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'''Rockstar New England''' is the newest [[Rockstar]] studio, formerly Mad Doc Software. Incorporated in 2008, they are best known for Empire Earth III. Currently Rockstar New England has developed no new games since they become part of Take-Two but they will surely get developing some in the near future. | '''Rockstar New England''' is the newest [[Rockstar]] studio, formerly Mad Doc Software. Incorporated in 2008, they are best known for Empire Earth III. Currently Rockstar New England has developed no new games since they become part of Take-Two but they will surely get developing some in the near future. | ||
The original Mad Doc Software was founded by Dr. Ian Lane Davis, an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_artificial_intelligence artificial intelligence] (AI) expert. The company incorporates new [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_networking networking], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics graphics], and AI technologies into their games (''Empire Earth II'' uses Mad Doc’s Mad3D Game Engine and MadAI technologies). | |||
As of 2008, the company has sold over 10 million copies of their various software titles worldwide. | |||
Dr. Davis started Mad Doc Software in Andover in 1999 before shortly moving to Lawrence a year later. | |||
In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_in_video_gaming 2001], Mad Doc completed ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_Armada_II Star Trek: Armada II]'' for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activision Activision], adding 3D play, enhanced AI and other features. The Mad Doc team also delivered a wireless-platform golf game to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JAMDAT_Mobile JAMDAT Mobile], as well as AI design for the sequel to a major software publisher's PC game. | |||
In March [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_in_video_gaming 2002], Mad Doc completed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_simulator flight simulator] ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane%27s_Attack_Squadron Jane's Attack Squadron]''. In the fall of 2002, the company released ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Earth:_The_Art_of_Conquest Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest]'', the official expansion pack for ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Earth Empire Earth]'', to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Entertainment Sierra Entertainment]. | |||
The year [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_in_video_gaming 2003] brought further success for Mad Doc. In November, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Game_Studios Microsoft Game Studios] released ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_Siege:_Legends_of_Aranna Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna]''. Mad Doc developed an expansion pack for ''Dungeon Siege'' adding new features and AI enhancements. The company was a finalist for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_of_Interactive_Arts_and_Sciences Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences] "Computer Role Playing Game of the Year" due to this expansion pack. | |||
In the spring of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_in_video_gaming 2005], the company released ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Earth_II Empire Earth II]''. They added features including advanced AI, enhanced environmental realism, new multiplayer modes, and improved management systems. The game garnered a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_Gamer PC Gamer] Editor's Choice Award and a 94% review score. PC Gamer stated that the game was "The New King of Real-Time Strategy Gaming". | |||
''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_Legacy Star Trek: Legacy]'', had mixed to moderate reviews for the Xbox 360 and was negatively received for the PC. | |||
The company's ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Earth_III Empire Earth III]'' has been the subject of many harsh reviews, with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameSpot GameSpot] saying, "''Empire Earth III'' has been dumbed down to the point of irrelevance." As a result, Mad Doc has removed ''Empire Earth III'' from their list of games on their website and any trace of it. | |||
Mad Doc has also created an autonomous cross-country navigation system for the U.S. Dept. of Defense. | |||
Mad Doc was contracted to partner with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_Games Propaganda Games] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threewave_Software Threewave Software] for various map designs for the 2008 game [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turok_(2008_video_game) Turok]. | |||
Mad Doc ported [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockstar_Vancouver Rockstar Vancouver]'s ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_(video_game) Bully]'' to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360 Xbox 360] (ported to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii Wii] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockstar_Toronto Rockstar Toronto]) in the form of ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_(video_game)#Bully:_Scholarship_Edition Bully: Scholarship Edition]''. | |||
On April 4, 2008, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockstar_Games Rockstar Games] announced that it had acquired the studio and rebranded it Rockstar New England.[[File:Mad doc software.jpg|frame|Original logo for Mad Doc Software]] | |||
== External link == | == External link == | ||
Revision as of 09:48, 6 August 2009
Rockstar New England is the newest Rockstar studio, formerly Mad Doc Software. Incorporated in 2008, they are best known for Empire Earth III. Currently Rockstar New England has developed no new games since they become part of Take-Two but they will surely get developing some in the near future.
The original Mad Doc Software was founded by Dr. Ian Lane Davis, an artificial intelligence (AI) expert. The company incorporates new networking, graphics, and AI technologies into their games (Empire Earth II uses Mad Doc’s Mad3D Game Engine and MadAI technologies).
As of 2008, the company has sold over 10 million copies of their various software titles worldwide.
Dr. Davis started Mad Doc Software in Andover in 1999 before shortly moving to Lawrence a year later.
In 2001, Mad Doc completed Star Trek: Armada II for Activision, adding 3D play, enhanced AI and other features. The Mad Doc team also delivered a wireless-platform golf game to JAMDAT Mobile, as well as AI design for the sequel to a major software publisher's PC game.
In March 2002, Mad Doc completed the World War II flight simulator Jane's Attack Squadron. In the fall of 2002, the company released Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest, the official expansion pack for Empire Earth, to Sierra Entertainment.
The year 2003 brought further success for Mad Doc. In November, Microsoft Game Studios released Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna. Mad Doc developed an expansion pack for Dungeon Siege adding new features and AI enhancements. The company was a finalist for the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences "Computer Role Playing Game of the Year" due to this expansion pack.
In the spring of 2005, the company released Empire Earth II. They added features including advanced AI, enhanced environmental realism, new multiplayer modes, and improved management systems. The game garnered a PC Gamer Editor's Choice Award and a 94% review score. PC Gamer stated that the game was "The New King of Real-Time Strategy Gaming".
Star Trek: Legacy, had mixed to moderate reviews for the Xbox 360 and was negatively received for the PC.
The company's Empire Earth III has been the subject of many harsh reviews, with GameSpot saying, "Empire Earth III has been dumbed down to the point of irrelevance." As a result, Mad Doc has removed Empire Earth III from their list of games on their website and any trace of it.
Mad Doc has also created an autonomous cross-country navigation system for the U.S. Dept. of Defense.
Mad Doc was contracted to partner with Propaganda Games and Threewave Software for various map designs for the 2008 game Turok.
Mad Doc ported Rockstar Vancouver's Bully to the Xbox 360 (ported to the Wii by Rockstar Toronto) in the form of Bully: Scholarship Edition.
On April 4, 2008, Rockstar Games announced that it had acquired the studio and rebranded it Rockstar New England.
