MAXIS

'Maxis Software' is an American company that was founded as a video game developer and is now a brand name of Electronic Arts (EA). Maxis' second software title was the seminal ''SimCity'', a city simulation and planning game. Maxis is also the creator of the best-selling computer game of all time, ''The Sims'' and its sequel ''The Sims 2''. These three titles and their related products are the brand's most popular and successful lines.
Most of the Maxis titles are simulation-based, though none are considered traditional simulations. Maxis founder Will Wright likens them as "digital playgrounds." Maxis has also released games developed by other production houses, such as ''A-Train''.

Contents

History

Origin and early acclaim

Decline

Acquisition by EA

''The Sims''

Origin of the name

Note

See also

External links

History

Origin and early acclaim

Maxis was founded in 1987 by Will Wright and "idea guy" Jeff Braun to help publish ''SimCity'' on home computers. Before then, the game was only available on a limited basis on the Commodore 64 due to few publishers showing any interest in porting it. The reason for this is because ''SimCity'' wasn't a traditional game that had definite "win" and "lose" conditions. The title went on to become, statistically, one of the most popular and successful video games of all time.
The ''SimCity'' series has since been updated to include ''SimCity 2000'' (1993), ''SimCity 3000'' (1999), '' (2000), and most recently ''SimCity 4'' (2003). It also released some non-sim titles, such as 1991's ''RoboSport''.
After such success with the ''SimCity'' series, Maxis tried various other ''Sim-'' titles. Some of these attempts include ''SimEarth'', ''SimAnt'', ''SimTower'', ''SimLife'', and ''SimFarm''. Maxis was also approached by companies to design business aids; ''SimRefinery'' is one example. The success of these franchises varies, but none matched that of the original ''SimCity''. Maxis' hit ''The Sims'' is the only notable exception.

Decline

After the immense success of ''SimCity'', Maxis attempted to go into new areas. However, their new games, including ''The Crystal Skull'' and ''SimCopter'', were commercial failures. They also acquired Cinematronics to create a game called ''Crucible''. Heavy losses and lack of direction led Maxis to begin considering acquisition offers.

Acquisition by EA

Electronic Arts (EA) completed its acquisition of Maxis on July 28, 1997. Compared to other companies acquired by EA, such as Origin Systems and Westwood Studios, the absorption of Maxis has taken a slower pace, and the company has retained some of its original staff, including Will Wright. Products were shipped under the Maxis logo for several years, but in 2004, ''The Sims 2'' only bore the Electronic Arts logo on the box cover (although ''Sims 2'' displays the Maxis logo at game start, and on the reverse side of the box). As of October 18 2006, and the release of '' expansion pack, the Maxis title has been omitted from the game's start.
For many years, Maxis was a traditional studio located in Walnut Creek, California (and before that, Orinda, California), but in February 2004 the division was folded into EA's Redwood Shores headquarters.
Will Wright's studio (currently developing ''Spore'') is located in Emeryville, California.

''The Sims''

Maxis' most successful series to date and the best-selling PC game of all time is ''The Sims'' (2000). Released despite concern from Electronic Arts that it would be a commercial failure, it has gone on to become the most successful computer game in history. Maxis has developed seven expansion packs for the game as well as an online version (''The Sims Online''). Maxis released ''The Sims 2'' in 2004, a sequel title that features a full 3D environment as opposed to the original's dimetric engine. ''The Sims 3'' was announced in November of 2006 and is expected to be released in early 2009.^[1]

Origin of the name

Contrary to popular belief, the company's name was not based on the words "six AM" spelled backwards.^[2] Rather, it was derived from a formula suggested by Jeff Braun's father: computer game companies should have two-syllable names and should include an 'x'. This is confirmed in an interview with a Maxis employee on a bonus disc released with ''. It was only later realized that the name is "six AM" backwards.

Note

1. The Sims 3 is coming
2. This rumor seems to have stemmed from an easter egg in ''SimCity 3000'', in which the game's ticker bar displays the message "Do you know that Maxis spelled backwards is Six AM?" upon execution of a cheat code in the cheat entry box.

See also

★ Computer software

★ List of Sim games

★ Electronic Arts

External links

★ The official Maxis website

★ Maxis at MobyGames

★

★ "SIMply Divine: The story of Maxis Software", circa 2000, on ''GameSpot'', written by Geoff Keighley