Maxis facts for kids
Maxis logo used since 2022
|
|
| Division | |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters |
,
US
|
|
Key people
|
|
| Products |
|
| Parent | Electronic Arts (1997–present) |
| Subsidiaries | Maxis Europe Maxis Texas |
Maxis is an American company that makes video games. It is part of a bigger company called Electronic Arts (EA). Maxis was started in 1987 by Will Wright and Jeff Braun. Electronic Arts bought Maxis in 1997.
Maxis is famous for its simulation games. These include popular titles like The Sims, Spore, and SimCity.
Contents
History of Maxis
Starting as an Independent Studio (1987–1997)
.svg){kind=logo}
Maxis began in 1987 because Will Wright and Jeff Braun wanted to publish their game SimCity for home computers. Before Maxis, SimCity was only available on the Commodore 64. Many game publishers were not interested in a game that did not have clear "win" or "lose" conditions.
SimCity became one of the most popular and successful video games ever. The SimCity game series became very important for the company. It led to many sequels and spin-off games. Jeff Braun wanted the company name to be short, easy to remember, and include an "x," "z," or "q." His father suggested the name "Maxis." After the big success of SimCity 2000, Maxis moved its offices in 1994.
During the 1990s, Maxis released many different games. Some were "sim" games, but others were not, like RoboSport (1991) and 3D Pinball for Windows (1995). 3D Pinball for Windows was even included with some versions of Microsoft Windows. However, many of these newer games were not as successful as SimCity. By 1995, Maxis was facing financial challenges and started looking for a larger company to join.
Joining Electronic Arts (1997–2006)
In 1997, Maxis agreed to be bought by Electronic Arts. Maxis said they joined EA to use EA's strong way of distributing games. The deal was completed in July 1997. After this, Jeff Braun left the company, and some of the Maxis staff changed roles.
In 1998, Maxis finished SimCity 3000. After that, Will Wright focused on a new game called The Sims. At first, some people thought The Sims was a risky idea because it was like a "dollhouse game" and seemed different from other video games. But EA supported it because they saw how many expansion packs could be made.
The Sims was released in February 2000 and became a huge success. It became one of Maxis' main games. SimCity 4 came out in 2003. This was the first SimCity game to use full 3D graphics. Will Wright was not directly involved in making SimCity 4. In 2004, Maxis' long-time offices were closed, and the staff moved to EA's offices in other cities.
Spore and SimCity Reboot (2006–2014)
As The Sims continued to be successful, Will Wright started working on Spore. It took three years from when Spore was first announced until it was released in 2008. When it came out, Spore received some criticism. Despite this, Spore sold 1 million copies in its first month.
Will Wright left Maxis in 2009. After he left, Maxis made a spin-off game called Darkspore in 2011, which was not very popular.
In 2012, EA announced a new SimCity game and a new logo for Maxis. Maxis became one of EA's main game labels. A new Maxis studio focused on mobile games opened in Helsinki in 2012. Development of The Sims continued, and the Maxis brand returned in 2013 with games like The Sims 3: University Life and the new SimCity.
The new SimCity (2013) focused on better graphics. EA also wanted the game to be multiplayer and always connected online. This game had a very difficult launch. It had many bugs, and the game servers often failed, making it hard for players to play. Maxis tried to fix the game with updates, but it still had problems even a year later. This new SimCity effectively ended the SimCity game series. It was also the last game made by Maxis' main studio in Emeryville.
Studio Changes (2014–Present)
After the SimCity (2013) launch, Maxis went through some changes, including studio closures and staff changes. Maxis' main studio in Emeryville closed in 2015. This left only a smaller team and a new mobile game developer in Helsinki under the Maxis name.
In 2019, the development of The Sims Mobile was moved away from the remaining Maxis developers. This meant that supporting The Sims 4 became the only main project for Maxis at EA. Many people felt that the closure of the Emeryville studio meant the end of Maxis as it was known before, with only the brand name continuing.
However, EA announced two new studios that would use the Maxis name. Maxis Texas opened in 2019, and Maxis Europe opened in 2021. The Texas team is working on a new game, and the Europe studio helps support The Sims 4. Maxis Europe is a "distributed development team," meaning its staff work remotely from different places.
EA has said they plan to support The Sims 4 for a long time. They also hinted at a new The Sims game that might focus on online multiplayer.
Famous Games by Maxis
Maxis is known for its creative simulation games. These games often do not have a specific goal, which means players can play them for a very long time.
SimCity Series
SimCity, released in 1989, was the first game from Maxis. In this game, you act as a mayor. You can build a city from a small village into a big metropolis. You place different zones, manage public services, and help the city's economy grow.
The SimCity series has six main games and three spin-off games. SimCity Societies, the fifth main game, was not made by Maxis. It was seen as more of a "social engineering simulator" and was criticized for not following the usual SimCity style. In 2013, Maxis Emeryville released a new SimCity game. It received mixed reviews because of technical problems at launch, especially with its required online connection.
The Sims
The Sims (2000) is Maxis' most successful game series. It is also one of the best-selling PC games ever. Maxis made seven expansion packs for the original game and an online version called The Sims Online.
Maxis released The Sims 2 in 2004. This game had a full 3D environment, unlike the first game. From 2006 to 2013, other studios developed The Sims games, and the Maxis logo was not on the game covers. The Maxis logo returned in 2013 with The Sims 3: University Life. On May 6, 2013, it was announced that Maxis would develop The Sims 4, which was released in September 2014. Maxis also worked on The Sims Mobile until 2019.
Spore
Spore was released in September 2008. In Spore, players create different species. You start as a single cell and help your species grow and develop into intelligent life. The goal is for them to eventually create spaceships.
The Spore Creature Creator lets players design their own creatures to use in the game. Spore is one of the few Maxis games that has clear goals. Players must complete five different stages and reach space-traveling technology. There is also a final goal: entering the galactic core, which is a large black hole protected by a strong and unfriendly cyborg species called the Grox. However, players can stay in any stage for as long as they want. The game received good reviews from critics. Because Spore was financially successful, Electronic Arts made expansion packs, including Spore Galactic Adventures in 2009, and spin-off games like Darkspore.
See also
In Spanish: Maxis para niños
- List of Sim video games
- List of Maxis games
