2K Czech
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Formerly |
|
---|---|
Type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Video games |
Predecessor | Vochozka Trading |
Founded | 1997 |
Founders |
|
Defunct | 2017 |
Fate | Merged into Hangar 13 |
Headquarters | , Czech Republic |
Number of locations | 2 studios (2017) |
Number of employees | ~100[1] (2017) |
Parent | 2K (2008–2017) |
Website | 2kczech.com |
2K Czech, s.r.o. (formerly Illusion Softworks, a.s.) was a Czech video game developer based in Brno. Founded as Illusion Softworks in 1997 by Petr Vochozka and Jan Kudera. The company was acquired by Take-Two Interactive in January 2008 and subsequently organised under the 2K label, becoming 2K Czech. The company was merged into 2K's Hangar 13 in 2017. The company is best known for creating the Mafia series.
History[edit]
Illusion Softworks[edit]
Illusion Softworks was established in 1997 in Brno by Petr Vochozka and Jan Kudera.[2] The company succeeded Vochozka's video game publisher, Vochozka Trading, through funding provided by Kudera's Cash Reform fund.[3][4] The team initially comprised only five people, including Vochozka and Kudera. The team would expand to 40 people by the release of Mafia in 2002.[5]
The studio provided assistance to Silver Wish Games for the production of Wings of War, Chameleon and Circus Empire.[6][7][8][9][10]
In September 2007, several Illusions Softworks employees left the studio to found The Easy Company, which went on to produce MotorM4X (2008).[11]
2K Czech[edit]
On 8 January 2008, Take-Two Interactive announced that they acquired Illusion Softworks for an undisclosed sum.[12] As a result of the acquisition, Illusion Softworks became part of Take-Two Interactive's 2K label under the name 2K Czech.[13] According to Take-Two Interactive's chief executive officer, Ben Feder, the agreement was made to expand the company's "strategic focus on owning high-value intellectual property".[14] In July 2011, several people left 2K Czech, and along with former members from Bohemia Interactive, opened Warhorse Studios, which would produce Kingdom Come: Deliverance later on in 2018.[15]
In September 2011, 40 staff members were laid off from the company's Brno studio, with another few personnel made redundant in its Prague studio.[16] Both studios previously housed a total of 200 staff, wherefore around 25% of them had been cut in the layoffs.[17] 2K Czech began hiring new staff by November 2012,[18] and at the time had 188 employees.[19] There were reported creative differences amongst 2K Czech staff regarding the direction of the third Mafia instalment which had started production between late 2010 and early 2011, with the project being rebooted around seven times between 2011 and 2013.[20][21][22]
Succession by Hangar 13[edit]
On 10 January 2014, 2K announced that 2K Czech's Prague office was to close, and that 10 staff as well as the development of Mafia III would be relocated to 2K's headquarters in Novato, California, with the most other staff moved to 2K Czech's remaining Brno studio.[23][24] Of an unrevealed number of laid-off staff, some were later hired by Warhorse Studios.[25] Mafia III was later shifted to 2K's new studio Hangar 13, with 2K Czech receiving a supporting role.[26] In 2017, the studio was merged into Hangar 13.[27][28]
Games developed[edit]
As Illusion Softworks[edit]
Year | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Lurid Land | MS-DOS | Abadion Arts | |
1998 | Léto s Oskarem | MS-DOS | Vochozka Trading | |
1999 | Hidden & Dangerous | Microsoft Windows | TalonSoft | |
2000 | Flying Heroes | Microsoft Windows | Take-Two Interactive | Assisted Pterodon |
Hidden & Dangerous | Dreamcast | TalonSoft | ||
Hidden & Dangerous: Fight for Freedom | Microsoft Windows | |||
2002 | Mafia | Microsoft Windows | Gathering of Developers | |
2003 | Hidden & Dangerous 2 | Microsoft Windows | ||
Vietcong | Microsoft Windows | Assisted Pterodon | ||
2004 | Hidden & Dangerous 2: Sabre Squadron | Microsoft Windows | Global Star Software | |
Mafia | PlayStation 2 | Gathering of Developers | ||
Xbox | ||||
Vietcong: Fist Alpha | Microsoft Windows | Assisted Pterodon | ||
2005 | Vietcong 2 | Microsoft Windows | 2K Games | |
Vietcong: Red Dawn | Microsoft Windows | Gathering of Developers |
Cancelled[edit]
- Enemy in Sight (Microsoft Windows)
As 2K Czech[edit]
Year | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Mafia II | Microsoft Windows | 2K Games | |
PlayStation 3 | ||||
Xbox 360 | ||||
Mafia II: Jimmy's Vendetta | Microsoft Windows | |||
PlayStation 3 | ||||
Xbox 360 | ||||
Mafia II: Joe's Adventures | Microsoft Windows | |||
PlayStation 3 | ||||
Xbox 360 | ||||
Mafia II: The Betrayal of Jimmy | Microsoft Windows | |||
PlayStation 3 | ||||
Xbox 360 | ||||
2011 | Top Spin 4 | PlayStation 3 | 2K Sports | |
Xbox 360 | ||||
2016 | Mafia III | Microsoft Windows | 2K Games | Assisted Hangar 13 |
PlayStation 4 | ||||
Xbox One | ||||
2017 | Mafia III: Faster, Baby! | Microsoft Windows | ||
PlayStation 4 | ||||
Xbox One | ||||
Mafia III: Stones Unturned | Microsoft Windows | |||
PlayStation 4 | ||||
Xbox One | ||||
Mafia III: Sign of the Times | Microsoft Windows | |||
PlayStation 4 | ||||
Xbox One |
References[edit]
- ^ "2K Czech, s.r.o. – Výroční zpráva společnosti za období 1. dubna 2016 – 31. března 2017" [Annual Report of the Company for the period of 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017]. Justice.cz (in Czech). p. 23.
- ^ Štolba, Patrik. "Retro koutek: nadčasový příběhový skvost jménem Mafia". Doupe.cz.
- ^ Gamifique.cz; Gamifique.cz. "Illusion Softworks: Pohádka s hořkým koncem - Gamifique.cz". gamifique.eurozpravy.cz (in Czech).[permanent dead link]
- ^ BIZ, časopis. "Mosty mezi starou a novou ekonomikou". Živě.cz (in Czech).
- ^ Web, 2K. "Mafia Dev Diary: Celebrating 18 years in the life". Mafia - Official Website. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Games - Illusion Softworks". 30 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Silver Wish Games". MobyGames. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Silver Wish Games | game developer". Gamepressure.com. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Silver Wish Games (Company)". Giant Bomb. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ Allen, James. "Circus Empire Review". Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "The Easy Company opens in Prague". mcvuk.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Welcome 2K Czech: Take-Two brings Mafia dev Illusion Softworks into the family". engadget.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Purchese, Robert (8 January 2008). "Take-Two acquires Illusion Softworks". eurogamer.net. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Take-Two swallows Illusion Softworks". arstechnica.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Phillips, Tom (22 July 2011). "Mafia creator founds new studio". eurogamer.net. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Mafia 2 developer 2K Czech lays off 40". engadget.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "40 staff axed from Mafia studio 2K Czech". mcvuk.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Mafia 3: 2K Czech hiring for new 'top secret, super interesting' triple-a title - VG247". vg247.com. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "PROFIL: Vývojáři z 2K Czech dali světu kultovní Mafii". Euro.cz (in Czech). 23 November 2012.
- ^ Doskocil, Jan (12 January 2014). "Vývoj Mafia 3 měl být v Americe zrestartován". Eurogamer.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Vývoj Mafia 3 byl zřejmě přesunut do Ameriky. 2K otevírá novou pobočku, která začne na hře pracovat od píky". cdr.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Horák, Aleš 'Alien'. "Mafia, Mafia 2 & Mafia 3" (in Czech). Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Purchese, Robert (10 January 2014). "2K Czech restructuring, Mafia 3 moving to US?". eurogamer.net. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ emilygera (10 January 2014). "Mafia developer to close down Prague office as 2K Czech begins restructuring". Polygon. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "'Mismanaged' 2K Prague to close its doors today, Kingdom Come studio Warhorse poised to hire staff - VG247". vg247.com. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Who The Hell Is Mafia III Developer Hangar 13?". Game Informer. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Have you seen these studios?". gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Mafia 3 developers Hangar 13 hit with layoffs". pcgamesn.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
External links[edit]
- Take-Two Interactive divisions and subsidiaries
- Defunct video game companies of the Czech Republic
- Video game companies established in 1997
- Video game companies disestablished in 2017
- Video game development companies
- Companies based in Brno
- 2017 disestablishments in the Czech Republic
- Czech companies established in 1997