainless Games, published by Interplay and SCi...
for SCi
SCi
Square Enix Limited, doing business as Square Enix Europe, is a British publisher of video game software wholly owned by Square Enix. Square Enix Europe has its head office in the Wimbledon Bridge House in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton....
. This was launched amidst much controversy over its violent content in 1997 but garnered high review scores thanks to its compelling gameplay and many ground-breaking features (including a fully featured physics engine - a world-first for video games). Stainless released a sequel, Carmageddon II in 1998. Subsequent versions of the franchise (including TDR2000) were contracted by SCi to other developers.
In 2006 Stainless were sub-contracted by Blitz Games
Blitz Games
Blitz Games is a division of Blitz Games Studios and is responsible for producing its family titles, which are often licensed games based on well known IP. It is located in Warwickshire, England...
to code one of their three Burger King games, PocketBike Racer
PocketBike Racer
Pocketbike Racer is an advergaming title from Burger King for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game consoles. On November 19, 2006, Burger King started selling it for an additional $3.99 USD with any value meal...
, although all design and contractual work was carried out by Blitz themselves.
The company has subsequently developed in the console download field, having eleven titles released or soon to be released on XBLA, plus two titles on PSN (PS3).
These include a range of Atari classic titles which feature both the original version running under an emulator, and a completely re-written evolved version. These have also been released on PSP as a single product in December 2007.
Electronic Arts released the Stainless developed PSP and DS title Scrabble in early 2009. This was available for the North American market only, for licensing reasons.
The company released Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers in June 2009 on XBLA. Developed over nearly two years in conjunction with Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, the title broke sales records on Xbox Live Arcade (171,000 in the first month) and was well received by both critics and players.
Stainless has also licensed Buckland's 80's Mac classic Crystal Quest
Crystal Quest
Crystal Quest is an action computer game for the Apple Macintosh and Apple IIgs. It was written by Patrick Buckland for Casady & Greene in 1987, and was ported to the IIgs in 1989 by Bill Heineman. Ports were also made to the Amiga, Nintendo Game Boy, iPhone OS, and Palm...
and has produced versions for XBLA and Vista.
On June 1st 2011, Stainless announced that they had reacquired the rights to the Carmageddon brand, and that a new - and completely independent - game was in development, named Carmageddon Reincarnation.
In April 2011, it was announced by Wizards of the Coast that Stainless Games are working on the new updated client version of Magic the Gathering Online (commonly known as MTGO or MODO).
Games
- Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 (Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
) (2011) - Risk: FactionsRisk: FactionsRisk: Factions is a downloadable video game for Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service, PlayStation 3's PlayStation Network, and Windows computers through Steam. The game was announced on January 12, 2010 for Xbox 360, December 21, 2010 for PlayStation 3, and March 8, 2011 for Windows...
(2010) - Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers (Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
) (2009) - Scrabble DS/PSP - EA, North America only (2009)
- Happy Tree Friends: False AlarmHappy Tree Friends: False AlarmHappy Tree Friends: False Alarm is a video game based on the Flash cartoon series Happy Tree Friends developed by independent software developers Stainless Games and published by Sega...
(2008) - Red Baron PS3 (2008)
- Red Baron PC (2008)
- Warlords (2008)
- Battlezone (2008)
- Atari Classics Evolved PSP (2007)
- Tempest (2007)
- AsteroidsAsteroids (computer game)Asteroids is a video arcade game released in 1979 by Atari Inc. It was one of the most popular and influential games of the Golden Age of Arcade Games. Asteroids uses a vector display and a two-dimensional view that wraps around in both screen axes. The player controls a spaceship in an asteroid...
/Asteroids Deluxe (2007) - Missile CommandMissile CommandMissile Command is a 1980 arcade game by Atari, Inc. that was also licensed to Sega for European release. It is considered one of the most notable games from the Golden Age of Video Arcade Games...
(2007) - CentipedeCentipede (video game)Centipede is a vertically-oriented shoot 'em up arcade game produced by Atari, Inc. in 1980. The game was designed by Ed Logg along with Dona Bailey, one of the few female game programmers in the industry at this time. It was also the first arcade coin-operated game to have a significant female...
/Millipede (2007) - Crystal QuestCrystal QuestCrystal Quest is an action computer game for the Apple Macintosh and Apple IIgs. It was written by Patrick Buckland for Casady & Greene in 1987, and was ported to the IIgs in 1989 by Bill Heineman. Ports were also made to the Amiga, Nintendo Game Boy, iPhone OS, and Palm...
(2006) - Novadrome (2006)
- Carmageddon II: Carpocalypse Now (1998)
- CarmageddonCarmageddonCarmageddon is the first of a series of graphically violent vehicular combat video games produced by Stainless Games, published by Interplay and SCi...
(1997)