DreamCatcher Interactive
DreamCatcher Interactive Inc. (also known as DreamCatcher Games) was a Canadian video game publisher founded in 1996 by Richard Wah Kan. In 2006, the company became a subsidiary of JoWooD Entertainment. In 2011, the company went into administration along with its parent JoWooD and all assets were purchased by Nordic Games Holding. The DreamCatcher Interactive brand is currently being used as a publishing label for THQ Nordic.[1]
 | |
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Video games |
| Fate | Dissolved with parent, assets acquired by Nordic Games |
| Successor | THQ Nordic |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Richard Wah Kan |
| Defunct | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Products | |
| Parent | JoWooD Entertainment (2006–2011) |
| Divisions | The Adventure Company |
| Website | www |
History
DreamCatcher Interactive was founded in 1996 in Toronto, Canada. Its first published title was Jewels of the Oracle.[2] The company gradually drifted into becoming a publisher focused on the adventure genre after finding that "customers really were hungry for" these titles, according to DreamCatcher's Marshall Zwicker. Beyond Time was among the releases whose reception drew the publisher to this field.[3] Profit reported that DreamCatcher located such projects via "networking at tradeshows and reviewing unsolicited game proposals."[2] In 1999, DreamCatcher pushed its corporate strategy by launching Nightlong: Union City Conspiracy, The Forgotten: It Begins and The Crystal Key.[3] The latter went on to be a major hit.[2] DreamCatcher's top four titles for 2000 were Dracula: Resurrection, Traitors Gate, Beyond Atlantis and The Crystal Key. These games respectively made up 9%, 14%, 15% and 32% of DreamCatcher's sales that year.[4] In March 2000, DreamCatcher was purchased by Cryo Interactive.[5] Continuing the company's growth, in November 2000, DreamCatcher signed with Her Interactive to publish the Nancy Drew franchise.[6]
In late 2002, most of the assets and development teams of French-based publisher, Cryo Interactive were absorbed by DreamCatcher Interactive, forming the base for DreamCatcher Europe including key offices and a large internal studio.[7] By early 2003, DreamCatcher was the United States' tenth-biggest publisher of games.[8] After the acquisition of Cryo Interactive, Dreamcatcher created a publishing division called The Adventure Company in early 2003. The company also partnered with both Wanadoo Edition and Microïds, as well as other studios in the development and distribution of games including Syberia, Still Life and ObsCure.[9] In 2005, the main Microïds studio was acquired by Ubisoft with Dreamcatcher retaining publishing rights to the games being created.[10]
The Adventure Company brand label under DreamCatcher has released many adventure game series' including series' based on Agatha Christie novels. They also recently signed to release a series of titles based on The Hardy Boys.[11] Outside of adventure gaming, DreamCatcher is best known for publishing the first-person shooter Painkiller developed with People Can Fly. Painkiller became a commercial success and was signed with the CPL World Tour 2005.[12] Dreamcatcher would also create another label, Silverline Software, around 2004 for the distribution of some non-core games and the publishing of utility software. Silverline Software would release the "Time to Ride" series of girl's horse games starting in 2004, which would later be acquired by Ubisoft.
In 2006, JoWooD Entertainment announced the purchase of DreamCatcher Games as a way of increasing their presence into the North American gaming market in addition to acquiring the company's key titles and licenses.[13] Since the acquisition, DreamCatcher Games has continued to launch titles both under The Adventure Company and DreamCatcher labels including new games created by JoWooD like the SpellForce series. In 2011, JoWooD went into administration causing DreamCatcher to file for bankruptcy. In November 2011, Nordic Games Holding announced that they had acquired all DreamCatcher assets and would be turning it into a publishing label of their subsidiary Nordic Games.[14] Nordic Games Holding had previously acquired JoWooD and The Adventure Company in August also turning both brands into publishing labels of Nordic Games.[15] All business operations of this brand are being conducted out of THQ Nordic in Vienna, Austria.[14]
Games
Note: This list is for titles which DreamCatcher Interactive published. Releases of games under The Adventure Company banner are not included.
| Year | Title | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Jewels of the Oracle | Macintosh, Windows 3.x |
| 1997 | Egypt 1156 B.C.: Tomb of the Pharaoh | Macintosh, Microsoft Windows |
| Safecracker | ||
| Soldier Boyz | Microsoft Windows | |
| Beyond Time | Microsoft Windows, Windows 3.x | |
| 1998 | Jewels II: The Ultimate Challenge | |
| Karma: Curse of the 12 Caves | Microsoft Windows | |
| Cydonia: Mars - The First Manned Mission | ||
| Nightlong: Union City Conspiracy | ||
| 1999 | The Adventures of Jonny Quest | |
| The Crystal Key | Macintosh, Microsoft Windows | |
| 2000 | The Forgotten: It Begins | |
| Egypt II: The Heliopolis Prophecy | Microsoft Windows | |
| Seven Games of the Soul | ||
| Riddle of the Sphinx: An Egyptian Adventure | Macintosh, Microsoft Windows | |
| The Legend of Lotus Spring | ||
| The Sacred Amulet | Microsoft Windows | |
| Dracula: The Resurrection | Macintosh, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows | |
| Traitors Gate | Macintosh, Microsoft Windows | |
| Beyond Atlantis | ||
| In Cold Blood | PlayStation, Microsoft Windows | |
| The New Adventures of the Time Machine | Microsoft Windows | |
| TimeScape: Journey to Pompeii | Macintosh, Microsoft Windows | |
| The Legend of the Prophet and the Assassin | Microsoft Windows | |
| Odyssey: The Search for Ulysses | ||
| Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion | Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance | |
| 2001 | Frank Herbert's Dune | Microsoft Windows |
| Dracula: The Last Sanctuary | Macintosh, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows | |
| Necronomicon: The Dawning of Darkness | PlayStation, Microsoft Windows | |
| The Messenger | Macintosh, Microsoft Windows | |
| Dracula: Crazy Vampire | Game Boy Color | |
| Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill | Microsoft Windows | |
| The Secrets of Alamut | ||
| Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger | ||
| Arthur's Knights: Tales of Chivalry | ||
| Nancy Drew: Treasure in the Royal Tower | ||
| Woody Woodpecker | Game Boy Color | |
| Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy | Microsoft Windows | |
| Atlantis: The Lost Tales | ||
| Jekyll & Hyde | ||
| The Shadow of Zorro | ||
| From Dusk Till Dawn | ||
| Schizm: Mysterious Journey | ||
| Beyond Atlantis II | ||
| Nancy Drew: The Final Scene | ||
| MegaRace 3 | ||
| 2002 | Inspector Gadget: Advance Mission | Game Boy Advance |
| Gremlins: Stripe vs. Gizmo | ||
| Woody Woodpecker: Escape from Buzz Buzzard Park | PlayStation 2 | |
| Casino Mogul | Microsoft Windows | |
| SuperPower | ||
| Factory Mogul | ||
| Arabian Nights | ||
| Project Earth: Starmageddon | ||
| The Mystery of the Nautilus | ||
| Gore: Ultimate Soldier | ||
| Rock Manager | ||
| Agassi Tennis Generation | PlayStation 2 | |
| Iron Storm | Microsoft Windows | |
| Extreme Ghostbusters: Code Ecto-1 | Game Boy Advance | |
| Kaan: Barbarian's Blade | PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows | |
| Law & Order: Dead on the Money | Microsoft Windows | |
| Pink Panther: Pinkadelic Pursuit | PlayStation | |
| Hegemonia: Legions of Iron | Microsoft Windows | |
| Pink Panther: Pinkadelic Pursuit | Game Boy Advance | |
| Post Mortem | Microsoft Windows | |
| 2003 | Battlecruiser Millennium Gold | |
| Harbinger | ||
| Hellboy: Dogs of the Night | PlayStation | |
| Emergency Fire Response | Microsoft Windows | |
| Enigma: Rising Tide | ||
| Spirits & Spells | GameCube | |
| Ultimate Beach Soccer Sports | Xbox | |
| Curse: The Eye of Isis | Microsoft Windows, Xbox | |
| Etherlords II | Microsoft Windows | |
| Ultimate Beach Soccer | Game Boy Advance | |
| Pax Romana | Microsoft Windows | |
| Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon | ||
| Arx Fatalis | Xbox | |
| 2004 | Saddle Up: Time to Ride | Microsoft Windows |
| Besieger | ||
| Traitors Gate 2: Cypher | ||
| Universal Combat | ||
| Crystal Key II: The Far Realm | ||
| Painkiller | ||
| The Omega Stone: Riddle of the Sphinx II | ||
| Aura: Fate of the Ages | ||
| SuperPower 2 | ||
| Lights Out | ||
| Return to Mysterious Island | ||
| Painkiller: Battle Out of Hell | ||
| Advanced Battlegrounds: The Future of Combat | ||
| 2005 | Yager | |
| Enigma: Rising Tide | ||
| The Moment of Silence | ||
| Domination | ||
| ObsCure | PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Xbox | |
| Painkiller: Gold Edition | Microsoft Windows | |
| MetalHeart: Replicants Rampage | ||
| Dungeon Lords | ||
| Still Life | Xbox | |
| Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern | Microsoft Windows | |
| Painkiller: Black | ||
| NiBiRu: Age of Secrets | ||
| Cold War | Microsoft Windows, Xbox | |
| Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None | Wii, Microsoft Windows | |
| 2006 | Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express | Microsoft Windows |
| Dungeon Lords: Collector's Edition | ||
| Keepsake | ||
| Glory of the Roman Empire | ||
| Wildlife Zoo | ||
| Painkiller: Hell Wars | Xbox | |
| Ship Simulator 2006 | Microsoft Windows | |
| First Battalion | ||
| Neverend | ||
| Evidence: The Last Ritual | ||
| Secret Files: Tunguska | ||
| 2007 | Nanny Mania | |
| Secrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword Game | ||
| Power Boat GT | ||
| The Sacred Rings | ||
| The Ugly Prince Duckling | ||
| Genesis Rising | ||
| Dawnspire: Prelude | ||
| Voyage | ||
| Sentinel: Descendants in Time | ||
| Mysterious Journey II: Chameleon | ||
| Dunes of War | ||
| Dead Reefs | ||
| Spaceforce: Rogue Universe | ||
| Destination: Treasure Island | ||
| Atlantis Evolution | ||
| Animates | Nintendo DS | |
| The Cameron Files: Pharaoh's Curse | Microsoft Windows | |
| Painkiller: Overdose | ||
| LifeSigns: Surgical Unit | Nintendo DS | |
| Next Life | Microsoft Windows | |
| Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun | ||
| Zoo Quest: Puzzle Fun | Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows | |
| 2008 | Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile | Microsoft Windows |
| Agatha Christie: Mysteries | ||
| The Experiment | ||
| Seven Kingdoms: Conquest | ||
| Cleopatra: Riddle of the Tomb | ||
| Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis | ||
| SpellForce 2: Dragon Storm | ||
| Painkiller Triple Dose | ||
| SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars | ||
| Wildlife Zoo: Deluxe Edition | ||
| The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft | ||
| Drivers Ed Portable | Nintendo DS | |
| Syberia | ||
| Dreamer: Horse Trainer | ||
| Learn Math for Grades 1-4 | ||
| Dreamer: Puppy Trainer | ||
| Matchstick | ||
| 2009 | Inkheart | |
| Dreamer: Pop Star | ||
| Monster Band | ||
| Dreamer Series: Babysitter | ||
| Let's Play: Shops | ||
| Painkiller: Resurrection | Microsoft Windows | |
| Treasure Island | ||
| 2010 | Arcania: Gothic 4 | |
| Gothic II (Gold Edition) | ||
| Chaser | ||
| Painkiller: Pandemonium | ||
| 2011 | Painkiller: Redemption |
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2018-02-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Baillie, Susanne. "PROFIT 100 2002 Company #5: DreamCatcher Interactive Inc". Profit. Archived from the original on June 19, 2002.
- Fournier, Heidi (January 14, 2000). "An exclusive interview with... Marshall Zwicker and Richard Wah Kan of DreamCatcher Interactive". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- Document de référence 2000 (PDF) (Report) (in French). Cryo Interactive. July 11, 2001. pp. 27, 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2003.
- Hong, Quang (March 3, 2000). "Cryo Acquires Dreamcatcher". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017.
- DreamCatcher Publishes Nancy Drew
- Absorbed Cyro Interactive Archived 2010-01-10 at the Wayback Machine
- Bronstring, Marek (March 7, 2003). "The Adventure Company Europe". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on October 23, 2005. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
- Dreamcatcher Publishes ObsCure Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
- Thorsen, Tor. "Ubisoft subsumes Microids Canada". GameSpot.
- The Hardy Boys License Archived September 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- Painkiller Added to Summer CPL Championship Archived July 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- Euro Adhoc JoWooD Acquisitions Archived 2011-08-17 at WebCite
- "Nordic Games Holding AB Group acquires DreamCatcher". Nordic Games. 2011-11-17. Archived from the original on 2011-12-11. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
- "Nordic Games Holding AB Group Acquires JoWood & The Adventure Company". Nordic Games. 2011-08-16. Archived from the original on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
External links
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