EA Black Box: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Canadian video game developing company}} |
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{{Infobox company |
{{Infobox company |
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| name = EA Black Box |
| name = EA Black Box |
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| genre = |
| genre = |
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| fate = Merged into [[EA Vancouver|EA Canada]] in 2009, closed in 2013 |
| fate = Merged into [[EA Vancouver|EA Canada]] in 2009, closed in 2013 |
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| former_names = Black Box Games (1998–2002) |
| former_names = {{Unbulleted list|Black Box Games (1998–2002)|Quicklime Games (2012–2013)}} |
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| successor = Full Circle |
| successor = {{Unbulleted list|Full Circle|[[EA Gothenburg|Ghost Games]]|[[SkyBox Labs]]}} |
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| foundation = {{start date and age|1998}} |
| foundation = {{start date and age|1998}} |
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| founder = |
| founder = |
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| defunct = {{end date|2013|4}} |
| defunct = {{end date and age|2013|4}} |
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| location_city = Burnaby, British Columbia |
| location_city = [[Burnaby]], [[British Columbia]] |
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| location_country = Canada |
| location_country = Canada |
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| location = |
| location = |
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| key_people = |
| key_people = |
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| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]] |
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]] |
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| products = [[Need for Speed|''Need for Speed'' series]] |
| products = {{Unbulleted list|[[Need for Speed|''Need for Speed'' series]]|[[Skate (series)|''Skate'' series]]}} |
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| production = |
| production = |
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| services = |
| services = |
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| owner = |
| owner = |
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| num_employees = |
| num_employees = |
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| parent = [[Electronic Arts]] |
| parent = [[Electronic Arts]] (2002–2013) |
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| divisions = |
| divisions = |
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| subsid = |
| subsid = |
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'''EA Black Box''' (formerly '''Black Box Games''')<ref name="EAbuysBlackBox">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-to-buy-black-box-2870273|title=EA to buy Black Box|last=Walker|first=Trey|work=[[GameSpot]]|date=2002-06-11|access-date=2012-06-27}}</ref> was a [[video game developer]] based in [[Burnaby]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]], founded in 1998 by former employees of [[Radical Entertainment]] and later acquired by [[Electronic Arts]] (EA). The developers are primarily known for the ''[[Need for Speed]]'' and ''[[Skate ( |
'''EA Black Box''' (formerly '''Black Box Games''')<ref name="EAbuysBlackBox">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-to-buy-black-box-2870273|title=EA to buy Black Box|last=Walker|first=Trey|work=[[GameSpot]]|date=2002-06-11|access-date=2012-06-27|archive-date=2019-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210102332/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-to-buy-black-box/1100-2870273/|url-status=live}}</ref> was a [[video game developer]] based in [[Burnaby]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]], founded in 1998 by former employees of [[Radical Entertainment]] and later acquired by [[Electronic Arts]] (EA). The developers are primarily known for the ''[[Need for Speed]]'' and ''[[Skate (series)|Skate]]'' series. It was renamed '''Quicklime Games''' during the development of ''[[Need for Speed: World]]'', but after a series of restructures it was shut down in April 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/05/15/skate-4-ea-instagram-ps4-xbox-e3-2019/|title=EA's Instagram Page Is Flooded With Fans Demanding Skate 4|website=GAMING|language=en|access-date=2020-04-14|archive-date=2019-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517140425/https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/05/15/skate-4-ea-instagram-ps4-xbox-e3-2019/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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== History == |
== History == |
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[[File:EA Black Box Logo.jpg|thumb|right|Old Logo]] |
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Black Box Games had previously developed for [[video game publisher|game publishers]] such as [[Sega]], [[Midway Games]], and EA. In June 2002, during the development of ''[[Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2]]'', the firm was [[List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts|acquired]] by EA and became an entirely owned subsidiary of [[EA Canada]].<ref name="EAbuysBlackBox" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ica-lic.nsf/eng/lk-30209.html |title=Investment Canada Act, ARCHIVED — September 2002 |publisher=Industry Canada (Gov) |date=2002-09-15 |access-date=2013-10-23 }}</ref> As a result of the acquisition the studio's name was changed to EA Black Box. In March 2003, the firm lacked space for their current projects and as a solution the top four floors of an office tower in downtown [[Vancouver]] were used for expansion. In March 2005, EA Black Box became an independent studio from EA Canada,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Remo|first=Chris|title=Report: EA Black Box Lays Off Majority of Staff|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112924/Report_EA_Black_Box_Lays_Off_Majority_of_Staff.php|access-date=2020-08-04|website=www.gamasutra.com|language=en}}</ref> but still owned by EA.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} |
Black Box Games had previously developed for [[video game publisher|game publishers]] such as [[Sega]], [[Midway Games]], and EA. In June 2002, during the development of ''[[Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2]]'', the firm was [[List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts|acquired]] by EA and became an entirely owned subsidiary of [[EA Canada]].<ref name="EAbuysBlackBox" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ica-lic.nsf/eng/lk-30209.html |title=Investment Canada Act, ARCHIVED — September 2002 |publisher=Industry Canada (Gov) |date=2002-09-15 |access-date=2013-10-23 |archive-date=2019-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502061715/https://www1.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ica-lic.nsf/eng/lk-30209.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result of the acquisition the studio's name was changed to EA Black Box.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fennimore|first=Jack|date=2017-10-19|title=Studios EA Has Killed: A History|url=https://heavy.com/games/2017/10/studios-ea-has-killed-visceral-games/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=Heavy.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305104016/https://heavy.com/games/2017/10/studios-ea-has-killed-visceral-games/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2003, the firm lacked space for their current projects and as a solution the top four floors of an office tower in downtown [[Vancouver]] were used for expansion. In March 2005, EA Black Box became an independent studio from EA Canada,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Remo|first=Chris|title=Report: EA Black Box Lays Off Majority of Staff|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112924/Report_EA_Black_Box_Lays_Off_Majority_of_Staff.php|access-date=2020-08-04|website=www.gamasutra.com|language=en|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112005258/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112924/Report_EA_Black_Box_Lays_Off_Majority_of_Staff.php|url-status=live}}</ref> but still owned by EA.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} |
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On December 19, 2008, EA announced that it would be shutting down EA Black Box's [[Vancouver]] studio location and relocating operations to [[EA Canada]]'s [[Burnaby]] facilities, as part of EA's worldwide consolidation plans. Officials stressed that EA Black Box would remain open, and said they expected the move to be completed by June 2009. The studio remained a part of the EA Games label, and was independent of the EA Sports studio also located within the Burnaby facility.<ref>{{cite web |title=EA layoffs hit 1,000, Black Box 'consolidated' Near the end of the development of Undercover, two people from Black Box died, Inderjeet Johal and Martin Sikes. This probably reflected on the development of The Run (along with only having 10% of their staff remaining).|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-layoffs-hit-1000-black-box-consolidated-6202573 |author=Tor Thorsen |work=[[GameSpot]] |date=2008-12-19 |access-date=2013-10-23}}</ref> |
On December 19, 2008, EA announced that it would be shutting down EA Black Box's [[Vancouver]] studio location and relocating operations to [[EA Canada]]'s [[Burnaby]] facilities, as part of EA's worldwide consolidation plans. Officials stressed that EA Black Box would remain open, and said they expected the move to be completed by June 2009. The studio remained a part of the EA Games label, and was independent of the EA Sports studio also located within the Burnaby facility.<ref>{{cite web |title=EA layoffs hit 1,000, Black Box 'consolidated' Near the end of the development of Undercover, two people from Black Box died, Inderjeet Johal and Martin Sikes. This probably reflected on the development of The Run (along with only having 10% of their staff remaining). |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-layoffs-hit-1000-black-box-consolidated-6202573 |author=Tor Thorsen |work=[[GameSpot]] |date=2008-12-19 |access-date=2013-10-23 |archive-date=2013-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807053152/http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-layoffs-hit-1000-black-box-consolidated-6202573 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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In February 2012, EA confirmed a number |
In February 2012, EA confirmed a number of lay-offs at EA Canada and EA Black Box, and that they were transforming the studios towards "high-growth digital formats, including online, social gaming and free-to-play". EA declined to comment on whether EA Black Box's brand would remain.<ref>{{cite web |title=Redundancies confirmed at EA Canada |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-03-redundancies-confirmed-at-ea-canada |date=2012-02-03 |work=[[Eurogamer]] |author=Fred Dutton |access-date=2013-10-23 |archive-date=2012-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031045133/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-03-redundancies-confirmed-at-ea-canada |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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In July 2012, EA Black Box was renamed Quicklime Games during the development of PC game ''[[Need for Speed: World]]'',<ref name="blackboxrenamedquicklime">{{cite web|access-date=2015-03-04|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2013/04/25/ea-closing-vancouver-studios-popcap-and-quicklime-in-latest-round-of-layoffs-report|title=EA closing Vancouver studios PopCap and Quicklime in latest round of layoffs: report|publisher=[[Financial Post]]|date=2013-04-25}}</ref> under which name it operated until its closure in April 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=EA Partners, Other Divisions Facing Closure |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/04/24/ea-partners-facing-closure.aspx |date=2013-04-25 |author=Mike Futter |publisher=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=2013-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017082956/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/04/24/ea-partners-facing-closure.aspx |archive-date=2013-10-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
In July 2012, EA Black Box was renamed Quicklime Games during the development of PC game ''[[Need for Speed: World]]'',<ref name="blackboxrenamedquicklime">{{cite web|access-date=2015-03-04|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2013/04/25/ea-closing-vancouver-studios-popcap-and-quicklime-in-latest-round-of-layoffs-report/?__lsa=9419-8207|title=EA closing Vancouver studios PopCap and Quicklime in latest round of layoffs: report|publisher=[[Financial Post]]|date=2013-04-25|archive-date=2013-11-06|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131106180249/http://business.financialpost.com/2013/04/25/ea-closing-vancouver-studios-popcap-and-quicklime-in-latest-round-of-layoffs-report/?__lsa=9419-8207|url-status=live}}</ref> under which name it operated until its closure in April 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=EA Partners, Other Divisions Facing Closure |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/04/24/ea-partners-facing-closure.aspx |date=2013-04-25 |author=Mike Futter |publisher=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=2013-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017082956/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/04/24/ea-partners-facing-closure.aspx |archive-date=2013-10-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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Responsibility for the ''Need for Speed'' franchise |
Responsibility for the ''Need for Speed'' franchise was taken over by [[Ghost Games]] in late 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ghost takes control of the Need For Speed brand |url=http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/need_for_speed_rivals/news/ghost_takes_control_of_the_need_for_speed_brand.html |date=2013-08-29 |author=David Scammell |publisher=VideoGamer |access-date=2013-10-25 |archive-date=2013-08-29 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130829084112/http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/need_for_speed_rivals/news/ghost_takes_control_of_the_need_for_speed_brand.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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The former employees of EA Black Box have spread around other game developers making racing games such as [[Ubisoft]]'s ''[[The Crew (video game)|The Crew]]'' and [[Slightly Mad Studios]]' ''[[World of Speed]]''.{{cn|date=June 2021}} |
The former employees of EA Black Box have spread around other game developers making racing games, such as [[Ubisoft]]'s ''[[The Crew (video game)|The Crew]]'' and [[Slightly Mad Studios]]' ''[[World of Speed]]''.{{cn|date=June 2021}} |
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== Games developed == |
== Games developed == |
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!Notes |
!Notes |
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|- |
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| colspan="4" |''As Black Box Games'' |
| colspan="4" align="center" |''As Black Box Games'' |
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|- |
|- |
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| rowspan="3" |2000 |
| rowspan="3" |2000 |
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|- |
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| rowspan="3" |2001 |
| rowspan="3" |2001 |
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| rowspan="3" |''[[NHL Hitz 2002 |
| rowspan="3" |''[[NHL Hitz 2002]]'' |
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|[[GameCube]] |
|[[GameCube]] |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[PlayStation 2]] |
|[[PlayStation 2]] |
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|- |
|- |
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| rowspan="3" |''[[NHL Hitz 2003 |
| rowspan="3" |''[[NHL Hitz 2003]]'' |
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|[[GameCube]] |
|[[GameCube]] |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] |
|[[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] |
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|- |
|- |
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| colspan="4" |''As EA Black Box'' |
| colspan="4" align="center" |''As EA Black Box'' |
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|- |
|- |
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| rowspan="8" |2003 |
| rowspan="8" |2003 |
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|[[Xbox 360]] |
|[[Xbox 360]] |
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|- |
|- |
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| rowspan="2" |''[[Skate (video game)|Skate]]'' |
| rowspan="2" |''[[Skate (2007 video game)|Skate]]'' |
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|[[PlayStation 3]] |
|[[PlayStation 3]] |
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|- |
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|[[Xbox 360]] |
|[[Xbox 360]] |
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| colspan="4" |''As EA Jawbreaker'' |
| colspan="4" align="center" |''As EA Jawbreaker'' |
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| rowspan="5" |2015 |
| rowspan="5" |2015 |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1998 establishments in British Columbia]] |
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[[Category:Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companies]] |
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[[Category:Companies based in Burnaby]] |
[[Category:Companies based in Burnaby]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Defunct companies of British Columbia]] |
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[[Category:Defunct video game companies of Canada]] |
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of Canada]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Electronic Arts subsidiaries]] |
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[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2013]] |
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2013]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1998]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Video game development companies]] |
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[[Category:1998 establishments in British Columbia]] |
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Latest revision as of 17:43, 19 February 2024
![]() | |
Formerly |
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Company type | Subsidiary |
Industrie | Video games |
Gegründet | 1998 |
Defunct | April 2013 |
Fate | Merged into EA Canada in 2009, closed in 2013 |
Successor |
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Hauptsitz | , Kanada |
Produkte | |
Parent | Electronic Arts (2002–2013) |
Website | www.eablackbox.com |
EA Black Box (formerly Black Box Games)[1] was a video game developer based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1998 by former employees of Radical Entertainment and later acquired by Electronic Arts (EA). The developers are primarily known for the Need for Speed and Skate series. It was renamed Quicklime Games during the development of Need for Speed: World, but after a series of restructures it was shut down in April 2013.[2]
History
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/EA_Black_Box_Logo.jpg/220px-EA_Black_Box_Logo.jpg)
Black Box Games had previously developed for game publishers such as Sega, Midway Games, and EA. In June 2002, during the development of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, the firm was acquired by EA and became an entirely owned subsidiary of EA Canada.[1][3] As a result of the acquisition the studio's name was changed to EA Black Box.[4] In March 2003, the firm lacked space for their current projects and as a solution the top four floors of an office tower in downtown Vancouver were used for expansion. In March 2005, EA Black Box became an independent studio from EA Canada,[5] but still owned by EA.[citation needed]
On December 19, 2008, EA announced that it would be shutting down EA Black Box's Vancouver studio location and relocating operations to EA Canada's Burnaby facilities, as part of EA's worldwide consolidation plans. Officials stressed that EA Black Box would remain open, and said they expected the move to be completed by June 2009. The studio remained a part of the EA Games label, and was independent of the EA Sports studio also located within the Burnaby facility.[6]
In February 2012, EA confirmed a number of lay-offs at EA Canada and EA Black Box, and that they were transforming the studios towards "high-growth digital formats, including online, social gaming and free-to-play". EA declined to comment on whether EA Black Box's brand would remain.[7]
In July 2012, EA Black Box was renamed Quicklime Games during the development of PC game Need for Speed: World,[8] under which name it operated until its closure in April 2013.[9]
Responsibility for the Need for Speed franchise was taken over by Ghost Games in late 2013.[10]
The former employees of EA Black Box have spread around other game developers making racing games, such as Ubisoft's The Crew and Slightly Mad Studios' World of Speed.[citation needed]
Games developed
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Walker, Trey (2002-06-11). "EA to buy Black Box". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
- ^ "EA's Instagram Page Is Flooded With Fans Demanding Skate 4". GAMING. Archived from the original on 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
- ^ "Investment Canada Act, ARCHIVED — September 2002". Industry Canada (Gov). 2002-09-15. Archived from the original on 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
- ^ Fennimore, Jack (2017-10-19). "Studios EA Has Killed: A History". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
- ^ Remo, Chris. "Report: EA Black Box Lays Off Majority of Staff". www.gamasutra.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
- ^ Tor Thorsen (2008-12-19). "EA layoffs hit 1,000, Black Box 'consolidated' Near the end of the development of Undercover, two people from Black Box died, Inderjeet Johal and Martin Sikes. This probably reflected on the development of The Run (along with only having 10% of their staff remaining)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
- ^ Fred Dutton (2012-02-03). "Redundancies confirmed at EA Canada". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 2012-10-31. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
- ^ "EA closing Vancouver studios PopCap and Quicklime in latest round of layoffs: report". Financial Post. 2013-04-25. Archived from the original on 2013-11-06. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
- ^ Mike Futter (2013-04-25). "EA Partners, Other Divisions Facing Closure". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
- ^ David Scammell (2013-08-29). "Ghost takes control of the Need For Speed brand". VideoGamer. Archived from the original on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
External links
[edit]- 1998 establishments in British Columbia
- 2013 disestablishments in British Columbia
- Canadian companies disestablished in 2013
- Canadian companies established in 1998
- Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companies
- Companies based in Burnaby
- Defunct companies of British Columbia
- Defunct video game companies of Canada
- Electronic Arts subsidiaries
- Video game companies disestablished in 2013
- Video game companies established in 1998
- Video game development companies