Green Monster Games
Encyclopedia
38 Studios, formerly Green Monster Games, is an entertainment and IP
development company founded by Major League Baseball
pitcher
Curt Schilling
and named for his jersey number.
and Everquest 2, on through Shadowbane
, leading to World of Warcraft
and more recently Warhammer Online). At the start of spring training
in 2007, the company was renamed from Green Monster Games to 38 Studios to give a "... more accurate reflection of what our company is working to achieve."
Contrary to popular belief, Schilling has stated that the company's original name was not taken from the wall in Fenway Park. He is quoted on the Fires of Heaven Guild message boards, posting under his EQ characters name, Ngruk, saying, "The GMG name was—and I know this is going to be impossible to believe—not named after the left-field wall at Fenway. The name was made up by someone who knew next to nothing about baseball and isn't even from this country."
In 2006, the company leased 30,000 sq ft (3,000 m²) of office space in downtown Maynard, Massachusetts
at the historic Clock Tower. CEO of the company is Jennifer MacLean
, formerly of Comcast
, CTO is Jon Laff formerly of Electronic Arts.
On April 17, 2008, Massively.com announced that Lead Designer Travis McGeathy from Sony Online Entertainment's Everquest
was hired by 38 Studios.
On May 27, 2009, 38 Studios acquired Rise of Nations
developer Big Huge Games
from THQ
.
In July 2010, The Rhode Island
board of Economic Development approved a $75 million guaranteed loan to 38 Studios. 38 Studios has promised to bring 450 jobs to the state by the end of 2012.
On November 3, 2010, 38 Studios announced the closure of its $75 million financing package in conjunction with the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and will relocate the Maynard, Massachusetts development studio to its new location in Providence, One Empire Plaza, early next year.
On April 8, 2011, 38 Studios began relocation from the Maynard, Massachusetts location to the new studio home in Providence, Rhode Island. Over 160 employees began working in the new space on April 12th, exceeding agreed upon job creation and relocation milestones.
The company is developing two products. The first is a single-player game called Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
which is scheduled for release in North America on February 7, 2012 and in Europe on February 10, 2012. Reckoning was introduced to the public at the game at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International convention. The second product is a Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) currently under development with the working title "Project Copernicus". A release date for Copernicus has not yet been announced. Best-selling author, R. A. Salvatore created over ten thousand years of lore for the Amalur IP and Todd McFarlane
is providing art direction for both products.
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
development company founded by Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
and named for his jersey number.
Background and history
The company is focused on MMORPGs (which Schilling has a passion for, starting with EverquestEverQuest
EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...
and Everquest 2, on through Shadowbane
Shadowbane
Shadowbane was a free fantasy computer role-playing game created by Wolfpack Studios and published on March 25, 2003 by Ubisoft for Windows and Mac platforms. Originally commercial and subscription-driven, Shadowbane was launched in March 2003, and was the creation of text-MUD veterans J...
, leading to World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
and more recently Warhammer Online). At the start of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 2007, the company was renamed from Green Monster Games to 38 Studios to give a "... more accurate reflection of what our company is working to achieve."
Contrary to popular belief, Schilling has stated that the company's original name was not taken from the wall in Fenway Park. He is quoted on the Fires of Heaven Guild message boards, posting under his EQ characters name, Ngruk, saying, "The GMG name was—and I know this is going to be impossible to believe—not named after the left-field wall at Fenway. The name was made up by someone who knew next to nothing about baseball and isn't even from this country."
In 2006, the company leased 30,000 sq ft (3,000 m²) of office space in downtown Maynard, Massachusetts
Maynard, Massachusetts
Maynard is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 10,106.- History :Maynard, located on the Assabet River, was incorporated as an independent municipality in 1871. Prior to that it was known as 'Assabet Village' but was legally...
at the historic Clock Tower. CEO of the company is Jennifer MacLean
Jennifer MacLean
Jennifer MacLean is Chief Executive Officer at 38 Studios, an independent game developer. She was previously the Vice President and General Manager of Games at Comcast Corporation....
, formerly of Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
, CTO is Jon Laff formerly of Electronic Arts.
On April 17, 2008, Massively.com announced that Lead Designer Travis McGeathy from Sony Online Entertainment's Everquest
EverQuest
EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...
was hired by 38 Studios.
On May 27, 2009, 38 Studios acquired Rise of Nations
Rise of Nations
Rise of Nations is a real-time strategy computer game, developed by Big Huge Games and published by Microsoft on May 20, 2003. The development of the game was led by veteran Brian Reynolds, of Civilization II and Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. Concepts taken from turn-based strategy games have been...
developer Big Huge Games
Big Huge Games
Big Huge Games is a video game developer located in Timonium, Maryland. The company was founded in February 2000 by four veteran game industry developers: Tim Train, David Inscore, Jason Coleman and Brian Reynolds...
from THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
.
In July 2010, The Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
board of Economic Development approved a $75 million guaranteed loan to 38 Studios. 38 Studios has promised to bring 450 jobs to the state by the end of 2012.
On November 3, 2010, 38 Studios announced the closure of its $75 million financing package in conjunction with the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and will relocate the Maynard, Massachusetts development studio to its new location in Providence, One Empire Plaza, early next year.
On April 8, 2011, 38 Studios began relocation from the Maynard, Massachusetts location to the new studio home in Providence, Rhode Island. Over 160 employees began working in the new space on April 12th, exceeding agreed upon job creation and relocation milestones.
The company is developing two products. The first is a single-player game called Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an upcoming single-player role-playing video game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. Ken Rolston, the lead designer of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, acts as the game's executive designer. Additionally, noted...
which is scheduled for release in North America on February 7, 2012 and in Europe on February 10, 2012. Reckoning was introduced to the public at the game at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International convention. The second product is a Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) currently under development with the working title "Project Copernicus". A release date for Copernicus has not yet been announced. Best-selling author, R. A. Salvatore created over ten thousand years of lore for the Amalur IP and Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane is a Canadian cartoonist, writer, toy designer and entrepreneur, best known for his work in comic books, such as the fantasy series Spawn....
is providing art direction for both products.
Projects
- Kingdoms of Amalur: ReckoningKingdoms of Amalur: ReckoningKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an upcoming single-player role-playing video game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. Ken Rolston, the lead designer of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, acts as the game's executive designer. Additionally, noted...
- North American Release Date: February 7, 2012
- European Release Date: February 10, 2012
- Project Copernicus (MMO) - TBA