- Rockstar New England
Infobox Company
company_name = Rockstar New England
company_
company_type =subsidiary
foundation = 1999
location =New England inAndover, Massachusetts
key_people =Ian Lane Davis
industry =Game development
products =
parent =Rockstar Games [http://www.rockstarwatch.net/news/378/Rockstar-Acquires-Mad-Doc-Software/ Rockstar Acquires Mad Doc Software] at RockstarWatch. URL accessed onApril 4 ,2008 ]
revenue =
num_employees = 100 (approx) [ [http://www.andovertownsman.com/local/local_story_360130729.html Mad Doc cooks up fantasy games, government projects - Andover Townsman, Andover, MA ] ]
homepage = [http://www.rockstarnewengland.com/ rockstarnewengland.com/] |Rockstar New England, formerly Mad Doc Software, is a computer game development company founded in 1999 by Dr. Ian Davis. The company is based in
New England inAndover, Massachusetts , just north ofBoston . [http://www.sierra.com/en/home/news/product_news/022307_-_ee3_announcement.html Sierra's Empire Earth 3 announcement at Sierra.com] Retrieved February 24, 2007.] OnApril 4 ,2008 ,Rockstar Games announced that it had acquired the studio and rebranded it Rockstar New England.Overview
The original Mad Doc Software was founded by Ian Lane Davis, an artificial intelligence (AI) expertFact|date=February 2007. The company incorporates new networking,
graphics , and AI technologies into their games ("Empire Earth II" uses Mad Doc’s Mad3D Game Engine and MadAI technologies).As of 2008, the company sold over 10 million copies of their various software titles worldwide.Fact|date=April 2008
History
Davis started Mad Doc Software in Andover in 1999 before shortly moving to Lawrence a year later.
In 2001, Rockstar New England completed "" for
Activision , adding 3D play, enhanced AI and other features. The Mad Doc team also delivered a wireless-platform golf game toJAMDAT Mobile , as well as AI design for the sequel to a major software publisher's PC game.Rockstar New England completed the
World War II flight simulator "Jane's Attack Squadron " in March 2002. In the fall of 2002, the company released "", the official expansion pack for "Empire Earth ", toSierra Entertainment .The year 2003 brought further success for Rockstar New England. In November,
Microsoft Game Studios released "". Rockstar New England developed an expansion pack for "Dungeon Siege" adding new features and AI enhancements. The company was a finalist for theAcademy of Interactive Arts and Sciences "Computer Role Playing Game of the Year" Finalist due to this expansion pack.In the spring of 2005, the company released "
Empire Earth II ". Rockstar New England added features including advanced AI, enhanced environmental realism, new multiplayer modes, and improved management systems. The game garnered aPC Gamer Editor's Choice Award and a 94% review score. PC Gamer stated that the game was "The New King of Real-Time Strategy Gaming". [http://www.vugames.com/news_story.do?storyId=2364]"", had mixed to moderate reviews for the Xbox 360 and was negatively received for the PC [http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/startreklegacy/review.html] .
The company's "
Empire Earth III " has been the subject of many harsh reviews, withGameSpot saying, "Empire Earth III" has been dumbed down to the point of irrelevance." As a result, Mad Doc has removed "Empire Earth III" from their list of games on their website and any trace of it. [http://www.rockstarwatch.net/maddocsoftware/index.htm Back Up of Mad Doc Software Homepage] Retrieved February 23, 2008.]Rockstar New England has also created an autonomous cross-country navigation system for the U.S. Dept. of Defense [http://www.andovertownsman.com/local/local_story_360130729.html] Retrieved may 10, 2008.]
Rockstar New England was contracted to partner with
Propaganda Games andThreewave Software for various map designs for the 2008 game Turok. [ [http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=692 Turok Multiplayer Hands-On Preview] ]Rockstar New England ported
Rockstar Vancouver 's "Bully" to theXbox 360 (ported to theWii byRockstar Toronto ) in the form of "". [cite web| title = More Bully: Scholarship Edition Screens and Info| accessdate = 2008-01-17| url = http://www.rockstarwatch.net/news/223/more-bully-scholarship-edition-screens-and-info/| publisher = RockstarWatch| date = 2008-01-17]Rockstar Games acquired Mad Doc Software on
4 April 2008 .Games
as "Mad Doc Software"
*"" (2001) (Microsoft Windows )
*"Jane's Attack Squadron " (2002) (Microsoft Windows )
*"" (2002) (Microsoft Windows )
*"" (2003) (Microsoft Windows )
*"Empire Earth II " (2005) (Microsoft Windows )
*"" (2006) (Microsoft Windows )
*"" (2006) (Microsoft Windows ,Xbox 360 )
*"Empire Earth III " (2007) (Microsoft Windows )
*"" (2008) (Xbox 360 )(WithRockstar Vancouver andRockstar Toronto )Awards
As Mad Doc Software:
*ICIC-Inc.'s 2005's company to watch. [www.maddocsoftware.com/about_awards.htm (no longer available)
http://www.rockstarwatch.net/maddocsoftware/about_awards.htm (backup)]References
External links
* [http://www.rockstarnewengland.com/ Rockstar New England's Official Website]
* [http://www.rockstarwatch.net/maddocsoftware/index.htm Backup of Mad Doc Software's Website]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/company/rockstar-new-england Rockstar New England profile] atMobyGames
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/company/46800.html Rockstar New England profile] atGameFAQs
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