Draft:Digital Illusions Canada
| Formerly | Sandbox Studios (1999-2001) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | January 1999 |
| Founder | Steve Bergenholtz |
| Defunct | 5 October 2006 |
| Headquarters | , Canada |
| Owner | Digital Illusions CE (2001-2006) |
Number of employees | 25 (2006) |
CE Digital Illusions Canada Inc., (trade name: Digital Illusions Canada or DICE Canada)
History
[edit]The company was formed in January 1999 by Steve Bergenholtz, the co-founder of Utopia Technologies.[1] In November 1999, they opened up a development studio in London, Ontario.[2]
In April 2000, the company opened up a partnership program for independent developers.[3]
In April 2001, Digital Illusions CE announced that they had acquired and merged the assets of Sandbox Studios into a newly formed subsidiary, Digital Illusions North America.[4][5] The newly-formed division allowed DICE to form it's own development, production and sales in the North American market, and added 50 employees to DICE's staff amounting to 150 total employees.[6] Later on, Fredrik Liljegren, who co-founded the original parent company, would join DICE Canada as its studio manager.[7].
Under its new name, DICE Canada continued its focus on the family-friendly market. In May 2001, Digital Illusions signed a publishing deal with Knowledge Adventure and its parent company Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing to develop games based on popular children's toy properties.[8][9] A similar deal was made with TDK Mediactive in December 2002 for a game based on The Land Before Time franchise.[10]
By 2005, the studio was restructured to work on expansion packs and spin-offs of existing DICE properties.[11]
In March 2006, Electronic Arts announced that they would acquire all outstanding shares in DICE.[12] After the acquisition was completed, EA announced on 5 October that they would close Digital Illusions Canada[13] with it's remaining employees transferring to DICE's main offices in Stockholm, EA Canada or other EA studios.[14] Other employees, including DICE co-founder Fredrik Liljegren, opened up a successor studio named RedJade on 16 October, using the name of a company Liljegren used when he previously left DICE.[15]
Games developed
[edit]| Year | Title | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Lawyer Hunt | Microsoft Windows |
| 2000 | Wham-o Frisbee Golf | Microsoft Windows |
| Dinosaur | PlayStation | |
| The Emperor's New Groove | Game Boy Color | |
| Hoyle Card Games | ||
| 2001 | Blast Lacrosse | PlayStation |
| Matchbox: Emergency Patrol | Microsoft Windows | |
| ESPN National Hockey Night | Game Boy Color | |
| JumpStart Dino Adventure Field Trip | Game Boy Color | |
| JumpStart Wildlife Safari Field Trip | PlayStation | |
| Diva Starz: Mall Mania | Game Boy Color | |
| Shrek | Xbox | |
| 2002 | Shrek Extra Large | GameCube |
| The Land Before Time: Big Water Adventure | PlayStation | |
| Secret Agent Barbie: Royal Jewel Mission | Game Boy Advance | |
| Barbie: Groovy Games | ||
| Pryzm: Chapter One - The Dark Unicorn | PlayStation 2 | |
| 2003 | Barbie: Gotta Have Games | PlayStation |
| Polly Pocket: Super Splash Island | Game Boy Advance | |
| 2004 | Battlefield Vietnam | Microsoft Windows |
| 2005 | Battlefield 2: Special Forces | |
| 2006 | Battlefield 2: Euro Force | |
| Battlefield 2: Armored Fury |
References
[edit]- ^ "New (Old) N64 Developer: Sandbox Studios". IGN. January 30, 1999.
- ^ "Sandbox Studios Opens Canadian Office". IGN. April 11, 1999.
- ^ Dunkin, Alan (April 27, 2000). "Sandbox's Partners Program". GameSpot.
- ^ IGN Staff (6 April 2001). "Digital Illusions and Sandbox Studios Merge". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "Digital Illusions acquires Sandbox Studios - establishes North American operation". News Cision. April 11, 2001.
- ^ IGN Staff (11 April 2001). "Digital Illusions Nabs Sandbox Studios". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "REDJADE Opens for Business". GamesIndustry. October 16, 2006.
- ^ "Digital Illusions signs agreements with Knowledge Adventure(tm)". News Cision. June 18, 2001.
- ^ "Digital Illusions contracted to develop interactive game based on popular kids entertainment brand". News Cision. October 1, 2001.
- ^ Ball, Ryan (December 2, 2002). "TDK Unearths New Land Before Time Title". Animation Magazine.
- ^ "Digital Illusions to develop new PC game for EA". GameSpot. June 21, 2005.
- ^ Bramwell, Tom (17 March 2006). "EA and DICE announce new merger plan". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ Martin, Matt (5 October 2006). "EA confirms DICE Canada closure". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ Adams, David (5 October 2006). "Digital Illusions Canada Closes". IGN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ GamesIndustry International (16 October 2006). "REDJADE Opens for Business". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.