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[[Image:Data Design Interactive.jpg|250px|thumb|Logo 2006-2016]]
'''Data Design Interactive Ltd''' was a British video game developer and publisher. The company was founded by in 1983 as '''Data Design Systems''' in [[Wikipedia:Halesowen|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 [[Wikipedia:Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota, Florida]], '''Data Design Interactive LLC''', was announced on May 23, 2008.<ref name="Florida Office" /><ref name="US Office" /> Due to insolvency, the original United Kingdom office ceased trading in 2009 and was eventually dissolved on August 24, 2012.<ref name="Insolvency" />
==History==
{{WIP}}
{{WIP}}
[[Image:Datadesignlogo.jpg|200px|thumb|The Data Design Interactive Logo]]
===Formation and early years===
Ref<ref name="Crash 28" />
=== {{anchor|Artworld UK}} Work with LEGO and creation of Artworld ===
[[Image:Artworld logo.gif|thumb|Artworld logo c. 2001]][[File:Hover Scout and Rock Monster.jpg|250px|thumb|Artworld created proprietary plug-ins for LightWave that helped match the color scheme of real LEGO bricks]]
After the release of [[wikipedia:Conquest Earth|Conquest Earth]] in 1997, the newly-formed [[LEGO Media International]] approached Data Design Interactive to work on ''[[LEGO Chess]]'' and [[LEGO Rock Raiders (Windows game)|''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.<ref name="Chess" /> For ''LEGO Rock Raiders'', art director Robert Dorney set up sister company '''Artworld UK''' to handle work on both pre-rendered FMV sequences and in-game models and animations. Twelve artists worked on ''LEGO Rock Raiders'', using [[Wikipedia:NewTek|NewTek]]'s [[Wikipedia:LightWave 3D|LightWave 3D]] to create models and animations, and [[Wikipedia:Adobe Photoshop|Adobe Photoshop]] and [[Wikipedia:Kai's Power Tools|Kai's Power Tools]] to create textures that kept true to the look and feel of real LEGO bricks. Proprietary plugins for LightWave and a database of official Rock Raiders colors were used to color individually-modeled bricks, which were then assembled in scenes. Assembled models were then downgraded in quality for in-game use.<ref name="Legos" /><ref name="Artworld" />


'''Data Design Interactive''' is the video game developer & publisher company that is responsible for the creation of the [[LEGO Rock Raiders]] [[PC Game]] and [[PS1 Game]].  It is a UK company and was founded in 1983, and ceased trading in 2009 after a significant drop in sales due to a series of poorly received releases for the WII in the late 200s.
Artworld was incorporated as a limited company on March 8, 2000, as '''The Artworld Design Group UK Ltd''',<ref name="Artworld Design Group" /> and later became known as '''Artworld Studios'''. Artworld went on to create FMV animations for ''[[LEGO Racers]]'', ''[[LEGOLAND (video game)|LEGOLAND]]'', ''[[LEGO Alpha Team (video game)|LEGO Alpha Team]]'', ''LEGO Creator: Knights' Kingdom'', ''LEGO Creator: Harry Potter'', ''[[LEGO Racers 2]]'', and ''Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets''. Artworld also continued to work with LEGO to create animations for commercials, renders for the ''LEGO Adventures!'' magazine, videos for LEGOLAND Resort attractions such as [[Rocket Racers]], a "LEGO Jack Stone" video, and designs for some LEGO sets.
<br><br>
==Developing The Game==


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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.
[[File:DDI meeting room.jpg|250px|thumb|Data Design team meeting]]
Data Design Interactive worked closely with the [[LEGO Futura]] office in [[Wikipedia:Billund, Denmark|Billund, Denmark]] to design [[Rock Raiders|LEGO Rock Raiders]] sets alongside development of the video game,<ref name="Adventures" /> making this the first LEGO video game not based on already-existing themes or completely original concepts. Design of the sets took eight months to complete.<ref name="Ultimate" />


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. The first version that was released was for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTSC NTSC] video standard (for Japan & North America).  The second was for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL PAL] video standard (for Europe, Asia, Brazil, Australia, etc.) and added more content to the game.
===Later years===
On April 9, 2001, the original Artworld company was filed as having been dormant through the financial year ending March 31, 2001.<ref name="Artworld Dormant 2001" /> It remained dormant until its name was changed to '''My Personal Trainer Ltd''' on March 22, 2011.<ref name="Artworld Trainer" /> A new Artworld company, '''Artworld Studios Ltd''', was incorperated on March 27, 2002,<ref name="Artworld Incorporation" /> but was filed as having been dormant through and since the financial year ending March 31, 2003.<ref name="Artworld Dormant 2003" /> Both companies were dissolved on April 3, 2012.<ref name="Trainer Dissolved" /><ref name="Artworld Dissolved" />


==Sister Companies==
'''Big Future Ltd''' was incorporated on July 28, 2003; Eamonn Paul Barr, project manager for ''LEGO Rock Raiders'', was appointed as secretary until Christmas 2014.
[[Image:Legomedia.png|200px|thumb|The LEGO Media Logo]]
A number of companies assisted DDI in the creation of the PS and PC Rock Raiders games.


===LEGO Media International===
At some point prior to 2014, the United States office moved to [[Wikipedia:Osprey, Florida|Osprey, Florida]].
''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."
{{Quote|text=We are looking forward to the future, it looks very bright!|author=Stewart Green, CEO|source=c. 2014<ref name="DDI 2014" />}}
==List of created works==
{{Main|List of Data Design Interactive media}}


===Artworld UK===
==Notes==
''For more information: See [http://www.awn.com/mag/issue5.11/5.11pages/younghusbandartworld.php3 here]''
{{Reflist|group=n}}


'''Artworld UK''' was created in 1998 when LEGO contacted DDI to create the Rock Raiders PC Game. Artworld contained a team to handle creation of game graphics and 3D animation. Artworld followed on to create graphics & animation in Lego Racers, Lego Alpha Team, Lego Creator and Legoland.
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="DDI 2014">[https://web.archive.org/web/20140902015957/http://ddi-games.com:80/ Data Design Interactive homepage]. Archive from 2 September 2014.</ref>
<ref name="Florida Office">GamesIndustry International (23 May 2008).
[http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/data-design-interactive-opens-us-office-florida-is-the-destination--providing-a--natural-and-open-work-environment "Data Design Interactive opens US office"]. [[Wikipedia:Eurogamer|''Eurogamer'']]. Retrieved 21 October 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080526014931/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/data-design-interactive-opens-us-office-florida-is-the-destination--providing-a--natural-and-open-work-environment Archive] from 26 May 2008.</ref>
<ref name="US Office">Jenkins, David (27 May 2008). [http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/109723/Data_Design_Interactive_Opens_US_Office.php "Data Design Interactive Opens U.S. Office"].
[[Wikipedia:Gamasutra|''Gamasutra'']]. [[Wikipedia:UBM TechWeb|UBM TechWeb]]. Retrieved 21 October 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120512012634/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/109723/Data_Design_Interactive_Opens_US_Office.php Archive] from 12 May 2012.</ref>
<ref name="Legos">Moltenbrey, Karen (March 2000).
[http://www.cgw.com/Publications/CGW/2000/Volume-23-Issue-3-March-2000-/Legos-Come-to-Life.aspx#.UOT64Xfhc1E "Legos Come to Life"]. ''Computer Graphics World''. Volume 23. Issue 3. Retrieved 21 October 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Artworld">Younghusband, Paul (1 February 2001). [https://www.awn.com/animationworld/one-stop-digital-shop-data-design-interactive-and-artworld-uk "A One Stop Digital Shop: Data Design Interactive and Artworld UK"].
''Animation World Magazine''. Issue 5.11, p. 19-21. [[Wikipedia:Animation World Network|Animation World Network]]. Retrieved 21 October 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Adventures">"Behind the Scenes: Rock Raiders". ''LEGO Adventures!'' Issue 7, October 1999, p. 30-33. Egmont Fleetway Ltd, Egmont House.</ref>
<ref name="Chess">Upchurch, David (March 2000).
[http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-chess-pc "LEGO Chess (PC)"]. Retrieved 21 October 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170823202724/http://dupchurch.com/?portfolio=lego-chess-pc Archive] from 23 August 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Ultimate">"The Design Concept". ''The Ultimate LEGO Book''. [[Wikipedia:Dorling Kindersley|Dorling Kindersley]], 1999, p. 30-33.</ref>
<ref name="Crash 28">Kidd, Graeme. [http://www.crashonline.org.uk/28/dds.htm "This Little Proggy Went To Market..."].
[[Wikipedia:Crash (magazine)|''Crash'']] Issue No. 28, May 1986. p.76. [[Wikipedia:Newsfield Publications Ltd|Newsfield Publications Ltd]]. Retrieved 22 October 2017.</ref><!--


==Also See==
Company records below
-->
<ref name="Insolvency">[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03817591/insolvency Insolvency for DATA DESIGN INTERACTIVE LIMITED (03817591)]. [[Wikipedia:Companies House|Companies House]]. Retrieved 21 October 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Artworld Design Group">The Artworld Design Group UK Limited (8 March 2000) [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03942954/filing-history/MDAxMDY5NzA0M2FkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 Incorporation]. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Artworld Dormant 2001">The Artworld Design Group UK Limited: [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03942954/filing-history/MDA2MTE4NzgzNmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 Accounts for a dormant company made up to 31 March 2001]. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Artworld Trainer">My Personal Trainer Limited: [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03942954/filing-history/MzAzNDIwOTYzN2FkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 Company name changed the artworld design group uk LIMITED]. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Trainer Dissolved">My Personal Trainer Limited: [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03942954/filing-history/MzA1NDgxODcyOGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 Final Gazette dissolved via voluntary strike-off]. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Artworld Incorporation">Artworld Studios Limited: [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04405511/filing-history/MDA5MzA1MTY1NmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 Incorporation]. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Artworld Dormant 2003">Artworld Studios Limited: [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04405511/filing-history/MDEyMDIyOTMyMmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 Accounts for a dormant company made up to 31 March 2003]. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.</ref>
<ref name="Artworld Dissolved">Artworld Studios Limited: [https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04405511/filing-history/MzA1NDgxOTU3NmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 Final Gazette dissolved via voluntary strike-off]. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.</ref>
}}


*[[Credits (PC Game)]]
==External links==
*[[Rock Raiders Beta]] / [[Original Plans]]
[[Image:DDI logo.png|250px|thumb|Logo 1998-2006]]
* [http://www.ddi-games.com/ Official website], currently under construction
* [http://www.ddi.us.com/ Official US website], currently under construction
* [http://www.datadesign.uk.com/ Official UK website] (defunct)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140902015957/http://ddi-games.com:80/ Homepage archive] from 2 September 2014
* [http://www.ddi-america.com/ DDI America]
* [http://www.bigfutureltd.com Big Future Ltd]
* [http://green-solutions.co.uk Green Solutions] (defunct)
* [[Wikipedia:Data Design Interactive|Wikipedia article for Data Design Interactive]]


[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Companies]]

Latest revision as of 16:24, 30 March 2018

Logo 2006-2016

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

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.

Formation and early years

Ref[4]

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 in 1997, the newly-formed LEGO Media International approached Data Design Interactive 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.[5] For LEGO Rock Raiders, art director Robert Dorney set up sister company Artworld UK to handle 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. Proprietary plugins for LightWave and a database of official Rock Raiders colors were used to color individually-modeled bricks, which were then assembled in scenes. Assembled models were then downgraded in quality for in-game use.[6][7]

Artworld was incorporated as a limited company on March 8, 2000, as The Artworld Design Group UK Ltd,[8] and later became known as Artworld Studios. Artworld went on to create FMV animations for LEGO Racers, LEGOLAND, LEGO Alpha Team, LEGO Creator: Knights' Kingdom, LEGO Creator: Harry Potter, LEGO Racers 2, and Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Artworld also continued to work with LEGO to create animations for commercials, renders for the LEGO Adventures! magazine, videos for LEGOLAND Resort attractions such as Rocket Racers, a "LEGO Jack Stone" video, and designs for some LEGO sets.

Data Design team meeting

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,[9] making this the first LEGO video game not based on already-existing themes or completely original concepts. Design of the sets took eight months to complete.[10]

Later years

On April 9, 2001, the original Artworld company was filed as having been dormant through the financial year ending March 31, 2001.[11] It remained dormant until its name was changed to My Personal Trainer Ltd on March 22, 2011.[12] A new Artworld company, Artworld Studios Ltd, was incorperated on March 27, 2002,[13] but was filed as having been dormant through and since the financial year ending March 31, 2003.[14] Both companies were dissolved on April 3, 2012.[15][16]

Big Future Ltd was incorporated on July 28, 2003; Eamonn Paul Barr, project manager for LEGO Rock Raiders, was appointed as secretary until Christmas 2014.

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

We are looking forward to the future, it looks very bright!
—Stewart Green, CEO, c. 2014[17]

List of created works

Main article: List of Data Design Interactive media

Notes

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. ↑ Kidd, Graeme. "This Little Proggy Went To Market...". Crash Issue No. 28, May 1986. p.76. Newsfield Publications Ltd. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  5. ↑ Upchurch, David (March 2000). "LEGO Chess (PC)". Retrieved 21 October 2017. Archive from 23 August 2017.
  6. ↑ Moltenbrey, Karen (March 2000). "Legos Come to Life". Computer Graphics World. Volume 23. Issue 3. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ The Artworld Design Group UK Limited (8 March 2000) Incorporation. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "Behind the Scenes: Rock Raiders". LEGO Adventures! Issue 7, October 1999, p. 30-33. Egmont Fleetway Ltd, Egmont House.
  10. ↑ "The Design Concept". The Ultimate LEGO Book. Dorling Kindersley, 1999, p. 30-33.
  11. ↑ The Artworld Design Group UK Limited: Accounts for a dormant company made up to 31 March 2001. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  12. ↑ My Personal Trainer Limited: Company name changed the artworld design group uk LIMITED. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  13. ↑ Artworld Studios Limited: Incorporation. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  14. ↑ Artworld Studios Limited: Accounts for a dormant company made up to 31 March 2003. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  15. ↑ My Personal Trainer Limited: Final Gazette dissolved via voluntary strike-off. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  16. ↑ Artworld Studios Limited: Final Gazette dissolved via voluntary strike-off. Companies House. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  17. ↑ Data Design Interactive homepage. Archive from 2 September 2014.

External links

Logo 1998-2006
Retrieved from "https://kb.rockraidersunited.com/index.php?title=Data_Design_Interactive&oldid=7255"