Core Design Ltd.

Overview

Taken from GameCo:

In its nine year history, Core Design has built an unrivalled reputation as one of the world's premier development teams. They have created over fifty titles, winning numerous awards in the process. Several of these games appeared under the Core brand, whilst others were released by some of the largest games publishers in the world. Core has achieved critical acclaim and commercial success in equal measures for one simple reason: they have always put gameplay first and foremost.

In 1988 when he founded Core Design, Jeremy Smith already had eight years experience in software publishing. Core's founding principles were innovation, quality, attention to detail, originality and, at every turn, gameplay. Core's first game, Rick Dangerous, was published by Firebird and shot straight to the top of the UK charts. It went on to win a European Game of the Year award.

Soon Core was established as a highly sought after development facility combining leading edge technology with unfailing commercial instincts.

They produced a string of hits on a variety of labels including Virgin and Activision. The firm also established itself as a publisher in its own right, releasing successful titles for home computer formats such as the PC, Amiga and ST.

In 1993/94 games such as Thunderhawk, Soulstar, Battlecorps, BC Racers and Bubba 'n' Stix kept the Core name in the upper reaches of software charts all around the world. The team was also flooded with awards voted on by the specialist press throughout Europe and the US. At the end of 1994 Core was acquired by the CentreGold group, comprising the publisher US Gold and distributor CentreSoft. CentreGold agreed however, that Core should be left alone to operate autonomously and all concerned reaped the rewards in 1995 with the release of four new hit games including Firestorm: Thunderhawk 2, a ground-breaking arcade/action title which has clocked up sales of over 200,000 in Europe to date.

In March 1996, the Eidos group acquired CentreGold. Once again it was decided that Core should continue to run independently - but this time with the financial and technical backing of a leading edge global software company. The year ended with the release of Core's most successful title so far, Tomb Raider. The game received unprecedented praise from the press and has sold over one and a half million copies to date.

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