Engine Software

Engine Software (previously MSX-Engine) is a Dutch video game developer, located in Doetinchem, Netherlands, which specialized in handheld video games and digital platforms until 2011. In the period after (2011-present) they have become more active and known for high-end ports and adaptations of games to modern consoles, mobile, PC and streaming services like Stadia and Luna. Some of the best known games they have worked on include Puzzle Quest for the Nintendo DS, Terraria for Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Wii U, Killer7 Remastered for PC, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch for Nintendo Switch and No More Heroes / No More Heroes 2 for Nintendo Switch.

Engine Software BV
TypeVideo game developer
IndustryVideo games
Founded1991 (as MSX-Engine)
1995 (as Engine Software)
HeadquartersDoetinchem, Netherlands
Key people
Ivo Wubbels, Ruud van de Moosdijk
Number of employees
Between 20 and 30
Websitehttp://www.engine-software.com/

In 2020 Engine Software announced they are working with Ubisoft to rerelease Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game,[1] and also working with NIS America to release ports for Nintendo Switch and PC of Japanese developer Nihon Falcom's flagship titles Ys IX[2] and Trails of Cold Steel IV.[3]

History

Early years (1995–2004)

Engine Software BV was founded in 1995 by several friends who met and worked together previously in the active Dutch demo scene for the MSX home computer. In this period (1989-1993) the group (named MSX-Engine [4]) released three indie games, a disk magazine, a music tracker and an Assembler.[5] In 1994 some of the people from MSX-Engine started working on a game for the Super NES, and the name was changed to Engine Software later the same year. In 1995 the group officially founded the company, making it the oldest (still active) game developer in The Netherlands. The game for SNES, Corn Buster, was unreleased after a publishing deal with Sunsoft fell through.[6]

After this, Engine Software was asked by fellow game developer Vicarious Visions to support them in the development of several Game Boy Color games for clients like THQ [7] and Vatical Entertainment.[8] The relation between Vicarious Visions and Engine Software lasted another generation of handheld consoles, the Game Boy Advance, releasing games such as Powerrangers: Timeforce [9] and SpyMuppets: License to Croak. Soon after the companies each went their own way.

Nintendo DS era (2005–2012)

In terms of sheer quantity this was Engine Software's most productive period, with 51 Nintendo DS titles released.[10] Following their supporting developer role with Vicarious Visions earlier, Engine Software worked in the same role with 1st Playable Productions and Artificial Mind and Movement[11] (rebranded back to Behaviour Interactive in 2010) on a wide range of Nintendo DS games based on licensed properties from Disney and Nickelodeon. At the same time the studio launched more games of its own design like Just Sing! and Lost Identities. With German publisher DTP Young Entertainment they developed a range of educational games for the German Market called "Think Kids" (licensed from Ravensburger),[12] and they also signed a multi-game development deal with Belgian production house Studio 100 based on their TV properties (Mega Mindy, Maya the Bee, K3).

Dutch publisher Playlogic Entertainment NV, which purchased a minority share in Engine Software in 2003[13] invested in an original concept by the studio for PlayStation Portable called Stateshift. After a year in development Playlogic cancelled the development, and in early 2007 Engine Software bought back the shares from Playlogic Entertainment. The game Stateshift for PlayStation Portable was independently finished by Engine Software and published by Midas Interactive[14] in Europe and Conspiracy Entertainment in the United States. Engine Software and Playlogic still collaborated on two Nintendo DS games after this: Dragonhunters in 2008[15] and Aliens in the Attic in 2009.[16] During this time Engine Software also formed a relationship with Milan-based publisher 505 Games due to their penchant of creating games based on licensed materials. With 505 Games, Engine Software released movie-based games Cats & Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore and HOP: THe Video Game.[17]

Multi-platform era (2012–2020)

Around 2012 most work-for-hire licensed games work had dried up, and Engine Software rebranded itself as a multi-platform developer specializing in ports and adaptations of a wide area of games, from indie titles to triple-A titles. The first project was a multi-year multi-platform collaboration with 505 Games and Re-Logic to bring the smash-hit Terraria from PC to consoles, starting with PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360[18] in 2013 and later that year to PlayStation Vita.[19] These releases were followed by versions of Terraria for PlayStation 4[20] and Xbox One[21] in 2014, and finally a Wii U versionin 2016.[22] During this time Engine Software and Re-Logic also collaborated on the concept and design for a Terraria spin-off title called Terraria: Otherworld which Re-Logic announced in 2015.[23] Otherworld's development had some significant issues and delays causing Re-Logic to move development of the title to a different studio in 2017.[24]

Games developed

Year Title Platform(s) Notes
1991 Dizzy MSX2 Developer
1992 Dix
1993 D.A.S.S.
2000 Twisted Mind Microsoft Windows Developer
Pro Darts Game Boy Color Supporting developer Vicarious Visions
Rescue Heroes: Fire Frenzy Supporting developer Vicarious Visions
2001 Sea-Doo Hydrocross Supporting developer Vicarious Visions
SpongeBob SquarePants: Legend of the Lost Spatula Supporting developer Vicarious Visions
Suske & Wiske: de Tijdtemmers Developer
Kelly Club: Clubhouse Fun Developer
€uro-Man Microsoft Windows Developer
Leve de Koningin Developer
Power Rangers: Time Force Game Boy Advance Supporting developer Vicarious Visions
2002 5 Jumbo Puzzels: Kastelen Microsoft Windows Developer
Artifact Game Boy Advance Developer
2003 X2: Wolverine's Revenge Supporting developer Vicarious Visions with GBA conversion
Muppets: On with the Show Supporting developer Vicarious Visions
Spy Muppets: License to Croak Supporting developer Vicarious Visions
Coronel Indoor Kartracing Microsoft Windows Developer
2004 Mr. Donutman
Wade Hixton's Counter Punch Game Boy Advance
2006 DigiBlast
Gormiti 1: The Masters of Gorm Island
Truckz
2007 Cuccioli Cerca Amici
Gormiti 2: Lotta Oscura
Gormiti 3: Aggualo nella Valle
SparkBlast
High School Musical: Livin' the Dream Game Boy Advance Supporting developer A2M
StateShift PlayStation Portable Developer
Xyanide: Resurrection Supporting developer Playlogic Entertainment
Marvel Trading Card Game Nintendo DS Supporting developer 1st Playable Productions
Puzzlequest DS Conversion
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Circle of Spies Supporting developer A2M
2008 GoPets: Vacation Island Supporting developer 1st Playable Productions
Dragon Hunters Developer
Polar Bowler DS conversion
Think Kids Developer
Tropix DS conversion
Bang Attack Wii Developer
2009 Gripskids: Deutsch Nintendo DS Developer
Gripskids: Mathematik Developer
Gripskids: Sachkunde Developer
Just Sing! Developer
My Virtual Tutor Reading: Pre-K to Kindergarten Supporting developer 1st Playable Productions
My Virtual Tutor Reading: Kindergarten to 1st Grade Supporting developer 1st Playable Productions
My Virtual Tutor Reading: 1st Grade to 2nd Grade Supporting developer 1st Playable Productions
Princess in Love Developer
Rummikub Developer
Think Kids 2 Developer
2010 Aliens in the Attic Developer
Cats & Dogs: the Revenge of Kitty Galore Developer
Dance! It's Your Stage Developer
Music für Kids Developer
Bejeweled 2 Wii Developer
2011 Het Studio 100 Speel Eiland Developer
Hop Nintendo DS Developer
Jewel Quest IV: Heritage Developer
Lost Treasures of Alexandria Developer
Real Crimes: The Unicorn Killer Developer
Mahjong 3D: Warriors of the Emperor Nintendo 3DS Developer
2012 Azada Developer
Secret Mysteries in London Developer
Mad Dog McCree Developer
2013 SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton's Robotic Revenge Nintendo DS Supporting developer Behaviour Interactive
Terraria PlayStation 3 Handled port
PlayStation Vita
Xbox 360
4 Elements Nintendo 3DS Developer
Hidden Expedition Titanic
Jewel Quest IV: Heritage
Jewel Quest: The Sapphire Dragon
Luxor HD
Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove
Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst
Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst
2014 Mindfeud
Proun+
Sumico
Terraria PlayStation 4 Handled port
2015 Dinox Wii U Developer
Smart Adventures – Mission Math: Sabotage at the Space Station
Gunslugs 2 Nintendo 3DS Handled port
Toki Tori 3D
2016 Gunslugs
Terraria Wii U
2017 Earthlock
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas Android
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
PlayStation Vita
Wuppo PlayStation 4
Blossom Tales Nintendo Switch
Rive: Ultimate Edition[25]
Monopoly for Nintendo Switch[26]
Little Nightmares
2018 The Escapists 2
Into the Breach
Risk
8-Bit Armies PlayStation 4
Underworld Ascendant
Killer7 Microsoft Windows
2019 Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Nintendo Switch
Swords & Soldiers II: Shawarmageddon
The Caligula Effect: Overdose
Microsoft Windows
2020 The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
Nintendo Switch
Adam's Venture: Origins
No More Heroes
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm
Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?
Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood!
Monstrum Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Little Nightmares Google Stadia
Monopoly[27]
2021 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game Google Stadia
Microsoft Windows
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV[28] Microsoft Windows
Nintendo Switch
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Microsoft Windows
Nintendo Switch

Middleware

The Engine Software Music Replayer is a piece of music sequencer middleware, developed by Engine Software. It was developed for use on the Game Boy Advance, and later reproduced in a version for use on the Nintendo DS. It was licensed to many other developers for both platforms.

Key staff

Engine Software is run by Ivo Wubbels (CEO) and Ruud van de Moosdijk (VP Development), both founders of the company in 1995. Other key figures within the company include Senior producer Jeroen Schmitz also one of the founders of the company, Lead Technology programmer Jan-Lieuwe Koopmans who created the Music Replayer, and composer Bart Roijmans who scored almost all of Engine Software's games.

References

  1. https://venturebeat.com/2020/09/10/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-the-game-is-coming-back/
  2. https://nintendoeverything.com/ys-ix-monstrum-nox-announced-for-switch/
  3. https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2020/04/01/the-legend-of-heroes-trails-of-cold-steel-iv-announced-for-north-america
  4. https://www.msx.org/wiki/Category:MSX-Engine_(Group)
  5. https://www.msx.org/wiki/Category:MSX-Engine_(Group)#Productions
  6. https://www.unseen64.net/2008/07/16/unseen-interviews-ruud-and-corn-buster/
  7. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/31/spongebob-squarepants-legend-of-the-lost-spatula
  8. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/13/amf-xtreme-bowling
  9. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/02/power-rangers-time-force
  10. https://engine-software.com/?page_id=184
  11. https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/13/the-suite-life-of-zack-and-cody-circle-of-spies-review
  12. https://www.mobygames.com/game/think-kids
  13. https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/pr/8825/playlogic-buys-out-engine-software
  14. http://www.midasinteractive.com/products/sony-psp/stateshift.html
  15. https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/006134/dragon-hunters-ds-released-next-month/
  16. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/aliens-in-the-attic-game-of-the-movie-arrives-from-playlogic-in-july
  17. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/03/08/505-games-announces-hop-the-movie-game-coming-soon-to-nintendo-ds
  18. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-09-11-terraria-heading-to-psn-and-xbla-early-next-year
  19. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-28-indie-darling-terraria-announced-for-playstation-vita
  20. https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-09-terraria-hits-ps4-on-tuesday-can-you-dig-it.html
  21. https://www.engadget.com/2014-11-14-terraria-carves-out-an-xbox-one-release-today.html
  22. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-06-08-terraria-confirmed-for-3ds-and-wii-u
  23. https://www.destructoid.com/terraria-otherworld-trailer-shows-an-alternate-dimension-to-the-sandbox-287753.phtml
  24. https://www.pcgamer.com/terraria-otherworld-update-reveals-a-new-development-partner/
  25. Whitehead, Thomas (27 February 2017). "RIVE is Coming to the Nintendo Switch This Year With an 'Exclusive Expansion'". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  26. "Monopoly Coming To Nintendo Switch With HD Rumble Dice Rolling". Nintendo Life. April 13, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  27. Bradshaw, Kyle (2020-04-28). "Ubisoft released Monopoly for Google Stadia". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  28. "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV". Engine Software BV. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
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