Digital Eclipse

Digital Eclipse was founded in 1992 by Andrew Ayre, Hans Kim, John Neil, and Howard Fukuda.{{cite magazine |title=Studio Profile: Digital Eclipse |first=Martyn |last=Carroll |magazine=Retro Gamer |issue=237 |date=September 1, 2022 |publisher=Future Publishing |pages=70–75}} The company's first offices were opened on a "nondescript, factory-filled" street in Emeryville, California, where Ayre (a native of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador) had moved following his graduation from Harvard University to live with his girlfriend.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/theandrean2009532stan/page/60 |title=From St. John's to California Gaming ... and back |first=Jim |last=McGillivray |date=2009 |magazine=The Andrean |via=Internet Archive |access-date=April 10, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-death-jr-developer-chris-charla/1100-6094341/ |title=Q&A: Death, Jr. developer Chris Charla |first=Curt |last=Feldman |date=April 23, 2004 |website=GameSpot |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520020027/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-death-jr-developer-chris-charla/1100-6094341/ |archive-date=May 20, 2018 |url-status=live}} Initially a technology startup company, Digital Eclipse soon found that their software would be useful in the video game industry, and turned to game development instead. Using their technology, the company opted to produce commercial emulations of arcade games, such as Williams Electronics' Joust, Defender, and Robotron: 2084.{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/22/other-ocean-building-the-past-the-future-and-the-present/ |title=Other Ocean: Building the past, the future, and the present |author=VB Staff |date=September 22, 2017 |website=VentureBeat |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416154121/https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/22/other-ocean-building-the-past-the-future-and-the-present/ |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |url-status=live}} For these games, Digital Eclipse developed an interpreter that emulated the games' arcade machines' chipset, including the Motorola 6809 central processing unit.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/1995/08/they-do-make-em-like-they-used-to/ |title=They Do Make 'Em Like They Used To |first=J. Caleb |last=Donaldson |date=August 1, 1995 |magazine=Wired |access-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222092900/https://www.wired.com/1995/08/they-do-make-em-like-they-used-to/ |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |url-status=live}} This approach was meant to have the emulations act true to the original versions of these games, and not carry any imperfections direct ports could have introduced. All three emulated games were released as part of The Digital Arcade series for Mac OS in 1995.

Digital Eclipse found further success when the Game Boy Color was released; the new handheld console included a central processing unit based on the architecture of the Zilog Z80, the processor used in a number of older arcade machines. While other developers were moving on to develop for the more powerful PlayStation home console, Digital Eclipse developed about 60 games for their niche market on the Game Boy Color. These games included Klax, Spy Hunter, Moon Patrol, Paperboy, Joust, Defender, and 720°, as well as an original game, Tarzan, which Digital Eclipse produced for Activision.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/17/lords-of-the-jungle |title=Lords of the Jungle |first=Peer |last=Schneider |date=July 16, 1999 |website=IGN |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131065920/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/17/lords-of-the-jungle |archive-date=January 31, 2018 |url-status=live}} Digital Eclipse also opened a second studio in Vancouver, Canada.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/28/spyro-2-season-of-flame-3 |title=Spyro 2: Season of Flame |first=Craig |last=Harris |date=May 28, 2002 |website=IGN |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115081856/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/28/spyro-2-season-of-flame-3 |url-status=live}} In February 2001, the company announced their move into the games market for "wireless Web" devices, hiring Scott Nisbet as director of wireless gaming, as well as Bruce Binder as Nisbet's consultant.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2001/03/21/playing-for-keeps/04db9c71-6ffc-4d8d-b47f-c65a71c61567/ |title=Playing for Keeps |first=Peter S. |last=Goodman |date=March 21, 2001 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115081910/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2001/03/21/playing-for-keeps/04db9c71-6ffc-4d8d-b47f-c65a71c61567/ |url-status=live}}

In 2003, Digital Eclipse merged with ImaginEngine, creating Backbone Entertainment; while ImaginEngine remained an independent studio within that structure, Digital Eclipse's studios became Backbone Emeryville and Backbone Vancouver, respectively.{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/10/12/imaginengine-game-studio-shuts-down-exclusive/ |title=ImaginEngine game studio shuts down (exclusive) |first=Dean |last=Takahashi |date=October 12, 2012 |website=VentureBeat |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201051533/https://venturebeat.com/2012/10/12/imaginengine-game-studio-shuts-down-exclusive/ |archive-date=December 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/19/foundation-9-goes-next-gen |title=Foundation 9 Goes Next-Gen |first=David |last=Adams |date=August 19, 2005 |website=IGN |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115081856/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/19/foundation-9-goes-next-gen |url-status=live}} By this point, Digital Eclipse had produced 70 games on 11 different platforms. In February 2006, Backbone opened another subsidiary studio, Backbone Charlottetown, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, under the lead of Ayre.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/99006/Foundation_9_To_Open_New_Canadian_Studio.php |title=Foundation 9 To Open New Canadian Studio |first=Simon |last=Carless |date=February 6, 2006 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115081858/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/foundation-9-to-open-new-canadian-studio |url-status=live}} In May 2007, the new studio, including Ayre and several former Digital Eclipse employees, spun off from Backbone and became Other Ocean Interactive, aiming at showcasing Digital Eclipse's former traits in a smaller fashion.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/109109/Other_Ocean_iPhone_To_Be_Major_Player_In_Handheld_Market.php |title=Other Ocean: iPhone To Be 'Major Player' In Handheld Market |first=Brandon |last=Boyer |date=April 7, 2008 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514024915/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/109109/Other_Ocean_iPhone_To_Be_Major_Player_In_Handheld_Market.php |archive-date=May 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}

Backbone Vancouver was mostly dismantled in September 2008 and closed entirely in May 2009, while Backbone laid off the majority of its Emeryville-based staff in October 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.straight.com/article-198534/video-game-family-tree |title=Vancouver's video game family tree |first=Blaine |last=Kyllo |date=January 28, 2009 |website=The Georgia Straight |access-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410060429/https://www.straight.com/article-198534/video-game-family-tree |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/megabytes/2009/11/18/it-game-over-vancouvers-video-game-industry-not-quite-yet |title=Is it Game Over for Vancouver's Video Game Industry? Not quite yet |first=Terry |last=Lavender |date=November 18, 2009 |website=Vancouver Observer |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222174950/http://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/megabytes/2009/11/18/it-game-over-vancouvers-video-game-industry-not-quite-yet |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/179049/Layoffs_at_digital_game_studio_Backbone_Entertainment.php |title=Layoffs at digital game studio Backbone Entertainment |first=Mike |last=Rose |date=October 9, 2012 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201054420/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/179049/Layoffs_at_digital_game_studio_Backbone_Entertainment.php |archive-date=December 1, 2018 |url-status=live}} On June 8, 2015, after acquiring the Digital Eclipse name, Other Ocean's parent company, Other Ocean Group, announced that it had reformed Digital Eclipse as part of its Other Ocean Emeryville studio.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/245465/Digital_Eclipse_is_back_with_a_new_mission_preserve_classic_games.php |title=Digital Eclipse is back with a new mission: preserve classic games |first=Alex |last=Wawro |date=June 8, 2015 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306053006/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/245465/Digital_Eclipse_is_back_with_a_new_mission_preserve_classic_games.php |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |url-status=live}} Co-founders include Ayre, Mike Mika—who had acted as technical director for the original Digital Eclipse—and former Gamasutra writer Frank Cifaldi. The new Digital Eclipse laid its focus on video game preservation, and Cifaldi became the studio's "head of restoration", a title which Cifaldi noted was an industry first. At the time, Cifaldi also stated that Digital Eclipse aimed at becoming the video game equivalent of The Criterion Collection.{{cite web |url=https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/nnedam/how-mega-man-legacy-collection-is-teaching-the-video-games-industry-to-respect-its-heritage |title=How 'Mega Man Legacy Collection' Is Teaching the Video Games Industry to Respect Its Heritage |first=Chris |last=Schilling |date=August 28, 2015 |website=Waypoint |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115081859/https://www.vice.com/en/article/nnedam/how-mega-man-legacy-collection-is-teaching-the-video-games-industry-to-respect-its-heritage |url-status=live}} Cifaldi would leave Digital Eclipse around 2020 to work on the Video Game History Foundation full time.{{cite web|title="A True Original" - Digital Eclipse on 'Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story'|last=Yarwood|first=Jack|url=https://www.timeextension.com/features/interview-a-true-original-digital-eclipse-on-llamasoft-the-jeff-minter-story|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305161842/https://www.timeextension.com/features/interview-a-true-original-digital-eclipse-on-llamasoft-the-jeff-minter-story|accessdate=March 12, 2024|work=Time Extension|archivedate=March 5, 2024|date=March 5, 2024}}

Atari SA announced it would acquire Digital Eclipse in October 2023 for $4 million in cash and newly issued ordinary shares worth $2.5 million, alongside a possible earn-out of up to $13.5 million.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-to-acquire-digital-eclipse-in-20m-deal | title = Atari to acquire Digital Eclipse in $20m deal | first = James | last = Batchelor | date = October 31, 2023 | accessdate = October 31, 2023 | work = GamesIndustry.biz }} Atari closed the deal by November 6, 2023.{{cite press release|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/11/06/2773718/0/en/Atari-closes-the-acquisition-of-Digital-Eclipse.html|work=GlobeNewswire|title=Atari Closes the Acquisition of Digital Eclipse|accessdate=November 6, 2023|date=November 6, 2023}}

Part of Digital Eclipse's work include their own Eclipse Engine, a tool that allows them to decompile the code from older games into a machine-readable format that is then used by the Eclipse Engine to play them on modern systems. While it may take some extra work by the company to decompile the older game into the proper format one time, this approach allows them to rapidly port the Eclipse Engine version to any modern gaming system, including personal computers, consoles, and portable and mobile devices, with minimal effort. This engine has been used in Digital Eclipse's Mega Man Legacy Collection and The Disney Afternoon Collection.{{Cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/08/the-new-tech-making-game-preservation-more-authentic-and-future-proof/ |title=The new tech making game preservation more authentic and future-proof |first=Kyle |last=Orland |date=August 27, 2015 |website=Ars Technica |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411234901/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/08/the-new-tech-making-game-preservation-more-authentic-and-future-proof/ |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/99501/disney-afternoon-collection-producer-talks-challenges-and-nostalgia |title=Disney Afternoon Collection Producer Talks Challenges and Nostalgia |first=Steve |last=Watts |date=March 23, 2017 |website=Shacknews |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143025/http://www.shacknews.com/article/99501/disney-afternoon-collection-producer-talks-challenges-and-nostalgia |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=live}} The Eclipse Engine was primarily developed by Digital Eclipse's studio head, Mike Mika, and Other Ocean engineer Kevin Wilson, branched off from Other Ocean's Bakesale engine.

{{Main|Backbone Entertainment}}

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• {{Official website|http://www.digitaleclipse.com/}}

{{Atari}}

{{Digital Eclipse video games}}

Category:1992 establishments in California

Category:Atari

Category:Companies based in Emeryville, California

Category:Video game companies based in California

Category:American companies established in 1992

Category:Video game companies established in 1992

Category:Video game development companies

Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions

Category:2023 mergers and acquisitions

Category:American subsidiaries of foreign companies