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{{Short description|Australian video game developer}}
{{distinguish|FireMonkey}}
{{distinguish|FireMonkey}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
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| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2012|07}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2012|07}}
| location = [[Melbourne, Australia]]
| location = [[Melbourne, Australia]]
| predecessors = {{Unbulleted list|Firemint|IronMonkeys Studios}}
| predecessors = {{Unbulleted list|Firemint|IronMonkey Studios}}
| key_people = Robert Murray
| key_people = Robert Murray
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| products = [[Real Racing|''Real Racing'' series]]<br>[[Flight Control (video game)|''Flight Control'' series]]
| products = [[Real Racing (video game)|''Real Racing'' series]]<br>[[Flight Control (video game)|''Flight Control'' series]]
| revenue =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| operating_income =
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| parent = [[Electronic Arts]]
| parent = [[Electronic Arts]]
| subsid =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.firemonkeys.com.au/}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.ea.com/ea-studios/firemonkeys}}
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}


'''Firemonkeys Studios''' is an Australian [[video game developer|developer]] and [[video game publisher|publisher]] of [[video game]]s, based in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]]. In May 2011, [[Electronic Arts]] announced the acquisition of Firemint for an undisclosed sum, making it an in-house studio for EA Interactive. IronMonkey Studios were also taken under EA Interactive's wing back in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/startup/hightech-aussie-lands-multimilliondollar-deal-20110504-1e7vd.html/ |title=High-tech Aussie lands multimillion-dollar deal |date=4 May 2011 |accessdate=2011-05-04 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|first=Asher |last=Moses }}</ref>
'''Firemonkeys Studios''' is an Australian [[video game developer]] and [[video game publisher|publisher]] of [[video game]]s, based in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]]. In May 2011, [[Electronic Arts]] announced the acquisition of Firemint for an undisclosed sum, making it an in-house studio for EA Interactive. IronMonkey Studios were also taken under EA Interactive's wing back in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/startup/hightech-aussie-lands-multimilliondollar-deal-20110504-1e7vd.html/ |title=High-tech Aussie lands multimillion-dollar deal |date=4 May 2011 |access-date=2011-05-04 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|first=Asher |last=Moses }}</ref> In January 2011, Firemint acquired fellow Australian video game developer [[Infinite Interactive]], best known for the ''[[Puzzle Quest]]'' series. In July 2012, Firemint announced a post on their blog that Firemint would merge with IronMonkey Studios by EA and merge their names into Firemonkeys. All-new games, including ''[[Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012 video game)|Need for Speed: Most Wanted]]'' and ''[[Real Racing 3]]'', are released with the new company name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://firemint.com/2012/announcing-firemonkeys/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730014013/http://firemint.com/2012/announcing-firemonkeys/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2012 |title=IronMonkey and Firemint become Firemonkeys |date=24 July 2012 |access-date=2013-04-29 }}</ref>


⚫
==Acquisition==
In January 2011, Firemint acquired fellow Australian video game developer [[Infinite Interactive]], best known for the ''[[Puzzle Quest]]'' series. In July 2012, Firemint announced a post on their blog that Firemint would merge with IronMonkey Studios by EA and merge their names into Firemonkeys. All-new games, including ''[[Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012 video game)|Need for Speed: Most Wanted]]'' and ''[[Real Racing 3]]'', are released with the new company name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://firemint.com/2012/announcing-firemonkeys/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730014013/http://firemint.com/2012/announcing-firemonkeys/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2012 |title=IronMonkey and Firemint become Firemonkeys |date=24 July 2012 |accessdate=2013-04-29 }}</ref>
⚫
Electronic Arts, with a market capitalization of US$6.7 billion, announced the acquisition of Melbourne-based gaming studio Firemint overnight in a press release for an undisclosed amount. Firemint is recognised as one of the leading game developers on the [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]] platform. According to Barry Cottle, General Manager of EA Interactive "The Firemint team is remarkable for its critical and commercial success. Having them as part of EA will accelerate our position as worldwide leader in game development for mobile devices and online gaming platforms." In January, Murray told SmartCompany the work-for-hire market is growing thin, especially as the Australian dollar continues to climb. Coming under the EA banner will give the company security.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/buy-or-sell-a-business/20110504-melbourne-game-studio-firemint-acquired-by-electronic-arts.html |title=Melbourne game studio Firemint acquired by Electronic Arts |access-date=2012-05-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414042451/http://www.smartcompany.com.au/buy-or-sell-a-business/20110504-melbourne-game-studio-firemint-acquired-by-electronic-arts.html |archive-date=14 April 2012}}</ref>


==Awards==
===Layoffs===
⚫
In February 2019, Electronic Arts announced that 40 to 50 of Firemonkeys' 200 staff would be laid off, to focus the studio more on live services. This equals around 5% of the entire Australian game industries workforce.<ref>{{cite news |title=EA's Australian Studio Hit By Massive Layoffs |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/02/eas-australian-studio-hit-by-massive-layoffs/ |access-date=26 February 2019 |work=Kotaku Australia |publisher=Kotaku |date=22 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Firemint.gif|thumb|right|Former logo as Firemint]]

⚫
Firemint was awarded the Arts and Entertainment Award for being amongst the most successful exporters in 2009 at the Australian Export Awards in November.<ref>{{cite web|title=Firemint Wins Australian Export Award|url=http://www.austrade.gov.au/Firemint-Wins-Australian-Export-Award/default.aspx|work=Austrade Media Release}}</ref>
In June 2023, Electronic Arts announced that a majority of the Firemonkeys staff would be laid off, to focus the studio more on ''[[The Sims FreePlay]]'', as part of the company's restructuring. Development for the racing titles ''[[Real Racing 3]]'' and ''[[Need for Speed: No Limits]]'' would be shifted to Slingshot Games in India, following the completion of two limited filler updates on the said racing games.<ref>{{cite news |title=EA’s Firemonkeys Studio Hit With Massive Layoffs, Titles In Development Cancelled |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2023/06/eas-firemonkeys-studio-hit-with-massive-layoffs/ |access-date=24 September 2023 |work=Kotaku Australia |publisher=Kotaku |date=2 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>


==Games==
==Games==
Firemint have produced a number of different games for different platforms and different publisher. Starting with the ''[[Nicktoons Racing]]'' in 2002 for the [[Game Boy Advance]]. For several years after publishing their debut game Firemint continued to produce and release games for the Game Boy Advance and mobile devices. It wasn't until early 2008, however, with the release of the [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] [[iPhone]] in 2007 did Firemint really expand their games market share. During 2009, Firemint developed their two most popular games, ''Flight Control'' and ''Real Racing''. These games went on to achieve great success with the subsequent release of two sequels each, ''Flight Control HD'' in 2010, ''Flight Control Rocket'' in 2012, ''[[Real Racing 2]]'' was released in 2010 and ''[[Real Racing 3]]'' in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firemint.com/projects.htm|title=firemint projects|access-date=12 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308095216/http://www.firemint.com/projects.htm|archive-date=8 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Firemint have produced a number of different games for different platforms and different publishers, starting with ''[[Nicktoons Racing]]'' in 2002 for the [[Game Boy Advance]]. For several years after publishing their debut game Firemint continued to produce and release games for the Game Boy Advance and mobile devices. It wasn't until early 2008, however, with the release of the [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] [[iPhone]] in 2007 did Firemint really expand their games market share. During 2009, Firemint developed their two most popular games, ''Flight Control'' and ''Real Racing''. These games went on to achieve great success with the subsequent release of two sequels each, ''Flight Control HD'' in 2010, ''Flight Control Rocket'' in 2012, ''[[Real Racing 2]]'' was released in 2010 and ''[[Real Racing 3]]'' in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=firemint projects|url=http://www.firemint.com/projects.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308095216/http://www.firemint.com/projects.htm|archive-date=8 March 2009|access-date=12 June 2009}}</ref>

⚫
==Acquisition==
⚫
Electronic Arts, with a market capitalization of US$6.7 billion, announced the acquisition of Melbourne-based gaming studio Firemint overnight in a press release for an undisclosed amount. Firemint is recognised as one of the leading game developers on the [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]] platform. According to Barry Cottle, General Manager of EA Interactive "The Firemint team is remarkable for its critical and commercial success. Having them as part of EAi will accelerate our position as worldwide leader in game development for mobile devices and online gaming platforms." In January, Murray told SmartCompany the work-for-hire market is growing thin, especially as the Australian dollar continues to climb. Coming under the EA banner will give the company security.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/buy-or-sell-a-business/20110504-melbourne-game-studio-firemint-acquired-by-electronic-arts.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-05-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414042451/http://www.smartcompany.com.au/buy-or-sell-a-business/20110504-melbourne-game-studio-firemint-acquired-by-electronic-arts.html |archivedate=14 April 2012}}</ref>

===Layoffs===
⚫
In February 2019, Electronic Arts announced that 40 to 50 of Firemonkeys 200 staff would be laid off, to focus the studio more on live services. This equals around 5% of the entire Australian game industries workforce.<ref>{{cite news |title=EA's Australian Studio Hit By Massive Layoffs |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/02/eas-australian-studio-hit-by-massive-layoffs/ |accessdate=26 February 2019 |work=Kotaku Australia |publisher=Kotaku |date=22 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref>


===Released===
===Released===
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! Platform
! Platform
! Release date
! Release date
⚫
|-
⚫
| ''[[The Sims Mobile]]''
⚫
| [[iOS]] / [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| March 2018
|-
|-
| ''[[Need for Speed: No Limits]]''
| ''[[Need for Speed: No Limits]]''
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| [[iOS]] / [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| [[iOS]] / [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| February 2013
| February 2013
⚫
|-
⚫
| ''[[The Sims FreePlay]]''
⚫
| [[iOS]] / [[Android (operating system)|Android]] / [[Kindle Fire]] / [[BlackBerry 10]] / [[Windows Phone]]
⚫
| November 2012
|-
|-
| ''[[Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012 video game)|Need for Speed: Most Wanted]]''
| ''[[Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012 video game)|Need for Speed: Most Wanted]]''
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| [[iOS]] / [[Windows Phone]]
| [[iOS]] / [[Windows Phone]]
| March 2012
| March 2012
|-
| ''[[Mass Effect Infiltrator]]''
| [[iOS]] / [[Android (operating system)|Android]] / [[BlackBerry 10]] / [[Windows Phone]]
⚫
| March 2012
|-
| ''[[The Sims FreePlay]]''
| [[iOS]] / [[Android (operating system)|Android]] / [[Kindle Fire]] / [[BlackBerry 10]] / [[Windows Phone]]
| December 2011
|-
|-
| ''[[Spy Mouse]]''
| ''[[Spy Mouse]]''
| [[iOS]] / [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| [[iOS]] / [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| August 2011
| August 2011
|-
| ''[[Dead Space (mobile game)|Dead Space]]''
| [[iOS]] / [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| January 2011
|-
|-
| ''[[Real Racing 2]]''
| ''[[Real Racing 2]]''
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| [[PlayStation 3]] / [[PlayStation Network]]
| [[PlayStation 3]] / [[PlayStation Network]]
| September 2010
| September 2010
|-
| ''[[Mirror's Edge (2010 video game)|Mirror's Edge]]''
| [[iOS]] / [[Windows Phone]]
| April 2010
|-
|-
|-
| ''[[Flight Control (video game)|Flight Control]]''
| ''[[Flight Control (video game)|Flight Control]]''
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| August 2006
| August 2006
|-
|-
| ''[[Australia national association football team|Socceroos: Path to Glory]]''
| ''Socceroos: Path to Glory''
| [[Mobile computing|Mobile]]
| [[Mobile computing|Mobile]]
| June 2006
| June 2006
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| March 2006
| March 2006
|-
|-
| ''Snood 2: On Vacation''
| ''[[Snood 2: On Vacation]]''
| [[Mobile computing|Mobile]]
| [[Mobile computing|Mobile]]
| August 2005
| August 2005
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| June 2002
| June 2002
|}
|}

==Awards==
⚫
Firemint was awarded the Arts and Entertainment Award for being amongst the most successful exporters in 2009 at the Australian Export Awards in November.<ref>{{cite web|title=Firemint Wins Australian Export Award|url=http://www.austrade.gov.au/Firemint-Wins-Australian-Export-Award/default.aspx|work=Austrade Media Release}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 195: Line 212:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.firemonkeys.com.au/}}
*{{Official website|https://www.ea.com/ea-studios/firemonkeys}}


{{Electronic Arts}}
{{Electronic Arts}}
{{The Sims}}
{{Need for Speed}}


[[Category:Australian companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:Australian companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:2011 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2011 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1999]]
[[Category:Video game companies of Australia]]
[[Category:Video game companies of Australia]]

Latest revision as of 05:13, 11 March 2024

Not to be confused with FireMonkey.

Firemonkeys Studios
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Predecessors
  • Firemint
  • IronMonkey Studios
FoundedJuly 2012; 11 years ago (2012-07)
HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
Key people
Robert Murray
ProductsReal Racing series
Flight Control series
Number of employees
170[1]
ParentElectronic Arts
Websitewww.ea.com/ea-studios/firemonkeys

Firemonkeys Studios is an Australian video game developer and publisher of video games, based in Melbourne, Victoria. In May 2011, Electronic Arts announced the acquisition of Firemint for an undisclosed sum, making it an in-house studio for EA Interactive. IronMonkey Studios were also taken under EA Interactive's wing back in 2010.[2] In January 2011, Firemint acquired fellow Australian video game developer Infinite Interactive, best known for the Puzzle Quest series. In July 2012, Firemint announced a post on their blog that Firemint would merge with IronMonkey Studios by EA and merge their names into Firemonkeys. All-new games, including Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Real Racing 3, are released with the new company name.[3]

Acquisition[edit]

Electronic Arts, with a market capitalization of US$6.7 billion, announced the acquisition of Melbourne-based gaming studio Firemint overnight in a press release for an undisclosed amount. Firemint is recognised as one of the leading game developers on the iOS platform. According to Barry Cottle, General Manager of EA Interactive "The Firemint team is remarkable for its critical and commercial success. Having them as part of EA will accelerate our position as worldwide leader in game development for mobile devices and online gaming platforms." In January, Murray told SmartCompany the work-for-hire market is growing thin, especially as the Australian dollar continues to climb. Coming under the EA banner will give the company security.[4]

Layoffs[edit]

In February 2019, Electronic Arts announced that 40 to 50 of Firemonkeys' 200 staff would be laid off, to focus the studio more on live services. This equals around 5% of the entire Australian game industries workforce.[5]

In June 2023, Electronic Arts announced that a majority of the Firemonkeys staff would be laid off, to focus the studio more on The Sims FreePlay, as part of the company's restructuring. Development for the racing titles Real Racing 3 and Need for Speed: No Limits would be shifted to Slingshot Games in India, following the completion of two limited filler updates on the said racing games.[6]

Games[edit]

Firemint have produced a number of different games for different platforms and different publishers, starting with Nicktoons Racing in 2002 for the Game Boy Advance. For several years after publishing their debut game Firemint continued to produce and release games for the Game Boy Advance and mobile devices. It wasn't until early 2008, however, with the release of the Apple iPhone in 2007 did Firemint really expand their games market share. During 2009, Firemint developed their two most popular games, Flight Control and Real Racing. These games went on to achieve great success with the subsequent release of two sequels each, Flight Control HD in 2010, Flight Control Rocket in 2012, Real Racing 2 was released in 2010 and Real Racing 3 in 2013.[7]

Released[edit]

Game Platform Release date
The Sims Mobile iOS / Android March 2018
Need for Speed: No Limits iOS / Android September 2015
Real Racing 3 iOS / Android February 2013
Need for Speed: Most Wanted iOS / Android October 2012
Flight Control Rocket iOS / Windows Phone March 2012
Mass Effect Infiltrator iOS / Android / BlackBerry 10 / Windows Phone March 2012
The Sims FreePlay iOS / Android / Kindle Fire / BlackBerry 10 / Windows Phone December 2011
Spy Mouse iOS / Android August 2011
Dead Space iOS / Android January 2011
Real Racing 2 iOS / Android / Mac OS X December 2010
Flight Control HD PlayStation 3 / PlayStation Network September 2010
Mirror's Edge iOS / Windows Phone April 2010
Flight Control Nintendo DSi / DSiWare February 2010
Real Racing iOS June 2009
Flight Control iOS / Windows Phone March 2009
The Simpsons Arcade for iPhone iOS February 2009
Back at the Barnyard: Slop Bucket Games Nintendo DS October 2008
Madden NFL 09 3D Mobile August 2008
The Fast and the Furious: Pink Slip 3D iOS, Mobile August 2008
The Sims DJ iPod June 2008
Project Joystick: Dung Mobile, PC May 2008
Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots Game Boy Advance October 2007
FIA World Rally Championship Mobile September 2007
Madden NFL 08 3D Mobile August 2007
The Fast & the Furious: Fugitive Mobile June 2007
Ratatouille Mobile June 2007
Tinker Bell: Fly! Mobile February 2007
Need for Speed: Most Wanted Mobile October 2006
Madden NFL 07 3D Mobile August 2006
Socceroos: Path to Glory Mobile June 2006
Sopranos Poker Mobile March 2006
Snood 2: On Vacation Mobile August 2005
NBA 1 on 1 2006 Mobile June 2005
Star Trek: The Cold Enemy Mobile February 2005
Black Rain: Revenge Mobile September 2004
Ryan Giggs International Mobile August 2004
Tokyo Fighter Mobile December 2003
Soul Daddy BKB Mobile August 2003
Soul Daddy in LA Mobile July 2003
Nicktoons Racing Game Boy Advance June 2002

Awards[edit]

Firemint was awarded the Arts and Entertainment Award for being amongst the most successful exporters in 2009 at the Australian Export Awards in November.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New Headquarters Takes Victoria's Digital Games Sector to a New Level". 15 August 2016.
  2. ^ Moses, Asher (4 May 2011). "High-tech Aussie lands multimillion-dollar deal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  3. ^ "IronMonkey and Firemint become Firemonkeys". 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Melbourne game studio Firemint acquired by Electronic Arts". Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  5. ^ "EA's Australian Studio Hit By Massive Layoffs". Kotaku Australia. Kotaku. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  6. ^ "EA's Firemonkeys Studio Hit With Massive Layoffs, Titles In Development Cancelled". Kotaku Australia. Kotaku. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  7. ^ "firemint projects". Archived from the original on 8 March 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  8. ^ "Firemint Wins Australian Export Award". Austrade Media Release.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Firemonkeys_Studios&oldid=1213112850"