DreamCatcher Interactive

DreamCatcher Interactive Inc. (also known as DreamCatcher Games) was a Canadian video game publisher founded in 1996 by Richard Wah Kan. It was best known for its adventure games. In 2006, the company became a subsidiary of JoWooD Entertainment. In 2011, the company went into administration along with its parent JoWooD and all assets were purchased by Nordic Games Holding. The DreamCatcher Interactive brand is currently being used as a publishing label for THQ Nordic.[1]

DreamCatcher Interactive Inc.
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1996
FounderRichard Wah Kan
Defunct2011
FateDissolved with parent, assets acquired by Nordic Games
SuccessorTHQ Nordic
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada
ProductsSee products listing
ParentJoWooD Entertainment
(2006–2011)
DivisionsThe Adventure Company

History

DreamCatcher Interactive was founded in 1996 at Toronto, Canada. Its first published title was Jewels of the Oracle.[2] The company gradually drifted into becoming a publisher focused on the adventure genre after finding that "customers really were hungry for" these titles, according to DreamCatcher's Marshall Zwicker. Beyond Time was among the releases whose reception drew the publisher to this field.[3] Profit reported that DreamCatcher located such projects via "networking at tradeshows and reviewing unsolicited game proposals."[2] In 1999, DreamCatcher pushed its corporate strategy by launching Nightlong: Union City Conspiracy, The Forgotten: It Begins and The Crystal Key.[3] The latter went on to a major hit.[2] DreamCatcher's top four titles for 2000 were Dracula: Resurrection, Traitors Gate, Beyond Atlantis and The Crystal Key. These games respectively made up 9%, 14%, 15% and 32% of DreamCatcher's sales that year.[4] In March 2000, DreamCatcher was purchased by Cryo Interactive.[5] Continuing the company's growth, in November 2000, DreamCatcher signed with Her Interactive to publish the Nancy Drew franchise.[6]

In late 2002, most of the assets and development teams of French-based publisher, Cryo Interactive were absorbed by DreamCatcher Interactive, forming the base for DreamCatcher Europe including key offices and a large internal studio.[7] By early 2003, DreamCatcher was the United States' tenth-biggest publisher of games.[8] After the acquisition of Cryo Interactive, Dreamcatcher created a publishing division called The Adventure Company in early 2003. The company also partnered with both Wanadoo Edition and Microïds, as well as other studios in the development and distribution of games including Syberia, Still Life and ObsCure.[9] In 2005, the main Microïds studio was acquired by Ubisoft with Dreamcatcher retaining publishing rights to the games being created.[10]

The Adventure Company brand label under DreamCatcher has released many adventure game series' including series' based on Agatha Christie novels. They also recently signed to release a series of titles based on The Hardy Boys.[11] Outside of adventure gaming, DreamCatcher is best known for publishing the first-person shooter Painkiller developed with People Can Fly. Painkiller became a commercial success and was signed with the CPL World Tour 2005.[12] Dreamcatcher would also create another label, Silverline Software, around 2004 for the distribution of some non-core games and the publishing of utility software. Silverline Software would release the "Time to Ride" series of girl's horse games starting in 2004, which would later be acquired by Ubisoft.

In 2006, JoWooD Entertainment announced the purchase of DreamCatcher Games as a way of increasing their presence into the North American gaming market in addition to acquiring the company's key titles and licenses.[13] Since the acquisition, DreamCatcher Games has continued to launch titles both under The Adventure Company and DreamCatcher labels including new games created by JoWooD like the SpellForce series. In 2011, JoWooD went into administration causing DreamCatcher to file for bankruptcy. In November 2011, Nordic Games Holding announced that they had acquired all DreamCatcher assets and would be turning it into a publishing label of their subsidiary Nordic Games.[14] Nordic Games Holding had previously acquired JoWooD and The Adventure Company in August also turning both brands into publishing labels of Nordic Games.[15] All business operations of this brand are being conducted out of THQ Nordic in Vienna, Austria.[14]

Games

Note: This list is for titles which DreamCatcher Interactive published. Releases of games under The Adventure Company banner are not included.

Year Title Developer Platform(s)
1996 Jewels of the Oracle ELOI Productions Macintosh, Windows 3.x
1997 Egypt 1156 B.C.: Tomb of the Pharaoh Cryo Interactive Entertainment Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
Safecracker Daydream Software
Soldier Boyz Daydream Software Microsoft Windows
Beyond Time Jones and Jones Multimedia Microsoft Windows, Windows 3.x
1998 Jewels II: The Ultimate Challenge ELOI Productions
Karma: Curse of the 12 Caves Microsoft Windows
Cydonia: Mars - The First Manned Mission
Nightlong: Union City Conspiracy
1999 The Adventures of Jonny Quest
The Crystal Key Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
2000 The Forgotten: It Begins
Egypt II: The Heliopolis Prophecy Microsoft Windows
Seven Games of the Soul
Riddle of the Sphinx: An Egyptian Adventure Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
The Legend of Lotus Spring
The Sacred Amulet Microsoft Windows
Dracula: The Resurrection Macintosh, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
Traitors Gate Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
Beyond Atlantis
In Cold Blood PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
The New Adventures of the Time Machine Microsoft Windows
TimeScape: Journey to Pompeii Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin Microsoft Windows
Odyssey: The Search for Ulysses
Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance
2001 Frank Herbert's Dune Microsoft Windows
Dracula: The Last Sanctuary Macintosh, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
Necronomicon: The Dawning of Darkness PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
The Messenger Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
Dracula: Crazy Vampire Game Boy Color
Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill Microsoft Windows
The Secrets of Alamut
Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger
Arthur's Knights: Tales of Chivalry
Nancy Drew: Treasure in the Royal Tower
Woody Woodpecker Game Boy Color
Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy Microsoft Windows
Atlantis: The Lost Tales
Jekyll & Hyde
The Shadow of Zorro
From Dusk Till Dawn
Schizm: Mysterious Journey
Beyond Atlantis II
Nancy Drew: The Final Scene
MegaRace 3
2002 Inspector Gadget: Advance Mission Game Boy Advance
Gremlins: Stripe vs. Gizmo
Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park PlayStation 2
Casino Mogul Microsoft Windows
SuperPower
Factory Mogul
Arabian Nights
Project Earth: Starmageddon
The Mystery of the Nautilus
Gore: Ultimate Soldier
Rock Manager
Agassi Tennis Generation PlayStation 2
Iron Storm Microsoft Windows
Extreme Ghostbusters: Code Ecto-1 Game Boy Advance
Kaan: Barbarian's Blade PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows
Law & Order: Dead on the Money Microsoft Windows
Pink Panther: Pinkadelic Pursuit PlayStation
Hegemonia: Legions of Iron Microsoft Windows
Pink Panther: Pinkadelic Pursuit Game Boy Advance
Post Mortem Microsoft Windows
2003 Battlecruiser Millennium Gold
Harbinger
Hellboy: Dogs of the Night PlayStation
Emergency Fire Response Microsoft Windows
Enigma: Rising Tide
Spirits & Spells GameCube
Curse: The Eye of Isis Microsoft Windows, Xbox
Etherlords II Microsoft Windows
Ultimate Beach Soccer Game Boy Advance, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Pax Romana Microsoft Windows
Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
Arx Fatalis Xbox
2004 Saddle Up: Time to Ride Microsoft Windows
Besieger
Traitors Gate 2: Cypher
Universal Combat
Crystal Key II: The Far Realm
Painkiller
The Omega Stone: Riddle of the Sphinx II
Aura: Fate of the Ages
SuperPower 2
Lights Out
Return to Mysterious Island
Painkiller: Battle Out of Hell
Advanced Battlegrounds: The Future of Combat
2005 Cops 2170: The Power of Law
Yager
Enigma: Rising Tide
The Moment of Silence
Domination
ObsCure PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Xbox
Painkiller: Gold Edition Microsoft Windows
MetalHeart: Replicants Rampage
Dungeon Lords
Still Life Xbox
Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern Microsoft Windows
Painkiller: Black
NiBiRu: Age of Secrets
Cold War Microsoft Windows, Xbox
Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None Wii, Microsoft Windows
2006 Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express Microsoft Windows
Dungeon Lords: Collector's Edition
Keepsake
Glory of the Roman Empire
Wildlife Zoo
Painkiller: Hell Wars Xbox
Ship Simulator 2006 Microsoft Windows
First Battalion
Neverend
Evidence: The Last Ritual
Secret Files: Tunguska
2007 Nanny Mania
Secrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword Game
Power Boat GT
The Sacred Rings
The Ugly Prince Duckling
Genesis Rising
Dawnspire: Prelude
Voyage
Sentinel: Descendants in Time
Mysterious Journey II: Chameleon
Dunes of War
Dead Reefs
Spaceforce: Rogue Universe
Destination: Treasure Island
Atlantis Evolution
Animates Nintendo DS
The Cameron Files: Pharaoh's Curse Microsoft Windows
Painkiller: Overdose
LifeSigns: Surgical Unit Nintendo DS
Next Life Microsoft Windows
Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun
Zoo Quest: Puzzle Fun Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows
2008 Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile Microsoft Windows
Agatha Christie: Mysteries
The Experiment
Seven Kingdoms: Conquest
Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb
Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis
SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm
Painkiller Triple Dose
SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars
Wildlife Zoo: Deluxe Edition
The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft
Drivers Ed Portable Nintendo DS
Syberia
Dreamer: Horse Trainer
Learn Math for Grades 1-4
Dreamer: Puppy Trainer
Matchstick
2009 Inkheart
Dreamer: Pop Star
Monster Band
Dreamer Series: Babysitter
Let's Play: Shops
Painkiller: Resurrection Microsoft Windows
Treasure Island
2010 Arcania: Gothic 4
Gothic II (Gold Edition)
Chaser
Painkiller: Pandemonium
2011 Painkiller: Redemption

References

  1. "DREAMCATCHER INTERACTIVE INC. Trademark of THQ Nordic AB Serial Number: 75212375 :: Trademarkia Trademarks". Archived from the original on 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  2. Baillie, Susanne. "PROFIT 100 2002 Company #5: DreamCatcher Interactive Inc". Profit. Archived from the original on June 19, 2002.
  3. Fournier, Heidi (January 14, 2000). "An exclusive interview with... Marshall Zwicker and Richard Wah Kan of DreamCatcher Interactive". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  4. Document de référence 2000 (PDF) (Report) (in French). Cryo Interactive. July 11, 2001. pp. 27, 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2003.
  5. Hong, Quang (March 3, 2000). "Cryo Acquires Dreamcatcher". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017.
  6. "DreamCatcher Publishes Nancy Drew". Archived from the original on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  7. Absorbed Cyro Interactive Archived 2010-01-10 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Bronstring, Marek (March 7, 2003). "The Adventure Company Europe". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on October 23, 2005. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  9. Dreamcatcher Publishes ObsCure Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
  10. Thorsen, Tor. "Ubisoft subsumes Microids Canada". GameSpot.
  11. The Hardy Boys License Archived September 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  12. Painkiller Added to Summer CPL Championship Archived July 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  13. Euro Adhoc JoWooD Acquisitions Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "Nordic Games Holding AB Group acquires DreamCatcher". Nordic Games. 2011-11-17. Archived from the original on 2011-12-21. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
  15. "Nordic Games Holding AB Group Acquires JoWood & The Adventure Company". Nordic Games. 2011-08-16. Archived from the original on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
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