IR Gurus
Encyclopedia
Transmission Games was an Australia
n game development company, specialising in sports and action games. Originally, Transmission Games was established as IR Gurus Pty Ltd in 1996 by Craig Laughton, Andrew Niere, and Ian Cunliffe with the motto "Game Play is Everything". The company name was changed in February 2008 to Transmission Games and was later sold to a unrelated third party in June 2008. On 21st October 2009 news sites started reporting that the company had gone into liquidation, causing the company to be closed down. The Transmission Games staff were made redundant and the company later placed into voluntary administration) by the new owners.
Transmission Games had developed many games, including: Ashes Cricket 2009
for PlayStation 3
, Xbox 360
, and PC
, Heatseeker
for the PlayStation 2, Wii, and PSP, Heroes of the Pacific
for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC, the AFL Premiership series of games for the PlayStation 2, and The Saddle Club - Willowbrook Stables.
The company was based in Melbourne, Australia and its last games released were Ashes Cricket 2009
(which was published by Codemasters
), Heatseeker
, AFL Premiership 2007
and Brian Lara Pressure Play.
, AFL Premiership 2006
and AFL Premiership 2007
all debuted at No.1 on the Australian sales charts, with AFL Premiership 2006 staying at the top of the all-formats charts for six weeks.
, an arcade style flight simulation game for the PC, PS2 and Xbox formats. Heroes of the Pacific was published in PAL territories by Codemasters
and in NTSC territories by Ubisoft
. Heroes of the Pacific garnered favourable reviews (averaging 76%-78% across all platforms), and received a number of awards, including Australian Game of the Year and PC Game of the Year from the Game Developer's Association of Australia in 2005.
Following Heroes of the Pacific
, Transmission Games co-developed Heatseeker
, a modern flight combat game, with Codemasters
. Heatseeker
was released in Europe on the 30th of March, 2007.
Heroes Over Europe
, the sequel to Heroes of the Pacific
, was released in September 2009.
. IR Gurus continued to develop AFL games, including AFL Live Premiership Edition released in April 2004, AFL Premiership 2005
released in September 2005, AFL Premiership 2006
released in July 2006, and finally AFL Premiership 2007
released in June 2007.
In addition, Transmission Games developed the officially licensed GAA Gaelic Football game Gaelic Games: Football
exclusively for the PlayStation 2 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment of Ireland on November 11, 2005. Following its release, Gaelic Games: Football
was the highest selling PlayStation 2 game of all time in Ireland.
Transmission Games followed Gaelic Games: Football with Gaelic Games: Hurling
, and Gaelic Games: Football 2
in November 2007. Both of these games were developed exclusively for the PlayStation 2 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment of Ireland.
In 2007 Transmission Games worked with fellow Melbourne company Acheron Design
to develop Brian Lara Pressure Play, a PSP version of Codemasters's Brian Lara series of Cricket games. The game debuted at No.1 on the UK sales charts when it was released in mid-2007.
Transmission Games' last sports game release was Ashes Cricket 2009
, the latest in the Codemasters
' series of cricket
games, formerly known as Brian Lara International Cricket. The game was released in August 2009 in England and Australia. The game debuted at number 1 in the All Formats UK charts.
and Tantalus Interactive
. Both Mary King's Riding Star and Equestriad continue to have worldwide appeal and have been sold on the PC and PlayStation formats in seven different languages. In 2002 Transmission Games released The Saddle Club - Willowbrook Stables, featuring the license from The Saddle Club television show.
In 2007, Transmission Games released Lucinda Green's Equestrian Challenge on PlayStation 2 and PC. Lucinda Green's Equestrian Challenge is an equestrian game based on the sport of 3-day horse eventing. The game features Show Jumping, Dressage and Cross Country events.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n game development company, specialising in sports and action games. Originally, Transmission Games was established as IR Gurus Pty Ltd in 1996 by Craig Laughton, Andrew Niere, and Ian Cunliffe with the motto "Game Play is Everything". The company name was changed in February 2008 to Transmission Games and was later sold to a unrelated third party in June 2008. On 21st October 2009 news sites started reporting that the company had gone into liquidation, causing the company to be closed down. The Transmission Games staff were made redundant and the company later placed into voluntary administration) by the new owners.
Transmission Games had developed many games, including: Ashes Cricket 2009
Ashes Cricket 2009
Ashes Cricket 2009, is a cricket video game developed by Transmission Games and published by Codemasters in the UK and by Atari in Australia. It has been released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. A Wii version, developed by Gusto Games, has also been released. The Wii version...
for 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...
, 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...
, and 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...
, Heatseeker
Heatseeker (video game)
Heatseeker is a jet fighter game for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable game systems jointly developed by IR Gurus and Codemasters. The PS2 and Wii versions of the game were released on March 30, 2007 in both Europe and Australia, and on May 1, 2007 in the US...
for the PlayStation 2, Wii, and PSP, Heroes of the Pacific
Heroes of the Pacific
Heroes of the Pacific is an aerial combat simulator game set in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.- Overview :The game allows the player to assume the role of a combat pilot named William Crowe as he experiences the various phases of the Pacific War with Japan, beginning with...
for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC, the AFL Premiership series of games for the PlayStation 2, and The Saddle Club - Willowbrook Stables.
The company was based in Melbourne, Australia and its last games released were Ashes Cricket 2009
Ashes Cricket 2009
Ashes Cricket 2009, is a cricket video game developed by Transmission Games and published by Codemasters in the UK and by Atari in Australia. It has been released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. A Wii version, developed by Gusto Games, has also been released. The Wii version...
(which was published by Codemasters
Codemasters
The Codemasters Software Company Limited, or Codemasters is a British video game developer founded by Richard and David Darling in 1986...
), Heatseeker
Heatseeker (video game)
Heatseeker is a jet fighter game for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable game systems jointly developed by IR Gurus and Codemasters. The PS2 and Wii versions of the game were released on March 30, 2007 in both Europe and Australia, and on May 1, 2007 in the US...
, AFL Premiership 2007
AFL Premiership 2007
AFL Premiership 2007 is a sports simulation game for the PlayStation 2 based on the Australian Football League. Its is a follow up game to AFL Premiership 2006. It was developed by game developer, IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. It is the final game in the series to be...
and Brian Lara Pressure Play.
Development history
Transmission Games released fifteen games between 1996 and 2009, including Australia's No.1 selling PC game in 2003 The Saddle Club - Willowbrook Stables based on the successful TV show The Saddle Club. Transmission Games's AFL games, including Kevin Sheedy AFL Coach 2002, AFL Live 2003, AFL Live 2004, AFL Live Premiership Edition, AFL Premiership 2005AFL Premiership 2005
AFL Premiership 2005 is a simulation game for PlayStation 2 based on the AFL. It is the ninth game in the AFL video game series.-Gameplay:...
, AFL Premiership 2006
AFL Premiership 2006
AFL Premiership 2006 is a simulation game only for the PlayStation 2 based on the AFL. The game was developed by Australian games developer IR Gurus and was published by Sony Computer Entertainment under the SCEE label. It was released on 20 July 2006 and is the tenth game in the AFL video game...
and AFL Premiership 2007
AFL Premiership 2007
AFL Premiership 2007 is a sports simulation game for the PlayStation 2 based on the Australian Football League. Its is a follow up game to AFL Premiership 2006. It was developed by game developer, IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. It is the final game in the series to be...
all debuted at No.1 on the Australian sales charts, with AFL Premiership 2006 staying at the top of the all-formats charts for six weeks.
Arcade flight games
In 2005, Transmission Games released the award-winning Heroes of the PacificHeroes of the Pacific
Heroes of the Pacific is an aerial combat simulator game set in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.- Overview :The game allows the player to assume the role of a combat pilot named William Crowe as he experiences the various phases of the Pacific War with Japan, beginning with...
, an arcade style flight simulation game for the PC, PS2 and Xbox formats. Heroes of the Pacific was published in PAL territories by Codemasters
Codemasters
The Codemasters Software Company Limited, or Codemasters is a British video game developer founded by Richard and David Darling in 1986...
and in NTSC territories 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....
. Heroes of the Pacific garnered favourable reviews (averaging 76%-78% across all platforms), and received a number of awards, including Australian Game of the Year and PC Game of the Year from the Game Developer's Association of Australia in 2005.
Following Heroes of the Pacific
Heroes of the Pacific
Heroes of the Pacific is an aerial combat simulator game set in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.- Overview :The game allows the player to assume the role of a combat pilot named William Crowe as he experiences the various phases of the Pacific War with Japan, beginning with...
, Transmission Games co-developed Heatseeker
Heatseeker (video game)
Heatseeker is a jet fighter game for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable game systems jointly developed by IR Gurus and Codemasters. The PS2 and Wii versions of the game were released on March 30, 2007 in both Europe and Australia, and on May 1, 2007 in the US...
, a modern flight combat game, with Codemasters
Codemasters
The Codemasters Software Company Limited, or Codemasters is a British video game developer founded by Richard and David Darling in 1986...
. Heatseeker
Heatseeker (video game)
Heatseeker is a jet fighter game for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable game systems jointly developed by IR Gurus and Codemasters. The PS2 and Wii versions of the game were released on March 30, 2007 in both Europe and Australia, and on May 1, 2007 in the US...
was released in Europe on the 30th of March, 2007.
Heroes Over Europe
Heroes over Europe
Heroes Over Europe is an arcade flying game developed by Transmission Games and published by Ubisoft. It is the sequel to Heroes of the Pacific....
, the sequel to Heroes of the Pacific
Heroes of the Pacific
Heroes of the Pacific is an aerial combat simulator game set in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.- Overview :The game allows the player to assume the role of a combat pilot named William Crowe as he experiences the various phases of the Pacific War with Japan, beginning with...
, was released in September 2009.
Sports games
In 2001, IR Gurus began development of stadium-based sports titles. They released AFL Live 2003 in October 2002, followed by AFL Live 2004 in September 2003 which was published by Acclaim EntertainmentAcclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
. IR Gurus continued to develop AFL games, including AFL Live Premiership Edition released in April 2004, AFL Premiership 2005
AFL Premiership 2005
AFL Premiership 2005 is a simulation game for PlayStation 2 based on the AFL. It is the ninth game in the AFL video game series.-Gameplay:...
released in September 2005, AFL Premiership 2006
AFL Premiership 2006
AFL Premiership 2006 is a simulation game only for the PlayStation 2 based on the AFL. The game was developed by Australian games developer IR Gurus and was published by Sony Computer Entertainment under the SCEE label. It was released on 20 July 2006 and is the tenth game in the AFL video game...
released in July 2006, and finally AFL Premiership 2007
AFL Premiership 2007
AFL Premiership 2007 is a sports simulation game for the PlayStation 2 based on the Australian Football League. Its is a follow up game to AFL Premiership 2006. It was developed by game developer, IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. It is the final game in the series to be...
released in June 2007.
In addition, Transmission Games developed the officially licensed GAA Gaelic Football game Gaelic Games: Football
Gaelic Games: Football
Gaelic Games: Football is a video game developed by IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released on November 11, 2005. It is based on the NFL and was developed by an Australian company that made the AFL video game series...
exclusively for the PlayStation 2 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment of Ireland on November 11, 2005. Following its release, Gaelic Games: Football
Gaelic Games: Football
Gaelic Games: Football is a video game developed by IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released on November 11, 2005. It is based on the NFL and was developed by an Australian company that made the AFL video game series...
was the highest selling PlayStation 2 game of all time in Ireland.
Transmission Games followed Gaelic Games: Football with Gaelic Games: Hurling
Gaelic Games: Hurling
Gaelic Games: Hurling is a video game developed by IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released on November 17, 2007. It was simultaneously released with Gaelic Games: Football 2.-Gameplay:...
, and Gaelic Games: Football 2
Gaelic Games: Football 2
Gaelic Games: Football 2 is a video game developed by IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released on November 17, 2007. It was the second NFL game produced...
in November 2007. Both of these games were developed exclusively for the PlayStation 2 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment of Ireland.
In 2007 Transmission Games worked with fellow Melbourne company Acheron Design
Acheron Design
Acheron Design is an independent Australian game development studio, which has historically thrived on subcontracting and outsource work. Acheron Design was founded in 2004 by Lewis Strudwick and Athol Birtley. In 2006, the studio became a company, and Michael de Graaf joined the executive team...
to develop Brian Lara Pressure Play, a PSP version of Codemasters's Brian Lara series of Cricket games. The game debuted at No.1 on the UK sales charts when it was released in mid-2007.
Transmission Games' last sports game release was Ashes Cricket 2009
Ashes Cricket 2009
Ashes Cricket 2009, is a cricket video game developed by Transmission Games and published by Codemasters in the UK and by Atari in Australia. It has been released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. A Wii version, developed by Gusto Games, has also been released. The Wii version...
, the latest in the Codemasters
Codemasters
The Codemasters Software Company Limited, or Codemasters is a British video game developer founded by Richard and David Darling in 1986...
' series of cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
games, formerly known as Brian Lara International Cricket. The game was released in August 2009 in England and Australia. The game debuted at number 1 in the All Formats UK charts.
Equestrian games
Transmission Games was also known for development and publishing of equestrian-related computer and console game titles. From 1996 to early 2000, Transmission Games developed its own equestrian computer games Mary King's Riding Star and Equestriad in conjunction with Melbourne software companies Blue Tongue EntertainmentBlue Tongue Entertainment
Blue Tongue Entertainment Pty. Ltd. was an Australian video game developer founded in 1995. It was acquired by THQ on November 17, 2004, and remained an internal development studio of THQ until its closure in August 2011...
and Tantalus Interactive
Tantalus Interactive
Tantalus Media is an Australian video game developer based in Melbourne, Australia, founded in 1994 by former Beam Software programmers Trevor Nuridin and Andrew Bailey. The company changed its name to Tantalus Media in 2007 following investment from private equity company Netus...
. Both Mary King's Riding Star and Equestriad continue to have worldwide appeal and have been sold on the PC and PlayStation formats in seven different languages. In 2002 Transmission Games released The Saddle Club - Willowbrook Stables, featuring the license from The Saddle Club television show.
In 2007, Transmission Games released Lucinda Green's Equestrian Challenge on PlayStation 2 and PC. Lucinda Green's Equestrian Challenge is an equestrian game based on the sport of 3-day horse eventing. The game features Show Jumping, Dressage and Cross Country events.
Games
- Heroes Over EuropeHeroes over EuropeHeroes Over Europe is an arcade flying game developed by Transmission Games and published by Ubisoft. It is the sequel to Heroes of the Pacific....
(2009) - Ashes Cricket 2009Ashes Cricket 2009Ashes Cricket 2009, is a cricket video game developed by Transmission Games and published by Codemasters in the UK and by Atari in Australia. It has been released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. A Wii version, developed by Gusto Games, has also been released. The Wii version...
(2009) - Gaelic Games: HurlingGaelic Games: HurlingGaelic Games: Hurling is a video game developed by IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released on November 17, 2007. It was simultaneously released with Gaelic Games: Football 2.-Gameplay:...
(2007) - Gaelic Games: Football 2Gaelic Games: Football 2Gaelic Games: Football 2 is a video game developed by IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released on November 17, 2007. It was the second NFL game produced...
(2007) - Brian Lara Pressure Play (2007)
- AFL Premiership 2007AFL Premiership 2007AFL Premiership 2007 is a sports simulation game for the PlayStation 2 based on the Australian Football League. Its is a follow up game to AFL Premiership 2006. It was developed by game developer, IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. It is the final game in the series to be...
(2007) - HeatseekerHeatseeker (video game)Heatseeker is a jet fighter game for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable game systems jointly developed by IR Gurus and Codemasters. The PS2 and Wii versions of the game were released on March 30, 2007 in both Europe and Australia, and on May 1, 2007 in the US...
(2007) - Lucinda Green's Equestrian Challenge (2006)
- AFL Premiership 2006AFL Premiership 2006AFL Premiership 2006 is a simulation game only for the PlayStation 2 based on the AFL. The game was developed by Australian games developer IR Gurus and was published by Sony Computer Entertainment under the SCEE label. It was released on 20 July 2006 and is the tenth game in the AFL video game...
(2006) - Heroes of the PacificHeroes of the PacificHeroes of the Pacific is an aerial combat simulator game set in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.- Overview :The game allows the player to assume the role of a combat pilot named William Crowe as he experiences the various phases of the Pacific War with Japan, beginning with...
(2005) - Gaelic Games: FootballGaelic Games: FootballGaelic Games: Football is a video game developed by IR Gurus and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released on November 11, 2005. It is based on the NFL and was developed by an Australian company that made the AFL video game series...
(2005) - AFL Premiership 2005AFL Premiership 2005AFL Premiership 2005 is a simulation game for PlayStation 2 based on the AFL. It is the ninth game in the AFL video game series.-Gameplay:...
(2005) - AFL Live Premiership Edition (2004)
- AFL Live 2004 (2003)
- AFL Live 2003 (2002)
- Kevin Sheedy AFL Coach 2002 (2002)
- The Saddle Club - Willowbrook Stables (2002)
- Equestriad (2000)
- Mary King's Riding Star (1999)
External links
- Transmission Games Home Page
- Heroes of the Pacific Home Page
- IR Gurus at 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...
- IR Gurus Profile at IGNIGNIGN 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...