Rockstar Dundee
Rockstar Dundee Limited (formerly Ruffian Games Limited) is a British video game developer and a studio of Rockstar Games based in Dundee. The studio is best known for developing Crackdown 2.
Gary Liddon, Billy Thomson, and Gareth Noyce founded the company as Ruffian Games in April 2008. They had previously worked on
History
Early years and Crackdown 2 (2008–2013)
Gary Liddon, Billy Thomson, and Gareth Noyce founded Rockstar Dundee as Ruffian Games in April 2008.
By the time of its formation announcement, Ruffian Games had entered into a contract with a "major publisher".[2] Microsoft partnered with the studio for Crackdown 2, forgoing Realtime Worlds as it was preoccupied with APB: All Points Bulletin.[12] When this deal was rumoured, Realtime Worlds's studio head, Colin MacDonald, stated that his studio was still in talks with Microsoft to develop another Crackdown game. He doubted that the publisher "would harm an otherwise fruitful existing development relationship" by partnering with a different developer also based in Dundee.[2] After Ruffian Games was announced as developing Crackdown 2 in June 2009, David Jones, the chief executive officer for Realtime Worlds, stated that he was "a bit miffed" at Microsoft for handing Ruffian Games the development of the game, as he considered the studio's proximity to Realtime Worlds a threat.[13] In response, Thomson opined that Ruffian Games was capable of creating a proper sequel to Crackdown because it had hired talent from every department that worked on the original game.[12]
Crackdown 2's development was quick but difficult: The studio was beset by deadlines it deemed unmanageable and the expectations of fans of the original Crackdown. The production lasted just over one year and was described as "intense, exhausting". The resulting game, released in mid-2010, received mixed reviews and did not sell well enough for the studio to immediately start working on a third Crackdown game.[14] To remain in business, Ruffian Games worked with Microsoft on several games for the Kinect peripheral, including Kinect Star Wars and Nike+ Kinect Training.[14] Around 2012, the studio created an experimental multiplayer mode for Crytek's Ryse: Son of Rome, although this work was not released with the final game.[15][16] Of several cancelled projects, Streets of Rage was a pitch to Sega for a remake of the 1991 game of the same name. The prototype was created by a small team within six to eight weeks but the project went unsigned.[14][17] A third Crackdown game remained implausible as of 2013.[18]
Independent and cancelled projects (2013–2019)
In February 2013, Ruffian Games announced Tribal Towers.
Noyce left Ruffian Games in late 2013, moved to Finland with his girlfriend, and became an
Acquisition by Rockstar Games (2019–present)
In October 2019, Ruffian Games was announced as working with
Games developed
Year | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Crackdown 2 | Xbox 360 | Microsoft Studios
|
[14] |
2012 | Kinect PlayFit | [34] | ||
2017 | Fragmental | Windows
|
Ruffian Games | [25] |
2019 | RADtv | [26] |
Additional work
Year | Title | Lead developer(s) | Platform(s) | Publisher(s) | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Kinect Star Wars | Terminal Reality | Xbox 360 | Microsoft Studios
|
[14] | |
Nike+ Kinect Training | Sumo Digital | [14] | ||||
2013 | Kinect Sesame Street TV (season 2) | Soho Productions | [34] | |||
2014 | Kinect Sports Rivals | Rare | Xbox One | [35] | ||
Halo: The Master Chief Collection | 343 Industries | Xbox Series X/S
|
Ported Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo 4, and Halo: Reach | [28][36][37] | ||
2019 | Crackdown 3 | Sumo Digital | Windows, Xbox One | Developed the Wrecking Zone multiplayer mode; credited as Elbow Rocket | [28][38] |
Cancelled
References
- ^ "About". Ruffian Games. 2019. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ Gamasutra. Archivedfrom the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ GamesIndustry.biz. Archivedfrom the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Gamasutra. Archivedfrom the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ de Matos, Xav (25 May 2010). "What's in a Name: Ruffian Games". Engadget. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Brudvig, Erik (15 December 2009). "Crackdown 2: Flying High". IGN. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Mitchell, Richard (20 January 2009). "Former GTA, Fable 2 and Crackdown devs for Ruffian Games". Engadget. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Dobson, Jason (24 February 2009). "Wheelman, Crackdown designers join Ruffian Games". Engadget. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- Gamasutra. Archivedfrom the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ McElroy, Griffin (22 May 2009). "Ruffian Games expands team by 15, 'itching' to reveal first project". Engadget. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "UK industry layoffs bittersweet for Ruffian". MCV/Develop. 16 November 2009. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ a b Goldstein, Hilary (25 June 2009). "Ruffian Games Defends Crackdown 2". IGN. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- GamesIndustry.biz. Archivedfrom the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Yin-Poole, Wesley (24 February 2014). ""I want to see another Crackdown as well. I really do."". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Leone, Matt (10 June 2013). "Ryse: Son of Rome's seven-year road to E3". Polygon. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Dutton, Fred (27 June 2012). "Crackdown 2 studio working on Ryse with Crytek – report". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ a b McWhertor, Michael (5 December 2012). "Streets of Rage remake from Ruffian Games revealed in prototype video". Polygon. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ a b Nunneley, Stephany (19 February 2013). "Tribal Towers announced by Ruffian Games, Crackdown 3 not on the "production table"". VG247. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Purchese, Robert (27 January 2014). "Square Enix does crowdfunding with Ruffian's new game". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ a b Yin-Poole, Wesley (7 April 2014). "Ruffian gives Game of Glens a rest". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Robinson, Martin (6 May 2014). "Lumo, a new game from Ruffian's co-founder, is truly enchanting". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Batchelor, James (9 May 2016). "Gareth Noyce on making Lumo: 'Triple-A isn't my calling'". MCV/Develop. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Welsh, Oli (12 August 2014). "Ruffian Games returns with co-op action game Hollowpoint". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ a b c Yin-Poole, Wesley (8 March 2016). "Ruffian's Hollowpoint on hold, Paradox partnership dead". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ a b Peel, Jeremy (16 December 2015). "Making it in Unreal: Fragmental, the arena battler Crackdown 2's devs have fought to make". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ a b Bailey, Dustin (22 September 2017). "The Crackdown 2 team will soon have you stuff a boy's face with burgers and peas in VR". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- Road to VR. Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ a b c Nunneley, Stephany (12 October 2019). "Ruffian Games working with Rockstar Games on "upcoming titles"". VG247. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ Robinson, Andy (12 October 2020). "Rockstar has taken over Master Chief Collection developer Ruffian Games". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- GamesIndustry.biz. Archivedfrom the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ Avard, Alex (14 October 2020). "Rockstar has officially bought Crackdown 2 developer Ruffian Games". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ Robinson, Andy (15 October 2020). "Ruffian says it's 'excited to work on Rockstar properties' following sale". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Amery, Rachel (17 October 2020). "Grand Theft Auto creators Rockstar Games 'thrilled' to be returning to Dundee". The Courier. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Past Titles". Ruffian Games. 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021.
- ^ "The sixth annual 30 Under 30". MCV/Develop. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Linneman, John (6 June 2015). "Tech Analysis: Halo 3: ODST on Xbox One". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ Makuch, Eddie (13 March 2019). "Bringing Halo: MCC To PC Is A "Monumental Undertaking," So Microsoft Is Getting Help". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ Futter, Michael (1 February 2019). "'Crackdown 3': Less Than It Was Meant to Be, but Still Stupid Fun". Variety. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.