Evolution Studios
Encyclopedia
Evolution Studios Ltd. is a British
video game developer
. The company was founded in 1999 by Martin Kenwright (Digital Image Design
) and Ian Hetherington
(Psygnosis), following the purchase of DID's publisher Ocean Software
by Infogrames
. Kenwright left DID with six members of staff to form Evolution Studios.
Then based in Frodsham
, Cheshire
, it developed a racing demo on PC, which was picked up by Sony
as it was interested in a PlayStation 2
game based on the World Rally Championship
licence.
The company is now headquartered in Runcorn
, Cheshire, as well as having a satellite studio, Bigbig Studios
, in Warwickshire
.
Both Evolution and Bigbig Studios
were acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment
in September 2007. At this point, Kenwright and Hetherington left the company, with its co-founder Mick Hocking taking over, running Evolution, Bigbig and SCE Studio Liverpool
as Group Studio Director.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
video game developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
. The company was founded in 1999 by Martin Kenwright (Digital Image Design
Digital Image Design
Digital Image Design was a British video game developer founded by Martin Kenwright and Phillip Allsopp in 1989 and was originally based in Runcorn, Cheshire, England. The company had employed around eighty developers who specialized in areas of software and simulation...
) and Ian Hetherington
Ian Hetherington
Ian Hetherington was co-founder of Psygnosis, a company responsible for creating many early computer games. Along with Jonathan Ellis, Hetherington founded Psygnosis from the ashes of the defunct game company Imagine Software where Hetherington was the Financial Director...
(Psygnosis), following the purchase of DID's publisher Ocean Software
Ocean Software
The British company Ocean Software was one of the biggest European video game developers/publishers of the 1980s and 90s...
by Infogrames
Infogrames
Infogrames Entertainment SA was an international French holding company headquartered in Paris, France. It was the owner of Atari, Inc., headquartered in New York City, U.S. and Atari Europe. It was founded in 1983 by Bruno Bonnell and Christophe Sapet using the proceeds from an introductory...
. Kenwright left DID with six members of staff to form Evolution Studios.
Then based in Frodsham
Frodsham
Frodsham is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. Its population is 8,982. It is approximately south of Runcorn, 16 miles south of Liverpool, and approximately south-west of Manchester...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, it developed a racing demo on PC, which was picked up by Sony
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
as it was interested in a PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
game based on the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
licence.
The company is now headquartered in Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
, Cheshire, as well as having a satellite studio, Bigbig Studios
Bigbig Studios
The company was founded in 2001 by a core team of four former Codemasters employees. The company was set up with the help of parent company Evolution Studios. Located in Leamington Spa in the UK. It gained popularity due to its first game Pursuit Force which became a bestseller.Bigbig Studios and...
, in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
.
Both Evolution and Bigbig Studios
Bigbig Studios
The company was founded in 2001 by a core team of four former Codemasters employees. The company was set up with the help of parent company Evolution Studios. Located in Leamington Spa in the UK. It gained popularity due to its first game Pursuit Force which became a bestseller.Bigbig Studios and...
were acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
in September 2007. At this point, Kenwright and Hetherington left the company, with its co-founder Mick Hocking taking over, running Evolution, Bigbig and SCE Studio Liverpool
SCE Studio Liverpool
SCE Studio Liverpool is a video game development house head-quartered at Wavertree Technology Park in Liverpool, England. It is part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios. Founded in 1984 as Psygnosis, the company is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment and...
as Group Studio Director.
Games developed
| Game Title | Year Released | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| WRC: World Rally Championship | 2001 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
| WRC II Extreme World Rally Championship (video game series) World Rally Championship is a video game series made by Evolution Studios between 2001 and 2005. The series consists of five original games released for the Sony PlayStation 2 console, and one Sony PSP port, all based on the World Rally Championship using official drivers, cars and tracks... |
2002 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
| WRC 3 World Rally Championship (video game series) World Rally Championship is a video game series made by Evolution Studios between 2001 and 2005. The series consists of five original games released for the Sony PlayStation 2 console, and one Sony PSP port, all based on the World Rally Championship using official drivers, cars and tracks... |
2003 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
| WRC 4 World Rally Championship (video game series) World Rally Championship is a video game series made by Evolution Studios between 2001 and 2005. The series consists of five original games released for the Sony PlayStation 2 console, and one Sony PSP port, all based on the World Rally Championship using official drivers, cars and tracks... |
2004 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
| WRC: Rally Evolved WRC: Rally Evolved WRC: Rally Evolved is a WRC video game for the PlayStation 2 and was released in Europe on October 21, 2005... |
2005 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
| MotorStorm MotorStorm MotorStorm is a 2006 racing video game developed by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the Sony PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. First announced at E3 2005, the game was released in Japan on 14 December 2006 and the rest of the world in March 2007.... |
2007 | PlayStation 3 PlayStation 3 The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... |
| MotorStorm: Pacific Rift MotorStorm: Pacific Rift MotorStorm: Pacific Rift is a racing video game by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the sequel to MotorStorm and is followed by MotorStorm: Arctic Edge for the PS2/PSP, and MotorStorm: Apocalypse... |
2008 | PlayStation 3 PlayStation 3 The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... |
| MotorStorm: Apocalypse MotorStorm: Apocalypse MotorStorm: Apocalypse is a 2011 racing 3D video game by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the fourth game in the series and the third for the PlayStation 3... |
2011 | PlayStation 3 PlayStation 3 The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... |
| MotorStorm: RC MotorStorm: RC MotorStorm: RC is a currently in development 2012 racing video game by Evolution Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the Sony PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems... |
2012 | PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3 PlayStation 3 The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles... |