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BioWare
BioWare is a Canadian electronic entertainment company and was established in February 1995 by Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, and Augustine Yip. It is based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. BioWare specialises in creating computer and console video games.
Muzyka and Zeschuk are currently the studio heads of BioWare. Muzyka is the General Manager and the CEO. Zeschuk is the Vice-President.
Independence
During BioWare's ten years as an independent company, it developed Shattered Steel the Baldur's Gate series, MDK2, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Jade Empire. BioWare has had publishing relationships with Interplay( Through Black Isle Studios), Atari, LucasArts and Microsoft
Joining up
In 2005, it was announced that BioWare and Pandemic Studios would be joining forces/ Elevation Partners (a private equity fund) invested in the partnership. This new partnership was called VG Holding Corp, and on the 11th of October, 2007, it was announced that it had been bought by by Electronic Arts. BioWare therefore became a unit of EA, but it retained its own branding.
In 2007, BioWare released Mass Effect – a science fiction RPG. The following year, it released Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, this was its first game for a hand-held game console.
New Studios
Due to the growth of the company, two new studios being opened away from BioWare's home in Edmonton. The first is located in Montreal, Quebec. This studio is to assist with existing projects as necessary. The second is located in Austin and managed by Gordon Walton and Richard Vogel. This studio was created to work on the MMORPG project. This studio, and the project were both announced on the 13th of March, 2009.
On the 24th of June, 2009, it was announced that BioWare would be merging with another EA company, Mythic Entertainment. Along with this announcement, Mythic's CEO Mark Jacobs, would be stepping down from his post. With the co-founder of Mythic Entertainment, Rob Denton taking up the position as CEO. BioWare co-founder, Dr. Ray Muzyka, will be leading this new studio.
Bioware's first work that SPOnG is aware of is the 1996 title, "Shattered Steel" (PC).
The company has been involved titles released on the PS4, Xbox One, PC, Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, DS/DSi, PS2, Power Mac, Xbox, Dreamcast and Mac. Of these, "Mass Effect 2" (Xbox 360), "Mass Effect" (Xbox 360), "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" (Xbox), "Neverwinter Nights" (PC), "Mass Effect 2" (PC) has been a best selling title.
The company's most recent involvement was on the 2019 release "Anthem" (Mac).
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17 Sep 2012
Greg Zeschuk | Director | 95 | - | ... | |
Ray Muzyka | CEO | 95 | - | 08 |
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