History
Prior to the acquisition of Guerrilla by Sony Computer Entertainment, the developer was a subsidiary of the large Dutch multimedia conglomerate Lost Boys, and operated under the moniker Lost Boys Games. The developer was formed as a result of a merger between 3 separate Dutch-based developers, including Orange Games, founded by Arjan Brussee, and Digital Infinity, founded by Arnout van der Kamp. Over the next 3 and a half years, Lost Boys Games would release four titles, two each for Nintendo's Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance handheld gaming consoles.
In mid 2003, due to a variety of mergers and corporate reshuffling, the gaming unit was sold off to Media Republic, a new media venture by original Lost Boys' founder Michiel Mol, and in July of that year was renamed to Guerrilla Games. Shortly thereafter, the developer began work on its first two titles, Killzone, in development for Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, and Shellshock: Nam '67, in development for Eidos Interactive, for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC.
Both titles would be released the following year to mixed reception, however Killzone enjoyed immense pre-release hype and anticipation, and despite some backfire effect due to the media hype, Killzone went on to sell over a million copies worldwide, earning Greatest Hits and Platinum status in North America and Europe respectively. Thanks in part to this success, Guerrilla signed an exclusive development agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment in late 2004, that would see future development at the company exist solely for Sony's line of video game consoles, the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3. Shellshock sold over 900,000 copies. A sequel was developed by Rebellion Developments.
In May 2005, the developer enjoyed yet another massive influx of attention and interest, both positive and controversial, after the release of a pre-rendered trailer of its upcoming Killzone sequel, Killzone 2 for the PlayStation 3, at the unveiling of the new console at Sony's press conference during the E3 video game trade show that year. The hype and skepticism surrounding both the game and its initial unveiling still resonates to this day, and has vaulted Guerrilla to the forefront of developers within Sony Computer Entertainment, despite the company's short history and small catalog of past titles.
In December of that year, Sony Computer Entertainment announced the acquisition of Guerrilla Games from then parent company Media Republic, making the developer a wholly owned first party studio within the publisher. Guerrilla has since gone on to release Killzone: Liberation for the PlayStation Portable in October 2006, Killzone 2 for the PlayStation 3 in February 2009, and Killzone 3 for the PlayStation 3 in February 2011. It has been reported that Guerrilla is currently working on another first person shooter game. On February 24 Co-founder and development director of studio, Arjan Brussee confirmed with an email to employees that he left the studio to work at Visceral Games on a new project.
On August 15, 2012 at Sony's Gamescom Press Conference, Killzone: Mercenary was announced for the PlayStation Vita. It is to be developed by Guerilla Games, continuing their work on the PlayStation Franchise.
Read more about this topic: Guerrilla Games
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The principle that human nature, in its psychological aspects, is nothing more than a product of history and given social relations removes all barriers to coercion and manipulation by the powerful.”
—Noam Chomsky (b. 1928)
“The awareness that health is dependent upon habits that we control makes us the first generation in history that to a large extent determines its own destiny.”
—Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.)
“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.”
—Karl Marx (1818–1883)