Avalanche Software
Parent
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Website | avalanchesoftware.com |
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Avalanche Software is an American
Sculptured Software, including John Blackburn, who serves as chief executive officer. The studio was acquired by the games arm of The Walt Disney Company in May 2005, and spent the next ten years developing Disney-related titles, including the toys-to-life game Disney Infinity
(2013). In May 2016, due to a declining toys-to-life games market, Disney decided to close the games arm, including Avalanche. Warner Bros. Games acquired the studio and re-opened it in January 2017.
History
Avalanche Software was founded by four
Sculptured Software, including John Blackburn.[1][2] After Sculptured Software had been acquired by Acclaim Entertainment, the four had been in contact with another former Sculptured Software staffer who left the year prior for Saffire. The four were interested in joining Saffire, which was seeking programmers for an upcoming project, but did not want to commute to the company's offices in Pleasant Grove. Instead, Saffire's owner convinced them to start their own company.[3] Subsequently, Blackburn and his acquaintances established Avalanche in October 1995, with Blackburn becoming the company's president.[1]
On April 19, 2005,
Fall Line Studio, in November 2006.[5] The studio was merged into Avalanche in January 2009.[6] In January 2013, Avalanche unveiled the toys-to-life cross-platform game Disney Infinity.[7] On May 10, 2016, due to a lack of growth in the toys-to-life market and increasing development costs, Disney discontinued Disney Infinity and closed down Disney Interactive Studios, including Avalanche.[8] Many former Avalanche workers were hired by castAR to create a new studio in Salt Lake City.[9]
On January 24, 2017, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (now Warner Bros. Games) announced that it had acquired and re-opened the studio, with Blackburn returning as its chief executive officer. The studio's first title under the new ownership was Cars 3: Driven to Win.[10]
Games developed
Year | Title | Platform(s) |
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1996 | Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 | Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System |
Mortal Kombat Trilogy | PlayStation | |
2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge
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1997 | Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero | Nintendo 64 |
1998 | Off Road Challenge | |
1999 | Rampage 2: Universal Tour | PlayStation, Nintendo 64 |
NFL Blitz 2000 | Dreamcast | |
NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC | Dreamcast | |
2000 | Rampage Through Time | PlayStation |
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie | PlayStation, Nintendo 64 | |
NFL Blitz 2001 | Dreamcast | |
Prince of Persia: Arabian Nights
|
Dreamcast | |
2001 | NCAA College Football 2K2: Road to the Rose Bowl | Dreamcast |
2002 | NCAA College Football 2K3 | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox |
Rugrats: Royal Ransom | GameCube, PlayStation 2 | |
2003 | Tak and the Power of Juju
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2004 | Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox |
2005 | Tak: The Great Juju Challenge | |
Dragon Ball Z: Sagas | ||
Chicken Little | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows | |
2006 | 25 to Life | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows |
Chicken Little: Ace in Action
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PlayStation 2, Wii, Microsoft Windows | |
2007 | Meet the Robinsons | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows |
2007 | Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour
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PlayStation 2, Wii |
2008 | Bolt | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows |
2010 | Toy Story 3 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows |
2011 | Cars 2
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PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows |
2013 | Disney Infinity | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
2014 | Disney Infinity 2.0 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PlayStation Vita |
2015 | Disney Infinity 3.0 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, Microsoft Windows, Apple TV |
2017 | Cars 3: Driven to Win | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, Nintendo Switch |
2023 | Hogwarts Legacy | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows |
References
- ^ a b Kratz, Greg (April 20, 2005). "Disney branch buys Salt Lake game developer". Deseret News. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ "Avalanche Software Biography". Avalanche Software. 2001. Archived from the original on February 10, 2001.
- ^ Sheehan, Gavin (August 17, 2011). "Avalanche Software". Salt Lake City Weekly. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ Kawamoto, Dawn (April 19, 2005). "Disney scoops up Avalanche, founds new studio". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ "Disney to make Nintendo games". Los Angeles Times. November 8, 2006. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ Sinclair, Brendan (January 29, 2009). "Disney layoffs hit Turok, Bolt studios". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ Lang, Derrik J. (January 15, 2013). "Disney unveils own 'Skylanders'-like franchise". Phys.org. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ Alexander, Julia (May 10, 2016). "Disney is ending its Infinity video game line, shutting down Avalanche Software". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ Conditt, Jessica (September 15, 2016). "Augmented reality studio castAR picks up 'Disney Infinity' devs". Engadget. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- Gamasutra. Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ Gehm, Florian (September 17, 2020). "PlayStation 5 Showcase: Hogwarts Legacy ist der Star der Sony-Präsentation". DIE WELT (in German). Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ Uslenghi, Fabiano; Zirkler, Dennis (September 17, 2020). "Harry Potter: Open-World-Rollenspiel Hogwarts Legacy kommt für den PC". GameStar (in German). Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ Dornbush, Jonathon (September 16, 2020). "Harry Potter RPG Hogwarts Legacy Announced, Confirmed for PS5". IGN. Retrieved September 17, 2020.