Maxis facts for kids
Maxis logo used since 2022
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| Division | |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1987 |
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| Parent | Electronic Arts (1997–present) |
| Subsidiaries | Maxis Europe Maxis Texas |
Maxis is an American video game developer that creates fun and imaginative games. It is a 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 are games where you build and manage things. Some of their most well-known games include The Sims, Spore, and SimCity.
Contents
The Story of Maxis
Starting Out: An Independent Studio (1987–1997)
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Maxis began in 1987. Will Wright and Jeff Braun created it to help release their game SimCity for home computers. Before Maxis, SimCity was only available on the Commodore 64 computer. Many game companies were not interested in publishing it. This was because SimCity was different. It did not have clear "win" or "lose" conditions like most games.
SimCity became a huge success. It was one of the most popular video games ever. The SimCity game series became very important for Maxis. It led to many new games and spin-offs. Jeff Braun wanted the company name to be short and easy to remember. He also wanted it to have an "x," "z," or "q." His father suggested the name "Maxis."
After the big success of SimCity 2000, Maxis moved its offices. They moved from Orinda, California, to Walnut Creek, California, in 1994. Maxis also made other games in the 1990s. These included RoboSport (1991) and 3D Pinball for Windows (1995). 3D Pinball for Windows was even included with some versions of Windows computers. However, these newer games were not as successful as SimCity.
Joining Electronic Arts (1997–2006)
In 1997, Maxis joined Electronic Arts. This meant Electronic Arts bought Maxis. Maxis agreed to this because Electronic Arts had a strong way to sell and distribute games. After the purchase, some big changes happened at Maxis. Jeff Braun left the company. Also, about half of the Maxis employees were no longer working there.
Maxis was allowed to finish SimCity 3000 in 1998. After that, Will Wright started working on The Sims. This game was a big risk at the time. Some people thought a "dollhouse" game would not be popular with video game players. But Electronic Arts supported it. They believed it could make a lot of money with expansion packs.
The Sims was released in February 2000. It became incredibly successful. The Sims then became one of Maxis' main game series. SimCity 4 was released 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' old offices in Walnut Creek, California closed. The team moved to Electronic Arts' offices in Redwood City, California.
Spore and SimCity Comebacks (2006–2014)
As The Sims continued to be popular, Will Wright started focusing on a new game called Spore. This game was announced a few years before it came out. When Spore was released in 2008, it sold 1 million copies in its first month.
Will Wright left Maxis in 2009. Maxis then made a spin-off game called Darkspore in 2011. In 2012, Electronic Arts announced a new SimCity game. They also showed a new logo for the Maxis brand. Maxis became one of the main game labels at Electronic Arts.
Development of The Sims games continued. The Maxis brand returned to The Sims games in 2013. This happened with The Sims 3: University Life and the new SimCity. The new SimCity game had some problems when it launched. Players had issues with servers and bugs. Maxis worked to fix these problems. This new SimCity was the last game made by Maxis' main team in Emeryville.
Changes and New Studios (2014–Present)
After the new SimCity game, Maxis went through some changes. Several Maxis offices closed, and some staff moved to other Electronic Arts studios. The main Maxis studio in Emeryville closed in 2015. This left smaller teams working under the Maxis name.
In 2019, Electronic Arts announced two new studios that would use the Maxis name. These were Maxis Texas and Maxis Europe. The Texas team is in Austin and works on new game ideas. Maxis Europe is a team of people working remotely from different places. They help support The Sims 4.
Electronic Arts has said they plan to keep supporting The Sims 4 for a long time. They are also looking into making a new The Sims game that might have online multiplayer features.
Popular Games by Maxis
Maxis is known for its creative simulation games. In these games, players often do not have a specific goal. This means the games can be played for a very long time.
SimCity Series
SimCity was Maxis' first game, released in 1989. In this game, you play as a mayor. You can build a city from a small village into a big metropolis. You decide where to put different zones, manage public services, and help the city's economy grow.
The SimCity series has six main games:
- SimCity
- SimCity 2000
- SimCity 3000
- SimCity 4
- SimCity Societies
- SimCity
There are also spin-off games like SimCopter and Streets of SimCity. SimCity Societies was not made by Maxis. The 2013 SimCity game was made by Maxis Emeryville. It had some technical issues when it first came out.
The Sims
The Sims (2000) is Maxis' most successful game series. It is one of the best-selling PC games ever. Maxis made seven expansion packs for the first The Sims game. They also made an online version called The Sims Online.
Maxis released The Sims 2 in 2004. This game had full 3D environments. The original The Sims used a different kind of view. From 2006 to 2013, other studios developed The Sims games. The Maxis logo returned to The Sims game covers in 2013. This was with the release of The Sims 3: University Life.
On May 6, 2013, it was announced that Maxis would develop The Sims 4. This game was released in September 2014. Maxis also developed The Sims Mobile for a while.
Spore
Spore was released in September 2008. In Spore, players create their own species. You start as a single cell and help your creature grow and evolve. The goal is to eventually become smart enough to create spaceships.
The Spore Creature Creator lets players design their creatures. These designs can then be used in the game. Spore has different stages or "phases" that players complete. There is also a big goal: reaching the center of the galaxy. However, players can stay in any phase they like for as long as they want.
Spore received good reviews from critics. Electronic Arts confirmed that more expansion packs would be made because Spore was so popular. Spore Galactic Adventures was released in 2009.
See also
In Spanish: Maxis para niños
- List of Sim video games
- List of Maxis games
