MICROPROSE

'MicroProse Software, Inc.' (also known as 'MicroProse Simulation Software') was a North American video game developer, founded in 1982 by Sid Meier and Bill Stealey. It was known as the publisher of the majority of Meier's hit computer games, including ''Pirates'', ''Silent Service'', ''Railroad Tycoon'', ''Civilization'', and also for the sci-fi X-COM series. It ceased to exist in 2001 when its parent company, Hasbro Interactive, was acquired and merged by Infogrames.

Contents

History

Selected games

Notes and references

External links

History

In the 1980s, MicroProse was primarily known as a publisher of flight and military simulation titles for 8-bit home computers such as the Commodore 64, Apple II, and Atari 8-bit family, with titles such as "Spitfire Ace" and "Hellcat Ace". It also published a few strategy games at the time.
As industry changed over to 16-bit and 32-bit CPUs in late 1980s, MicroProse started supporting IBM PC compatibles and 68000-based machines like the Amiga and Atari ST. MicroProse also started an UK branch to cross-publish titles in Europe, and to import some European titles to be published in the US.
In 1990 and 1991 MicroProse released the blockbusters ''Railroad Tycoon'' and ''Civilization'', by Sid Meier, on multiple platforms. Both of which quickly became two of the best-selling strategy games of all time and spawned multiple sequels.
MicroProse also released Geoff Crammond's ''Formula One Grand Prix'' to adulation in 1991. The Amiga and Atari ST versions were released first, and the DOS version followed in early 1992. The game was considered the best ''Formula One'' sim to date.
In 1992, MicroProse acquired Leeds-based flight simulation developer Vektor Grafix^[1], who had already developed titles for them such as B17, turning it into a satellite development studio.
MicroProse, in an attempt to diversify without changing their name, created two labels, 'MicroStyle' in the UK, and 'MicroPlay' in the US. This label released games like ''Rick Dangerous 2'' (adventure), ''Stunt Car Racer'' (arcade racing) and ''Xenophobe'' (action/arcade).
In early 1990s, MicroProse, in an attempt to diversify beyond its niche roots as a flight sim and military sim company, decided to create an arcade game division, as well as invested a large sum of money to create an adventure game engine with which it could produce several games. However, the arcade division was canceled after making only 2 games: F-15 Strike Eagle The Arcade Game, and B.O.T.T.S. (a giant fighting robot game). Both of which featured high-end (for its time) 3D graphics, and failed to became popular as it was too different from existing machines. The adventure game engine was finished, but only two games (''Rex Nebular'' and ''Phantom of the Opera'') were published before it was shelved and sold off to Sanctuary Woods.
In 1993, MicroProse was acquired by Spectrum Holobyte, another game company. Founder Bill Stealey was good friends with Spectrum HoloByte president Gilman Louie, and convinced Louie to help MicroProse as Stealey was afraid that some bank will not understand the company culture. Same year, the UK office of MicroProse closed two satellite offices in northern England, and disposed of over forty staff at its Chipping Sodbury head office.
In 1994, Bill Stealey departed MicroProse. Spectrum HoloByte agree to buy out his shares. Bill Stealey went on the found Interactive Magic, another simulation software company.
Despite cuts, president Gilman Louie managed to line up several big name licenses, including ''Top Gun'', '', '', and later ''MechWarrior'' (part of Battletech universe. Also, the UK import '', renamed as '', proved to be an unanticipated hit in 1994.
Spectrum HoloByte, however, was in trouble. It was trying to get ''Falcon 4.0'' out the door ever since it pushed out ''Falcon 3.0'' in 1991, and it has been delayed, and delayed, and delayed many years.
Both MicroProse and Spectrum HoloByte continued as separate brands until 1996. In 1996, Spectrum HoloByte, in cost-cutting measure, started cutting a majority of the MicroProse staff. Soon after, it consolidated all of its titles under the MicroProse brand (essentially renaming itself MicroProse). Sid Meier and Jeff Briggs departed the company after the staff cut, forming a new company called Firaxis Games. Brian Reynolds, who designed Civilization II, also moved to Firaxis. A core group of disillusioned artists, designers and programmers left MicroProse UK to join Psygnosis, which opened an office in Stroud, UK, specifically to attract ex-MicroProse employees.
In 1997, MicroProse announced that it was going to merge with GT Software, but the merger fell through. The company managed to push out European Air War in 1998, to critical acclaim, and was acquired by Hasbro Interactive, a division of U.S. toy maker Hasbro. It was also under court challenge by Avalon-Hill (who has the US publishing license of the Civilization boardgame from the French creator Hartland Trefoil). MicroProse and Hasbro bought out Hartland Trefoil, thus nullifying the suit, but not before Activision managed to push out two Civilization "clones" based on their "license" and settlement from the lawsuit. During this period, more studios were closed.
In 1998, MicroProse finally managed to publish ''Falcon 4.0'', before the Christmas shopping season. However, the initial release was plagued with bugs and the game is so authentic — and thus complicated — that it intimidated average gamers, and sales were disappointing.
In 1999, Hasbro Interactive closed the former MicroProse studios in California (that used to be Spectrum HoloByte) and North Carolina.
In 2001, after French game publisher Infogrames took over Hasbro Interactive, MicroProse ceased to exist. Its latest title in US, ''European Air War'', was reissued with Infogrames logo instead of MicroProse logo.
The last new game released with the MicroProse name was the UK version of Geoff Crammond's ''Grand Prix 4'', in late 2002. In the 1990s MicroProse had an office in Chipping Sodbury in the UK, which commissioned many games from smaller UK developers, including ''Grand Prix'' and ''Transport Tycoon''. The MicroProse name was preserved on GP4 in the UK due to the respect it held amongst fans of racing simulation games.
Infogrames renamed itself Atari in 2002 as it had absorbed Atari assets several years before.
In November 2003, Atari Inc. closed its development studio in Hunt Valley, Maryland, MicroProse's original location. However, several game developers now exist in the area, including Firaxis Games and BreakAway Games, who all owe their origin to MicroProse.

Selected games

:''Main article'': List of MicroProse games

★ ''NATO Commander'' (1984)

★ ''Solo Flight'' (1985)

★ ''Silent Service'' (1985)

★ ''F-15 Strike Eagle'' (1985)

★ '' Gunship'' (1986)

★ ''Airborne Ranger'' (1987)

★ ''Pirates'' (1987)

★ ''F-19 Stealth Fighter'' (1987)

★ ''Red Storm Rising'' (1988 - 1990, on various hardware platforms)

★ ''F-15 Strike Eagle II'' (1989)

★ ''Railroad Tycoon'' (1990)

★ ''Civilization'' (1991)

★ ''Formula One Grand Prix'' a.k.a. ''World Circuit'' (1991)

★ ''Gunship 2000'' (1991)

★ ''Darklands'' (1992)

★ ''B-17 Flying Fortress'' (1992)

★ ''BloodNet'' (1993)

★ ''Master Of Orion'' (1993)

★ ''Master of Magic'' (1994)

★ '' (1994) in some countries the game was known as ''UFO: Enemy Unknown''

★ '' (1995) ''Also known as XCOM2''

★ ''Transport Tycoon'' (1995) followed by ''Transport Tycoon Deluxe'' (1996)

★ ''Master of Orion II'' (1996)

★ ''Falcon 4.0'' (1998)

★ ''MechWarrior 3'' (1999)

★ '' (1999)

Notes and references

1. "MicroProse buys Vektor Grafix" article from ''Computer Business Review Online''

External links

★ A listing of some of MicroProse's titles from the 1980s

★ MicroProse profile at MobyGames

★ History of MicroProse at MobyGames

★ MicroProse Miscellaneous Games Web Ring

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