Revolution Software

Revolution Software Ltd
Industry Interactive entertainment
Computer and video games
Founded 23 March 1990[1]
Founder Charles Cecil
Tony Warriner
David Sykes
Noirin Carmody
Headquarters York, United Kingdom
Key people
 Charles Cecil (managing director)
Products Broken Sword series (1996-present)
Website revolution.co.uk

Revolution Software Ltd is a British video game developer, based in York, United Kingdom.[2]

The company was founded in 1990 by Charles Cecil, Tony Warriner, David Sykes and Noirin Carmody. Until 6 December 1990, the company was named Turnvale Limited after the location in their first game Lure of the Temptress.[1] The company's speciality would be for writing adventure games, including Beneath a Steel Sky, and the Broken Sword series which have sold over 4 million copies worldwide and have earned £100 million.[3] The company was started with a view to creating Lure of the Temptress – which incorporated the Virtual Theatre Engine. This virtual engine was subsequently used to develop the first two games in the Broken Sword series.

Company history

1992–1994: Lure of the Temptress and Beneath a Steel Sky

Released in 1992 for the Amiga, Atari ST, and DOS platforms, Lure of the Temptress was both critically and commercially a success,[4] which helped set the company up for their future game releases.[5] Revolution released the game as freeware on 1 April 2003.[6]

Their next game was released in 1994; Beneath a Steel Sky became a hit on the Amiga and DOS. The game focused on protagonist Robert Foster's abduction and subsequent search for answers in a dystopian city of the future. In that period they also ported Sierra's King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow on the Commodore Amiga. Virtual Theatre system was used instead of Sierra's Creative Interpreter due to its much better performance.[7]

1996–1997: Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars and Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror

Despite the success of Beneath a Steel Sky, it was the company's next game that they would become best known for, and which would have both the biggest critical and commercial success.[8] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars was released for PC and PlayStation in 1996 and was later ported to the Game Boy Advance in 2002. The game revolves around the story of George Stobbart, an American tourist whose holiday in Paris is rudely interrupted by a bombing. Investigating, he runs into photo-journalist Nicole Collard, and the two embark on a globe-trotting adventure. The hand drawn graphics, story and characters, and gameplay helped make the game a hit, and cemented the company's reputation for story driven games.[8] The game was quickly followed by a well-received sequel, Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror.[9] According to Charles Cecil, each of the first two Broken Sword games sold around a 1,000,000 copies in the mid-1990s.

2000: In Cold Blood and Gold and Glory: The Road to El Dorado

On July 2000, the company released their first 3D game In Cold Blood for the PlayStation (later released for Microsoft Windows in October 2000). Set in the near future, the game featured John Cord, an MI6 agent. Sent to the fictional, former soviet region of Volgia, the player embarks on a mission to investigate a newly discovered substance, Blue Nephrine. However, Cord is betrayed and must work out by whom, while simultaneously trying to work out what plans the dictator of Volgia, General Nagarov, has for this mysterious new chemical and the implications for the world.

On December 2000, the company also released a children's adventure game Gold and Glory: The Road to El Dorado to coincide with the release of the film The Road to El Dorado.[10]

2001–2002: Good Cop Bad Cop cancellation

The company then started work on Good Cop Bad Cop, an action game for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube. However the game was eventually cancelled[11] so that the company could concentrate on Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon.

2003–2006: Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon and Broken Sword: The Angel of Death

Released in November 2003, Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon featured 3D graphics, and moved away from the 2D point-and-click style of older games. As the game was developed for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Xbox simultaneously, they decided to implement a direct control mechanism for the protagonist, instead of mouse control clicking on hot spots, as this was easier to convert to console game pads.[12]

Revolution released Broken Sword: The Angel of Death on 15 September 2006. At the start of the game, George is working as a bail bonds clerk, when he falls in love with Anna-Maria, a woman who asks George to help her find an artefact.[13]

2009–2011: Director's Cut and Remasters

On 1 March 2009, Revolution Software released a director's cut version of their first Broken Sword series, called Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut, for Wii and Nintendo DS platforms (later on iOS, Microsoft Windows and OS X).[14] According to a Charles Cecil interview with Pocket Gamer, the iOS version of the Director's Cut sold around 160,000 copies by December 2010.[15] The company also announced that The Director's Cut is coming soon to Android.[16]

On October 2009, Beneath a Steel Sky – Remastered was made available on the Apple App Store.[17] The Remastered Edition sold around 20,000 copies in its first month and expected to hit 70,000 sales in the first year and 100,000 lifetime sales.[18]

The company announced the remastered edition of the second game in the Broken Sword series on 9 December 2010, called Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered. The game was released in late 2010 on iPhone, April 2011 on OS X and May 2011 on Microsoft Windows.[19]

2012–present: Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse, Beneath a Steel Sky 2 and Broken Sword 6 ideas

On 25 July 2012, Charles Cecil posted on his personal Facebook account: "Totally focused on the announce video for our next game. I am thrilled by how it's looking, and can't wait to talk publicly, but completing the video for end of the month – as originally promised – now seems somewhat ambitious."[20] After a short delay, the game was officially announced to be a fifth entry in the series: Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse.[21] The game was announced with a Kickstarter campaign and a video, showing some of the game's graphics and hinting at its storyline.[22]

After the release of Beneath a Steel Sky – Remastered, Charles Cecil and Dave Gibbons stated that a sequel could be likely and that iPhone would be the ideal platform.[23] During its Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, the company originally put Beneath a Steel Sky 2 as a $1,000,000 bonus stretch goal if the new Broken Sword game raises enough money, but it only raised $820,000 (inc. PayPal donations). On 24 September 2012, after failing to reach the bonus stretch goal, the company's co-founder Tony Warriner said that "after the huge success of the Broken Sword 5 crowdfunding campaign on Kickstater, it inspired us to begin work on Beneath a Steel Sky 2. Development of the sequel will begin after the release of Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse. We're delighted by the recent level of interest in a sequel to Beneath a Steel Sky and are currently discussing design ideas for this project which we plan to go into development following the release of Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse. We're deeply touched that our Beneath a Steel Sky fans are as enthusiastic today as they were when the original game released in 1994." Beneath a Steel Sky 2 is to be developed for iOS, Android, PC, Linux and OS X. There is also a possibility in looking into a console version release.[24] In a September 2015 interview, Cecil announced that he was working on a story for Broken Sword 6, which would involve the main characters traveling to Germany.[25]

Games developed

Year Game Platform(s)
1992 Lure of the Temptress Atari ST, Amiga, DOS
1994 Beneath a Steel Sky Amiga, Amiga CD32, Atari ST, DOS, iOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X
1996 Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars Game Boy Advance, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
1997 Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation
2000 In Cold Blood Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
Gold and Glory: The Road to El Dorado
2003 Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
2006 Broken Sword: The Angel of Death Microsoft Windows
2009 Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, OS X, Wii
2013-4 Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse Android, iOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
TBA Beneath a Steel Sky 2[24] Android, iOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X

Recognition

Awards and nominations

Year Publication/Ceremony Nominated game or person Award Result
1995 PC Gamer Beneath a Steel Sky Best Dialogue Won
Golden Joystick Awards Best Adventure Won
1997 Generation 4[26] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars Best Adventure 1997 Won
Quest magazine[26] Best Quest Won
2001 GameVortex In Cold Blood Top Pick Won
2003 British Academy Video Games Awards[27] Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon Best Design Nominated
Best PC Game Nominated
Best Adventure Game Nominated
Just Adventure[28] Best Adventure Game of 2003 Won
2004 Game Developers Choice Awards[29] Excellence in Writing Nominated
2006 Develop Charles Cecil Development Legend Won
2009 Slide to Play Beneath a Steel Sky: Remastered Game of the Month, October 2009 Won
Slide to Play's iPhone Games Holiday Buyer's Guide Best Adventure Game Won
British Academy Video Games Awards[30] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut Best Story Nominated
2010 Adventure Gamers' 2009 Aggie Awards[31] Best Port/Updated Re-release Nominated
Beneath a Steel Sky: Remastered Nominated
2011 European Games Awards[32] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut Best European Adventure Won
Order of the British Empire Charles Cecil Member of the Order of the British Empire Won

Appearances on lists

Year Publication List Game or company Rank
1993 Amiga Power Amiga Power All-Time Top 100 Lure of the Temptress 47
1994 66
Beneath a Steel Sky 42
1995 72
1996 84
2004 Adventure Gamers Top 20 Adventure Games of All-Time[33] 17
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars 4
2006 Adventure Classic Gaming Top 10 retro graphic adventure games of all time from PC to consoles[33] Beneath a Steel Sky 9
Broken Sword: The Shadow of Templars 3
2009 Edge Top 50 iPhone Games Available Beneath a Steel Sky – Remastered 26
2010 PCWorld 25 Best iPad Games[17] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut HD *
Pocket Gamer Top 10-point-and-click adventure games on iPhone and iPad Beneath a Steel Sky – Remastered *
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut *
Metacritic The Best iPhone and iPad Games of 2010[34] 9
Retro Gamer Top 20 Adventure Games of All-Time... not by LucasArts[35] Beneath a Steel Sky 3
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars 2
2011 Develop Develop 100: The World's Most Successful Studios Revolution Software 47
Brighthub The Best PC Adventure Games of All Time[36] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars *
Gameranx Top 25 Best iOS Games[37] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut 10
Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered 9
Trusted Reviews 100 Best iPhone Games Ever[38] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut 31
TechRadar Top 30 best free games you should play today Beneath a Steel Sky 4
PC Gamer 20 free PC games you must play 9
Altered Gamer Top 5 Adventure PC Games *
Now Gamer Greatest Point-And-Click Games (Not By LucasArts)[39] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars *
Beneath a Steel Sky *
Adventure Gamers Top 100 All-Time Adventures[40] 19
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars 4
2012 GamesRadar Best point-and-click adventure games[41] 8
Gaming Enthusiast Top 10 PC Adventure Games[42] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars / The Smoking Mirror 4
* VideoGamer Top Wii Adventure Games of All Time[43] Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut 5
Top DS Adventure Games of All Time[44] 1
Adventure Gamers Top Adventure Games[45] *
Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars *

References

  1. 1 2 "WebCHeck - Select and Access Company Information".
  2. ↑ "Official Revolution Software Website". Revolution Software.
  3. ↑ "Revolution Games Facebook Info". Revolution Software.
  4. ↑ "Interview: Charles Cecil on Broken Sword" at Adventure Gamers.
  5. ↑ "Lure of the Temptress". Revolution Software.
  6. ↑ "Lure of the Temptress Freeware". Revolution Software.
  7. ↑ Fuente, Derek Dela (July–August 1993). "Beneath a Steel Sky". Joystick, issue 40, p. 93. Hachette Disney Presse.
  8. 1 2 "Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars". Revolution Software.
  9. ↑ "Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror". Revolution Software.
  10. ↑ "Gold and Glory: The Road to El Do Rado". IGN.
  11. ↑ "Good Cop Bad Cop Canceled". IGN.
  12. ↑ "Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon". Revolution Software.
  13. ↑ "Broken Sword: The Angel of Death". Revolution Software.
  14. ↑ "Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut". Revolution Software.
  15. ↑ "Revolution's Charles Cecil on Broken Sword 2 and why it's the best time ever to be an indie". Pocket Gamer.
  16. ↑ "Revolution Software to bring Broken Sword and a mysterious new game to Android". Droid Gamer.
  17. 1 2 "Beneath a Steel Sky: Remastered". Revolution Software.
  18. ↑ "iPhone's Beneath a Steel Sky on track for 20,000 sales in first month". Pocket Gamer.
  19. ↑ "Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered". Revolution Software.
  20. ↑ "Charles Cecil hints at new game.".
  21. ↑ "Broken Sword 5 announcement.".
  22. ↑ "Broken Sword 5 Kickstarter, with video.".
  23. ↑ "Beneath a Steel Sky 2". Pocket Gamer.
  24. 1 2 Chapple, Craig (24 September 2012). "Revolution greenlights Beneath a Steel Sky 2". Develop. Intent Media. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  25. ↑ http://www.gamereactor.eu/news/340643/Charles+Cecil+Broken+Sword+6+will+be+great/
  26. 1 2 "TEDxYork: Charles Cecil – Revolution Games :: "Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars". TED. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  27. ↑ "1UP: BAFTA Game Awards Nominees". 1UP. 2003. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  28. ↑ "Revolution Software (Former website [2004], WayBack Machine)". Revolution Software. 25 February 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  29. ↑ "4th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards". Game Developers Choice Awards. 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  30. ↑ "Video Games Awards 2010". BAFTA. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  31. ↑ "Adventure Gamers: 2009 Aggie Award nominees". Adventure Gamers. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  32. ↑ "European Games Awards 2011 Winners". European Games Awards. 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  33. 1 2 "Adventure Gamers: Top 20 Adventure Games of All-Time". Adventure Gamers. 2 April 2004. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  34. ↑ "Metacritic: 25 Best iPhone and iPad Games of 2010". Metacritic. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  35. ↑ "Top 20 Adventure Games of All-Time... not by LucasArts". Retro Gamer (84). December 2010.
  36. ↑ "Brighthub: The Best PC Adventure Games of All Time". Brightub. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  37. ↑ "Gameranx: Top 25 Best iOS Games". Gameranx. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  38. ↑ "Trusted Reviews: Top 100 Best iPhone Games Ever". Trusted Reviews. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  39. ↑ "Now Gamer: Greatest Point-And-Click Games (Not By LucasArts)". Now Gamer. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  40. ↑ "Adventure Gamers: Top 100 All-Time Adventures". Adventure Gamers. 30 December 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  41. ↑ "GamesRadar: Best point-and-click adventure games". GamesRadar. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  42. ↑ "Gaming Enthusiast: Top 10 PC Adventure Games". Gaming Enthusiast. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  43. ↑ "VideoGamer: Top Wii Adventure Games of All Time". VideoGamer. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  44. ↑ "VideoGamer: Top DS Adventure Games of All Time". VideoGamer. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  45. ↑ "Adventure Games: Top Adventure Games". Adventure Gamers. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
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