- Name
- MicroProse Software, Inc.
- Abbreviation
- Founded
- Location
- Hunt Valley,Maryland,United States
- Website
- Aliases
- Infogrames Interactive Hunt Valley Studio,Atari Interactive Hunt Valley Studio
MicroProse Software, Inc.
Hunt Valley,Maryland,United States
MicroProse was a video game developer known for publishing Sid Meier's games. It was closed in 2001 when parent company Hasbro Interactive merged with Infogrames. The name was revived in 2019, with their first batch of new titles released in 2021.
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Overview
MicroProse Software was founded in 1982 by Sid Meier (Person) and Bill Stealey (Person). Between them, they took care of software design (Sid Meier (Person)) and administration and public relations / marketing (Bill Stealey (Person)). The first games coming out of the studio were military simulation games, such as 1942: The Pacific Air War, B-17 Flying Fortress, the Fighter (Jetfighter) series and many more. Stealeyand Meierdisagreed on more than one occassion, regarding issues extending the focus on console systems or easing up the focus on military games (Sid Meier (Person) released Railroad Tycoon through Microprose). One strategy to broaden the publishing philosophy had been to create sub-divisionary brands to keep the association between MicroProse and military simulations intact, yet enabling the company to release games of other genres as well. The subdivisons were called MicroPlay and MicroStyle (Company), the latter releasing titles such as Rick Dangerous (Game) and Elite Plus (Game). It was not before Sid Meier's Civilization was released to a huge success, that Sid Meier (Person)'s argument to release non-military games found solid ground. However, despite the success of titles such as Civilization and Pirates! and the X-Com series, MicroProse was in financial trouble. It was not long after MicroProse was acquired by Spectrum Holobytein 1993 that Bill Stealey (Person) left the company and found Interactive Magic (Company) (releasing games such as Capitalism (Game) and Seven Kingdoms (Game)). Sid Meier (Person) left the company as well and founded FiraxisGames, taking some former employees of Microprose along for the venture. By the end of 1998 MicroProse was aquired by Hasbro Interactive, which was in turn bought by Infogrames in 2001, by which time the brand MicroProse ceased to exist.
Timeline
- 1982: MicroProse is founded by Bill Stealey and Sid Meier.
- 1993: MicroProse is acquired by Spectrum HoloByte.
- 1994: Bill Stealey departes and founds Interactive Magic.
- 1996: Sid Meier and Jeff Briggs departes and founds Firaxis Games.
- 1998: MicroProse is acquired for $70 million in cash by Hasbro and merged with Hasbro Interactive.
- 2001: MicroProse ceased to exist after publisher InfogramesEntertainment SA (IESA) acquired Hasbro Interactive.
- 2019: David Lagettie and Bill Stealey secure the rights to the name again
- 2020: A number of new titles are announced in May, set to be released in 2021 and 2022.
Developed Games
View all developed games
Sid Meier's CivNet (Game)
A release of Sid Meier's Civilization but with added online multiplay.
Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers (Game)
F-15 Strike Eagle III (Game)
America's Premier Jet Fighter Returns In Revolutionary New Air Combat Action
X-COM: Enforcer (Game)
Differing from previous games in the X-COM series, Enforcer puts the player in the titular role, tasked with ridding various levels of a nefarious alien presence with severe prejudice. Along the way, the player will have the opportunity to pick up various weapons and researchable artifacts.
Civilization II: Fantastic Worlds (Game)
An expansion pack to Sid Meier's Civilization II, introducing several less-realistic elements such as dragons. Its content was folded into Sid Meier's Civilization II Multiplayer Gold Edition.
Published Games
View all published games
MechWarrior 3: Pirate's Moon (Game)
Mechwarrior 3: Pirate's Moon was an expansion pack for the popular third instalment of the mechwarrior franchise. It included new 'Mechs and new missions.
Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers (Game)
X-COM: Apocalypse (Game)
X-com is re-established to fight alien invasion once again in the third instalment of the series.
F-15 Strike Eagle III (Game)
America's Premier Jet Fighter Returns In Revolutionary New Air Combat Action
Civilization II: Fantastic Worlds (Game)
An expansion pack to Sid Meier's Civilization II, introducing several less-realistic elements such as dragons. Its content was folded into Sid Meier's Civilization II Multiplayer Gold Edition.
MechCommander (Game)
Branded as "The First MechWarrior Game of Tactical Command," MechCommander is a 1998 real-time tactical video game that allows players to recruit and develop a squad of MechWarriors, purchase, salvage, and repair various 'Mechs, and also directly command them during combat missions.
Sid Meier's Civilization II: Conflicts in Civilization Scenarios (Game)
A Civilization II expansion with maps and scenarios created by fans, curated by the developers.
Master of Magic (Game)
A fantasy-themed, turn-based 4X game that features many innovative game mechanics.
MechCommander: Desperate Measures (Game)
This expansion to MechCommander features more mechs, maps, weapons, and game modes.