CD Projekt
Encyclopedia
CD Projekt is a Polish
video game publisher
. The company was founded in May 1994 by Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński. From the beginning their goal was to publish software in the Polish
market on compact disc
s. The company became the first Polish publisher to publish computer games on CDs and for a long time it was one of the most prominent companies in Poland specializing in publishing computer and video games and educational software
. The company has been called "the biggest PC games distributor in Central Europe
".
CD Projekt is also known in the Polish gamer community for being the first to publish fully translated international hit games, such as the Baldur's Gate
saga (one of the first games fully translated into Polish, an event which became a milestone of computer gaming and publishing in Poland), Planescape: Torment
, both Icewind Dale
games and many more. A recent major translation, widely covered by the media, was Heroes of Might and Magic V
. Most of CD Projekt's game translations feature well known professional Polish actors and celebrities, such as Piotr Fronczewski
, Bogusław Linda, Małgorzata Foremniak, Daniel Olbrychski
and many others.
During February 2002, CD Projekt launched a new unit, CD Projekt RED STUDIO, which specializes in developing computer games. The first game the unit produced is Wiedźmin (The Witcher), based on Andrzej Sapkowski
's books
. Also in 2002, CD Projekt expanded to the Czech Republic
and Slovakia
, where it began to distribute games in Czech translation. CD Projekt expanded to Hungary
too.
On October 6, 2005 CD Projekt launched a platform called gram.pl (Polish
for I'm playing.plor "I play" (there is only Present Simple in Polish)), a portal created for players looking to sell or buy new games. A life-time warranty is provided with new purchases. The website was later sold and is now operated by Action.
In February 2008, CD Projekt purchased the Metropolis Software development studio.
On 10 July 2008, CD Projekt announced Good Old Games (gog.com), a service for purchasing classic, DRM
-free computer games online.
In 2009 CD Projekt expanded its collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Polska. A new department at CD Projekt started its operations, headed by director Olga Morawska, leading a team responsible for home entertainment. The company plans to introduce movie publishing series and popularize new formats. Michał Kiciński, a co-owner of the CD Projekt group, said that aligning two branches of business, computer games and DVD movies, is a great growth opportunity for the home entertainment industry in Poland.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
video game publisher
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
. The company was founded in May 1994 by Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński. From the beginning their goal was to publish software in the Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
market on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
s. The company became the first Polish publisher to publish computer games on CDs and for a long time it was one of the most prominent companies in Poland specializing in publishing computer and video games and educational software
Educational software
Educational software is computer software, the primary purpose of which is teaching or self-learning.-Early History, 1940s - 1970s:The use of computer hardware and software in education and training dates to the early 1940s, when American researchers developed flight simulators which used analog...
. The company has been called "the biggest PC games distributor in Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
".
CD Projekt is also known in the Polish gamer community for being the first to publish fully translated international hit games, such as the Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and released in 1998 by Interplay Entertainment. The game takes place in the Forgotten Realms, a high fantasy campaign setting, using modified Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition rules...
saga (one of the first games fully translated into Polish, an event which became a milestone of computer gaming and publishing in Poland), Planescape: Torment
Planescape: Torment
Planescape: Torment is a computer role-playing game developed for Windows by Black Isle Studios and released on December 12, 1999 by Interplay Entertainment. It takes place in Planescape, an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy campaign setting...
, both Icewind Dale
Icewind Dale
Icewind Dale is a computer role-playing game developed for Windows by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay Entertainment. Released on June 30, 2000, it takes place in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms campaign setting, and is based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition...
games and many more. A recent major translation, widely covered by the media, was Heroes of Might and Magic V
Heroes of Might and Magic V
Heroes of Might and Magic V is the fifth installment of the Heroes of Might and Magic turn-based strategy video game series. It was developed by Nival Interactive, under the guidance of franchise-owner Ubisoft...
. Most of CD Projekt's game translations feature well known professional Polish actors and celebrities, such as Piotr Fronczewski
Piotr Fronczewski
Piotr Fronczewski , is a Polish actor and singer.As a fictional character Franek Kimono he issued a disco LP in 1983 which was meant to be a musical joke but turned out to be a great success. Fronczewski started his acting career playing in the theater. He also performed in cabarets...
, Bogusław Linda, Małgorzata Foremniak, Daniel Olbrychski
Daniel Olbrychski
Daniel Olbrychski is a Polish actor best known for leading roles in several Andrzej Wajda movies and also known for playing the Russian defector and spymaster Vassily Orlov, alongside Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie in the movie Salt....
and many others.
During February 2002, CD Projekt launched a new unit, CD Projekt RED STUDIO, which specializes in developing computer games. The first game the unit produced is Wiedźmin (The Witcher), based on Andrzej Sapkowski
Andrzej Sapkowski
Andrzej Sapkowski, born 21 June 1948 in Łódź, is a Polish fantasy writer. He is best known for his best-selling book series The Witcher.-Biography:...
's books
The Witcher
The Witcher, or , by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski is a cult series of fantasy short stories and five novels about the witcher Geralt of Rivia...
. Also in 2002, CD Projekt expanded to the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, where it began to distribute games in Czech translation. CD Projekt expanded to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
too.
On October 6, 2005 CD Projekt launched a platform called gram.pl (Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
for I'm playing.plor "I play" (there is only Present Simple in Polish)), a portal created for players looking to sell or buy new games. A life-time warranty is provided with new purchases. The website was later sold and is now operated by Action.
In February 2008, CD Projekt purchased the Metropolis Software development studio.
On 10 July 2008, CD Projekt announced Good Old Games (gog.com), a service for purchasing classic, DRM
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
-free computer games online.
In 2009 CD Projekt expanded its collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Polska. A new department at CD Projekt started its operations, headed by director Olga Morawska, leading a team responsible for home entertainment. The company plans to introduce movie publishing series and popularize new formats. Michał Kiciński, a co-owner of the CD Projekt group, said that aligning two branches of business, computer games and DVD movies, is a great growth opportunity for the home entertainment industry in Poland.
Developed games
- The Witcher (2007)
- The Witcher 2: Assassins of KingsThe Witcher 2: Assassins of KingsThe Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a third-person role-playing video game developed by Polish studio CD Projekt RED for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360. It is a sequel to the 2007 video game The Witcher, and was released internationally on May 17, 2011. Just like its predecessor, the game is based...
(2011) - TheyThey (video game)They is a first-person shooter. It was under development by Metropolis Software, but when CD Projekt purchased them development was halted, in order to focus on The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings...
(TBA) - The Witcher 3 (TBA)