:Engine Software

Engine Software BV was founded in 1995 by several friends who met and worked together previously in the active Dutch demo scene for the MSX home computer. In this period (1989-1993) the group (named MSX-Engine {{cite web|author=MSX Resource Center |url=https://www.msx.org/wiki/Category:MSX-Engine_(Group) |title=Category:MSX-Engine (Group) - MSX Wiki |publisher=Msx.org |date=2021-07-27 |accessdate=2022-08-22}}) released three indie games, a disk magazine, a music tracker and an Assembler.{{cite web|author=MSX Resource Center |url=https://www.msx.org/wiki/Category:MSX-Engine_(Group)#Productions |title=Category:MSX-Engine (Group) - MSX Wiki |publisher=Msx.org |date=2021-07-27 |accessdate=2022-08-22}} In 1994 some of the people from MSX-Engine started working on a game for the Super NES, and the name was changed to Engine Software later the same year. In 1995 the group officially founded the company, making it the oldest (still active) game developer in The Netherlands. The game for SNES, Corn Buster, was unreleased after a publishing deal with Sunsoft fell through.{{cite web | url=https://www.unseen64.net/2008/07/16/unseen-interviews-ruud-and-corn-buster/ | title=Unseen Interviews: Ruud van de Moosdijk and Corn Busters - Unseen64 | date=16 July 2008 }}

After this, Engine Software was asked by fellow game developer Vicarious Visions to support them in the development of several Game Boy Color games for clients like THQ {{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/31/spongebob-squarepants-legend-of-the-lost-spatula | title=SpongeBob SquarePants: Legend of the Lost Spatula | date=31 March 2001 }} and Vatical Entertainment.{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/13/amf-xtreme-bowling | title=AMF Xtreme Bowling | date=13 July 2000 }} The relation between Vicarious Visions and Engine Software lasted another generation of handheld consoles, the Game Boy Advance, releasing games such as Powerrangers: Timeforce {{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/02/power-rangers-time-force | title=Power Rangers Time Force | date=2 November 2001 }} and SpyMuppets: License to Croak. Soon after the companies each went their own way.

In terms of sheer quantity this was Engine Software's most productive period, with 51 Nintendo DS titles released.{{cite web | url=https://engine-software.com/?page_id=184 | title=Nintendo DS Games – Engine Software BV }} Following their supporting developer role with Vicarious Visions earlier, Engine Software worked in the same role with 1st Playable Productions{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} and Artificial Mind and Movement{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/13/the-suite-life-of-zack-and-cody-circle-of-spies-review | title=The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: Circle of Spies Review | date=13 November 2007 }} (rebranded back to Behaviour Interactive in 2010) on a wide range of Nintendo DS games based on licensed properties from Disney and Nickelodeon. At the same time the studio launched more games of its own design like Just Sing! and Lost Identities. With German publisher DTP Young Entertainment they developed a range of educational games for the German Market called "Think Kids" (licensed from Ravensburger),{{cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/think-kids |title=Think Kids for Nintendo DS (2008) - MobyGames |website=www.mobygames.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406231107/http://www.mobygames.com/game/think-kids |archive-date=2011-04-06}} and they also signed a multi-game development deal with Belgian production house Studio 100 based on their TV properties (Mega Mindy, Maya the Bee, K3).

Dutch publisher Playlogic Entertainment NV, which purchased a minority share in Engine Software in 2003{{cite web | url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/pr/8825/playlogic-buys-out-engine-software | title=Playlogic Buys Out Engine Software - Press Release }} invested in an original concept by the studio for PlayStation Portable called Stateshift. After a year in development Playlogic cancelled the development, and in early 2007 Engine Software bought back the shares from Playlogic Entertainment. The game Stateshift for PlayStation Portable was independently finished by Engine Software and published by Midas Interactive{{cite web | url=http://www.midasinteractive.com/products/sony-psp/stateshift.html | title=Welcome to Midas Interactive }} in Europe and Conspiracy Entertainment in the United States. Engine Software and Playlogic still collaborated on two Nintendo DS games after this: Dragonhunters in 2008{{cite web | url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/006134/dragon-hunters-ds-released-next-month/ | title=Dragon Hunters DS released next month }} and Aliens in the Attic in 2009.{{cite web | url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/aliens-in-the-attic-game-of-the-movie-arrives-from-playlogic-in-july | title=Aliens in the Attic }} During this time Engine Software also formed a relationship with Milan-based publisher 505 Games due to their penchant of creating games based on licensed materials. With 505 Games, Engine Software released movie-based games Cats & Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore and ''HOP: THe Video Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/03/08/505-games-announces-hop-the-movie-game-coming-soon-to-nintendo-ds|title=505 Games Announces Hop: The Movie Game Coming Soon to Nintendo DS - IGN|date=8 March 2011 }}

Around 2012 most work-for-hire licensed games work had dried up, and Engine Software rebranded itself as a multi-platform developer specializing in ports and adaptations of a wide area of games, from indie titles to triple-A titles. The first project was a multi-year multi-platform collaboration with 505 Games and Re-Logic to bring the smash-hit Terraria from PC to consoles, starting with PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-09-11-terraria-heading-to-psn-and-xbla-early-next-year|title = Terraria heading to PSN and XBLA early next year|website = Eurogamer|date = 11 September 2012}} in 2013 and later that year to PlayStation Vita.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-28-indie-darling-terraria-announced-for-playstation-vita|title=Indie darling Terraria announced for PlayStation Vita|website=Eurogamer|date=28 March 2013}} These releases were followed by versions of Terraria for PlayStation 4{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-09-terraria-hits-ps4-on-tuesday-can-you-dig-it.html|title=Terraria hits PS4 on Tuesday - can you dig it?}} and Xbox One{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-14-terraria-carves-out-an-xbox-one-release-today.html|title = Terraria carves out an Xbox One release today}} in 2014, and finally a Wii U version 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-08-terraria-confirmed-for-3ds-and-wii-u|title = Terraria confirmed for 3DS and Wii U|website = Eurogamer|date = 8 June 2015}} During this time Engine Software and Re-Logic also collaborated on the concept and design for a Terraria spin-off title called Terraria: Otherworld which Re-Logic announced in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/terraria-otherworld-trailer-shows-an-alternate-dimension-to-the-sandbox-287753.phtml|title = Terraria: Otherworld trailer shows an alternate dimension to the sandbox|date = 16 February 2015}} Otherworld's development had some significant issues and delays causing Re-Logic to move development of the title to a different studio in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/terraria-otherworld-update-reveals-a-new-development-partner/|title = Terraria: Otherworld update reveals a new 'development partner'|newspaper = PC Gamer|date = 4 April 2017}}

The Engine Software Music Replayer is a piece of music sequencer middleware, developed by Engine Software. It was developed for use on the Game Boy Advance, and later reproduced in a version for use on the Nintendo DS. It was licensed to many other developers for both platforms.

Engine Software is run by Ivo Wubbels (CEO) and Ruud van de Moosdijk (VP Development), both founders of the company in 1995. Other key figures within the company include Senior producer Jeroen Schmitz also one of the founders of the company, Lead Technology programmer Jan-Lieuwe Koopmans who created the Music Replayer, and composer Bart Roijmans who scored almost all of Engine Software's games.

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• {{Official website|http://www.engine-software.com/}}

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Category:Video game development companies

Category:Video game companies of the Netherlands

Category:Companies based in Gelderland

Category:Doetinchem

Category:Video game companies established in 1995

Category:Dutch companies established in 1995