Deep Silver Volition: Difference between revisions

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|founded        = June 14, 1993
|founded        = June 14, 1993
|defunct        = August 31, 2023
|defunct        = August 31, 2023
|founder        = Mike Kulas<br />Matt Toschlog
|founder        = Mike Kulas
}}{{SeeWikipedia|Volition_(company)|Volition}}{{Under construction}}
}}{{SeeWikipedia|Volition_(company)|Volition}}{{Under construction}}
'''Deep Silver Volition''' (formerly Volition Inc.) was a video game developer based out of Champaign, Illinois. Best known perhaps for their exceedingly popular ''Saints Row'' series, for the purposes of this wiki, ''Deep Silver Volition'' is most relevant as the developer of each of the four core games in the ''Red Faction'' series.
'''Deep Silver Volition''' (formerly Volition Inc.) was a video game developer based out of Champaign, Illinois. Best known perhaps for their exceedingly popular [[Saints Row]] series, for the purposes of this wiki, ''Deep Silver Volition'' is most relevant as the developer of each of the four core games in the ''Red Faction'' series, beginning with [[Red Faction]] in 2001.


Citing corporate restructuring following the collapse of a multi-billion dollar deal, [[Embracer Group]] shut down ''Deep Silver Volition'''s operations as of August 31, 2023.
Citing corporate restructuring following the collapse of a multi-billion dollar deal, [[Embracer Group]] shut down ''Deep Silver Volition'''s operations as of August 31, 2023, with its intellectual property being transferred to [[Plaion]].  


==Formation & Early Years==
==Formation & Early Years==
'''Volition Inc.''' was established in November 1996 by a team of developers who had previously worked at [[Parallax Software]]; best known for developing the ''Descent'' series, a pioneering 3D space combat game. When ''Parallax Software'' decided to split, one group, led by Matt Toschlog, formed [[Outrage Entertainment]] in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The other, led by Mike Kulas, established ''Volition Inc.'' in Champaign, Illinois.
'''Volition Inc.''' was established in November 1996 by a team of developers who had previously worked at [[Parallax Software]]; best known for developing the ''Descent'' series, a pioneering 3D space combat game. When ''Parallax Software'' decided to split, one group, led by Matt Toschlog, formed [[Outrage Games|Outrage Entertainment]] in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The other, led by Mike Kulas, stayed in Champaign, Illinois and established ''Volition Inc.''


Immediately following the split, both ''Volition'' and ''Outrage'' endeavored to work with [[Interplay]] for two projects each. ''Outrage'' began development on [[Outrage Entertainment#Descent 3|Descent 3]], while ''Volition'' made ''FreeSpace''. Following the release of ''FreeSpace'', ''Volition'' began work on four new projects: ''FreeSpace 2'', [[Descent 4]], ''Summoner'', and ''Tube Racer''. Within roughly 18 months, ''FreeSpace 2'' had been released (to relatively poor sales), and ''Tube Racer'' had been cancelled.
Immediately following the split, both ''Volition'' and ''Outrage'' endeavored to work with [[Interplay Entertainment]] for two projects each. ''Outrage'' began development on [[Descent 3]], while ''Volition'' made [[Descent: FreeSpace - The Great War]]. Following the release of ''Descent: FreeSpace'', ''Volition'' began work on four new projects: [[FreeSpace 2]], [[Descent 4]], [[Summoner]], and [[Tube Racer]]. Within roughly 18 months, ''FreeSpace 2'' had been released (to relatively poor sales), and ''Tube Racer'' had been cancelled.


==Red Faction==
==Red Faction==
In June of 1999, while Volition was still hard at work developing Descent 4, Interplay released Descent 3, which had been in development by Outrage for some time. Due to several factors including Interplay's on-going financial difficulties, and the poor sales of Descent 3, Interplay and Volition separated (at Volition's suggestion).
In June of 1999, while ''Volition'' was still hard at work developing ''Descent 4'', ''Interplay'' released ''Descent 3'', which had been in development by ''Outrage'' for some time. Due to several factors including ''Interplay'''s on-going financial difficulties and the poor sales of ''Descent 3'', ''Interplay'' and ''Volition'' separated (at the suggestion of ''Volition'').


Interplay having retained publishing rights to the Descent franchise in the split, Volition was then left with a partially complete game that was to be called Descent 4, that they could not take to another published. Volition then made the decision to reuse much of the code and tools, and some of the assets originally developed for Descent 4, and create [[Red Faction]].
''Interplay'' having retained publishing rights to the ''Descent'' franchise in the split, ''Volition'' was then left with a partially complete game that was at that point called ''Descent 4'', and they could not take to another publisher. ''Volition'' cancelled ''Descent 4'', then reused much of the code and tools, and some of the assets originally created for it, to build [[Red Faction]].
 
''Red Faction'' released in 2001 and was an overwhelming success for ''Volition'', eclipsing the success even of ''Volition'''s own ''Summoner'', which had been expected to vastly outperform ''Red Faction''.
 
==Red Faction II==
 
==Red Faction: Guerrilla==
 
==Red Faction: Armageddon==
 
==After the Red Faction Series==





Latest revision as of 17:12, 5 August 2024

Deep Silver Volition (formerly Volition Inc.) was a video game developer based out of Champaign, Illinois. Best known perhaps for their exceedingly popular Saints Row series, for the purposes of this wiki, Deep Silver Volition is most relevant as the developer of each of the four core games in the Red Faction series, beginning with Red Faction in 2001.

Citing corporate restructuring following the collapse of a multi-billion dollar deal, Embracer Group shut down Deep Silver Volition's operations as of August 31, 2023, with its intellectual property being transferred to Plaion.

Formation & Early Years

Volition Inc. was established in November 1996 by a team of developers who had previously worked at Parallax Software; best known for developing the Descent series, a pioneering 3D space combat game. When Parallax Software decided to split, one group, led by Matt Toschlog, formed Outrage Entertainment in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The other, led by Mike Kulas, stayed in Champaign, Illinois and established Volition Inc.

Immediately following the split, both Volition and Outrage endeavored to work with Interplay Entertainment for two projects each. Outrage began development on Descent 3, while Volition made Descent: FreeSpace - The Great War. Following the release of Descent: FreeSpace, Volition began work on four new projects: FreeSpace 2, Descent 4, Summoner, and Tube Racer. Within roughly 18 months, FreeSpace 2 had been released (to relatively poor sales), and Tube Racer had been cancelled.

Red Faction

In June of 1999, while Volition was still hard at work developing Descent 4, Interplay released Descent 3, which had been in development by Outrage for some time. Due to several factors including Interplay's on-going financial difficulties and the poor sales of Descent 3, Interplay and Volition separated (at the suggestion of Volition).

Interplay having retained publishing rights to the Descent franchise in the split, Volition was then left with a partially complete game that was at that point called Descent 4, and they could not take to another publisher. Volition cancelled Descent 4, then reused much of the code and tools, and some of the assets originally created for it, to build Red Faction.

Red Faction released in 2001 and was an overwhelming success for Volition, eclipsing the success even of Volition's own Summoner, which had been expected to vastly outperform Red Faction.

Red Faction II

Red Faction: Guerrilla

Red Faction: Armageddon

After the Red Faction Series