Cinematronics, LLC
{{Short description|American game developer}}
{{For|the unrelated arcade game developer|Cinematronics}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Cinematronics, LLC
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1994}}
| founder = David Stafford, Mike Sandige, Kevin Gliner
|parent = Maxis (1996–1997)
| defunct = {{End date and age|1997}}
| location_city = Texas
| location_country = United States
| industry = Video game industry
}}
Cinematronics, LLC, later known as Maxis South, was an American developer of computer games for the PC and Mac, based in Texas and founded in 1994 by David Stafford, Mike Sandige and Kevin Gliner.{{Cite web |title=Maxis South |url=https://www.mobygames.com/company/11402/maxis-south/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=MobyGames |language=en}} They developed Tritryst for Virgin Interactive, Full Tilt! Pinball for Maxis,{{cite magazine|last=Sherman |first=Chris |title=Industry Acquisitions Continue |magazine=Next Generation|issue=18|publisher=Imagine Media|date=June 1996|page=22}} and Jack Nicklaus 4 for Accolade. The Space Cadet pinball table from Full Tilt! was also included with Microsoft Plus 95 and several versions of Microsoft Windows.
History
The company was founded in 1994 by David Stafford, Mike Sandige and Kevin Gliner. In 1996, the company was acquired by Maxis Software, Inc. and renamed Maxis South. As Maxis South, they developed games such as Marble Drop and an unreleased Diablo-type game called Crucible.{{cite web |last=Geoff Keighley |title=SIMply Divine: The story of Maxis Software page 7 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/maxis/page7.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404191131/http://www.gamespot.com/features/maxis/page7.html |archivedate=2005-04-04 |publisher=GameSpot}}
A year later, in June 1997, the entire company was acquired by Electronic Arts, Inc. for $125 million.{{Cite web |title=Electronic Arts Acquires Maxis Software {{!}} Mergr M&A Deal Summary |url=https://mergr.com/electronic-arts-acquires-maxis-software |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=mergr.com}}{{Cite news |author=WIRED Staff |title=Electronic Arts to Buy Maxis for $125 Million |language=en-US |work=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/06/electronic-arts-to-buy-maxis-for-125-million/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |issn=1059-1028}} Crucible, Remnants, and Nightfall - three titles in development from Maxis South have been canceled as a result.{{cite web |date=July 30, 1997 |title=Maxis South Titles Canceled |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/30_max/index.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990221024704/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_07/30_max/index.html |archivedate=February 21, 1999 |accessdate=July 30, 2022 |website=GameSpot}}
= Game credits =
- Jack Nicklaus 4 (1997){{Cite web |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 (1997) |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/4228/jack-nicklaus-4/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=MobyGames |language=en}}
- Marble Drop (1997){{Cite web |title=Maxis South (Company) |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/maxis-south/3010-9586/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Giant Bomb |language=en}}
- Full Tilt! Pinball (1995){{Cite web |title='3D Pinball Space Cadet' – The flippin' story of the most recognizable game demo on Windows |url=https://philstarlife.com/geeky/858102-3d-pinball-space-cadet-the-flippin-story-of-the-most-recognizable-game-demo-on-windows?page=2 |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Philstar Life}}
- TriTryst (1995){{Cite web |title=Maxis South (Company) |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/maxis-south/3010-9586/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Giant Bomb |language=en}}