Rockstar Games is a development division of video game publisher Take-Two Interactive, based in New York City, United States. The brand is most known for the Grand Theft Auto series. It comprises studios that have been acquired and renamed as well as others that have been created internally. While many of the studios Take-Two Interactive has acquired have been merged into the Rockstar brand, several other recent ones have retained their previous identities and have become part of the company's 2K Games division. The Rockstar Games label was founded in 1998 by Sam Houser, Terry Donovan, Dan Houser, Jamie King and Gary Foreman.[1]
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Location
Rockstar Games, located at 622 Broadway in New York City, NY 10012 is part of the Take-Two Interactive offices in New York. It is the head office of Rockstar's worldwide publishing enterprises. It's home to the marketing, public relations and product development departments.[2]
Rockstar studios
| Logo | Name | Notes |
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Rockstar Japan | Responsible for the Japanese translations of Rockstar Games' video game franchises. |
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Rockstar Leeds | Previously known as Mobius Entertainment. Based in Beeston, Leeds. They created Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories for the PlayStation Portable. |
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Rockstar Lincoln | Quality assurance and localization studio. Previously known as Tarantula Studios. |
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Rockstar London | Formed in November 2005. Took over development of Manhunt 2 after Rockstar Vienna had been closed. |
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Rockstar North | Based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Previously known as DMA Design. They are famous for the Grand Theft Auto series and stealth games Manhunt and Manhunt 2, as well as the original Lemmings games. |
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Rockstar San Diego | Previously known as Angel Studios. Developed Red Dead Revolver, the Smuggler's Run series, the first two Midtown Madness games and the Midnight Club series.They are also responsible for RAGE game engine. |
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Rockstar Toronto | Take Two's in-house development team, previously known as Rockstar Canada. Their most well-known work is their adaptation of the cult classic film The Warriors. |
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Rockstar Vancouver | Previously known as Barking Dog Studios. They released the PlayStation 2 title Bully. |
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Rockstar Vienna | Previously known as neo Software; closed on May 11, 2006 [3]. Ported the Max Payne series to consoles. Created most of Manhunt 2 before being closed. |
Other companies that have developed for Rockstar Games
- Bungie, of Halo fame, developed the game Oni. Before Bungie was bought by Microsoft, Halo was to be released on Mac, PC and PlayStation 2 with Rockstar as the game's publisher.
- Capcom had early development in Rockstar San Diego's Red Dead Revolver and currently owns the Japanese distribution rights to the Grand Theft Auto series.
- Dubtitled, in collaboration with Mic Neumann on State of Emergency and Grand Theft Auto series.
- Digital Eclipse Software collaborated with Rockstar North on Grand Theft Auto Advance.
- Edge of Reality developed Monster Truck Madness 64.
- Opus, in collaboration with ASCII Entertainment developed Surfing H3O.
- Pixelogic developed The Italian Job.
- Remedy Entertainment developed the Max Payne games.
- Team Bondi is currently developing L.A. Noire for Rockstar.
- VIS Entertainment is known for developing the State of Emergency game.
- Z-Axis developed Thrasher presents Skate and Destroy.
Games
- Note 1: In development
- Note 2: Windows version published by Gathering of Developers in 2001; Mac version published by MacSoft in 2002.
- Note 3: Based on The Italian Job, not to be confused with the video game released by Eidos Interactive based on the The Italian Job (2003 film).
- Note 4: Windows and Mac versions published by Gathering of Developers in 2001.
- Note 5: Windows version published by Gremlin Interactive in 1999.
- Note 6: Re-released by Rockstar Games in a three game CD compilation dubbed "Grand Theft Auto: The Classics Collection" on November 23,2004.
- Note 7: DOS/Windows and PlayStation version was produced by DMA Design, prior to it becoming Rockstar North, and published by BMG Interactive in Europe and by ASC Games in North America in 1997.
Films
Rockstar Games are credited as executive producers of Sunday Driver and The Football Factory.
Technology
Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE) is a gaming engine developed by Rockstar Games to facilitate game development on the Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 3 consoles, as well as PC titles.
References
- ^ David Kushner (2007-03-29). The Road to Ruin: How Grand Theft Auto Hit the Skids. Wired News. Retrieved on 2007-04-21.
- ^ RockstarWatch (2007-08-11). RockstarWatch: Rockstar Games. RockstarWatch.net. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ Jurie Horneman (2006-05-11). Rockstar Vienna closes its doors. Intelligent Artifice. Retrieved on 2007-04-21.
External links
- Rockstar Games
- Rockstar Japan
- Take-Two Interactive
- Rockstar Games entry at MobyGames
- Rockstar Games YouTube account
- RockstarWatch.net
- RockstarWatch YouTube account
