Aspyr
Aspyr Media, Inc. is an American video game developer and publisher founded by Michael Rogers and Ted Staloch in Austin, Texas. It was originally founded to bring top gaming titles to macOS.[1] The company, since 2005, has become a publisher and developer of entertainment for multiple gaming platforms.[2]
Aspyr works with partners such as LucasArts, 2K Games, Activision, Gearbox Software; their catalog includes franchises Call of Duty, Sid Meier's Civilization, SimCity, Borderlands and Star Wars.[3]
Embracer Group bought Aspyr in February 2021.[4]
History
[change | change source]In 1996, Aspyr Media, Inc., was established by Michael Rogers and Ted Staloch in Austin, Texas. Staloch, who had a background in sales and marketing and Rogers, who worked with TechWorks, noticed that there was not enough games that available for macOS, and they decided to change it.[1]
According to Rogers, when naming the company, they “wanted something meaning ‘to aspire and be great’” and also “memorable and unique.” Now the name of company associates with porting video games from Microsoft Windows to macOS,[5] including popular franchises Call of Duty, Sid Meier's Civilization, Star Wars, Borderlands, and SimCity.
By 2003, they owned 60 percent of the Mac entertainment market.[6]
In 2005, Aspyr partnered with Alex Seropian of Wideload Games and released their first originally-published AAA game, Stubbs The Zombie, to macOS, Windows and Xbox.[7]
In 2015, Aspyr Media make their platform catalog bigger by releasing an iOS port of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic[8] and later, Bioware's classic-action RPG, Jade Empire - a title they extended to Android as well.[9]
In 2015, Aspyr updated Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (native widescreen resolutions up to 5K, Steam Workshop, support for controllers,[10] 57 achievements, etc.) and also ported it to macOS and Linux.
In 2015, Aspyr developed and published Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered, a remaster of a game developed by Quantic Dream.
Aspyr has published over 190 games, and have added 90 plus members to their team since 1996.
Embracer Group bought Aspyr in February 2021.[11]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Savlov, Marc; Fri.; Nov. 19; 2004. "Controlling Their Own Destiny". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
{{cite web}}:|last4=has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Aspyr Media". Aspyr Media. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ "Ted Staloch Video Game Credits and Biography". MobyGames. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ "Embracer Group acquires Aspyr Media for up to $450 million". VentureBeat. 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ ""MacGameStore Feature: Aspyr Media Interview with Michael Rogers"". Archived from the original on 2021-02-08. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ am, Hilary GoldsteinUpdated: 17 Jun 2012 5:24 amPosted: 31 Aug 2004 12:54 (31 August 2004), Bungie Founder Finds Publisher - IGN, retrieved 2021-10-15
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Aspyr ships Stubbs the Zombie for Mac". Macworld. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ LeFebvre, Rob (2014-03-06). "Use The Force - And A Controller - With KOTOR For iOS, Now On Sale". Cult of Mac. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ "BioWare Action RPG Jade Empire Now Available On iOS". Kotaku. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ "Steam Community :: STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™ II: The Sith Lords™ :: Achievements". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ↑ "Embracer Group to acquire Aspyr Media". Gematsu. 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-10-15.