Asobo Studio
Encyclopedia
Asobo Studio is a French
video game development
company based in Bordeaux
, France
, that was founded in 2002 by 12 Kalisto Entertainment
former employees, known for having developed video games for both consoles and PC, including video game adaptations Pixar Animation Studios movies Ratatouille
, Up and WALL•E. Asobo Studio recently developed an open world
racing game
for publisher Codemasters
named Fuel
, which was released in 2009 to mixed reviews.
went bankrupt in 2002, 12 employees, including Sébastien Wloch and David Dedeine, bought the rights to the multiplayer PS2 game Super Farm
and founded Asobo Studio. They eventually completed the game development, which was published in 2003 by Ignition
.
During the following years, the studio developed several games for various platforms (the studio has PC, MAC, PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, Wii, XBOX360 and PS3 development experience), until being chosen by publisher THQ
to create the video game adaptation of Pixar Animation Studios Oscar-winning motion picture Ratatouille
.
Thus Asobo started increasing its growth speed, recruiting about 20% new employees a year, leading to two separate production lines.
Since the collaboration with THQ and Pixar has turned to be a success, Asobo was selected to develop the video game adaptation of Pixar's following films WALL•E and Up.
During the 2008 Games Convention
, the video game publisher Codemasters
announced Fuel
, a brand new racing game developed by Asobo Studio. Fuel was released in 2009 for the Xbox 360
, PlayStation 3
and the PC.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
video game development
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
company based in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, that was founded in 2002 by 12 Kalisto Entertainment
Kalisto Entertainment
Kalisto Entertainment SA was a French video game development company founded by Nicolas Gaume at age 19.The company began as Atreid Concept in 1990 and later created the distribution label Kalisto in 1992, which became Kalisto Entertainment's namesake. In late 1994 Atreid Concept became part of...
former employees, known for having developed video games for both consoles and PC, including video game adaptations Pixar Animation Studios movies Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice. The full name of the dish is ratatouille niçoise.- Origin :...
, Up and WALL•E. Asobo Studio recently developed an open world
Open world
An open world is a type of video game level design where a player can roam freely through a virtual world and is given considerable freedom in choosing how to approach objectives...
racing game
Racing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
for publisher Codemasters
Codemasters
The Codemasters Software Company Limited, or Codemasters is a British video game developer founded by Richard and David Darling in 1986...
named Fuel
Fuel (2009 video game)
Fuel is a racing video game developed by Asobo Studio and published by Codemasters, released on June 2, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and June 5, for Microsoft Windows.-Gameplay:...
, which was released in 2009 to mixed reviews.
History
After Kalisto EntertainmentKalisto Entertainment
Kalisto Entertainment SA was a French video game development company founded by Nicolas Gaume at age 19.The company began as Atreid Concept in 1990 and later created the distribution label Kalisto in 1992, which became Kalisto Entertainment's namesake. In late 1994 Atreid Concept became part of...
went bankrupt in 2002, 12 employees, including Sébastien Wloch and David Dedeine, bought the rights to the multiplayer PS2 game Super Farm
Super Farm
Super Farm is a party video game with a farmyard theme developed by Asobo Studio and published by Ignition Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 and Gamecube consoles.-Gameplay:...
and founded Asobo Studio. They eventually completed the game development, which was published in 2003 by Ignition
Ignition Entertainment
Ignition Entertainment Ltd. is a British video game publisher formed in April 2002. It was created from a selection of smaller developers and publishers, such as Archer MacLean's Awesome Studios.-History:...
.
During the following years, the studio developed several games for various platforms (the studio has PC, MAC, PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, Wii, XBOX360 and PS3 development experience), until being chosen by publisher THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
to create the video game adaptation of Pixar Animation Studios Oscar-winning motion picture Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice. The full name of the dish is ratatouille niçoise.- Origin :...
.
Thus Asobo started increasing its growth speed, recruiting about 20% new employees a year, leading to two separate production lines.
Since the collaboration with THQ and Pixar has turned to be a success, Asobo was selected to develop the video game adaptation of Pixar's following films WALL•E and Up.
During the 2008 Games Convention
Games Convention
The Games Convention, sometimes called the Leipzig Games Convention and abbreviated as GC, was an annual video game event held in Leipzig, Germany, first held in 2002. Besides video games, the event also covers Infotainment, Hardware, and Edutainment...
, the video game publisher Codemasters
Codemasters
The Codemasters Software Company Limited, or Codemasters is a British video game developer founded by Richard and David Darling in 1986...
announced Fuel
Fuel (2009 video game)
Fuel is a racing video game developed by Asobo Studio and published by Codemasters, released on June 2, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and June 5, for Microsoft Windows.-Gameplay:...
, a brand new racing game developed by Asobo Studio. Fuel was released in 2009 for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and the PC.
Products
- Super Farm - Ignition, PS2 (2003)
- Sitting Ducks - LSP, PS2/PC (2004)
- The Mummy - HIP Interactive, PS2/PC (2004)
- CT Special ForcesNemesis StrikeNemesis Strike, also known as CT Special Forces: Fire for Effect is a third-person shooter video game by Asobo Studio for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Players play as a counter-terrorism agency...
- HIP Interactive, PS2/Xbox/PC (2005) - Garfield 2 - Game Factory, PS2/PC (2006)
- RatatouilleRatatouille (video game)Ratatouille is a video game based on the Pixar film, Ratatouille . It was developed at Heavy Iron Studios and released by THQ, Nintendo and SCEA on June 26, 2007, two days before the first theatrical release in Russia...
- THQ, PC/Mac/PS2/Wii/Xbox/Gamecube (2007) - WALL•EWALL-E (video game)WALL-E is the video game adaptation of the movie of the same name. The game was developed and published by THQ for multiple platforms. The game was released in North America on June 24, 2008, to Europe on July 4, 2008 and Australia on September 4, 2008...
- THQ, PC/Mac/PS2 (2008) - FuelFuel (2009 video game)Fuel is a racing video game developed by Asobo Studio and published by Codemasters, released on June 2, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and June 5, for Microsoft Windows.-Gameplay:...
- Codemasters, PC/Xbox360/PS3 (2009) - UpUp (video game)Up is a video game based on the Pixar film of the same name, released on May 26, 2009. The video game was produced by Disney Interactive Studios, Heavy Iron Studios and Pixar...
- THQ, PC/PS2/PSP (2009) - Toy Story 3: The Video GameToy Story 3: The Video GameToy Story 3: The Video Game is a platform video game loosely based on the film Toy Story 3. It was published by Disney Interactive Studios and developed by Avalanche Software , Asobo Studio and n-Space...
- Disney Interactive Studios, PSP/PS2 (2010) - Racket Sports - Ubisoft, PS3 (2010)
Awards
- Annie AwardAnnie AwardThe Annie Awards have been presented by the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood since 1972...
2008 Best Animated Video Game for Ratatouille - GamespotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
Most Surprisingly Good Game Special Achievement 2008 for WALL•E PS2 (nominee) - GamespotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
Better Use of a Creative License Special Achievement 2008 for WALL•E PS2 (nominee) - French Video Game Festival Milthon of Best consoles video game for WALL•E PS2 (nominee)
- Guinness World RecordsGuinness World RecordsGuinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
. Award for largest playable area in a console game for FuelFuel (video game)Fuel was a cancelled Xbox and PC ATV racing game created by defunct Calgary software company Firetoad Software.-External links:**...
.