DreamCatcher Games
Encyclopedia
DreamCatcher Interactive Inc. (a.k.a. DreamCatcher Games) is a Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
-based publisher of video games founded in 1996 by Richard Wah Kan.
Jewels of the Oracle, which achieved enough success to grow the retail business. Dreamcatcher would later release The Crystal Key
which sold over a half million units in North America
. Continuing the company's growth, in November 2000, DreamCatcher signed with Her Interactive
to publish the Nancy Drew
franchise.
were absorbed by DreamCatcher Interactive, forming the base for DreamCatcher Europe including key offices and a large internal studio. 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. In 2005 the main Microïds studio was acquired by Ubisoft
with Dreamcatcher retaining publishing rights to the games being created.
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
.
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
.
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.
series.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-based publisher of video games founded in 1996 by Richard Wah Kan.
Beginnings
The company’s first title was the adventure gameAdventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
Jewels of the Oracle, which achieved enough success to grow the retail business. Dreamcatcher would later release The Crystal Key
The Crystal Key
The Crystal Key is a graphic adventure video game published by DreamCatcher Interactive in 2000.- Story :The storyline is set in the future, where the protagonist is sent to another planet to investigate the source of a cryptic message from an evil alien race...
which sold over a half million units in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Continuing the company's growth, in November 2000, DreamCatcher signed with Her Interactive
Her Interactive
Her Interactive is the leading mystery-maker and pioneer of fun and inspiring interactive entertainment. The company, with 24 awards to its name, designs, develops and publishes high-quality, mystery adventure games and apps, and is the world leader in the mystery games category. Her Interactive's...
to publish the Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew is a fictional young amateur detective in various mystery series for all ages. She was created by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate book packaging firm. The character first appeared in 1930. The books have been ghostwritten by a number of authors and are published...
franchise.
Publishing
In late 2002, most of the assets and development teams of French based publisher, Cryo InteractiveCryo Interactive
Cryo Interactive Entertainment is a French video game development and publishing company founded in 1992, but existing unofficially since 1989 as a developer group under the name Cryo...
were absorbed by DreamCatcher Interactive, forming the base for DreamCatcher Europe including key offices and a large internal studio. After the acquisition of Cryo Interactive, Dreamcatcher created a publishing division called The Adventure Company
The Adventure Company
The Adventure Company, is a publishing label of Nordic Games. It is formally a division of DreamCatcher Interactive but was sold to Nordic Games in 2011 following DreamCatcher's parent JoWooD Entertainment being sold after entering administration.-History:...
in early 2003. The company also partnered with both Wanadoo Edition and Microïds
Microïds
Microïds is a French software brand belonging to Anuman Interactive that publishes and develops video games. In recent years the company's collection of brands and game licenses has grown since being a part of MC2 France...
, as well as other studios in the development and distribution of games including Syberia
Syberia
Syberia is a 2002 computer adventure game conceived by Benoît Sokal, developed by Microïds and published through The Adventure Company. It follows the protagonist Kate Walker as she attempts to wrap up a sale on the behalf of her law firm...
, Still Life
Still Life (video game)
Still Life is a 2005 computer adventure game by Microïds. While not sharing its name, Still Life is a sequel to Post Mortem. A sequel, Still Life 2, was released in 2009. The game has since sold 240,000 copies worldwide....
and ObsCure. In 2005 the main Microïds studio was acquired by Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
with Dreamcatcher retaining publishing rights to the games being created.
The Adventure Company brand label under DreamCatcher has released many adventure game series' including series' based on Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
novels. They also recently signed to release a series of titles based on The Hardy Boys
The Hardy Boys
The Hardy Boys, Frank and Joe Hardy, are fictional teenage brothers and amateur detectives who appear in various mystery series for children and teens....
.
Outside of adventure gaming, DreamCatcher is best known for publishing the first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
Painkiller
Painkiller (game)
PainKiller is a first-person shooter video game released on April 12, 2004. It was developed by Polish game studio People Can Fly and published by DreamCatcher Interactive . It attempts to replicate the "old-school FPS" gameplay of Doom and Quake...
developed with People Can Fly
People Can Fly
People Can Fly, Sp. z o.o. is a video game developer established in February 2002 by Adrian Chmielarz and based in Warsaw, Poland. Their first video game was Painkiller, but many of their members had already worked on various titles before this. Some members helped create 10 different titles since...
. Painkiller became a commercial success and was signed with the CPL World Tour 2005
Cyberathlete Professional League
The Cyberathlete Professional League , founded on June 27, 1997 by gaming entrepreneur Angel Munoz, is a professional sports tournament organization specializing in computer and console video game competitions....
.
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.
Acquisition by JoWooD
In 2006, JoWooD Productions 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. 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 SpellForceSpellforce
SpellForce: The Order of Dawn is a combination Real-time strategy and Role-playing game developed by German game developers Phenomic and released on 16 December 2003 in Europe and 11 February 2004 in North America....
series.
Games
| Title | Release Year | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agassi Tennis Generation Agassi Tennis Generation Agassi Tennis Generation is a tennis sports game, developed by Aqua Pacific and published by DreamCatcher Interactive and Cryo Interactive for the PC, PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance. It was originally released for PC on August 12, 2002. The game features former tennis player Andre... |
2003 | Windows, Gameboy Advance, PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
|
| Animates | 2007 | Nintendo DS Nintendo DS The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP... |
|
| Arcania: Gothic 4 | 2010 | Windows, 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... |
|
| Arx Fatalis Arx Fatalis Arx Fatalis is a partially open source first-person role-playing video game for the Xbox and PC, released on November 2002 by Arkane Studios, a video game developer based in Lyon, France.... |
2002 | Windows, Xbox Xbox The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... |
|
| Atlantis: The Lost Tales Atlantis: The Lost Tales Atlantis: The Lost Tales is a fantasy adventure computer game developed by Cryo Interactive and published by Dreamcatcher Interactive, and released on September 30, 1997. The game is named after its initial and most important setting, Atlantis... |
1997 | Windows | Publisher |
| Besieger | 2004 | Windows | |
| Cold War | 2005 | Windows, Xbox Xbox The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... , Linux Linux Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds... |
|
| Curse: The Eye of Isis | 2003 | Windows, Xbox Xbox The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... , PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
|
| Domination | 2005 | Windows | |
| Dunes of War Dunes of War Dunes of War is an arcade shooter real-time strategy simulation game that was developed by ZootFly. The game was published by JoWood in European Union, and by GFI and Russobit-M in Russia. The game was published by Dreamcatcher Interactive in North America.... |
2007 | Windows | |
| Dungeon Lords Dungeon Lords Dungeon Lords is a real time fantasy Computer role-playing game developed by David W. Bradley of Heuristic Park, published by DreamCatcher Games and Typhoon Games, and released in 2005. It includes quests, personal missions, skills and special abilities for customizing the character hero from a... |
2005 | Windows | |
| Emergency Fire Response Emergency Fire Response Emergency Fire Response is a simulation video game released for Microsoft Windows on by DreamCatcher Interactive. In this game, the player takes control of a team of firefighters from the fictional Fire Station 615... |
2003 | Windows | |
| Enigma: Rising Tide Enigma: Rising Tide Enigma: Rising Tide is a naval vehicle simulation developed by Tesseraction Games and published by Dreamcatcher Interactive. It was released for the PC in August 2003... |
2003 | Windows | |
| Enigma: Rising Tide Enigma: Rising Tide Enigma: Rising Tide is a naval vehicle simulation developed by Tesseraction Games and published by Dreamcatcher Interactive. It was released for the PC in August 2003... Gold Edition |
2005 | Windows | |
| First Battalion First Battalion First Battalion is an arcade tank combat game developed by Zootfly.- Campaigns :There are three campaigns The German, The Russian and The American campaign. In all these campaigns a user is given command of a WW 2 tank . The user is given a task that involves tank fighting, taking out artillery... |
2006 | Windows, Xbox Xbox The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... |
|
| Genesis Rising | 2006 | Windows | |
| Gore: Ultimate Soldier Gore: Ultimate Soldier Gore: Ultimate Soldier is a first-person shooter video game for Microsoft Windows, released on June 5, 2002. It was published by DreamCatcher Games and developed by .-Gameplay:... |
2002 | Windows | |
| Haegemonia: Legions of Iron Haegemonia: Legions of Iron Haegemonia: Legions of Iron, or Hegemonia: Legions of Iron is a 3D real-time strategy game made by Digital Reality and is similar in many respects to Homeworld and Digital Reality's previous game, Imperium Galactica II... |
2003 | Windows | |
| Inkheart | 2008 | Nintendo DS Nintendo DS The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP... |
based on Inkheart Inkheart (film) Inkheart is a 2008 fantasy film directed by Iain Softley and starring Brendan Fraser, Eliza Bennett, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Andy Serkis and Jim Broadbent. It is based on the novel with the same name by Cornelia Funke... |
| LifeSigns: Surgical Unit LifeSigns: Surgical Unit is an adventure game for the Nintendo DS set in a hospital. This is the second game in a series that redefined the sim genre to make way for other medical games games such as Trauma Center: Under The Knife... |
2007 | Nintendo DS Nintendo DS The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP... |
|
| ObsCure | 2004 | Windows, Xbox Xbox The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... , PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
|
| Painkiller | 2004 | Windows | |
| Painkiller: Battle Out of Hell | 2004 | Windows | |
| Painkiller: Black | 2005 | Windows | |
| Painkiller: Hell Wars | 2006 | Xbox Xbox The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... |
|
| Painkiller: Overdose | 2007 | Windows | |
| Painkiller: Resurrection | 2009 | Windows | |
| Playmobil Circus | 2009 | 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... |
|
| Playmobil Knights | 2009 | Nintendo DS Nintendo DS The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP... |
|
| Playmobil Pirates | 2009 | Nintendo DS Nintendo DS The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP... |
|
| Project Earth: Starmageddon Project Earth: Starmageddon Project Earth: Starmageddon is a real-time strategy video game released on April 26, 2002 by DreamCatcher Games for Microsoft Windows.-External links:... |
2002 | Windows | |
| Rock Manager Rock Manager -Gameplay:Rock Manager puts the player in control of a rock band with the task of making them into rockstars.Play starts with putting a band together. The player chooses from a list of musicians with all tastes and styles. Record a demo in a studio, adding effects to the song to make is fit the... |
2001 | Windows | |
| Seven Kingdoms - Conquest Seven Kingdoms (computer game) Seven Kingdoms is a real-time strategy computer game developed by Trevor Chan of Enlight Software. The game enables players to compete against up to six other kingdoms allowing players to conquer opponents by defeating them in war , capturing their buildings with spies, or offering opponents... |
2008 | Windows | |
| Spellforce Universe | 2007 | Windows | |
| Spirits & Spells | 2003 | Gamecube, PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
|
| SuperPower SuperPower SuperPower is a political simulation computer game designed by GolemLabs and published by DreamCatcher Interactive. SuperPower debuted on March 28, 2002 for the PC.-Gameplay:... |
2002 | Windows | |
| SuperPower 2 SuperPower 2 SuperPower 2 is a Real-time strategy wargame developed by Canadian based GolemLabs and published by DreamCatcher Games in 2004, following SuperPower. It was released between October 11 and November 19, 2004 in North America and Europe.... |
2004 | Windows | |
| The Guild 2 The Guild 2 The Guild 2 is a historical multiplayer real-time strategy video game developed by 4HEAD Studios and published by JoWooD Entertainment. It is the second installment in the historical real-time strategy video game series, following Europa 1400. The Guild 2 was released September 29, 2006, for PCs... |
2006 | Windows | |
| The Guild 2: Pirates of the High Seas | 2007 | Windows | |
| Traitors Gate | 2000 | Macintosh Mac OS Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface... , Windows |
|
| War Leaders: Clash of Nations War Leaders: Clash of Nations War Leaders: Clash of Nations is a turn-based global strategy game bundled with a real-time tactics game mode, similar to that of the Total War series.It was developed by Enigma Software Productions and published by Akella.- Plot :... |
2008 | Windows | |
| World Party Games | 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... |
||
| Yager (aka Aerial Strike) Yager Yager is a shooter video game for the Xbox console, later ported to Windows. In the game, the on the role of Magnus Tide, a freelance pilot adventurer. Yager, a single-player shooting game, is set over 20 levels in which the player takes possession of various weapons and ships in an effort to... |
2003 | Windows, Xbox Xbox The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... |
|
| Yoga Wii | 2009 | 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... |
External links
- DreamCatcher Games
- The Adventure Company
- DreamCatcher profile on MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...