Mad Genius Software
Encyclopedia
This website now sells VPS hosting, nothing to do with game development.
Mad Genius Software, Llc was a Canadian video game developer
created in 1995 by Geoffrey Mark, Mike Jackson, and Keith Gillard in Vancouver
, British Columbia
. By the time the company dissolved in 1999 it had developed, produced and successfully distributed one title, Gunmetal
for the PC
. Its slogan was "Crazy People, Smart Games."
Originally started as an artist's collective
, the design and art teams worked ad hoc
as external work schedules allowed. Over three years the core team grew from the three founders, a programmer and Andrew Brechin creating art to twelve artists and programmers. All art and programming milestones
were reviewed by Mike Jackson at this time. No one on the team received salaries until the next phase. Geoffrey Mark reviewed major art milestones and reviewed any financial issues from Los Angeles
where he lived.
In 1997, investment company Platinum Investments, offered to fund completion and marketing of Gunmetal. By January 1998 US$1,500,000 was raised. The company opened an office at 311 Water Street in Vancouver, BC, Canada. At this point, the Producer
and only American
on the team, Geoffrey Mark, was able to get a work visa
and join the company in Canada. Within three months, the company had 24 employees, including one in New Zealand
.
Gunmetal was released across the continental US and Canada on August 31, 1998. The demo was number one in downloads for several weeks on Gamespot and other video game websites. In its first run, it sold 22,000 units into various stores. It was carried at Virgin Megastore
, Fry's Electronics
, Comp USA and others. As of December, 2006, the game demo
of Gunmetal could still be downloaded from 3dgamers.com.
A software patch was distributed free of charge in October, 1998.
Disagreements over sales revenue and other internal problems forced Mad Genius Software into receivership in March 1999.
Mad Genius Software, Llc was a Canadian 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...
created in 1995 by Geoffrey Mark, Mike Jackson, and Keith Gillard in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. By the time the company dissolved in 1999 it had developed, produced and successfully distributed one title, Gunmetal
Gunmetal (PC)
Gunmetal is a first person shooter video game for the PC. It was developed and distributed by Mad Genius Software in 1998.-Story:The game takes place 300 years in the future...
for the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
. Its slogan was "Crazy People, Smart Games."
Collective
A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project to achieve a common objective...
, the design and art teams worked ad hoc
Ad hoc
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes. Compare A priori....
as external work schedules allowed. Over three years the core team grew from the three founders, a programmer and Andrew Brechin creating art to twelve artists and programmers. All art and programming milestones
Project management
Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals. A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end , undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value...
were reviewed by Mike Jackson at this time. No one on the team received salaries until the next phase. Geoffrey Mark reviewed major art milestones and reviewed any financial issues from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where he lived.
In 1997, investment company Platinum Investments, offered to fund completion and marketing of Gunmetal. By January 1998 US$1,500,000 was raised. The company opened an office at 311 Water Street in Vancouver, BC, Canada. At this point, the Producer
Game producer
A video game producer is the person in charge of overseeing development of a video game.The earliest documented use of the term producer in games was by Trip Hawkins, who established the position when he founded Electronic Arts in 1982...
and only American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on the team, Geoffrey Mark, was able to get a work visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
and join the company in Canada. Within three months, the company had 24 employees, including one in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Gunmetal was released across the continental US and Canada on August 31, 1998. The demo was number one in downloads for several weeks on Gamespot and other video game websites. In its first run, it sold 22,000 units into various stores. It was carried at Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastores is an international chain of record shops, founded by Sir Richard Branson on London's Oxford Street in early 1971. Virgin Megastores are best described today as entertainment retailers....
, Fry's Electronics
Fry's Electronics
Fry's Electronics is a big-box store and retailer of software, consumer electronics, computer hardware, with in store computer repair and custom computer building services and household appliances with a chain of superstores headquartered in Silicon Valley...
, Comp USA and others. As of December, 2006, the game demo
Game demo
A game demo is a freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released video game. Demos are typically released by the game's publisher to help consumers get a feel of the game before deciding whether to buy the full version....
of Gunmetal could still be downloaded from 3dgamers.com.
A software patch was distributed free of charge in October, 1998.
Disagreements over sales revenue and other internal problems forced Mad Genius Software into receivership in March 1999.