Mind Control Software

{{Infobox company

| name = Mind Control Software

| logo = Mind Control Software logo 1999.jpg

| former_name = {{ubl|Electrified Software, Inc. (2011{{nbnd}}2013)|Mind Control Software, Inc. (2005{{nbnd}}2011)|Mind Control Software, LLC (2004{{nbnd}}2005)|Mind Control, Inc. (1998{{nbnd}}2000)|Mind Control Software (1994{{nbnd}}2011)}}

| type = Private

| industry = Video games

| founded = {{Start date and age|1994}} in Berkeley, CA

| founder = Andrew Leker

| defunct = {{End date|2013|04|30}}

| hq_location_city = San Rafael, California

| hq_location_country = US

| key_people = {{ubl|Eduardo Baraf|Marc LeBlanc|Jonathan Stone}}

| products = {{ubl|Alien Logic (1994)|Silencer (beta)|Resurrection (1999)|Oasis (2005)|Field Commander (2006)|Orbital Engine}}

| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120615221050/http://www.mind-control.com/index.php mind-control.com]

}}

Mind Control Software was an American video game developer based in California. It was founded in 1994 by Andrew Leker while he was working with Ceridus Software on the video-game adaptation of his tabletop role-playing game Skyrealms of Jorune, titled Alien Logic.{{r|mc company history 2012}}{{r|alien logic credits}} The company was active from 1994–2000 and 2004–2013.

History

Andrew Leker generally states 1994 as the year he founded Mind Control Software{{--}}the same year Alien Logic was released by developer Ceridus Software (incorporated in 1989 by Michael J. Dalton; David Kalish and Amy Leker, directors).{{r|sos cs 1989}}{{r|sos cs 1999}} Mind Control's website states "Mind Control Software was founded in 1994 by Andrew Leker as a vehicle for realizing the interactive version of Skyrealms of Jorune," and generally lists Alien Logic as their first game.{{r|mc company history 2012}}{{r|mc company 2002}} Yet, Leker stated in an interview in 1999 that "for several years I led the design and technical execution of the SkyRealms of Jorune computer RPG, Alien Logic. ... After Alien Logic, my company, Mind Control Software wrote a game called Silencer...."{{r|interview ign}} Thus, it appears that exactly when and how Mind Control was established, and why, is complicated. Regardless, the first appearance of Mind Control in state records is in 1998 as Mind Control, Inc. (just over a year before Ceridus "wound up" operations in 1999).{{r|sos 1998}}{{r|sos cs 1999}}

Strategic Simulations (SSI), the publisher of Alien Logic, announced Mind Control's next game, Silencer, in April 1996.{{r|silencer announce cgw}} There was a delay, and SSI never published it, however. Silencer was published in 2000 by WON.net only as an open beta, and it disappeared from the WON.net site before full release.{{r|silencer won}}

Meanwhile, Mind Control started work on Resurrection in August 1998 and released a development version of it in 1999 for GDC 1999.{{r|resurrection pcxl}} There, it participated in the first Independent Games Festival (IGF) and won "Best Game Design."{{r|resurrection gd}} Resurrection was later sold to Sega and became Ooga Booga (2001).{{r|gdc2003 bio}}

Mind Control Software announced their closure on May 26, 2000, just three days after the latest Silencer beta update was released.{{r|mc closed}} Their website shut down somewhere around 2002.

Mind Control Software re-emerged in late 2004 with the signing of LLC Articles of Organization on November 30, 2004 (filed on January 6, 2005).{{r|sos 2004}} This was followed by Articles of Incorporation (creating Mind Control Software, Inc.) in December 2005.{{r|sos 2005}} Mind Control's website reappeared in early 2005{{--}}which also announced that Marc LeBlanc had joined Leker as a chief designer.{{r|mc open 2005}} Apparently, previous to all this, Leker and LeBlanc had been working a game called Oasis since at least 2003 (when LeBlanc joined to help bring Oasis to market) which also won awards at the IGF.{{r|mc company history 2012}}

Oasis was published by PlayFirst in April 2005. In August 2010, Mind Control announced that they had reacquired the rights to Oasis from PlayFirst and had already published an iPad version of it as Defense of the Oasis.{{r|mc oasis back}}

On July 21, 2009, Mind Control announced a collaboration with Richard Garfield and Skaff Elias to develop an online strategy game, code-named Mind Twist.{{r|mc mindtwist pr}} It was never released and little is known about it.

In 2010, Mind Control announced the launch of a new brand, SpineCone Games, targeted at a younger audience.{{r|mc spinecone}}

In 2011, Mind Control Software changed their name to Electrified Software.{{r|sos 2011}} In 2013, Electrified Software closed.{{r|sos 2013}}

Games

Alien Logic: A Skyrealms of Jorune Adventure (1994) (developed by Ceridus Software, but with similar staff to the initial Mind Control employees)
Resurrection (prototype 1999, IGF 1999 submission, became Ooga Booga)
Silencer (beta released in 2000)
Oasis (2005, IGF 2004 submission)*
Spellagories (2005)*
Timmy's Magic Word Garden (2006, IGF 2006 submission)*
Bubble Symphony (2006, IGF 2006 submission)*
Gem River (2006, IGF 2006 submission)*
Field Commander (2006, for the PSP)
Thwart Poker (2006)*
Stomping Grounds (2006)*
Arrrrrr! (2007)*
DimensionM: Evolver (2007)
Vector City Racers (2009)
Mind Twist (announced 2009, presumably canceled)*

Games contributed to:

The Unholy War (1998)
Babel (1998)
Ooga Booga (2001)
Tino's Fruit Stand (2006)*

{{asterisk}} Uses Mind Control's Orbital Engine (a.k.a. Orbital Game Platform){{r|mc orbital games}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web

| date = 2000-05-26

| title = Home

| website = Mind Control Software

| url = http://www.mind-control.com/

| access-date = 2023-05-02

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20000816001405/http://www.mind-control.com/

| archive-date = 2000-08-16

| quote = Mind Control Software is no more. The Silencer open beta is available on won.net for free download.

}}

{{cite web

| title = Company

| website = Mind Control Software

| url = http://www.mind-control.com/company.htm

| access-date = 2023-05-03

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020609210618/http://www.mind-control.com/company.htm

| archive-date = 2002-06-09

}}

{{cite web

| title = Home

| website = Mind Control Software

| url = http://www.mind-control.com/

| access-date = 2023-05-02

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050403084942/http://www.mind-control.com/

| archive-date = 2005-04-03

}}

{{cite press release

| last = Kelly

| first = Mika

| date = 2009-07-21

| title = Richard Garfield and Skaff Elias Join Forces with Mind Control Software on Ground-Breaking Online Strategy Game

| publisher = Mind Control Software

| location = San Rafael, CA

| agency = Clever Communications

| url = http://www.mind-control.com/news.php?articleID=39

| access-date = 2023-05-04

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090726145818/http://www.mind-control.com/news.php?articleID=39

| archive-date = 2009-07-26

}}

{{cite news

| date = 2010-08-01

| title = Mind Control Reacquires Rights to Oasis

| work = Mind Control Software

| url = http://www.mind-control.com/news.php?articleID=54

| access-date = 2023-05-04

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110209095609/http://www.mind-control.com/news.php?articleID=54

| archive-date = 2011-02-09

}}

{{cite news

| date = 2010-11-23

| title = Mind Control Software Launches SpineCone Games Brand

| work = Mind Control Software

| url = http://www.mind-control.com/news.php?articleID=53

| access-date = 2023-05-04

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110209095521/http://www.mind-control.com/news.php?articleID=53

| archive-date = 2011-02-09

}}

{{cite web

| title = Company History

| website = Mind Control Software

| url = http://www.mind-control.com/about.php?aboutPage=1

| access-date = 2023-05-03

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120617154212/http://www.mind-control.com/about.php?aboutPage=1

| archive-date = 2012-06-17

}}

{{cite web

| title = Orbital Games

| website = Mind Control Software

| url = http://www.mind-control.com/orbital/projects.php

| access-date = 2023-05-04

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101124161614/http://www.mind-control.com/orbital/projects.php

| archive-date = 2010-11-24

}}

{{cite web

| date = 1998-02-12

| title = Articles of Incorporation of Mind Control, Inc.

| website = California Secretary of State

| url = https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/api/report/GetImageByNum/199002037019096188222069036231089180175119220229

| format = PDF

| access-date = 2023-05-02

}}

{{cite web

| date = 2004-11-30

| title = Limited Liability Company Articles of Organization: Mind Control Software, LLC

| website = California Secretary of State

| url = https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/api/report/GetImageByNum/248065105244192137011089076196030165162018047193

| format = PDF

| access-date = 2023-05-02

}}

{{cite web

| date = 2005-12-21

| title = Articles of Incorporation for Mind Control Software, Inc.

| website = California Secretary of State

| url = https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/api/report/GetImageByNum/006120182186196239170104187142183235122098029107

| format = PDF

| access-date = 2023-05-02

}}

{{cite web

| date = 2011-03-23

| title = Certificate of Amendment of the Second Amendment and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Mind Control Software, Inc.

| website = California Secretary of State

| url = https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/api/report/GetImageByNum/137147019060058096172194058169216033142112073187

| format = PDF

| access-date = 2023-05-02

| quote = The name of this corporation is Electrified Games, Inc.

}}

{{cite web

| date = 2013-04-30

| title = Election to Terminate: Electrified Games, Inc.

| website = California Secretary of State

| url = https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/api/report/GetImageByNum/213212167117040134117152139065158021195244029162

| format = PDF

| access-date = 2023-05-02

}}

{{cite web

| date = 1989-04-20

| title = Articles of Incorporation of Ceridus Software, Inc.

| website = California Secretary of State

| url = https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/api/report/GetImageByNum/010111005092254158207062113178122219029184166218

| format = PDF

| access-date = 2023-05-02

| quote = Michael J. Dalton, Incorporator

}}

{{cite web

| date = 1999-04-06

| title = Certificate of Dissolution: Ceridus Software, Inc.

| website = California Secretary of State

| url = https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/api/report/GetImageByNum/019019095076124021163136086224181223017193235047

| format = PDF

| access-date = 2023-05-02

| quote = David Kalish, Director; Amy Leker, Director

}}

{{cite web

| title = Alien Logic: DOS credits (1994)

| website = Moby Games

| url = https://www.mobygames.com/game/3960/alien-logic/credits/dos/

| access-date = 2023-05-03

| quote = Andrew Leker; David Kalish; Amy Leker Kalish

}}

{{cite web

| last =

| date = 1999-06-29

| title = Resurrection Interview

| website = IGN

| publisher = Imagine Media

| location = US

| url = https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/06/29/resurrection-interview

| access-date = 2023-05-01

}}

{{cite web

| title = Silencer

| website = WONnet: Game Channels: Action

| publisher = WON.net

| url = http://won.net/channels/action/silencer/

| access-date = 2023-05-01

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20000818055137/http://won.net/channels/action/silencer/

| archive-date = 2000-08-18

}}

{{cite magazine

| date = 1996-04-01

| title = Inside Action

| magazine = Computer Gaming World

| publisher = Ziff-Davis

| location = San Francisco, CA

| issue = 141

| page = 141

| url = https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_141/page/n143

| quote = If you dig side-scrolling action games like Abuse and Broderbund’s Prince of Persia, be on the lookout for Silencer from SSI. Programmed by Andrew Leker (of Jorune fame), Silencer takes place in a gritty, cyberpunk world reminiscent of Bladerunner. Look for Silencer to sneak onto the game scene this summer.

}}

{{cite magazine

| last =

| date = 1999-05-01

| title = Rebirth of the Bedroom Industry: Or How to Make Money from Your Room... and Not Get Arrested.

| magazine = PC Accelerator

| publisher = Imagine Media

| location = Brisbane, CA

| issue = 09

| page = 36

| url = https://archive.org/details/PCXL09May1999/page/n39

}}

{{cite magazine

| last = Sawyer

| first = Ben

| date = 1999-06-01

| title = The First Independent Games Festival: Recognition Without a Million-Dollar Budget

| magazine = Game Developer

| publisher = Miller Freeman

| location = San Francisco, CA

| volume = 6 No. 6

| page = 14

| url = https://archive.org/details/game-developer-june-1999/page/n15

| quote = Andrew Leker of Mind Control Software accepted the award for Best Game Design for Resurrection. This game lay [sic] at the intersection of turn-based strategy and role-playing, and featured [sic] an interesting 3D landscape on which two opponent [sic] attempt to fan out their pieces and conquer the map.

}}

{{cite conference

| title = Speaker Bios: Andrew Leker

| conference = Game Developers Conference, March 4{{nbnd}}8, 2003, San Jose, CA

| book-title = Make Better Games

| publisher = GamaNetwork

| page = 132

| url = https://archive.org/details/gamedevelopersco2003unse/page/132

}}