Lobotomy Software
{{short description|American video game developer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Lobotomy Studios, Inc.
| logo = Lobotomy_Software_Logo.jpg
| logo_caption = Logo used from 1996 to 1998
| former_name = Lobotomy Software (1993–1998)
| type = Subsidiary
| foundation = January 13, 1993
| defunct = 1999
| location = Redmond, Washington, U.S.
| key_people = Paul Lange
Ezra Dreisbach
| industry = Video games
| products = PowerSlave
| revenue =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| parent = Crave Entertainment (1998–1999)
| homepage =
}}
Lobotomy Studios, Inc., formerly Lobotomy Software, was an American video game developer founded in 1993 and based in Redmond, Washington. The company ported Quake and Duke Nukem 3D to the Sega Saturn and developed the first-person shooter PowerSlave (titled Exhumed in Europe). Lobotomy Software was acquired by Crave Entertainment in 1998 and renamed to Lobotomy Studios which closed a year later.
History
Lobotomy Software was founded in 1993, when a group of friends working at Nintendo of America left to form their own company, becoming the creative department of Lobotomy, with the programmers coming from Manley & Associates{{Cite news|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/death-tanks-ezra-driesbach-interview|title = Death Tank's Ezra Dreisbach|newspaper = Eurogamer.net|date = 19 February 2009}} (a developer acquired by Electronic Arts in 1996, renamed Electronic Arts Seattle, and shut down in 2002). They originally worked out of co-founder Paul Lange's apartment, but after a few months set up an office in Redmond, Washington.{{cite magazine|first=Rich |last=Leadbetter |title=Lobotomised!|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=14|publisher=Emap International Limited|date=December 1996|pages=48–49}} The team began working on game demos, one of which later became the first-person shooter PowerSlave.
Shortly after PowerSlave was released, Sega secured the rights from GT Interactive to publish Duke Nukem 3D and Quake. Sega originally handed the projects to two other developers, but were unhappy with their work.{{cite magazine |first=Richard |last=Leadbetter|title=1997 Starts with a Bang!|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=16 |publisher=Emap International Limited|date=February 1997|pages=17–18}}{{cite magazine |first=Rich|last=Leadbetter |title=Lobotomy Interviewed! Duke Nukem Plans Revealed! |magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|issue=18 |publisher=Emap International Limited |date=April 1997|pages=16–17}} Deadlines for the two games were set just a few months apart, and as such their development considerably overlapped.
The Sega Saturn ports of Quake and Duke Nukem 3D both use the SlaveDriver engine Lobotomy created for the console versions of PowerSlave. Lobotomy Software had ported Quake to the Sony PlayStation, but could not find a publisher, which exacerbated their financial troubles.{{Cite web |first=Gareth |last=Jones |date=2010-08-06 |title=Interview with Ezra Dreisbach of Lobotomy Software |work=Gareth Jones |url=http://www.gareth.uk/2010/08/07/interview-with-ezra-dreisbach-of-lobotomy-software/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301195834/http://www.gareth-jones.co.uk/2010/08/07/interview-ezra-dreisbach |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |access-date=2024-05-30 |language=en-GB |url-status=live }}
In 1998, Lobotomy Software was acquired by Crave Entertainment and renamed Lobotomy Studios. The team worked on a Caesars Palace gambling game for the Nintendo 64, but after a year of development, the game was postponed and eventually cancelled. At that point, Lobotomy Studios was closed and employees were let go or given the option to be relocated to another position at Crave Entertainment.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} The next title that the team would have worked on was a sequel to PowerSlave simply titled PowerSlave 2, which was going to be a third-person shooter and use a different game engine.{{cite magazine |date=October 1997 |title=PowerSlave 2 in Development |url=https://archive.org/stream/GamefanVolume5Issue10October1997#page/n107 |magazine=GameFan |volume=5 |issue=10 |page=100 }}
Games
;Original
- PowerSlave (September 26, 1996) Saturn, MS-DOS, PlayStation. Includes the hidden mini-game Death Tank.
;Ports to Sega Saturn
- Quake (October 31, 1997)
- Duke Nukem 3D (October 31, 1997). Includes the hidden mini-game Death Tank Zwei.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/19980212083645/http://lobotomysoftware.com/ Official website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/19970302140412/http://www.playmatestoys.com/pages/pie/pwrslave.htm PowerSlave on Playmates]
- [http://www.mobygames.com/company/lobotomy-studios Lobotomy Software] at MobyGames
Category:Video game development companies
Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States
Category:Video game companies based in Washington (state)
Category:Defunct companies based in Washington (state)
Category:Defunct companies based in Redmond, Washington