Data Design Interactive
Encyclopedia
Data Design Interactive was a United Kingdom
based video game developer
and video game publisher
. It was founded in 1983, became a limited company in 1999 and ceased trading in 2009. It developed games on the multiple games platforms including PC
and consoles. The company became notorious for producing a large number of poor quality games for the Nintendo
Wii
.
, Billy the Wizard
and the Myth Makers
.
The Popcorn range sold over 3 million units of which over 2 million were in the first year alone. Sales peaked at 40% of the European market for Wii games in this price segment . Later titles such as Kidz Sports Crazy Mini Golf and Mini Golf 2 sold over 400,000 units.
Innovations included Crazy Mini Golf's use of the angle and rotation of the Wii remote to detect small swings rather than the accelerometer - this made the control far more sensitive than Wii Golf, which only used the accelerometer and thus requires a harder, longer swing. Mini Golf 2 improved on the sensitivity and was one of only 4 titles with Motion Plus support demonstrated at the Launch of Motion Plus at E3 2009. Battle Rage 3D was the first Wii title to feature stereoscopic 3D support, requiring Red/Green glasses.
, Mini
, Harry Potter
, BMW
, Austin Mini, Rover
, Austin-Healey
, Spearmint Rhino
, Habitrail
, LEGO
, London Taxi, Tonka
and Nickelodeon
.
" games.
Data Design Interactive's Kidz Sports Series were IGN
's Worst Reviewed Wii Games, with all 3 titles receiving 1.0 out of 10. None of Data Design Interactive's Wii games had received a review score higher that 3.0 out of 10. The lowest score of all DDI titles was 0.8 out of 10, given to Action Girlz Racing
.
In 2008 games reviewers on IGN and GameSpot UK declared they believed DDI were damaging the Wii games market's credibility by saturating the market with substandard products. One review called for Nintendo to refuse to publish DDI games on the grounds that they were killing public interest in the Wii.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
based video game developer
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...
and 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....
. It was founded in 1983, became a limited company in 1999 and ceased trading in 2009. It developed games on the multiple games platforms including PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
and consoles. The company became notorious for producing a large number of poor quality games for the Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
.
Popcorn Arcade
The Popcorn Arcade was Data Design Interactive's publishing label intended to capitalize on the rapid growth of the market for lower-price Wii games. From 2007 DDI released over 30 'family friendly' titles on its Popcorn Arcade label targeted at casual gamers. The games were simple in graphics and gameplay and used characters intended to appeal to children, such as Ninjabread ManNinjabread Man
Ninjabread Man is a platform video game from English developer/publisher Data Design Interactive. The game was an original new Zool game, but due to its poor quality, the Zool license was dropped....
, Billy the Wizard
Billy the Wizard: Rocket Broomstick Racing
Billy the Wizard: Rocket Broomstick Racing is a racing game from English developer/publisher Data Design Interactive. It has been released for the PlayStation 2 and the PC. The Wii rendition will be released on the week of August 12 to August 18.-Gameplay:...
and the Myth Makers
Myth Makers Super Kart GP
Myth Makers Super Kart GP is a racing game from English developer/publisher Data Design Interactive. It was released in January 2006 for the PC. In February 2007, Data Design announced it would release the game on the Wii.-Gameplay:...
.
The Popcorn range sold over 3 million units of which over 2 million were in the first year alone. Sales peaked at 40% of the European market for Wii games in this price segment . Later titles such as Kidz Sports Crazy Mini Golf and Mini Golf 2 sold over 400,000 units.
Innovations included Crazy Mini Golf's use of the angle and rotation of the Wii remote to detect small swings rather than the accelerometer - this made the control far more sensitive than Wii Golf, which only used the accelerometer and thus requires a harder, longer swing. Mini Golf 2 improved on the sensitivity and was one of only 4 titles with Motion Plus support demonstrated at the Launch of Motion Plus at E3 2009. Battle Rage 3D was the first Wii title to feature stereoscopic 3D support, requiring Red/Green glasses.
Licenses
Data Design Interactive worked with global brands and licences including KawasakiKawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
, Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
, Harry Potter
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
, BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, Austin Mini, Rover
Rover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
, Austin-Healey
Austin-Healey
Austin-Healey was a British sports car maker. The marque was established through a joint-venture arrangement, set up in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation and the Donald Healey Motor Company, a renowned automotive engineering and design...
, Spearmint Rhino
Spearmint Rhino
Spearmint Rhino is a chain of strip clubs that operates venues throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Central Europe, Russia and Australia. The club opened in 1989 as a supplement to the existing Peppermint Elephant Restaurant. This first Spearmint Rhino was located in Upland,...
, Habitrail
Habitrail
Habitrail, a product made by the Hagen corporation, is a series of translucent plastic tubes and "houses" for use in home terrariums, designed especially for small pets such as mice or hamsters. The design of the Habitrail is modular and can be configured however the owner likes, as well as...
, LEGO
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
, London Taxi, Tonka
Tonka
Tonka is an American toy company most known for its signature toy trucks and construction equipment.-History:On September 18, 1946 Mound Metalcraft was created in Mound, Minnesota with three men as partners, Lynn Everett Baker , Avery F. Crounse, and Alvin F. Tesch. The first products produced by...
and Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
.
GODS
'Game Orientated Development System' was a game engine developed by DDI for rapid cross platform games development. By re-using large amounts of code between titles DDI achieved very short product release cycles with relatively few development staff. This was often clearly visible in the end product as games looked and played very similarly.Myth Makers
A range of characters based on cute versions of international mythical characters. Each mythical character is designed to widen its potential market by suiting different seasons and times of the year including Christmas, Easter and Halloween.Kidz Sports
Kidz Sports is a collection of sports video games for younger gamers. The range is not a licensed style product but more akin to the backyard style titles. The game characters are child oriented in a cartoon style.Critical response
The Popcorn Arcade range of Wii games received overwhelmingly negative reviews that were highly critical of the products' quality. Gamers and press strongly criticised poor graphics, flawed gameplay, unresponsive controls and lack of polish all associated with rushed production schedules or "shovelwareShovelware
Shovelware is a derogatory computer jargon term that refers to software noted more for the quantity of what is included than for the quality or usefulness...
" games.
Data Design Interactive's Kidz Sports Series were IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Worst Reviewed Wii Games, with all 3 titles receiving 1.0 out of 10. None of Data Design Interactive's Wii games had received a review score higher that 3.0 out of 10. The lowest score of all DDI titles was 0.8 out of 10, given to Action Girlz Racing
Action Girlz Racing
Action Girlz Racing is a racing video game produced by Data Design Interactive. It was released in 2005 in Europe for Windows and PlayStation 2. A version for the PlayStation Portable was also announced for that same year, but was cancelled...
.
In 2008 games reviewers on IGN and GameSpot UK declared they believed DDI were damaging the Wii games market's credibility by saturating the market with substandard products. One review called for Nintendo to refuse to publish DDI games on the grounds that they were killing public interest in the Wii.
Notable games
- Action Girlz RacingAction Girlz RacingAction Girlz Racing is a racing video game produced by Data Design Interactive. It was released in 2005 in Europe for Windows and PlayStation 2. A version for the PlayStation Portable was also announced for that same year, but was cancelled...
- Anubis IIAnubis IIAnubis II is an action game from UK based developer Metro 3D. The Wii version was worked on by Data Design Interactive. The game was published by Conspiracy Entertainment in the United States...
- Billy the Wizard: Rocket Broomstick RacingBilly the Wizard: Rocket Broomstick RacingBilly the Wizard: Rocket Broomstick Racing is a racing game from English developer/publisher Data Design Interactive. It has been released for the PlayStation 2 and the PC. The Wii rendition will be released on the week of August 12 to August 18.-Gameplay:...
- Hamster HeroesHamster HeroesHamster Heroes is a video game by Data Design Interactive for the PlayStation 2, PC and Wii. Gameplay is similar to Super Monkey Ball; each player's hamster rolls about the levels in a plastic sphere....
- Kawasaki Quad Bikes
- Kawasaki Jet SkiKawasaki Jet SkiKawasaki Jet Ski is a video game for the Wii console, released in 2008. It was created by Data Design Interactive, a budget developer.-Reception:...
- Kawasaki Snow Mobiles
- Kidz Sports BasketballKidz Sports BasketballKidz Sports Basketball is a sports video game title from English developer/publisher Data Design Interactive. The game was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2004 and on the PC in 2006. It was released on the Wii in 2008.-Reception:...
- Kidz Sports Ice HockeyKidz Sports Ice HockeyKidz Sports Ice Hockey is a video game for the Wii console. It was created by Data Design Interactive, a budget developer....
- Kidz Sports International SoccerKidz Sports International SoccerKidz Sports International Soccer is a video game for the Wii console. It was created by Data Design Interactive, a budget developer....
- Kidz Sports Crazy Mini GolfKidz Sports Crazy Mini GolfKidz Sports Crazy Mini Golf is a golfing simulator developed and published by Data Design Interactive exclusively for the Wii console. Kidz Sports Crazy Mini-golf is the only by Data Design Interactive to use the Wii Motion Plus.-See also:...
- LEGO Rock RaidersLego Rock Raiders (video game)Lego Rock Raiders is a video game developed by Data Design Interactive and published by Lego Media for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation. It is based on the Lego theme of the same name...
- London Taxi: Rushhour
- Mini Desktop RacingMini Desktop RacingMini Desktop Racing is a racing video game published by Metro 3D and developed by Data Design Interactive. It was released on PC and PlayStation 2 formats in July 2005. A Wii version was released in Australia on November 22, 2007, and November 23, 2007 in Europe and North America.-Gameplay:Much...
- Monster Trux: ArenasMonster Trux: ArenasMonster Trux: Arenas is a video game for the Wii console. It was created by Data Design Interactive, a budget developer. The Wii Wheel is compatible with the game.- Use of real monster trucks :...
- Myth Makers: Orbs of DoomMyth Makers: Orbs of DoomMyth Makers: Orbs of Doom is a video game for the Wii by UK-based Data Design Interactive. It is a part of their Myth Makers franchise, which features cartoon style graphics that is aimed for a family friendly market...
- Myth Makers Super Kart GPMyth Makers Super Kart GPMyth Makers Super Kart GP is a racing game from English developer/publisher Data Design Interactive. It was released in January 2006 for the PC. In February 2007, Data Design announced it would release the game on the Wii.-Gameplay:...
- Myth Makers: Trixie in ToylandMyth Makers: Trixie in ToylandMyth Makers: Trixie in Toyland is an English platformer for the Wii created by UK-based Data Design Interactive. It is a part of their Myth Makers franchise, which features cartoon style graphics that is aimed for a family friendly market.-Gameplay:...
- Ninjabread ManNinjabread ManNinjabread Man is a platform video game from English developer/publisher Data Design Interactive. The game was an original new Zool game, but due to its poor quality, the Zool license was dropped....
- Offroad Extreme! Special EditionOffroad Extreme! Special EditionOffroad Extreme! Special Edition is a budget racing title developed by Data Design Interactive and published by Conspiracy Entertainment for Wii.-Reception:...
- Party Pigs: Farmyard GamesParty Pigs: Farmyard GamesParty Pigs: Farmyard Games, or simply referred to Party Pigs, is a party game for Wii developed by Destineer and published by UK-based game company Data Design Interactive...
- Rock 'N' Roll Adventure
- Urban Extreme