Cyclone Studios

Cyclone Studios was an American video game developer and publisher based in San Mateo, California. It developed several titles for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer and later Microsoft Windows.

Cyclone Studios
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1993
HeadquartersSan Mateo, California
Key people
Helmut Kobler
Ron Little
ParentThe 3DO Company

Early works

Cyclone Studios was founded in December 1993 by Helmut Kobler and Ron Little.[1] Kobler recounted, "Ron left college about a year after I did, and we started discussing what it would be like to design a game, then just talked ourselves into believing it was possible."[1] After securing a contract with 3DO to develop Captain Quazar, a cartoony isometric Shooter for 3DO's home console, they moved from Little's apartment to Redwood City, California in June 1994. At the time they started another 3DO title called BattleSport, a first-person 3D game. In spring of 1995 Cyclone moved to Menlo Park, California. Both BattleSport and Captain Quazar were released after Cyclone's acquisition by The 3DO Company;[2] BattleSport was released in late 1995 and Captain Quazar in early 1996.

Cyclone as a division of the 3DO Company

The company was acquired by The 3DO Company in December 1995[3][4][5] and moved to San Mateo, California.[1] Kobler was assigned as the leader of the division and Little was chosen to be the tech leader. Cyclone began developing games as a division of The 3DO Company for the PC and Panasonic M2.[3]

Uprising

Uprising is a hybrid first person action strategy game. It was shipped in October 1997 and met solid critical response, but sold below expectations due primarily to the marketing challenge of clearly communicating the unique and compelling aspects the blending of the two genres. Many consumers were unsure of what the game was and pre-launch hype proved difficult to build. Two sequels were developed thanks to the game's critical success: Uprising 2: Lead and Destroy was released for PC and Uprising-X was released on the PlayStation. After the release of Uprising-X the members of Cyclone Studios were absorbed into The 3DO Company.

The editors of Computer Games Strategy Plus named Uprising: Join or Die the best action game of 1997.[6]

The sequel, Lead and Destroy, was published in December 1998 for Windows.[7]

Requiem

Requiem: Avenging Angel is a story-driven first-person shooter. It was released in April 1999 and met modest critical acclaim and poor sales.

Games
Game titleRelease dateGenrePlatform
BattleSport1995Sports3DO
Captain Quazar1996Isometric 3D Shooter3DO, Microsoft Windows
Uprising: Join or DieSeptember 30, 1997Action, strategyMicrosoft Windows
Uprising XNovember 30, 1998Action, strategyPlayStation
Uprising 2: Lead and DestroyDecember 31, 1998Action, strategyMicrosoft Windows
Requiem: Avenging AngelMarch 31, 1999First-person shooter
Microsoft Windows
BattleSport II[8]CancelledSportsNintendo 64
Wrath of the Fallen[9]
CancelledActionMicrosoft Windows

References
  1. "NG Alphas: Cyclone Studios". Next Generation. No. 28. Imagine Media. April 1997. pp. 86–89.
  2. "32-Bit Gaming Drops in Price". Next Generation. No. 14. Imagine Media. February 1996. pp. 16–17.
  3. "Tidbits...". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 79. Sendai Publishing. February 1996. p. 17.
  4. "Price Cut on Goldstar 3DO". GamePro. No. 90. IDG. March 1996. p. 17.
  5. "3DO Acquires Cyclone Studios". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. December 4, 1995. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2019 – via The Free Dictionary.
  6. Staff (January 19, 1998). "The winners of the 1997 Computer Games Awards". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005.
  7. Ryan, Michael E. (February 1, 1999). "Uprising 2: Lead and Destroy Review". GameSpot. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  8. "BioSwarm (BattleSport II)". IGN. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  9. "Wrath of the Fallen video game". 2002-10-03. Archived from the original on 2002-10-03. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
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