Origin Systems
| Origin Systems, Inc.
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| legal form | Incorporation from 1992 division of Electronic Arts |
| founding | 1983 by Robert and Richard Garriott |
| resolution | 2004 |
| Reason for dissolution | Merger with the EA HQ |
| Seat |
Austin , United States
|
| management | Robert and Richard Garriott |
| Number of employees | > 200 (1997) |
| Branch | Software development, publishing |
| Website | www.origin.ea.com ( Memento of March 30, 1997 in the Internet Archive ) |
Origin Systems (also known as OSI) was one of the most successful game developers and publishers of the 1980s and 1990s. The studio created well-known titles such as Wing Commander , Privateer , Strike Commander , Crusader and Ultima .
Company history
The company was founded as Origin Systems Inc. in 1983 by Richard Garriott , brother Robert, father Owen, and Chuck Bueche . The goal was originally to bring out only the third part of Richard Garriott's Ultima series , as this had given up his employment with the publisher Sierra On-Line . The company was based in Garriott's hometown of Austin , Texas .
After the successful release of Ultima III: Exodus , the company became known very quickly and released several other video games that sold well - including the well-known Wing Commander series. Therefore Origin Systems was bought by Electronic Arts in 1992 and renamed Origin. Since then, numerous other successful titles have appeared. In 1997 Origin founded the genre of modern MMORPG with the online game Ultima Online .
Due to the surprising financial success of Ultima Online, EA decided in 1999 that Origin should only work on Internet games. But within a year, EA canceled all new Origin projects - including Ultima Online 2, Privateer Online and Harry Potter Online . Founder Richard Garriott then left the company in 2000 and founded his new company NCsoft Austin . Several employees followed his example and also left the company, which is why Origin was relocated to EA headquarters in 2004, which in fact resulted in the dissolution of the studio.
The brand name Origin was revived by Electronic Arts in 2011 and used for the game download platform of the same name ( digital distribution ).
Games (selection)
- Ultima (1981 with California Pacific Computers, rights later bought back by Origin)
- Ultima II - The Revenge of the Enchantress (1982 from Sierra On-Line, rights bought back)
- Ultima III - Exodus (1983)
- Ultima IV - Quest of the Avatar (1985)
- Ultima V - Warriors of Destiny (1988)
- Ultima VI - The False Prophet (1990)
- Ultima VII - The Black Gate (1992)
- Ultima VII Part 2: Serpent Isle (1993)
- Ultima VIII - Pagan (1994)
- Ultima IX - Ascension (1999)
- Ultima Underworld - The Stygian Abyss (1992, developed by Looking Glass Studios )
- Ultima Underworld II - Labyrinth of Worlds (1993, developed by Looking Glass Studios)
- Ultima Online (1997)
- Wing Commander (1990)
- Wing Commander II - Vengeance of the Kilrathi (1991)
- Wing Commander Academy (1993)
- Wing Commander Armada (1994)
- Wing Commander III - The Heart of the Tiger (1994)
- Wing Commander IV - The Price of Freedom (1995)
- Wing Commander: Prophecy (1998)
- Wing Commander: Privateer (1993)
- Privateer 2 - The Darkening (1996)
- Crusader: No Remorse (1995)
- Crusader: No Regret (1996)
- Cybermage: Darklight Awakening (1995)
- Bad Blood (1990: PC)
- Bioforge (1995)
- Pacific Strike (1994)
- Pacific Strike - Speech Pack (1994)
- Strike Commander (1993)
- Strike Commander - Speech Pack (1993)
- Strike Commander - Tactical Operations (1993)
- Wings of Glory
- ShadowCaster - as a distributor (10/1993)
- Omega (1989)
Aborted projects
- Ultima Online 2
- Privateer Online
- Harry Potter Online
- Ultima X: Odyssey
Web links
- Origin System Inc. at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ ORIGIN: An Electronic Arts Company . October 7, 1997. Archived from the original on October 7, 1997. Retrieved on April 10, 2011.
- ↑ Allen Varney: The Conquest of Origin ( English ) The Escapist. October 11, 2005. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ↑ ORIGIN History ( English ) notableultima.com. 2000. Archived from the original on June 1, 2004. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ↑ Kyle Ackerman: Interview with Richard Garriott, Executive Producer, NCSoft Austin ( English ) frictionlessinsight.com. March 17, 2002. Retrieved April 10, 2011.