Grin (company)

Last updated

Grin AB
Company type Privately held company
Industry Video games
Founded1997
Defunct2009
Successor Overkill Software
Headquarters
Stockholm
,
Sweden
Key people
Bo Andersson
Ulf Andersson
Products Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
Bionic Commando
Bionic Commando Rearmed

Grin AB was a video game developer based in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded by Bo and Ulf Andersson in 1997, Grin worked on numerous titles for the PC, consoles and arcade. Grin filed for bankruptcy and was closed on August 12, 2009, and its founders went on to create Overkill Software.

Contents

History

Grin was founded by brothers Bo and Ulf Andersson in 1997. After Grin's first release Ballistics (PC, arcade), in 2001, Grin released the critically acclaimed Bandits: Phoenix Rising (PC) and several arcade machines, as well as military and civilian simulators. Grin went on to develop two games for Ubisoft, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (PC) and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (PC). Bionic Commando Rearmed (downloadable via Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, PC), Bionic Commando (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC), Wanted: Weapons of Fate (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC) and Terminator Salvation were the last titles, released in 2008-2009. [1] In 2007, Grin expanded into offices on the Barcelona, Spain beach front, in the Torre Mapfre skyscraper, followed by another studio in the center of Gothenburg, Sweden, along with the Grin Jakarta QA studio, located in the center of Jakarta, Indonesia. 250 people in total were developing games for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Grin began preproduction work on a Final Fantasy spin-off game, Fortress , in the second half of 2008 when Square Enix outsourced it to the Swedish developer. [2] The development team, based in Stockholm, began creating concept art, 3D models and a game engine, thinking of Fortress as a "game with an epic scale both in story and production values". [3] In addition to original characters and locations, concept art for the game depicted Ashe and a Judge character from Final Fantasy XII, [4] [5] and chocobos and other recurring creatures of the series. [3] [4] The score was also being produced. [6] However, after six months of development, Square Enix reclaimed the project without paying Grin, due to concerns over the quality of the work. [2] [7] Grin co-founders Ulf and Bo Andersson claimed that "Square Enix had already made up its mind that Fortress wasn't a project it wanted anymore". [8] Square Enix's withdrawal left the Swedish developer in financial difficulty and with no other ongoing game project. [2]

In 2009, Grin closed its offices in Barcelona and Gothenburg, citing financial difficulties. [9] [10] On 12 August 2009 Grin filed for bankruptcy. Later the same day, the official Grin site published the news that the company was closing down. [11] [12] Grin noted that delayed payments from "too many publishers" caused "an unbearable cashflow situation" and mentioning in a farewell note their "unreleased masterpiece that [they] weren't allowed to finish". [2] [13]

Former members of Grin formed a new development studio, Might and Delight, which focuses on small, downloadable games. [14] Together with the owners of Fatshark, the former lead engineers of Grin started middleware developer Bitsquid, which was later bought by Autodesk. [15] Former quality assurance members formed a separate studio called Trinity QA Studio in June 2010. [16] Bo and Ulf Andersson (along with their friend Simon Viklund) went on to form Overkill Software. Bertil Hörberg, who worked on both Bionic Commando and Bionic Commando Rearmed, went on to form Hörberg Productions, a one-man studio responsible for the well-received Gunman Clive (Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android, Steam) and its sequel Gunman Clive 2 (3DS, Steam). [17] The games were bundled together as Gunman Clive HD Collection for Wii U and Nintendo Switch.

Technology

The Diesel engine was originally developed for their game Ballistics and has been used, albeit with modifications, in a number of other games since then. The first installment of the engine was developed in close collaboration with Nvidia, aimed to showcase the capabilities of their latest graphics chip at the time, the GeForce 3. The engine is currently in use by Overkill Software, former owners of the now defunct developer Grin. Overkill's game, Payday: The Heist , uses a modified version of this engine. Payday 2 and Raid: World War II run on the second generation Diesel engine 2.0.

Games developed

Release dateTitlesGenrePlatform(s)
2001 Ballistics Racing Microsoft Windows, Arcade
2003 Bandits: Phoenix Rising Vehicular combat Microsoft Windows
2006 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter Tactical shooter Microsoft Windows
2007 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Tactical shooterMicrosoft Windows
2008 Bionic Commando Rearmed Platformer Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade
2009 Wanted: Weapons of Fate Third-person shooter Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2009 Bionic Commando Action, platformer Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2009 Terminator Salvation Third-person shooter, actionMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Cancelled Fortress (codename) Action-adventure PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
CancelledUnnamed Strider reboot [18] Action gameUnknown
CancelledUnnamed Streets of Rage remake [18] Beat'em-upUnknown
CancelledCult (codename)Third-person shooter, actionMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
CancelledVulturesHack-and-slashXbox

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Square Enix</span> Japanese entertainment company

Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. is a Japanese multinational holding company, video game publisher and entertainment conglomerate. It releases role-playing game franchises, such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts, among numerous others. Outside of video game publishing and development, it is also in the business of merchandise, arcade facilities, and manga publication under its Gangan Comics brand.

<i>Championship Manager</i> Video game series

Championship Manager is a series of football-management simulation video games, the first of which was released in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xbox Game Studios</span> American video game publisher

Xbox Game Studios is an American video game publisher based in Redmond, Washington. It was established in March 2000, spun out from an internal Games Group, for the development and publishing of video games for Microsoft Windows. It has since expanded to include games and other interactive entertainment for the namesake Xbox platforms, other desktop operating systems, Windows Mobile and other mobile platforms, and web-based portals.

<i>Final Fantasy XII</i> 2006 video game

Final Fantasy XII is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix. The twelfth main installment of the Final Fantasy series, it was first released for the PlayStation 2 in 2006. It introduced several innovations to the series: an open world; a seamless battle system; a controllable camera; a customizable "gambit" system, which lets the player control the artificial intelligence (AI) of characters in battle; a "license" system, which determines what abilities and equipment can be used by characters; and hunting side quests, which allows the player to find and defeat increasingly difficult monsters in the game's open world. Final Fantasy XII also includes elements from previous games in the series, such as Chocobos and Moogles.

Wargaming Seattle, formerly known as Gas Powered Games, was a video game developer located in Redmond, Washington. The development studio was started in May 1998 by Chris Taylor and several other ex-Cavedog Entertainment employees. In 2013 they became the Seattle studio of Wargaming. Wargaming Seattle was closed down in July 2018.

<i>Bionic Commando</i> Video game series

Bionic Commando is a video game franchise consisting of an original arcade video game released in 1987 and several later versions and sequels. The games are platform games in which, with two exceptions, the player cannot jump. A bionic arm is used to cross gaps and climb ledges. The player character, Nathan "Rad" Spencer, uses this as a grappling gun/hook to swing, climb and descend through levels. Seven games have been released, from the original 1987 Bionic Commando to 2011's Bionic Commando Rearmed 2. The series is based in an alternate timeline in which Nazism is not completely eradicated following World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starbreeze Studios</span> Swedish video game company

Starbreeze AB is a Swedish video game developer and publisher based in Stockholm. The studios's notable games developed include The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, Payday 2 and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. Founded by members of the demogroup Triton, the company was merged with O3 Games in 2002 wherein the Starbreeze name was retained. The company produced titles including Enclave and Knights of the Temple: Infernal Crusade. In the early 2000s, cancellations of their projects due to conflicts with publishers and a failed acquisition led to a severe financial crisis, resulting in staff lay-offs during the development of Starbreeze's fourth game, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. This game received critical acclaim and helped Starbreeze establish a reputation for producing high-quality games. The company worked on The Darkness, whose sales were considered satisfactory.

<i>Bionic Commando</i> (2009 video game) 2009 video game

Bionic Commando is a 2009 action-adventure video game, part of the Bionic Commando series. The game was developed by Swedish developer Grin and published by Capcom. The game is a sequel to the 1988 NES game Bionic Commando, with certain storyline elements taken from its 2008 remake Bionic Commando Rearmed. The game runs on Grin's Diesel engine.

<i>Bionic Commando Rearmed</i> 2008 video game remake

Bionic Commando Rearmed is an enhanced remake of the 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System version of Bionic Commando. It was developed by Grin and published by Capcom for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live Arcade, and was released in August 2008. The BlackBerry version was developed and published by Beeline Interactive and released on April 23, 2009. The remake serves as a prelude to the 2009 video game Bionic Commando.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Voltage Software</span> American video game development company

High Voltage Software, Inc. (HVS) is an American video game developer based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Founded in April 1993 by Kerry J. Ganofsky, the company is best known for developing Lego Racers (1999), Hunter: The Reckoning (2002) and The Conduit (2009).

<i>Fortress</i> (cancelled video game) Cancelled video game

Fortress is the code name of a cancelled action role-playing video game that was in development by Swedish game developer Grin. Director Ulf Andersson devised the concept for Fortress before preproduction began in the second half of 2008. During development, Square Enix approached the developer and proposed making the game a spin-off of Final Fantasy XII. Grin reconceived the game in the recurring Final Fantasy world of Ivalice, and included elements of XII, such as stylistic motifs and character designs; additional elements included chocobos and other recurring creatures from the Final Fantasy series. It was to be released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

<i>Bionic Commando Rearmed 2</i> 2011 video game

Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 is a run-and-gun platform game developed by Fatshark and published by Capcom. A sequel to the Bionic Commando Rearmed, it features enhancements to protagonist Rad Spencer's bionic arm, which he primarily uses to grapple to and swing from objects. New bionic enhancements include abilities such as hacking data terminals, a powerful uppercut, and firing grenades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatshark</span> Swedish video game developer

Fatshark AB is a Swedish video game development studio based in Stockholm. The studio is located in Stockholm. Fatshark acted as a subcontractor for several AAA titles for PC and consoles, and the studio also develops its own games. In January 2021, Tencent acquired majority control of the studio.

Silicon Studio is a Japanese computer graphics technology company and video game developer based in Tokyo. As a technology company, Silicon Studio has produced several products in the 3D computer graphics field, including middleware software, such as a post-processing visual effects library called YEBIS, as well as general real-time graphics engines and game development engines, such as OROCHI and Mizuchi, a physically based rendering engine. As a video game developer, Silicon Studio has worked on different titles for several gaming platforms, most notably, the action-adventure game 3D Dot Game Heroes on the PlayStation 3, the two role-playing video games Bravely Default and Bravely Second: End Layer on the Nintendo 3DS, and Fantasica on the iOS and Android mobile platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overkill Software</span> Swedish video game developer

Overkill Software is a Swedish video game developer based and founded in Stockholm in 2009 by Ulf Andersson, Bo Andersson, the founders and owners of defunct game developer Grin, along with Simon Viklund. In 2012, Swedish game studio Starbreeze Studios acquired Overkill. The company is known for their Payday series, consisting of Payday: The Heist, Payday 2, and Payday 3.

Bitsquid is a discontinued 3D game engine with support for Linux, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Android and iOS. It uses the Lua scripting language.

Simon Viklund is a Swedish freelance video game composer, music producer, sound designer and game designer, who was first known for his work on the 2008 game Bionic Commando Rearmed, in which he was a creative director and composer. He is also known for his work on the Payday series as a composer and the voice of the character Bain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Might and Delight</span> Swedish video game developer

Might and Delight is a Swedish video game development studio and publisher based in Stockholm. The studio was established in 2010 and is best known for the Shelter series.

References

  1. ↑ "Something to GRIN About". GamesIndustry.biz. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "GRIN's Final Fantasy spin-off still in development". GamesIndustry.biz. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  3. 1 2 Albihn, Björn (7 September 2009). "Björn Albihn - Character Artist". Archived from the original on 23 September 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  4. 1 2 Hellstedt, Joakim (9 September 2009). "Online Portfolio of Joakim Hellstedt" . Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  5. ↑ Holmsten, Tony; Bergquist, Martin (20 August 2009). "Concept Art". Visual Development. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  6. ↑ Thunberg, Erik (18 January 2010). "starsounds.net". Archived from the original on 8 April 2005. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  7. ↑ Dustin, Quillen (20 August 2009). "GRIN Was Working on an Unannounced Final Fantasy Project". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  8. ↑ Christopher Grant (29 May 2011). "GRIN founders say Square Enix turned their smiles upside down". Joystiq. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  9. ↑ Remo, Chris (11 August 2009). "Report: Developer GRIN Sees More Layoffs, Studio Closures". Gamasutra . Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  10. ↑ "Report: Bionic Commando Developer GRIN Sees Major Layoffs". Gamasutra. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  11. ↑ Breckon, Nick (12 August 2009). "GRIN Officially Closes, Former Devs Found New Studio". Shacknews . Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  12. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (13 August 2009). "GRIN Is Officially Dead, Spawns Outbreak". Kotaku . Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  13. ↑ Alexander, Leigh (12 August 2009). "Swedish Developer GRIN To Close Its Doors". Gamasutra . Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  14. ↑ "Bionic Commando Rearmed Devs Reunite". IGN. 16 April 2010.
  15. ↑ "Bitsquid homepage". BitSquid. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010.
  16. ↑ Remo, Chris (29 June 2010). "Former GRIN QA Team Reforms As Trinity QA Studio". Gamasutra. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  17. ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (29 January 2013). "Developer Interview: Bertil Hörberg On Being a One Man eShop Developer". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  18. 1 2 Bionic Commando dev Grin worked on Strider reboot, Streets of Rage remake • News • Eurogamer.net
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.