- Background of Rockstar
| Founded | 1998[1] |
| Headquarters | New York City, United States |
| Key people | Sam Houser (President) |
| Products |
| - | 2005-present | |
| 2004–present | ||
| 1999–present | ||
| 2005–present | ||
| 2008–present | ||
| 1999–present | ||
| 2003–present | ||
| 1999–present | ||
| 2002–present | ||
| 2003–2006 |
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- Rockstar is considered to be a global institution – list all of their studios and when they were acquired by Rockstar.
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- What other titles are Rockstar famous for?
- What has been their most successful game?
GTA IV
- What controversies have surrounded Rock Star in the past?
The violent nature of their games spanning back from the early “Bully” to the new GTA IV. This is a irrational fear from the public believing that the gamers will imitate the game in real life. Hot coffee .
- What has made them so successful?
- Discuss the development and importance of HAVOC
Havok Physics is a physics engine developed by Irish company Havok. It is designed primarily for video games, and allows for real-time collision and dynamics of rigid bodies in three dimensions. It provides multiple types of dynamic constraints between rigid bodies (e.g. for ragdoll physics), and has a highly optimized collision detection library. By using dynamical simulation, Havok allows for more realistic virtual worlds in games. The company has also released the product Havok Animation, which provides efficient playback and compression of character animations in games, and features such as inverse kinematics. This makes the gameplay extremely realistic due the sophistication of the rag doll physics.
- Discuss the importance of franchises to Rockstar.
Can play on the hype of the pervious games increases the profits.
- Discuss how Rockstar is an example of vertical integration.
Rockstar it’s self is part a larger company (Take-two) which own many gaming companies. Rockstar offices around the world where not always Rockstar:
Rockstar Japan
2005-present
Rockstar Leeds
2004–present
Previously known as Mobius Entertainment and based in Lower Wortley, Leeds. They created Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories for the PlayStation Portable, Max Payne for the Game Boy Advance and recently finished developing Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and the music game Beaterator. The studio's most recent work is the Microsoft Windows version of L.A. Noire.
Rockstar Lincoln
1999–present
Quality assurance and localization studio based in Lincoln, United Kingdom, previously known as Tarantula Studios.
Rockstar London
2005–present
Formed in November 2005. Took over development of Manhunt 2 after Rockstar Vienna closed and recently developed the portable adaptation of Midnight Club: Los Angeles.
Rockstar New England
2008–present
Acquired on April 4, 2008, this studio is based in Andover, Massachusetts and was previously known as Mad Doc Software. They developed the Xbox 360 and PC ports of Bully.[5]
Rockstar North
1999–present
Founded in 1988, Rockstar North is based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was previously known as DMA Design. They are famous for the Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt franchises, as well as the original Lemmings games.
Rockstar San Diego
2003–present
Previously known as Angel Studios, they developed the RAGE engine, Red Dead Revolver and Red Dead Redemption, the Smuggler's Run series, the first two Midtown Madness games and the Midnight Club series.
Rockstar Toronto
1999–present
Take Two's in-house development team, previously known as Rockstar Canada. Their most well-known work is their adaptation of the cult classic film The Warriors and the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City.
Rockstar Vancouver
2002–present
Previously known as Barking Dog Studios, they created the PlayStation 2 title Bully and are currently developing the third game in the Max Payne series, Max Payne 3.
Rockstar Vienna
2003–2006
Previously known as Neo Software; closed on May 11, 2006.[6] They ported the Max Payne series to consoles, and created most of Manhunt 2 before being closed down.
- Why is vertical integration important for developers?
Vertical integration is a form of oligopoly as a large company such as Rockstar can corner the market by buying out smaller company from different part of the development process so they can ensure there main projects will priority
- Discuss the oligopoly of the games industry and the implications for Rockstar.
Global companies are buying out the smaller ones meaning that there are only a hand full of companies that can fight for top dog. This cornering of the market prevents new idea coming though as profits and ensure revenue stream is top priory from company like Take two.
