First-party developer
Encyclopedia
A video game development party can be one of two parties: a first-party or third-party developer.
that is part of a company that manufactures a video game console
, and develops exclusively for it. First-party developers may either use the name of the company itself (like Nintendo
), have a specific division name (like Sony's
Polyphony Digital
), or have formerly been an independent studio before being acquired by the console manufacturer, such as Rare or Naughty Dog
.
used (erroneously) in place of subsidiary
. It is colloquially used in reference to a type of first or third-party developer that specializes in development for a particular platform. Some of these studios may have exclusive publishing agreements or other business relationships with a particular manufacturer while maintaining independence. An example of this is Insomniac Games
, which, until recently, had been developing games solely for Sony's PlayStation platforms despite being an entirely independent studio. Another example is Game Freak
, which mainly develops the Nintendo
-exclusive Pokémon
game series. Studios like Insomniac and Game Freak are very rare in the video game industry because without the direct support of the platform owner, it is very risky financially to be developing solely for a particular platform. Other studios that have been called "second-party" may be wholly owned and funded by their parent company, but these are all considered subsidiaries.
, Ubisoft
, Bethesda
, Activision
, and Sega
, while others only develop games to be published under other companies, such as Raven Software
. Furthermore, third-party developers can be owned by larger third-parties, such as the relationship between Neversoft
(creator of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
series) and Activision
. Because of this, much larger third-parties that also publish their own games are typically referred to as publishing houses even though they do develop many of their own games internally.
Another example is a developer that is a separate legal entity from the software being used, usually providing an external software tool that helps organize or use information for the primary software product. Such tools could be a database
, Voice over IP
, or add-in interface
software, among others.
In addition, accessories like headsets
can be referred as third party headsets, meaning that the company of the headset is different from the console company. For example, Turtle Beach
is a third party headset company to the PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360
.
First-party developer
In the video game industry, a first-party developer is a developerVideo 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...
that is part of a company that manufactures a video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
, and develops exclusively for it. First-party developers may either use the name of the company itself (like Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
), have a specific division name (like Sony's
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...
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony Digital, Inc. is an internal video game developing company of Sony Computer Entertainment and is part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios...
), or have formerly been an independent studio before being acquired by the console manufacturer, such as Rare or Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Santa Monica, California. Founded by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin in 1986 as an independent developer, the studio was acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2001...
.
Second-party developer
The term "second-party" developer is a common misnomerMisnomer
A misnomer is a term which suggests an interpretation that is known to be untrue. Such incorrect terms sometimes derive their names because of the form, action, or origin of the subject becoming named popularly or widely referenced—long before their true natures were known.- Sources of misnomers...
used (erroneously) in place of subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
. It is colloquially used in reference to a type of first or third-party developer that specializes in development for a particular platform. Some of these studios may have exclusive publishing agreements or other business relationships with a particular manufacturer while maintaining independence. An example of this is Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games, Inc. is an American video game developer headquartered in Burbank, California. Founded in 1994, Insomniac has released titles for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. It created Disruptor, the first three Spyro the Dragon games, and the Ratchet &...
, which, until recently, had been developing games solely for Sony's PlayStation platforms despite being an entirely independent studio. Another example is Game Freak
Game Freak
is a Japanese video game developer that currently creates games exclusively for Nintendo. It has developed the Pokémon series of role-playing games and several other games.-History:...
, which mainly develops the Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
-exclusive Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
game series. Studios like Insomniac and Game Freak are very rare in the video game industry because without the direct support of the platform owner, it is very risky financially to be developing solely for a particular platform. Other studios that have been called "second-party" may be wholly owned and funded by their parent company, but these are all considered subsidiaries.
Third-party developer
A third-party developer is a developer not directly tied to the primary product that a consumer is using. The primary product may be software or hardware. In the video game industry, many third-parties publish the games they develop, such as Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
, Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
, Bethesda
Bethesda
Bethesda , originally referring to the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem , may also refer to:-United States:*Bethesda, Davidson County, North Carolina...
, Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
, and Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
, while others only develop games to be published under other companies, such as Raven Software
Raven Software
Raven Software is an American video game developer. The company was founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel. In 1997, Raven made an exclusive publishing deal with Activision and was subsequently acquired by them...
. Furthermore, third-party developers can be owned by larger third-parties, such as the relationship between Neversoft
Neversoft
Neversoft Entertainment is an American video game developer, founded in 1994 by Joel Jewett, Mick West and Chris Ward. Neversoft is best recognized for their line of Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk skateboarding games, known as the Tony Hawk's series...
(creator of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
-Reception:The game was very well-received by most critics, scoring an outstanding 92 on Metacritic based on 18 reviews for the PS1 version. IGN gave the N64 version of the game a 9.1 out of 10 praising the gameplay for "genius control, combo system and design" despite little criticism with sound...
series) and Activision
Activision
Activision is an American publisher, majority owned by French conglomerate Vivendi SA. Its current CEO is Robert Kotick. It was founded on October 1, 1979 and was the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles...
. Because of this, much larger third-parties that also publish their own games are typically referred to as publishing houses even though they do develop many of their own games internally.
Another example is a developer that is a separate legal entity from the software being used, usually providing an external software tool that helps organize or use information for the primary software product. Such tools could be a database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
, Voice over IP
Voice over IP
Voice over Internet Protocol is a family of technologies, methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission techniques for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol networks, such as the Internet...
, or add-in interface
Interface (computer science)
In the field of computer science, an interface is a tool and concept that refers to a point of interaction between components, and is applicable at the level of both hardware and software...
software, among others.
In addition, accessories like headsets
Headset (telephone/computer)
A headset is headphones combined with a microphone, or one headphone with a microphone. Headsets provide the equivalent functionality of a telephone handset with hands-free operation. Headsets typically have only one speaker like a telephone, but also come with speakers for both ears...
can be referred as third party headsets, meaning that the company of the headset is different from the console company. For example, Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach Systems
Turtle Beach Systems is a sound card and headphone manufacturer and direct competitor with Creative Labs-branded Sound Blaster. In 1995, the company merged with Voyetra, a company that made custom software for sound cards, to form Voyetra Turtle Beach Inc which is headquartered in Elmsford, New...
is a third party headset company to the 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...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
.