Difference between revisions of "Data Design Interactive"

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==Developing The Game==
==Developing The Game==
 
After a number of optimizations to the engine and the HUD, the game was finally released on November 15, 1999.
The game, released in 1999 (for PC) and 2000 (for PS1), was the one and only LEGO game that it ever developed.  Development began early that year.  At some point the development of the game split between platforms, leading to the [[PlayStation Game]] being radically different in nature to the [[PC Game]].  The PC Game developed as an RTS game reminiscent of [[Wikipedia:Dune II|Dune II]], in which the player controled the rock raiders from the first and third person, in the mining of caverns, collection of [[Materials]], construction of [[Buildings]] and [[Defense|Defending]] [[Rock Raider HQ]].  The core of the game came together around April as the game entered the [[Rock Raiders Beta|Beta Version]] of the game.  After a number of optimizations to the engine and the HUD, the game was finally released on November 15, 1999.
 
The PS1 version instead developed into an action/strategy game where the player controlled a single character at a time and focused more on exploration, rather than base construction & maintenance.  Because of this diversion, progress was slowed while the PC Game was being finalized, and the release of the PS version was delayed until August 17, 2000.
 
==Sister Companies==
[[Image:LEGO media.png|200px|thumb|The LEGO Media Logo]]
A number of companies assisted DDI in the creation of the PS and PC Rock Raiders games.
http://www.hiseman.com/media/releases/ddi/ddi150210.htm
http://www.hiseman.com/media/releases/ddi/ddi150210.htm
===LEGO Media International===
[http://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.11/5.11pages/younghusbandartworld.php3 here]''
''See [[LEGO Interactive|Main Article]]''
 
'''LEGO Media International''' was the publishing company that hired and worked with DDI on the creation of the Rock Raiders game, and is also responsible for the publishing of all LEGO games until [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveller%27s_Tales Traveller's Tales] took over LEGO Game development and publishing in 2005.  The company underwent a number of brand name changes, changing from "LEGO Media" to "Lego Software" to "LEGO Interactive."
 
===Artworld UK===
''For more information: See [http://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.11/5.11pages/younghusbandartworld.php3 here]''
 
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Revision as of 17:00, 22 October 2017

This article is an unfinished work in progress or contains transferred information that needs to be rewritten or reformatted to fit our standards. Please excuse the mess and do not mark for deletion.

We are looking forward to the future, it looks very bright!
—Stewart Green, CEO, c. 2014
Logo since 2006

Data Design Interactive Ltd was a British video game developer and publisher. The company was founded by in 1983 as Data Design Systems in Halesowen England, acquired by Stewart Green's Green Solutions in May 1990, and incorporated as limited company on 2 August 1999. The opening of a United States office in Sarasota, Florida, Data Design Interactive LLC, was announced on May 23, 2008.[1][2] Due to insolvency, the original United Kingdom office ceased trading in 2009 and was eventually dissolved on August 24, 2012.[3]

History

Early years

Work with LEGO and creation of Artworld

Artworld logo c. 2001
Artworld created proprietary plug-ins for LightWave that helped match the color scheme of real LEGO bricks

After the release of Conquest Earth, the newly-formed LEGO Media International approached Data Design Interactive in 1997 to work on LEGO Chess and LEGO Rock Raiders. For LEGO Chess, the company's art team animated FMV sequences for the game's opening, and for the opening and closing of each story match, based on scripts by producer Dave Upchurch; Krisalis Software worked on the actual game.[4] For LEGO Rock Raiders, art director Robert Dorney set up sister company Artworld UK (later Artworld Animation) to work on both pre-rendered FMV sequences and in-game models and animations. Twelve artists worked on LEGO Rock Raiders, using NewTek's LightWave 3D to create models and animations, and Adobe Photoshop and Kai's Power Tools to create textures that kept true to the look and feel of real LEGO bricks.[5] Artworld went on to create FMV animations for LEGO Racers, LEGOLAND, LEGO Alpha Team, LEGO Creator: Knight's Kingdom, Rocket Racers, LEGO Creator: Harry Potter, LEGO Racers 2, and Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.[6][1] Artworld also continued to work with LEGO to create animations for commercials, renders for the LEGO Adventures! magazine, and designs for some LEGO sets.

Texture design at LEGO Futura. Note the early Granite Grinder design and unused flying transport truck.

Data Design Interactive worked closely with the LEGO Futura office in Billund, Denmark to design LEGO Rock Raiders sets alongside development of the video game,[7] making this the first LEGO video game not based off already-existing themes or completely original concepts. Design of the sets took eight months to complete.[8]

Later years

At some point prior to 2014, the United States office moved to Osprey, Florida.

Notes

1.^ Games not named in citation are from checking their credits for Artworld's involvement.

References

  1. GamesIndustry International (23 May 2008). "Data Design Interactive opens US office". Eurogamer. Retrieved 21 October 2017. Archive from 26 May 2008.
  2. Jenkins, David (27 May 2008). "Data Design Interactive Opens U.S. Office". Gamasutra. UBM TechWeb. Retrieved 21 October 2017. Archive from 12 May 2012.
  3. Insolvency for DATA DESIGN INTERACTIVE LIMITED (03817591). Companies House. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  4. Upchurch, David (March 2000). "LEGO Chess (PC)". Retrieved 21 October 2017. Archive from 23 August 2017.
  5. Moltenbrey, Karen (March 2000). "Legos Come to Life". Computer Graphics World. Volume 23. Issue 3. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  6. Younghusband, Paul (1 February 2001). "A One Stop Digital Shop: Data Design Interactive and Artworld UK". Animation World Magazine. Issue 5.11, p. 19-21. Animation World Network. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  7. "Behind the Scenes: Rock Raiders". LEGO Adventures! Issue 7, October 1999, p. 30-33. Egmont Fleetway Ltd, Egmont House.
  8. "The Design Concept". The Ultimate LEGO Book. Dorling Kindersley, 1999, p. 30-33.

External links

Logo 1998-2006